Today’s workforce is more generationally diverse than ever before, with 5 generations in the working alongside one another. Panelists will discuss the impact of age-related bias has on company culture, highlight strategies to identify ageism, and tactics to reduce generational bias in the workplace to foster and culture of inclusion and belonging. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in breakout discussions and field questions to the panelists.
Looking for more context for the panel? Check out these additonal resources:
- Women in Leadership Face Ageism at Every Age
- Aging in the Workplace: How Gener and Racial Biases Impact Older Workers
- 7 Best Practices to Confront Age Bias, Build Generational Diversity
- Why More Retirees Are Going Back To Work
- The Economic Impact of Ageism, McKinsey
- Dimensions of Diveristy: Age
- Reimagining the Internship to Promote Racial Equity
Learn about our speakers!
Moderator: Robyn Weaver (she/her) Equity Officer, Pocono Mountains United Way |
Robyn offers over five years of experience creating and facilitating trainings and workshops on racial equity, social justice, cultural humility and intersectionality. As the Equity Officer for Pocono Mountains United Way, she has developed and implemented Project Equity, a region-wide capacity building model focused on supporting nonprofits, their staff and boards, in pursuing racial equity and social justice at all levels of operations and service. Through the social work lens, Robyn meets each participant and organization where they are, identifying specialized and holistic solutions for achieving growth and learning. There are few better that understand the intersectionality and interconnectedness of an ecosystem, whether at the individual, group, community or systems-level. Outside of her work in Monroe County, Robyn focuses her free time closer to home, supporting anti-racist organizations – serving on the board of YWCA Bethlehem and facilitating a white-affinity group through Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley. Recently, she joined the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania’s DEI Consortium group, cultivating learning strategies and supporting organizations as they navigate their equity needs. Robyn is a proud graduate of Kutztown University completing a Masters of Social Work with concentrations in Leadership and Management, Community Development and an undergraduate degree in social work. She is a plant mom, travel bug, craft nerd. Robyn loves people and strives daily to contribute to a world where a person’s identity and area code does not predict their life opportunities and outcomes.
Christopher Hunt, Ed.D. (he/him) Vice President and Dean for Equity and Inclusion, Moravian University |
Dr. Chris Hunt (he/him/his), is Vice President and Dean for Equity and Inclusion at Moravian University and Instructor for Racial and Ethnic Inequality in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. As a member of the President’s Cabinet, he is responsible for providing leadership, guidance, and coordination on diversity, equity, and inclusion at the institution, including oversight of a key priority of the university’s strategic plan. In his work as a consultant,he has provided executive coaching and strategies to embed diversity, equity, and inclusion into a wide variety of business and non-profit organizations. The social locations of race, ethnicity, age, religion, socioeconomic status, and gender are aspects of Dr. Hunt’s research and scholarship. His dissertation, “When Millennials Meet Baby Boomers: Multiple Case Study on the Experiences of Black Male College Students,” examined the lived experiences of two generational cohorts of college graduates who navigated predominately White institutions (PWI) during the Baby Boomer generation of the 1960s and 1970s as well as those same PWIs during the Millennial era of the 2010s. Prior to his current position at Moravian, he held roles at Lafayette College, including Assistant Vice President, Dean of Students, and Dean for Equity and Inclusion, and at the University of New England as Associate Provost for Community, Equity, and Adjunct Professor in the School of Arts and Humanities. The husband of a college dean and the father of three Generation Z children, Chris is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and earned a Master of Science in Administration from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and his undergraduate and doctoral degrees from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania.
Carmen A. Bell (she/her) Senior Director, Healthy Aging, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley |
Carmen Bell envisions a Lehigh Valley that is safe, inclusive and respectful for people of all ages. As an influential member of the Lehigh Valley Alliance on Aging, Carmen participated in the strategic formation of Age-Friendly Lehigh Valley and currently leads the age-friendly initiative in our community. With Carmen’s leadership, deep connections and partnerships, the Age-Friendly LV Action Plan was released, making the Lehigh Valley an age-friendly community, certified by AARP and the World Health Organization. Prior to joining the team at United Way, Carmen worked with KidsPeace and most recently with LANTA where she gained a deep understanding of the needs of seniors in our community. She is a member of the AARP PA Executive Council, the Phoebe Institute on Aging Advisory Council, Phoebe Ministries Board of Directors, Allentown’s African American Advisory Council and Lehigh County’s Human Relations Advisory Council. A long-time community activist and precinct captain for her West End Allentown neighborhood, Carmen is also the 2nd Vice President of the Lehigh County Democratic Committee as well as a duly elected State Democratic Committeeperson. She is a 2021 Women of Influence award winner and is a frequent speaker on aging issues. Carmen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Arts from City College of New York.
Monica Brooks (she/her) Senior Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Accolade |
Monica Brooks is the Senior Director, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion for Accolade, Incorporated. Monica aka Moni (Mo-Nee) is an impact-driven professional with extensive experience in cultivating inclusive workplace practices and ensuring equal opportunities for all employees. Moni champions the value of diverse perspectives and creates platforms for unheard voices to be heard. She implements training programs that raise awareness about unconscious biases and equips employees to challenge them. Additionally, Moni empowers leaders to embrace inclusion and create a sense of belonging among team members. With experience working across multiple industries and in a variety of demographics, Moni has a proven career and expertise in organizational change, improving workplace culture, diversity, and leadership credibility. Personally, Moni also possesses a strong passion for community involvement and mentoring. She has been a consistent mentor to young females since 1999. One of her aspirations is to establish a Job Readiness center and to get it funded and approved through a local school district. Allowing high school students to earn credit to graduate, all while preparing them to enter the workforce. The curriculum would be focused on social skills, communication styles, resume building, creative writing, and interviewing skills.As a leader of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Moni completed the certificate program entitled Diversity & Inclusion with Cornell University (eCornell) in August 2020. She also has a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology and Criminal Justice from Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University, in Huntsville, Alabama.
Moni’s philosophy on diversity, equity, and inclusion is –
“Centering diversity, equity, and inclusion as a business imperative is essential to organizations staying relevant, honest, and committed to meeting and exceeding their customer and employee expectations. Without DEI as a leading indicator, many organizations are just existing vs. leading the way. Our future success is in how well we embrace, adopt, and implement DEI into everyday business.”