top of page

Navigating DEI challenges across industries

Writer's picture: Drew BurnsDrew Burns

I recently had the opportunity to attend the American Society of Association Executives webinar on “Legislation and Court Decisions Affecting Association DEIA Initiatives”.  The webinar featured industry experts and association professionals that provided valuable insights and strategies for organizations to maintain their commitment to DEI values amidst growing political and societal challenges.


One of the speakers, Russell Contreras, highlighted the increasing legislative challenges DEI initiatives are facing, namely, a surge in anti-DEI bills introduced in 21 states since 2021, and nine states passing such laws. These legislative actions primarily target educational institutions but signal broader societal resistance that could impact DEI efforts across multiple sectors.


A poignant message from one speaker was, "The focus of any DEI efforts should be on inclusivity – NOT exclusivity of any sort," emphasizing the need for organizations to maintain inclusive practices despite political pressures. Much of the pushback is stemming from concerns that DEI efforts are creating more barriers to majority populations, which is not the case. 


These types of programs are primarily focused on creating inclusive environments for ALL and are aimed at transforming systems that inadvertently harm people and make it harder for those historically marginalized.  However, lawmakers are seeing these initiatives as “divisive concepts” and a “threat to the American way of life”. These cases primarily affect college campuses but are sending the wrong message to other sectors and causing a moral panic across the board, leading to knee jerk reactions to pull DEI programs across sectors.


While this isn’t ideal, the conversation does bring up a good point, which is the need to make sure we are keeping the DEI focus on true inclusivity and utilizing collected demographic data in the right way. Many of the legal issues arising are stemming from a misuse of demographic data and the lack of clearly communicating program goals.  It is ok to collect demographic information and evaluate this information to understand your programs.  Legal ambiguity and risk comes into play when you are making decisions solely on that data.


For example, if you are providing a scholarship through your foundation with the goal of providing more opportunities to under-represented populations, you cannot qualify the candidates you interview based on the demographic data collected.  Instead, you can “encourage candidates from populations generally underrepresented in our industry”, etc. The key here is to be clear about what data you are collecting, why you are collecting it, and what your programming goals are.


Some other strategies for mitigating risk that were discussed by the speakers include:

  • There is a lot of risk associated with haphazardly dismantling DEI programs too, be thoughtful in your decisions.

  • Talk to your reporters and tell them the story you want people to hear.  Highlight personal stories.  This will help monitor perceptions if your initiatives ever come under fire.

  • Partner with your legal team early and understand the applicable laws for smart DEI compliance.

  • Avoid taking on the culture war.  Instead, convey how the work your organization is changing lives through the members and customers you serve.

  • Avoid taking your battles to social media – it will never end well.

  • Stay the course as an advocate.  The systems we are talking about are deeply rooted thought processes and dismantling them takes time.


Despite political headwinds, speakers emphasized that staying true to DEI values not only fosters innovation and growth but also contributes to a more equitable society. The role of Associations is to help provide industry best practices and create a sense of belonging, so why wouldn’t DEI fit into that picture?  Understanding how the current political climate is affecting how these initiatives work, regardless of your stance on the subject, is an important step in providing that framework to your association clients. Organizations that embrace diversity will lead in competitive and sustainable ways, ensuring their relevance and success in an evolving landscape.


Additional Information:

Brian Gallagher

Marketing Committee Chair, National Steering Committee

"The 2023 Concrete Industry Management (CIM) Auction at World of Concrete shattered all previous records! Our partners at AOE were essential in helping the National Steering Committee promote the Auction. For more than 15 years, we’ve counted on AOE to help support our public relations, social media and marketing efforts to promote the Auction and the CIM program. The AOE team was, and continues to be, an important part of our success."

Concrete Industry Management program logo.
AOE starburst logo.

© 2025 by AOE. 

  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • Spotify
bottom of page