August 30 | Lunch and Learn: Increasing Board Diversity Through Greater Disability Representation

Session Information

Date:

August 30, 2024

Time:

12:00–1:00 p.m. CT

Location:

Tom and Ruth Harkin Center (2800 University Avenue, Des Moines, IA, 50311)

Virtual Live Stream (Link will be sent to virtual attendees before the event)

Cost:

Professionals seeking credit (In-person and Virtual): FREE
General Public not seeking credit (In-Person and Virtual): Free

Accommodations: Live-captioning in English will be provided for in-person and virtual attendees. American Sign Language interpretation is only available upon request due to interpreter shortages throughout Iowa. ASL and other accommodation requests can be made by emailing harkininstitute@drake.edu.

Parking: In-person attendees will be able to park in Drake University parking lot 24, next to the Tom and Ruth Harkin Center, but they will need a free visitor parking pass to do so. Information on how to obtain a parking pass will be sent to those who register.

Session Summary

How does a Board align its mission and encourage the inclusion of those with disabilities? At this lunch & learn workshop, we will discuss how both nonprofit and for-profit institutions can include more disabled people on their Boards of Directors. Research has shown that including disabled people and professionals on a Board of Directors improves organizational outcomes. Every company and nonprofit must adapt to a greater number of disabled consumers in the community post-COVID and mid-Boomer retirement wave. Organizations of all types need to know how to best engage with disabled individuals, as well as the legal considerations and implications. We will cover the basic principles of the function of a Board of Directors, the benefits of having disability representation on a Board, how to foster and engage with disabled Board members, and how to align the mission statement with the goal of greater inclusion.

Join us for the next session in our Continuing Education Series. This lunchtime workshop is designed for both professionals and the public. Attorneys, insurance providers, third-party administrators, social workers, and other professionals will be eligible to receive continuing education credit. Thanks to a generous sponsor, this session is FREE for those earning credit and the general public.

This course has been approved for 1.0 Diversity CLE credit with the Iowa Courts Commission. The course number will be provided during the presentation.

About The Harkin Institute’s Continuing Education Series

Continuing education is a vital requirement that helps keep professionals informed and maintain their license. The shear variety of information and topics discussed during these educational sessions will be beneficial to anyone. That’s why The Harkin Institute is launching its Continuing Education Series.

The Harkin Institute will host sessions with industry experts on a variety of topics including health savings plans, ABLE accounts, tax incentives, health insurance options, ERISA, retirement planning, statutory updates, employment rights, living with disabilities – even food security and sustainable design and architecture. These sessions will provide attendees a chance expand their knowledge and skills. They will also offer attorneys, insurance providers, third-party administrators, architects, landscape architects, social workers, and other professionals the ability to earn valuable continuing education credits. Professionals in Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, South Dakota, Texas, and Virginia will be eligible for credit.

Please note: these sessions are for educational purposes only. Each person’s set of circumstances is unique and requires specific strategies. It is the responsibility of all parties to seek legal, insurance, tax, and financial advice with a professional familiar with your specific needs and goals.

All expenses related to taking this course are an above-the-line deduction for your business—please refer to the rules of IRS Form Schedule C for more in-depth guidance.

Learn More