Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION

The first few months of 2021 were a productive period of further evolving the DEI workstreams. We now have 25 members actively engaged in these groups, as well as nine community advisors.

The vision for this work is to be an impactful community partner and leading example of how the private sector can help build and sustain an increasingly diverse, equitable and inclusive region. Our current focus is primarily on building racial equity inside our organizations and across our community, through a sustainable, long-term strategy that is built upon a deep understanding of the impact of racism in Columbus.

• Act on what we can uniquely do as business leaders, while at the same time engaging and supporting other community efforts with deference to existing knowledge, credibility and experiences.

• Meet one another, our individual organizations and our community partners where each sits on the spectrum of DEI activities.

• Thoroughly understand the interplay between equity and economic development and use that knowledge to help rectify Columbus’ racial wealth gap and inequities.

• Operate with a sense of humility and an enduring commitment to the values of Columbus Way, recognizing that we must aspire to extend its benefit to the entire community.

• Commit to driving both near- and long-term change.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

AREAS OF FOCUS

Our commitment to impact focuses on three workstreams, each driven by workgroups of Partnership members:

INDIVIDUAL AWARENESS & EDUCATION ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

Purpose: Elevate the membership’s level of awareness and conviction to act on the individual level, as a means to influence mindsets and behaviors that will drive change.

This workgroup supports programming to create a shared baseline of racial literacy across members of the Partnership, provide members with a solid grasp of the history of racism in Columbus, and understanding of the racial equity landscape that exists today. Purpose: Turn the mirror on ourselves, through examination of and action on what we can affect within our own organizations.

This workgroup will determine policies and practices to emulate, change or enact to build more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces. Purpose: Lend the Partnership’s collective support and influence to uplift and support existing DEI initiatives in the Columbus Region.

This workgroup recommends key areas for Columbus Partnership engagement, and works to mobilize small groups of members to act on those partnerships.