Diversity, Equity, and inclusion

Addressing challenges and seizing opportunities.

The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee hosts events, provides resources, and encourages all members in our profession to support this initiative.

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COCPA

Supporting diversity, equity, & inclusion within our profession.

This committee assists the COCPA in developing strategy and programming in this most important area. Join us for discussions on DE&I topics, events, resources and the sharing of stories.

Watch Previous DE&I Event Recordings

2023

2022

2022 See Me Series Presentations

December 21, 2022 – See Me Series: Focused on Gratitude Lessons Learned in Trying Times – with Bruce Stahlman, CFO of ARC Thrift Stores

November 30, 2022 – See Me Series Serving in the U S Navy Reserve Lessons Learned and Insights for Civilian -with COCPA member Cliff Linhardt, MS, CPA

October 26, 2022 – See Me Series: Rooted In Purpose: Finding Success but Staying Grounded – with Educational Foundation of the COCPA Board of Trustee, Matthew Ogaz, CPA

September 21, 2022 – See Me Series: Allow Me To Re-introduce Myself – My Story Through the Lens of Music – with COCPA member Diego Baca

August 31, 2022 – See Me Series: Addressing Ageism in Professional Services – with COCPA members Nicole Brown and Leann Browder

July 27, 2022 – See Me Series: Breaking Down Barriers as a Blind CPA – with COCPA member Cody Bair

June 22, 2022 – See Me Series: Embracing the Fear and Reaping the Benefits of Living Authentically – with COCPA member Lou Trebino

May 25, 2022 – See Me Series: Overcoming All Odds – with Stephanie Daniels, CPA

April 17, 2022 – See Me Series: My Journey from Devastating Grief to Mental Health– with COCPA member Lisa Hackard

March 23, 2022 – See Me Series: It’s Not How You Get There, It’s What You Bring – with COCPA member Mikayla Smith

February 23, 2022 –See Me Series: Through DACA Eyes – with Alvin Peregrino

2022 See Me Series Presentations

December 21, 2022 – See Me Series: Focused on Gratitude Lessons Learned in Trying Times – with Bruce Stahlman, CFO of ARC Thrift Stores

November 30, 2022 – See Me Series Serving in the U S Navy Reserve Lessons Learned and Insights for Civilian -with COCPA member Cliff Linhardt, MS, CPA

October 26, 2022 – See Me Series: Rooted In Purpose: Finding Success but Staying Grounded – with Educational Foundation of the COCPA Board of Trustee, Matthew Ogaz, CPA

September 21, 2022 – See Me Series: Allow Me To Re-introduce Myself – My Story Through the Lens of Music – with COCPA member Diego Baca

August 31, 2022 – See Me Series: Addressing Ageism in Professional Services – with COCPA members Nicole Brown and Leann Browder

July 27, 2022 – See Me Series: Breaking Down Barriers as a Blind CPA – with COCPA member Cody Bair

June 22, 2022 – See Me Series: Embracing the Fear and Reaping the Benefits of Living Authentically – with COCPA member Lou Trebino

May 25, 2022 – See Me Series: Overcoming All Odds – with Stephanie Daniels, CPA

April 17, 2022 – See Me Series: My Journey from Devastating Grief to Mental Health– with COCPA member Lisa Hackard

March 23, 2022 – See Me Series: It’s Not How You Get There, It’s What You Bring – with COCPA member Mikayla Smith

February 23, 2022 –See Me Series: Through DACA Eyes – with Alvin Peregrino

2021

2021 See Me Series Presentations

December 22, 2021 – See Me Series: Love Makes a Family– with COCPA member Kenneth Richards and daughters Alysha and Ayasha

December 1, 2021 – See Me Series: Three Wise Women – with COCPA members Rebecca Boer, Kelly Kozeliski, and Alyssa Wright

October 27, 2021 – See Me Series: My Point of View, The CPA Profession Through a Colored Lens – with COCPA member Felicia Clement

September 29, 2021 – See Me Series: Coming to America – with COCPA member Judy Thomas

August 25, 2021 – See Me Series: Sherpa-Sharwa: The Ethnic Group of Nepal– with COCPA member Ang Sherpa

July 28, 2021 – See Me Series: Not a Puzzle Piece. Being Autistic in the Work World with COCPA member Caitlyn O’Neil

2021 See Me Series Presentations

December 22, 2021 – See Me Series: Love Makes a Family– with COCPA member Kenneth Richards and daughters Alysha and Ayasha

December 1, 2021 – See Me Series: Three Wise Women – with COCPA members Rebecca Boer, Kelly Kozeliski, and Alyssa Wright

October 27, 2021 – See Me Series: My Point of View, The CPA Profession Through a Colored Lens – with COCPA member Felicia Clement

September 29, 2021 – See Me Series: Coming to America – with COCPA member Judy Thomas

August 25, 2021 – See Me Series: Sherpa-Sharwa: The Ethnic Group of Nepal– with COCPA member Ang Sherpa

July 28, 2021 – See Me Series: Not a Puzzle Piece. Being Autistic in the Work World with COCPA member Caitlyn O’Neil

Suggested Videos with DE&I Focus

“All the Queen’s Horses” by Amazon Prime, 2017 documentary
CEO Action Day of Understanding with Wright Lassiter III, Henry Ford Health System President, Vimeo
Colorado Experience, Mr. Barney Ford (Rocky Mountain PBS)
“Something the Lord Made” by HBO Films, 2004
The Hero Effect with Kevin Brown, father of Joshua, his autistic son, YouTube Podcast
“Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man” videos by Emmanual Acho
Verna Myers: How to overcome our biases? Walk boldly toward them, TED Talks, YouTube
King Richard, the story of Richard Williams, father of tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams
Te Ata, based on the true story of Mary Thompson Fischer, who crosses cultural barriers to achieve fame as an actress and Native American storyteller
Tick Tick Boom!, based on the autobiographical musical by playwright Jonathan Larson
Brené Brown on empathy
Baratunde Thurston
Coming Out of Your Closet, with Ash Beckham, TED Talks, YouTube
Belonging, A Critical Piece of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, with Carin Taylor, TED Talks, YouTube
The Business Imperative of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Webinar, YouTube
Netflix standup comedy show: Hannah Gadsby: Nanette

Featured Article: Hannah Gadsby on Her Autism Diagnosis

‘I’ve always been plagued by a sense that I was a little out of whack’

READ NOW

Suggested Books with DE&I Focus

Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People, by Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony Greenwald
The Person You Mean to Be: How Good People Fight Bias, by Dolly Chugh
We Can’t Talk About That at Work! How to Talk About Race, Religion, Politics, and Other Polarizing Topics, by Mary-Frances Winters
The Vanishing Half, by Brit Benett
I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness, by Austin Channing Brown
White Fragility, by Robin DiAngelo
Listening is an Act of Love, by Dave Isay
Privilege, Power and Difference, 2nd Edition, by Allan G. Johnson
Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America, by the late Congressman John Lewis
So You Want to Talk About Race, by Ijeoma Oluo
My Vanishing Country: A Memoir, by Bakari Sellers
In the Country of Women: A Memoir, by Susan Straight
The Book of Rosy: A Mother’s Story of Separation at the Border, by Rosayra Pablo Cruz and Julie Schweitert Collazo. Collazo is the founder of Immigrant Families Together, the grassroots organization that reunites mothers and children. 
Unforgetting: A Memoir of Family, Migration, Gangs, and Revolution in the Americas, by Roberto Lovato
The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self-Assurance, by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman
Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, by Sheryl Sandberg
Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation, by Hannah Gadsby

Listen to DE&I-Centered Podcasts

Race at Work with Porter Braswell

Uncomfortable Conversations with Emmanuel Acho

DE&I Courses & Certificates

Anti-Racism and Allyship 7 Day Journey, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Brave Space Training
“Crucial Conversations” training
Race Talk University
University of South Florida Muma College of Business’ Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace Certificate
Virtual Privilege Walk with Jackie Ferguson

Additional DE&I Resources

Non-Profit Organization

Peak Performers -Getting the Job Done, Working with Disabilities

AICPA Resources

AICPA Diversity Initiative: 2022 Holidays

Questions?

To learn more about COCPA's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts, contact Stacy Svendsen:
stacy@cocpa.org | 303-741-8613