MID ATLANTIC SERIES: Inclusion Happens Before Day One Creating a Better Employee Experience for LGBTQIA+ People

(LGBTQIA+ candidates and employees begin forming impressions about a workplace long before their first day. Recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and everyday workplace interactions all communicate whether an organization’s commitment to inclusion is likely to be experienced in practice.

This interactive session examines the employee experience through an LGBTQIA+ inclusion lens, with a focus on practical ways HR, Learning & Development, and organizational leaders can reduce unnecessary barriers, strengthen trust, and create more inclusive workplaces.

Participants will be able to:

• Identify common points of friction for LGBTQIA+ candidates and employees.

• Examine recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding practices through an inclusion lens.

• Recognize gaps between organizational values and employee experience.

• Identify one practical action they can take to strengthen LGBTQIA+ inclusion.

SPEAKER: Rocco Vallerand

BIO: Rocco Vallerand is the founder of Vallerand Inclusion Consulting and S.A.F.E.T.Y. (Support Alliance for Fairness and Equity for Transgender Youth). His work is centered on helping people and organizations create spaces where everyone feels respected, included, and able to participate fully. With a background in writing, counseling, advocacy, education, and public speaking, Rocco brings both lived experience and practical workplace insight to conversations about LGBTQIA+ inclusion, belonging, leadership, and culture. His approach is conversational, grounded, and focused on realistic changes people can actually use.

WEBSITES: 

http://vallerandinclusion.com/

http://transkidsroc.com/

**The Zoom link will be emailed to all registered participants one day prior to the event.**

We are proud to participate in the ATD Mid-Atlantic Regional Webinar Series. This monthly webinar series is offered by the ATD Mid-Atlantic Chapters – Regional Programs Consortium which is comprised of the following twelve ATD chapters: 

1.    Appalachia

2.    Buffalo Niagara

3.    Central PA

4.    Greater Philadelphia

5.    Long Island

6.    Maryland

7.    Metro DC

8.    Mid NJ

9.    New York City

10.         Northern NJ

11.         Pittsburgh

12.         Rochester

Cooperatively, these chapters bring together the very best speakers from around all our networks to provide world-class presenters and content!  We look forward to sharing these webinars with you for the rest of 2025!  

Online Event Recording Policy: 

By activating your webcam while attending this online event, you consent to be recorded. Your entry and webcam activation constitutes your consent to such recording for any purpose in connection with the event. If you do not agree to the foregoing, please do not activate your web camera during the event.

ATD Buffalo Niagara Chapter has been pre-approved by the ATD Certification Institute to offer educational programs that can be used towards initial eligibility and recertification of the Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and Associate Professional in Talent Development (APTD) credentials. This program qualifies for a maximum of 1 point.