ADEPT’s activities are a continuation of efforts that have been ongoing within the community, previously coordinated informally through the New Jersey Statewide Network for Cultural Competence. The NJSNCC was initially formed in 2002 as an initiative of the New Jersey Department of Health. Over our successful 20+ year history, we have partnered with a variety of organizations across different systems with the goal of improving access, utilization, and quality of service delivery by promoting collaboration, cultural and linguistic competence, transparency, and accountability.
ADEPT’s mission is to foster the delivery of high quality culturally and linguistically appropriate services, through training, resources, and technical assistance, so that organizations can benefit from the talent, performance, and engagement of a diverse workforce.
I personally believe that we need to ….
- endorse an expanded definition of diversity that respects and values the presence of differences that may include age, sex, race, ethnicity, religion, (dis)ability, sexual orientation, gender expression, body size or appearance, generation, language, nationality, immigration status, class, caste, socioeconomic position, military service, political/ideological views, and other demographic characteristics;
- recognize our uniqueness, individuality, and common humanity as well as the need to combat stigma, bias, prejudice, and the “isms” in their various incarnations;
- appreciate the importance of merit, excellence, different types of intelligence, and fairness; and
- support efforts designed to infuse best practices in lawful diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB), as well as merit, excellence, and intelligence (MEI) in the workplace, education, and service delivery organizations.
We live in extremely challenging, polarized, and uncertain times. The current policy and societal debates occurring between advocates of DEIB vs. MEI are unhelpful, unproductive, and unnecessary. Instead, I embrace the perspective that DEIB and MEI do not have to be antagonistic and opposed to each other. If appropriately understood and implemented, both DEIB and MEI can be synergistic and empowering (e.g., see the following relevant Forbes article: “Why the Debate Between Merit and Diversity is Counterproductive”).
A key question is the following: Rather than pursuing “either/or” approaches, how can we foster “both/and,” to avoid “neither/nor”?
Through our webinars, seminars, panel discussions, conferences, social media, and website, ADEPT is committed to identifying and disseminating valuable information, resources, and support beneficial to all professions, the public, leaders, and policy makers. We try to create “safe, brave, inclusive, and mutually respectful learning spaces” that foster excellence and positively impact the way people in our workplaces and society interact with one another.
I hope that you will continue to find the ADEPT website to be the “go-to place” for learning about and sharing best and promising practices, cutting edge initiatives, ongoing activities, and available resources in the fields of CLAS and DEIB. You will also be able to connect, network, and collaborate with other interested and dedicated colleagues who are working in this area. ADEPT also has Facebook and LinkedIn pages where informative, timely, and relevant articles are posted on a periodic basis. Please visit and Like us.
I invite you to find out more about ADEPT’s work, join our learning community, and actively participate in and contribute to our ongoing efforts. Thanks very much for your interest and support!
Sincerely,
Robert C. Like, MD, MS
President, ADEPT