This year, the Greater Phoenix Chamber is stepping up to meet an important community need. I’m proud to share that we have developed a Diversity and Inclusion Employer Program with the assistance of some of our state’s top experts. This program will support Chamber members and the community at large in implementing and expanding diversity and inclusion efforts for Phoenix businesses.
As a part of this new program, the Chamber is presenting a multi-use Diversity and Inclusion Employer Toolkit. We hope that businesses will be able to leverage this resource to build a stronger workplace culture and more diverse talent pipelines.
We have been working with a steering committee, chair by Frank Reid of Blue Cross Blue Shield and made up of Chamber members and community leaders, to develop a robust diversity and inclusion program that will help businesses of all shapes and sizes implement meaningful diversity and inclusion efforts in the workplace. Our team started this process in 2019, and while COVID-19 temporarily slowed our progress, the racial inequities highlighted throughout the past year demonstrated that our efforts needed to expand and better meet the needs of a wide range of businesses and individuals.
After months of comprehensive work, by the Steering Committee, and many dedicated community members, the Greater Phoenix Chamber’s Diversity and Inclusion Employer Program will officially launch on April 13th, 2021, from 2:00-3:00 p.m. I invite you to register for this virtual event today to hear from committee members as they highlight elements of the toolkit, break down how companies can begin makin D&I a part of company culture, and explain how to get started, no matter your company size or budget.
Not only will we be launching this program, but we will be active participants in it as well. This is a focus that my leadership team and I are fully committed to implementing; we understand that continuing to build a diverse team will bring new perspectives to our pillars of work and ultimately help us deliver better services to meet the needs of our members. Several people from our internal team have already formed a committee and are eager to begin rolling this initiative out within the Chamber.
As we continue to develop this diversity and inclusion program, we will host quarterly meetings to collaborate with community leaders, engage in thoughtful discussion, and ensure that this program is representative of all individuals. We’re breaking the traditional chamber mold to build a new program that includes viewpoints from all backgrounds, disciplines, and perspectives. Our business community’s continued progress in D&I will make Greater Phoenix an even better place to live, work, and do business!
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