News – Coalition for Diversity and Inclusion in Scholarly Communications

July 2026 Community of Practice Call – Measuring Impact and Driving Accountability in DEI — Data, Metrics, and Continuous Improvement

The next C4DISC Community of Practice call will be held on July 9, 2026.

Thursday July 9 – 9 am Los Angeles / 12 pm New York / 5 pm UTC & GMT / 6pm CET / 7 pm Cape Town / 8 pm Nairobi / 10.30 pm India Time converter link.

The theme this time is Measuring Impact and Driving Accountability in DEI — Data, Metrics, and Continuous Improvement

Organizations across various industries are being urged to demonstrate not only their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) but also the measurable impact of their initiatives.

Representation data serves as a starting point; however, to assess this data effectively, it is essential to establish metrics that reflect employee experiences, fairness in advancement, and overall company culture. Stakeholders are seeking accountability and transparency, which puts pressure on leaders to implement meaningful and lasting changes.

This discussion will explore how organizations can design and use data-driven approaches to track progress, foster leadership accountability, and cultivate a culture of continuous improvement. We will reflect on lessons learned and share strategies to ensure that DEI measurement drives meaningful impact.

Questions for Discussion

What metrics have proven most effective in assessing the impact of DEI initiatives beyond demographics?
How can leadership accountability for DEI outcomes be structured without reducing progress to a “check-the-box” exercise?
What challenges have you encountered in turning DEI data into actionable insights, and what strategies have helped you overcome resistance?
How do you integrate DEI measurement into a cycle of continuous improvement, ensuring that reporting leads to sustained change?
How can organizations balance transparency in DEI reporting with the need to protect employee privacy and build trust?
What role can industry-wide benchmarks and collaborations play in driving accountability and raising standards for all?

Participants will have breakout room discussions around any aspect of this topic they wish to bring and we will come together for the last part of the call to hear key takeaways.

If you are a COP member you will receive the Zoom link ahead of the call. If you have not yet joined the COP then – learn more here on how to join the community.

Upcoming planned calls

DEIA Community of Practice Call Summaries

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May 2026 Community of Practice Call – Managing DEI in Complex Political and Regulatory Environments

The next C4DISC Community of Practice call will be held on May 7, 2026.

Thursday May 7 – 9 am Los Angeles / 12 pm New York / 5 pm UTC & GMT / 6pm CET / 7 pm Cape Town / 8 pm Nairobi / 10.30 pm India Time converter link.

The theme this time is Managing DEI in Complex Political and Regulatory Environments – Global Perspectives on Organizational Adaptation.

Organizations worldwide are navigating varied and changing political landscapes that impact their diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility work.

From legislative changes and government policies to cultural shifts and funding restrictions, different regions face unique challenges in maintaining and advancing DEI initiatives. This session explores how organizations across countries and contexts represented on the call are adapting their strategies, sustaining their commitments to inclusive practices, and finding innovative solutions to continue meaningful DEI work despite diverse external pressures.

Questions/discussion prompts

What specific political, regulatory, or cultural challenges related to DEI work are you experiencing in your region or country? How do these compare to what you’re hearing from other participants?
How has your organization modified its DEI approach to work within your local political or regulatory environment? What creative solutions have you developed?
For organizations operating internationally, how do you manage DEI initiatives across different political and cultural contexts? What strategies help maintain consistency while respecting local differences?
What alternative funding sources, partnerships, or support networks have you explored to sustain DEI work? How are you building resilience against external pressures?
What can we learn from each other’s experiences navigating different political environments? Are there successful approaches from one region that might adapt to another context?

Participants will have breakout room discussions around any aspect of this topic they wish to bring and we will come together for the last part of the call to hear key takeaways.

If you are a COP member you will receive the Zoom link ahead of the call. If you have not yet joined the COP then – learn more here on how to join the community.

Upcoming planned calls
DEIA Community of Practice Call Summaries

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March 2026 Community of Practice Call – Recruitment, Retention, and Resilience in Publishing

The next C4DISC Community of Practice call will be held on March 2, 2026.

Monday March 2 – 9 am Los Angeles / 12 pm New York / 5 pm UTC & GMT / 6pm CET / 7 pm Cape Town / 8 pm Nairobi / 10.30 pm India Time converter link.

The theme this time is Recruitment, Retention, and Resilience in Publishing.

We revisit the discussion of recruitment and retention with a focus on current challenges of intensifying political pressures on diversity initiatives and widespread restructures. Despite these headwinds, many organizations remain committed to building inclusive workforces that reflect the diverse perspectives of their customers.

The recruitment and retention process encompasses seeking out, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding employees, partners, and vendors. In publishing, this extends to authors, reviewers, and editors. As the industry navigates economic pressures and shifting political landscapes, how we approach these processes becomes increasingly critical to organizational success and cultural relevance.

Questions/discussion prompts

How have recent industry redundancies affected your organization’s approach to recruitment, and what strategies have proven effective for retaining talent during uncertain times?
With political challenges to DEI initiatives intensifying, what concrete actions is your organization taking to maintain commitment to inclusive recruitment practices?
How are you adapting recruitment language, platforms, and methodologies to ensure continued progress in building diverse teams despite external pressures?
What innovative onboarding and mentorship approaches have you implemented to support new colleagues, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds?
How can publishing organizations create sustainable career pathways for people from low-income backgrounds when the industry faces economic constraints?
What role should industry associations and cross-publisher collaborations play in advancing inclusive recruitment and retention during challenging times?
How are you measuring the effectiveness of your diversity initiatives in recruitment and retention, and what metrics have proven most valuable?
In what ways can publishers balance necessary cost-cutting measures with continued investment in diversity and inclusion programs?

Participants will have breakout room discussions around any aspect of this topic they wish to bring and we will come together for the last part of the call to hear key takeaways.

If you are a COP member you will receive the Zoom link ahead of the call. If you have not yet joined the COP then – learn more here on how to join the community.

Upcoming planned calls
DEIA Community of Practice Call Summaries

News, Newsletter

January 2026 Community of Practice Call – Building Inclusive Products – Integrating DEI Principles into Product Development, AI Systems, and Accessibility Standards

The next C4DISC Community of Practice call will be held on January 8, 2026.

Thursday January 8 – 9 am Los Angeles / 12 pm New York / 5 pm UTC & GMT / 6pm CET / 7 pm Cape Town / 8 pm Nairobi / 10.30 pm India Time converter link

The theme this time is Building Inclusive Products – Integrating DEI Principles into Product Development, AI Systems, and Accessibility Standards

As organizations increasingly rely on technology and AI to deliver products and services, it’s important to ensure these tools don’t inadvertently perpetuate bias or exclude any groups. How do we embed DEI principles directly into product development processes. We can discuss the challenges of AI bias, the importance of Web Content Accessibility Guideline standards, and practical strategies for creating products that serve all users equitably.

Questions/discussion prompts

AI and Bias: How might AI tools in your organization inadvertently create or amplify bias against certain groups? What safeguards could be implemented during development and deployment?

Accessibility Integration: What steps does your organization currently take to ensure products meet accessibility standards like WCAG? Where do you see gaps or opportunities for improvement?

Inclusive Design Process: How can DEI principles be integrated into your product development lifecycle from conception to launch? Who should be involved in these conversations?

User Representation: How does your organization ensure diverse perspectives are included when designing and testing products? What barriers exist to inclusive user research and testing?

Measuring Impact: What metrics or evaluation methods could help assess whether your products are truly serving diverse user groups equitably? How do you currently measure inclusive outcomes?

Participants will have breakout room discussions around any aspect of this topic they wish to bring and we will come together for the last part of the call to hear key takeaways.

If you are a COP member you will receive the Zoom link ahead of the call. If you have not yet joined the COP then – learn more here on how to join the community.

Upcoming planned calls
DEIA Community of Practice Call Summaries

News, Newsletter

November 2025 Community of Practice Call – Career support and professional development

The next C4DISC Community of Practice call will be held on both November 3 and November 5, 2025. We are trialing hosting calls twice to accommodate more schedules and time zones. You may join one or both calls.

Monday November 3 – 9 am Pacific / 12 pm Eastern / 5 pm UTC & GMT / 6pm CET / 7 pm Cape Town / 8 pm Nairobi/ 9.30 pm India Time converter link

Wednesday November 5 – 10 am UTC & GMT / 11 am CET / 3.30 pm India / 6 pm China / 8 pm AET (Melbourne) / 6 am Eastern / 7 am Brazil Time Convertor Link

The theme this time is Career support and professional development.

It is an unstable time in publishing currently, and this session will be a safe pace to support anyone who has been affected by recent redundancies, with roles at risk due to the impact of removing the focus on DEI from the industry, or by policies such as RTO. There will be an opportunity for members to share how they practice resilience in the face of these challenges. There will also be the opportunity to discuss professional development, including any external training that other members of the community have found useful.

Questions/discussion prompts

Career change: Have you or your organization been impacted by redundancies recently? How has this affected the working environment?

Policy changes: Has your organization introduced any policies that will have a negative impact on accessibility, such as an RTO policy?

Professional development and training: Is there any professional development or external training you can recommend that may help people looking for roles upskill or assist with finding new roles?

Resilience: What specific policies, habits, or structures have you seen (or would like to see) that help publishing workplaces remain resilient through challenging times?

Impact of DEI Retraction: How might the removal of formal DEI initiatives affect roles in publishing and/or the talent pipeline?

Participants will have breakout room discussions around any aspect of this topic they wish to bring and we will come together for the last part of the call to hear key takeaways.

If you are a COP member you will receive the Zoom link ahead of the call. If you have not yet joined the COP then – learn more here on how to join the community.

Upcoming planned calls.
DEIA Community of Practice Call Summaries.