EEO Through the Arts
EEO Through The Arts
EEO Through The Arts is a project of The Uncle Devin Show LLC that educates the arts community about their rights and responsibilities regarding discrimination within our industry.
Devin Walker leverages his extensive 25+ years of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) expertise, seamlessly integrating it with his passion for the arts to address a significant void within the arts sector.
How We Support the Arts
We seek to provide a process by which independent Teaching Artists (TAs) are given the same EEO rights as employees. This process includes a high-quality Alternative Dispute Resolution Process and a formal investigative process led by a neutral third party.
We will also conduct professional development training for TAs, art organizations, and funders on the best practices within Equal Opportunity. Additionally, we can assist in developing a Discrimination Complaint process and procedure tailored to their organization’s mission.
What We Provide
Anti-Discrimination for Teaching Artists! Does it Exist?
Many Federal and state laws protect employees from workplace discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, disability, age, or genetic information. But do Teaching Artists (TA) have any rights against discrimination?
This interactive workshop is designed to help TAs understand Federal and state EEO laws and the steps they should take if they feel they are the victims of discrimination. It will provide TAs with techniques to identify and prevent discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
How to Recognize, Prevent, and Respond to discrimination Complaints for Art Organizations?
Preventing workplace discrimination is not only a legal requirement; it also has positive and negative implications for the well-being of your employees and, ultimately, your organization. This training will help your organization create a welcoming and respectful workplace by giving you the tools needed to educate employees, establish clear policies and procedures, and provide them with a clear process for reporting incidents of discrimination.
EEO Policy & Procedure Design
Having an effective EEO policy and procedure in place shows your commitment to equality and can support your position in a lawsuit. DWC can create a new or update your current EEO policy & procedure to ensure that your company complies with Federal, state, and local laws and statutes.
Alternative Dispute Resolution Program
DWC is certified in mediation and specializes in all aspects of alternative dispute resolution, which has resulted in the settlement of hundreds of EEO and other workplace disputes. We have assisted organizations in the design, implementation, updating, and monitoring of a leading-edge pro-active dispute resolution program that attempts to resolve complaints early.
How to Conduct Discrimination Investigations? (Training)
Discrimination complaints often create organizational tension, damaging the company’s reputation and the relationships between employees, contractors, and stakeholders. If the complaint is mishandled, the consequences can worsen, potentially resulting in a lawsuit.
Devin Walker is a Certified investigator in Title VI and Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. This training will explain the benefits of investigating discrimination allegations in a timely and confidential manner and fully explain the steps necessary to create a fair and impartial investigative process that can objectively lower the risk of costly fines and court battles, potentially saving millions in litigation costs.
Discrimination Awareness for Schools and Educators
This scenario-based training is for all employees and staff at any school or organization. It covers categories protected by federal and local EEO laws and explains prohibited practices, including unlawful harassment and discrimination. This can help you avoid discriminatory behaviors and build a culture that reflects acceptance and respect for all.
This course also covers the definition of discrimination and harassment and steps you can take to avoid both while promoting a discrimination-free environment.
Our EEO Background:
Uncle Devin leverages his 26+ years of Equal Opportunity expertise as an investigator, mediator, and trainer of complaints under Title VI and Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act with his passion for the arts to address a significant void within the arts sector.
Uncle Devin has over eight years as a Contract Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Program Investigator for over 15 Federal government agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Park Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Additionally, he was the Senior EEO and Diversity Officer for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) for 19 years, which included work in Employee Relations and Workplace Violence.
As a former partner in the National Equal Opportunity Institute, Inc., Devin was instrumental in establishing the first national clearinghouse for Federal Titles, subtitles, and statutes of various Civil Rights Acts and a technical resource center that provided technical and program assistance to public and private sector organizations. Through this effort, Devin became a certified trainer in Program Investigations under Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which received recognition from the Ohio State Supreme Court in 2011.