Toy Fair Diversity & Inclusion Sessions Invite Attendees to Examine Their Blind Spots

November 30, 2021 | Toy Fair attendees will be invited to examine the toy industry’s culture and their own blind spots that hinder the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work during a new series of educational sessions at the February marketplace.

Taking place in the Javits Center’s Theatre on Three, the hub for Toy Fair’s educational programming, DEI sessions will take place throughout the four-day show and focus on common DEI blind spots and offer tools to help overcome them. James Howard, executive director of Black Inventors Hall of Fame (BIHOF) and executive producer of BIHOF Films, will lead two sessions featuring a panel of black inventors from his upcoming documentary Black Inventors Got Game. Additional sessions will focus on the topic of gender and offer exercises to help attendees look inward. Ellen Lambert, the former interim director of The Toy Foundation and former chief diversity officer of PSEG, will lead the latter of those sessions. A full lineup of speakers will be shared in the coming weeks.

“As toy manufacturers, and the overall industry, seek to address DEI issues head on, it’s important that we all become more self-aware,” said Lambert. “It’s this inner work that will ultimately help ensure we are moving toward a more inclusive and equitable toy industry. We look forward to engaging Toy Fair participants in these important conversations!”

Toy Fair New York will take place from Saturday, February 19 through Tuesday, February 22, 2022, in New York City. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required to attend the 2022 show, in accordance with the Javits Center and NYC-mandated proof of vaccination for indoor activity guidelines. Complete details on registration, educational programming, hotel reservations, and more can be found at www.ToyFairNY.com.