Diversity Council 101

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Comment by Donna Linsell on October 23, 2008 at 11:27am

Theresa Haller.....you are the only other person I have noted that offers a newsletter. Could you send me a copy? We started one a little over a year ago.

At the Public Debt, we have the Diversity Committee, consisting of 15 full members and approximately 7 associate members. Besides the newsletter noted above, we offer one large and several small events throughout the year. Is it effective? Not sure. At one time we discussed affinity groups but it flailed when the chairperson of that subcommittee left. We may consider again.

I added our 2009 Celebrate the Art of Diversity to the Events page.

Comment by Cynthia Grady on September 24, 2008 at 3:15pm

Karmen, I am very interested in the things you are doing and can respect the work towards the women. We have come a long way but only god knows how much further we need to go. Thanks. I am very inerested in the multi cultural celebration you have every year, maybe you can get me some info packets and I can be a part of it. Events as such gives all cultures a chance to be inside the other cultures for that quick moment of their showcase, which is wonderful. A quick way to be inclusive. What are some of the things you as a co-chair encounter with your orginization?

Comment by Karmen R. Starks on September 24, 2008 at 2:58am

Hi All,
I am not only a member of a Diversity Council (Berkeley Diversity Council), but the Co-Chair. At my organization, the council has been very effective in its work. We have started a women’s affinity group and will be chartering 2 more before year’s end. We have also petitioned the global site leadership to participate in more human rights agendas-successfully! In addition, we have a (multi) cultural celebration every other year where individuals can showcase everything from cooking to native dances. Not only that, but many of us jokingly refer to it as a “Heightened Homeland Security Event” because it is an occasion when the Israelis and Palestinians co-exists peacefully and happily showcasing their cultural traditions.
But on a serious note, the council primarily supports the business initiative of creating and continuing a diverse workplace and it is the order of the council to provide council on diverse issues and advise the site leadership on how we can make our workplace more inclusive- a very symbiotic relationship!

Comment by Debra Quade on August 28, 2008 at 11:56am

We do not have a Diversity Council or any Affinity Groups. I am hear to learn about your experiences in start up. I am truly at the 101 stage in learning.

Comment by Cynthia Grady on August 26, 2008 at 12:58pm

i would like to know the question asked by steve, what are some of the names of your diversity councils? To theresa and others.

Comment by Theresa Haller on June 8, 2008 at 7:13pm

Being a part of a Diversity Council has been very positive for me. I have had the chance to recieve many hours of training, worked with different folks from all parts of the company, and pretty much learned what Diversity is all about. We are now sharing what we have learned over the last two years, through our lunch and learn program. We have also started a mentoring program for our management team. We support about 1300 people over three shifts, in four buildings at two sites. The council has also created a yearly Diversity award given out in the fall to two people.
We start many conversations among the employees, through awarness activities. Any time we have conversations I feel that is effective. No matter how long or short, your hearing information. We also put out a newsletter, and get feed back from that.
Un-learning and re-learning......takes alot of time. and we all know how we hate change. Yes, we do run into challeges, but we have good support from our upper management. T

Comment by Steve L. Robbins, Ph.D. on June 7, 2008 at 11:47pm

There's been a lot of questions about the effectiveness of diversity councils. Why and when are they effective? Your thoughts can help others as they develop/mature their own diversity councils. Also, what do you call your "diversity councils?"