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Fostering Inclusion on the Waterfront: Holiday Activities for Diverse Teams

The holiday season is upon us – and it’s a wonderful time to connect with colleagues and celebrate the diversity of your team!

While many organizations like to coordinate end-of-year celebrations and team activities in December, it’s important to ensure they are inclusive of everyone.

Need some inspiration? Here are 6 inclusive holiday activity ideas to promote learning, understanding, and team bonding.

Cultural Exchange and Learning

1. Cultural Potluck: Encourage team members to share dishes from their cultural heritage. Pair this with presentations or discussions about the significance of the food, the culture it represents, and any personal stories or anecdotes related to the dish.
2. Global Holiday Trivia: Create a trivia quiz featuring questions about holidays and traditions from around the world. You can use online platforms such as Kahoot to make it more engaging and incorporate multimedia elements like images and videos.

Creative and Collaborative Activities

3. Holiday Card Making: Get together with your team to create holiday cards! This is a great festive way to celebrate the holiday spirit together, regardless of cultural backgrounds.
4. Holiday Craft Workshop: Get crafty! Organize a workshop to create a holiday craft with your team, such as a wreath or a festive centerpiece.

Community Engagement

5. Volunteer Together: Choose a local charity or organization that aligns with your team’s values and volunteer together to help with a holiday-related project, such as packing food boxes or delivering gifts.
6. Holiday Charity Drive: Organize a charity drive to collect donations for a local cause. You can set up a donation box in your office for donations from your team, and / or encourage online donations.

Additional Tips for Inclusive Holiday Activities

1. Encourage open and respectful dialogue: This is key to building strong relationships and fostering understanding around different holiday practices.
2. Be mindful of religious and cultural sensitivities: To ensure inclusivity, it’s important to be aware of and respect diverse religious and cultural practices. Avoid making assumptions about people’s beliefs and use inclusive language when communicating holiday plans.
3. Create a safe and inclusive space for everyone to participate: A safe and inclusive environment is essential for all employees to feel comfortable and respected. Encourage open communication, challenge stereotypes, and ensure that activities are accessible to everyone.

Closing Thoughts

Incorporating these inclusive activities into your holiday plans can allow you to create a more meaningful and enjoyable experience for your entire team. Remember, the goal is to foster a sense of belonging and connection during the holiday season, while respecting individual differences!

Want to learn more about creating a more inclusive workplace? We’re here to help you foster a workplace that authentically reflects our diverse waterfront communities.