Inclusive Conferences
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Creating Inclusive conferences
Overview
How do you create social safety at your event? How do you ensure inclusion and effectively handle troubling interpersonal issues?
Untangled Resolutions’ Conference Ombuds service provides a supportive system that lets conference organizers offer a conference experience that empowers attendees and vendors to surface and confront difficult issues.
These issues can include:
Harassment
Bullying and heckling
Incivility
Cross cultural miscommunications
Other interpersonal and intergroup conflicts
Services for individuals who experience harm
We assure that anyone at your conference who experiences harm has access to a confidential and unbiased trained professional who will:
listen with empathy and discuss what happened so they can
- Sort through their concerns
- Identify their priorities and desired outcomes
- Understand and explore their options
- Understand any relevant rules or formal requirements
- Make an informed decision about how to move forward
Services for individuals and groups seeking resolution
As skilled mediators we can help individuals and groups to address their differences and reach a mutual agreement about how to resolve them.
Our specialized Ombuds stand as your trusted resource, offering a confidential and effective way to address challenging social issues that may arise.
What you will receive
Partnership and Consulation
We help you to evaluate your risks and consider a range of formal and informal options for addressing them.
Reassurance and Peace of Mind
For planners and attendees, knowing there is a professional confidential resource available can enhance the quality of their conference experience.
Reduced Liability
Our collaborative approach fosters genuine commitment to a collaborative agreement, reducing potential liability.
What we offer
A full-service collaborative effort to ensure your conference is truly inclusive.
BENEFITS OF THE SERVICE
For Event Organizers: Beyond resolving conflicts, our services provide a sense of reassurance, help ensure smoother event execution, enhance your organization’s and sponsors’ reputations, help to mitigate potential liability, and foster a culture of respect.
For Conference Attendees: We help create a safe and supportive conference environment, guided by the principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, Justice, and Accessibility (DEIBJA) that promotes a lasting positive experience for attendees.
DEIBJA Focus
We handle diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and accessibility issues with the utmost care and respect.
Robust Staffing
At least two dedicated Ombuds practitioners on call (hours depend on agreement)
Effective Intervention
We can address concerns before they become crises.
Neutral & Confidential Space
We ensure everyone’s voice is heard in confidence and without fear of judgment or backlash.
Varied Tools
We tailor our approach to best suit each situation using a variety of tools such as mediation, facilitation, conflict coaching, and options for training.
Support Before, During & After
BEFORE EVENT
We collaborate with you to understand your goals, anticipate issues, and create a solid code of conduct.
DURING EVENT
Our team does not just standby waiting for something to happen. We circulate during the conference to ensure visibility and increase access. We are also available to online attendees.
AFTER EVENT
Our post-event analysis includes insights on noted trends and feedback, along with advice for your upcoming events.
AFTER CARE
Includes up to 6 months post-event access to ombuds services for issues related to the conference.
Your Conference Ombuds Specialist
Bathabile K.S. Mthombeni
(She/Her/Hers)
Bathabile K.S. Mthombeni, J.D, M.S.LOD, PCC is the University Ombudsman for Binghamton University. She is also a coach and mediator, and the founder of Untangled Resolutions, providing DEIB policy, process, and procedure development and implementation services to schools and other organizations. Untangled Resolutions also provides Racial Intelligence and Racial Mindset coaching, training, and dialogue facilitation services primarily to White members of leadership teams and DEIB committees. Finally, Untangled Resolutions provides external ombuds services, leadership coaching, mediation, conflict management workshops, and conflict management systems design services.
As an organizational development practitioner, Bathabile helps organizations to take their DEIB statements from aspiration to action. As a mediator and coach Bathabile is passionate about helping people to learn how to communicate better, resolve their differences, and find the highest expression of their best selves.
Bathabile earned an A.B. in Sociology, cum laude, from Princeton University, a J.D. from Columbia Law School, and a graduate coaching certificate and M.S. in Leadership and Organizational Development from the Naveen Jindal School of Management at the University of Texas at Dallas. She holds a PCC level certification from the International Coach Federation.
She is a dedicated human companion to five dogs and two cats. She is an avid yarn crafter and a singer/songwriter/guitarist who has performed on New York City’s subway platforms and once lived in a tent.