Monday, September 22, 2014

Introducing the Agency’s Diversity Engagement Advisory Team

Members of the Cultural Competence Committee and the Human Resources team have joined efforts to create the new Diversity Engagement Advisory Team for our agency. 

The purpose of the team is to provide guidance and recommendations and implement actions on issues related to diversity and inclusion. 

Samantha Perry, Human Resources Specialist, and Gilmara Mitchell, Professional Learning & Leadership Consultant, co-facilitate the Diversity Engagement Advisory Team, which includes the following members: Ann Wilson (Board Member), Tony Chiaramonte, Dustin Gean, Annis Austin-Woods, Stephaney Jones-Vo, Jim Verlengia, Malinda Elliott, Laura Gillon, Tuan Dao, Mark Crady, Heidi Mendez, Sue Ford, Courtney Croatt and Karla Jones. 

The team is using the following working definition to focus efforts: Heartland AEA embraces diversity and inclusion by seeking out and hiring those whose differences are reflected in a variety of forms including, but not limited to, race, culture, perspective, talent, interest, ability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, language and socioeconomics. Our goal is for all employees to be able to engage and work effectively with others different from themselves, treating each other with respect and retaining employees who strive to meet this goal. 

A few of the accomplishments of the team so far this year have been: 
  • Met with external partners Mercy, DMACC and Wells Fargo to discuss diversity efforts 
  • Set up Nov. 11 presentation to the Agency’s Board of Directors regarding internal diversity engagement efforts 
  • Revised the Agency’s Affirmative Action Plan 
  • Created internal resources Google Site for Diversity Engagement and Google+ community for sharing Diversity Engagement topics 
  • The Agency will host an NAACP College-Prep Day on Nov. 1 
Visit our Google Site 
Visit our Google+ Community

If anyone is interested in joining the team or if you have any questions, contact Gilmara Mitchell at gmitchell@heartlandaea.org or Samantha Perry at sperry@heartlandaea.org.

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