The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking to hire trainers who can teach government employees how to tell stories in order to advance "diversity and inclusiveness."
The agency will host a two-hour training session later this year, according to a solicitation posted on Thursday.
The EPA’s Office of General Counsel (OGC) Diversity Dialogue Group (DDG) explained that they are "seeking storytelling training for our staff and managers as part of the 2015 OGC Diversity Dialogue Initiative."
"The DDG is a staff-driven office diversity initiative intended to achieve the following two (2) outcomes: (1) a workplace where individuals feel respected, valued and included, and (2) an enhanced sense of connection across diverse individuals in the office," the statement of work (SOW) said. "One of the ways we hope to achieve these outcomes is through offering OGC staff and managers training in workplace storytelling."
The EPA said storytelling is an effective way to creating an "inclusive workplace."
"This concept stems from the idea that sharing our stories is a way to help bring to light the many aspects of an individual’s identity, and can help people better understand the many levels of diversity found in the workplace," the document said. "Storytelling training would provide participants tools to share their diverse stories, and better appreciate the stories of others. This in turn should help to create a more respectful and inclusive workplace where colleagues have a better appreciation for each other's identities, and find commonalities and better understand differences."
Prospective contractors have until April 13 to bid on the contract. Once a contractor is selected they will prepare the training session, which will take place at the EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C.
"The session will be two (2) hours or less, and will need to accommodate at least 20 participants," the EPA said.
Specific requirements of the training session include teaching EPA managers "the elements of a story, and how storytelling can help them to work more effectively with others and create a more respectful and inclusive workplace."
Participating EPA employees will also be able to practice telling stories during the training and be instructed on how telling stories "promotes workplace diversity."
The contractor is also required to "teach participants to use storytelling techniques to foster better communication between colleagues and increase workplace inclusiveness."
The EPA did not return request for comment before publication of this story.
The EPA’s budget for the training is unclear. Similar diversity training at the Department of Commerce cost up to $71,546.44