2023 Colors of Success DEI Leadership Award Magazine

Thursday, September 14, 2023

Powerful partners

It also means investing our energy in the organizations our communities special.

We are pleased to lend our support to the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce.

Program Agenda

Welcome

Briana Collier, Anchor & Reporter, News10NBC

Program Host Remarks

Bob Duffy, President & CEO, Greater Rochester Chamber

Keynote Speech

Dr. Keith Jenkins, Vice President & Associate Provost for Diversity & Inclusion, Rochester Institute of Technology

2022 Colors of Success DEI Leadership Award Recipient

2023 Colors of Success DEI Leadership Award Finalists Recognition

Presentation of the 2023 Colors of Success DEI Leadership Award

Closing Remarks

Bob Duffy, President & CEO, Greater Rochester Chamber

2022 Colors of Success DEI Leadership Award Finalists

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Greater Rochester Chamber is pleased to bring the second annual Colors of Success DEI Leadership Award program to our region. We gratefully acknowledge the generosity of our 2023 Colors of Success DEI Leadership Award sponsors:

Presenting Sponsors

Premier Sponsors

To sponsor this event next year, please contact Susan George at Susan.George@GreaterRochesterChamber.com.

The Future of DEI in Greater Rochester

Greater Rochester has been at the forefront of progress in the area of diversity, equity, and inclusion for hundreds of years, going back to Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, and so many others. Today, we need to focus our efforts on continuing to be a welcoming and equitable place for people of all walks of life in spite of the challenges we have faced as a community.

As we look to the future, we need to expand our view of diversity. By 2030, Gen Z will make up 30% of the workforce. Research from Johns Hopkins University shows that Gen Z is the most diverse generation yet, and that they see diversity and inclusion as issues beyond race and ethnicity. Truly valuing diversity, intersectionality, and hidden talent of all forms needs to be a hallmark of our organizations and communities moving forward in order to reap the benefits that come with having an inclusive workplace.

We also need to extend our goals to look past equality and focus on true equity. While equality states that all individuals should receive the same treatment, equity acknowledges the individual’s distinct situation and adapts the treatment to ensure that the final outcome is fair. A common explanation of the difference between equality and equity is that “Equality is giving everyone the same pair of shoes. Equity is giving everyone a pair of shoes that fits.” Many underrepresented people have been fighting to get into the room. We need to not just get everyone in the same room, but we need to remove the need for that fight.

Finally, as leaders of inclusion, we need to ensure that each member of our community is valued for their contributions, not for checking a box. While we should not need to justify DEI work with a business case, employees who feel as though they are tokenized representative of diverse groups will not bring nearly the same benefits to an organization that would be garnered by a truly diverse workforce where they can be genuinely themselves. A recent study in the Harvard Business Review found that companies with above-average total diversity have 19% points higher innovation revenues and 9% points higher EBIT margins, on average.

The importance of the work done by the individuals in this room cannot be overstated. I would like to thank all of our 2023 Colors of Success DEI Leadership Award finalists for walking the walk each day and working to break down the barriers in our community. Additional thanks to our attendees for coming together with us to celebrate the work described above. Finally, thank you to our sponsors for making this celebration possible. I know that the future of DEI in Greater Rochester and beyond is in great hands.

Bob Duffy President & CEO Greater Rochester Chamber

Denise G. Herrera Founder, Program Lead Preceptor Randleman Program at RIT/NTID

Jazzmyn Ivery-Robinson Assistant Director Community & Belonging Division of Diversity and Inclusion, RIT

2023 Colors of Success DEI Leadership Award Finalists

Sady Alvarado-Fischer

Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield

Alana Barend Talent + DEI Manager Partners + Napier

Jazzmyn Ivery-Robinson

Assistant Director, Community & Belonging Rochester Institute of Technology

Melissa James-Geska President US Ceiling Corp

Darrell Bell Vice President, Advancement

Nazareth University

Sydney Bell Manager, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

ESL

Kesha Carter Chief Diversity Officer Coordinated Care Services, Inc. (CCSI)

Jahmar Elliott Director, Staff DEI and Engagement University of Rochester

Denise G. Herrera

Founder, Program Lead Preceptor Randleman Program at RIT/NTID

Cynthia Herriott

Deputy Executive Director Rochester Housing Authority

Dr. Celia McIntosh Nurse Practitioner, Owner, Chief Advocacy Officer (CAO) McIntosh Advocacy and Consulting

Evelyn Parker Head of Diversity and Inclusion Stride/K12

Stephanie Pennington Director of DEI & Supplier Diversity LeChase Construction Services, LLC

Candyce Singletary Mission Advancement Coordinator YWCA of Rochester & Monroe County

Dr. Sheila Strong

Director of Leadership Development & Equity United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes

Sesha Yalamanchili President

On the Mark Consulting, LLC

Sady Alvarado-Fischer

Vice President, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield

Sady is an award-winning, Queer Latina changemaker with roots in HIV prevention and a passion for social justice.

As Vice President, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Sady leads the company’s DEI strategy. In 2019, she developed the IDEA Mindset – her framework that became one of the company’s 7 core values in 2022.

Under Sady’s leadership, the organization has earned several recognitions for workplace inclusion, including several firsts: In 2021, Excellus BCBS was named a “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion,” receiving a top score of 100 percent in 2021, 2022, and 2023 on the Disability Equality Index. In 2023, Excellus BCBS was named one of Forbes’ “Best Employers for Diversity,” and an Elevating Women honoree through the Rochester Business Journal. Sady volunteers with several organizations, including Rochester Latinx Roundtable and United Way’s Leadership Development Programs and serves on several boards, including the Rochester Women’s Council, Greater Rochester Health Foundation, and Causewave Community Partners.

Sady’s work has received several local, state, and national awards. In 2023, she was honored on the Power List of LGBTQ+ Business Leaders by RBJ and as a Healthcare Diversity Leader by the National Diversity Council.

Alana Barend

Talent + DEI Manager, Partners + Napier

The self-proclaimed “HR Mermaid”, Alana Barend prides herself in using her empathetic moral compass to navigate, educate and mediate through the muddy and sometimes very choppy waters of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion work.

Through an unconventional career path that has taken her through non-profit and corporate environments alike, Alana has cultivated her guiding philosophies of meeting people where they are and practicing radical empathy.

These calling cards have influenced the development of multiple successful engagement initiatives and strategies, most notably at Partners + Napier: including an intimate speaker series with Rochester trailblazers and the “Leave a Tip” program, which encourages economic support for local minority-owned businesses.

Alana also serves on the LGBTQ+ working group of Partners’ global holding company, representing 14 companies with thousands of employees around the world. She relishes the opportunity to dig deep and increase representation and equity in the creative industry.

Alana is a longtime activist for the queer community, people of color, and feminist causes. She believes it is in every moment – big and small – that we can create change with all those who cross our paths. She strives to not just invite people to the table, but to build a whole new one.

Darrell Bell Vice President, Advancement Nazareth University

In May 2021, Darrell Bell became Vice President for Advancement at Nazareth College, boasting over 22 years of experience in higher education advancement. Previously, he held roles at esteemed institutions such as Roberts Wesleyan University, Northeastern Seminary, University of Rochester, Carnegie Mellon University, and University of Pittsburgh. With expertise in diversity initiatives, fundraising, annual giving, and more, Darrell oversees university development and alumni affairs, leading six departments and a team of 20 professionals. He devises strategies for fundraising, relations, and programming, collaborating with volunteers and the Board of Trustees. As a trailblazer, Darrell holds distinctions as the first Vice President of color at Roberts Wesleyan University and Nazareth University. Beyond academia, he dedicates his time to organizations like Leadership Rochester and the Genesee Valley Club. A member of the President’s Cabinet, Darrell’s influence extends to university decisions. Recognized with awards like RBJ 40 under 40 and as a finalist for the Greater Rochester Chamber IGNITE Award, Darrell holds degrees from various institutions, including a Masters of Strategic Leadership. He resides in Macedon, NY with his dog Lacy.

Sydney Bell Manager, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion ESL

Sydney E. Bell (she/her) is the Manager of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at ESL where she leads DEI programming and education, and supports overall DEI strategy efforts.

Sydney is an adjunct professor of DEI at Nazareth University and serves as a mentor for the YWCA of Rochester & Monroe County Equity Through Development Program, Co-chair of the Friends of 540 group with 540WMain, Inc., and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors at the Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley.

She holds a Master’s degree in Human Resource Development from Nazareth University and eCornell’s DEI Certificate. Sydney participated in the 2023 Leadership Rochester cohort and is currently part of the Rochester Chamber’s DEI Leadership Exchange Program. She is a certified antiracism facilitator through 540WMain, Inc., and is a SafeZone certified trainer through the SafeZone Initiative.

Kesha Carter

Chief Diversity Officer

Coordinated Care Services, Inc. (CCSI)

Kesha Carter is the Chief Diversity Officer for CCSI. There she leads the organizational strategy on diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and antiracism. She has facilitated DEI workshops, conversations, and trainings, both locally and nationally. Kesha has developed policies and programs to attract, retain, and promote a diverse workforce leading to greater employee engagement.

Kesha is a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) and holds a Six Sigma Green Belt, as well as a Professional Human Resources (PHR) certification from the Human Resource Capital Institute.

Integrally involved in the community, Kesha is a board member of Rochester RHIO, The Women’s Council, Mission Fulfilled, and Willow Domestic Violence Center and is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership, as well as a Master of Science in Business Administration and Management, both from Keuka College.

Kesha brings over 15 years of experience to her role and is committed to creating continuous growth through education and collaboration.

Jahmar Elliott Director, Staff DEI and Engagement University of Rochester

Jahmar Elliott is an unwavering advocate for community wellbeing, fueled by his belief in diversity as the foundation of innovation. As the Director of Staff DEI and Engagement at the University of Rochester, he is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and dynamic environment. With family roots hailing from Jamaica, West Indies, Elliott is a native of Rochester, New York, where he earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration and Management from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

With a background in Human Resources and servant leadership, Elliott’s expertise lies in designing and executing responsible systemic policies to attract diverse talent, rooted in values of humanity. Elliott’s skill in training leaders ensures seamless integration of DEI into strategic visions, considering its profound impact on historically marginalized communities.

Elliott’s role as an HR leader is evident in pivotal decisions that have propelled and elevated emerging talents into local and national leadership positions. Beyond work, Elliott actively engages with numerous community organizations and holds memberships in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the Eta Rho Lambda Educational Foundation, Inc. Elliott graduated from the United Way of Greater Rochester African American Leadership Development Program (2022) and currently participates in their LEAD Program (2023). Elliott and his wife, Marina Elliott, find happiness in parenthood, raising three wonderful children: Christopher, Elijah, and Jasiah.

Denise G. Herrera Founder, Program Lead Preceptor Randleman Program at RIT/NTID

Denise Herrera is a Peruvian American Queer woman born and raised in Jamaica, Queens NYC. She arrived in Rochester in 2000 and graduated from her alma mater, Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelor’s in Psychology in 2004. In 2005, she went back to attain her Bachelor’s in ASL/English Interpretation from the National Institute of Technology. In her last year of study, she was hired full time as Staff Interpreter for the Department of Access Services in 2007. Her interpreting portfolio includes a myriad of educational disciplines and environments. Her passion to mentor up and coming interpreters to feel a belonging in the field, led her and her colleagues on a journey developing the Randleman Program for Interpreters of Color. The Randleman program was established as a two-year preceptorship to address identified gaps in interpreting education for interpreters of color, while simultaneously focusing on interpreting, diversity, equity, intersectionality and inclusion. Denise is a proud fellow Founder and current Program Lead with regard to the preceptorship. Her passion to build connections across various networks, such as interpreting for Rochester Pride or Black Lives Matter protests; leads to her ultimate goal of collaboration, liberation and a sense of belonging.

Cynthia Herriott Deputy Executive Director Rochester Housing Authority

Cynthia Herriott is the Deputy Executive Director of the Rochester Housing Authority (RHA.) She served as the Interim police chief for the City of Rochester, where as chief, she provided a public 90 Day Plan on efforts to move the Department forward and developed a Protest Plan protocol. She served on the Rochester City School District’s School Climate Committee as part of a subcommittee that re-wrote the school’s Code of Conduct. She chaired the Unite Rochester Justice Engagement initiative.

She managed the first area Community Court Academy and the Community Justice Forum. She has worked with court systems and law enforcement around the United States, and internationally.

She serves on the board of the national organization - Police Leaders for Community Safety, Rise Up Rochester Inc., St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center, and the Perkins Mansion. She is a member of several professional organizations. She currently serves as Co-Chair of the RASE Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee, a community initiative tasked with Justice Reform. She is a nonprofit executive with years of experience in organizational problem-solving. She is married and lives in the area with her family. She holds a Master of Science Degree and is a Certified Compliance Professional.

Jazzmyn Ivery-Robinson

Assistant Director, Community & Belonging Rochester Institute of Technology

Jazzmyn Ivery-Robinson is the Assistant Director of Community and Belonging at the Rochester Institute of Technology and is responsible for creating and assisting in the implementation of diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging programs that engage the entire student campus community. Jazzmyn earned her B.S. in Political Science from RIT, M.S. in Management, and M.S. in Marketing & Communication from Nazareth University, and is currently working on her doctoral degree in Education Leadership & Management with a concentration on Mind, Brain, & Learning.

Prior to RIT, Jazzmyn was the Assistant Director for Advocacy & Social Justice Education at Nazareth University where she managed the Office for Diversity & Inclusive Excellence Education. Within this role, she was committed to creating and supporting sustainable efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. Jazzmyn established the first-ever BIPOC mentorship program.

Jazzmyn is a board member of the Rochester Regional Library Council and The Women’s Council and is also a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, and Sigma Beta Delta International Honor Society.

Jazzmyn is trained in restorative justice practices, mental health first aid, a safe zone trainer, bystander intervention trainer, circle trainer, and certified as a virtual reality educator. She has taught collegiate courses on Race, Gender, & Voting Rights, Analytics & Data Visualization, and Service Learning.

Melissa James-Geska President, US Ceiling Corp

As president of US Ceiling Corp, Melissa James-Geska sets and defines the strategic vision of her award-winning social impact construction company, bringing an unwavering commitment to change lives, empower communities and help priority populations build economic self-reliance. For more than two decades, Melissa has served as a role model and mentor, contributing to various nonprofits that address issues affecting marginalized groups. Passionate about promoting DEI in construction and bridging the labor gap, Melissa created [in 2018] her firm’s skilled trades training and workforce development program, USC Academy, partnering with like-minded organizations to provide practical experience and scalable employment opportunities for her existing workforce and those who are underrepresented in the industry. In 2021, she made “herstory” as the first woman and minority to serve a two-year term as chair of the Builders Exchange of Rochester. That same year, she launched US Ceiling’s GC/development arm, USC, bringing workforce development and social impact construction and real estate development to projects in Rochester and Ithaca. Melissa is currently vice chair of RochesterWorks; a steering committee member for RMAPI; a board trustee for Genesee Valley Club; a board and construction committee member for Flower City Habitat for Humanity; and a medical center board member for the University of Rochester.

Dr. Celia McIntosh

Nurse Practitioner, Owner, Chief Advocacy Officer, McIntosh Advocacy and Consulting

Dr. Celia McIntosh is a dually certified Family and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, nonprofit leader, anti-trafficking advocate, and nurse entrepreneur. With a remarkable career spanning over 20 years in nursing, she has emerged as a prominent figure in championing healthcare equity, addressing social injustices, and fighting against human trafficking.

As a passionate advocate for healthcare equity, Dr. McIntosh tirelessly works to bridge the gap between healthcare disparities and marginalized communities. Her commitment to providing comprehensive care to underserved populations has earned her widespread recognition and respect. Through her expertise as a nurse practitioner, she has been able to address the unique needs of individuals across the lifespan, both in physical and mental well-being.

Beyond her clinical work, Dr. McIntosh is a visionary leader who actively mentors professionals, inspiring them to drive impactful change in their respective fields. Her dedication to improving the healthcare landscape extends to her role as a nurse entrepreneur, where she combines her clinical expertise with her innovative spirit to create solutions that prioritize patient care and well-being.

Dr. McIntosh’s unwavering commitment to combating human trafficking has positioned her as a leading advocate in the fight against this issue. Her work within the nonprofit sector has raised awareness, educated communities, and provided critical support to survivors.

Evelyn Parker Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Stride/K12

Evelyn Parker M.S, CDP, CAPM, LSSWB, is a Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) practitioner and BRIM Trainer (Bias Reduction in Internal Medicine) committed to ensuring an inclusive workplace for all employees. She is a strategic thought leader with 21 years of multi-faceted experience in D&I, Human Resources, Learning & Development, Talent Management, Coaching, Change Management, Project Management, and Business Operations within the corporate and higher education services and retail industries. Evelyn, is experienced in designing strategy and implementing large-scale programs aimed at developing, retaining, and advancing underrepresented employees. Evelyn has extensive relationship and coalition building skills, including a robust network of professional and diverse national and local organizations.

Evelyn has earned her Master’s in Organizational Leadership and Development from Medaille College and is a certified diversity professional from the Society for Diversity Inc. & Institute for Diversity Certification (IDC). Evelyn is also a Certified BRIM (Bias Reduction Internal Medicine) trainer.

In 2019, Evelyn was nominated as an “Emerging Leader” an award recognizing female leaders in their careers who have strong engagement in the community, show strong leadership ability, and exhibit high potential for collaborations. She is also a 2023 ATHENA International Award Finalist, and a 2023 Women of Excellence Honoree.

Stephanie Pennington

Director of DEI & Supplier Diversity LeChase Construction Services, LLC

Stephanie Pennington is the Director of DEI & Supplier Diversity at LeChase Construction Services, LLC, an East Coast top-ranking contracting firm. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, she leads the development and execution of the company’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) strategy. Her focus includes fostering an inclusive internal culture, expanding supplier diversity, and establishing partnerships for workforce diversity and skilled trades engagement.

With more than two decades of experience spanning government, education, and private industry, Pennington’s career highlights include roles as a legislative director, program director for paralegal studies, and diversity compliance manager. Before LeChase, she spent six years as diversity compliance manager at a Buffalo construction firm, building connections with various stakeholders.

Pennington holds a J.D. from the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB) School of Law, along with an M.S. in interdisciplinary social sciences from UB and a B.S. in sociology and political science from Syracuse University. She’s an active voice in business and industry associations, having spoken at events like ESDC MWBE Regional Forums and New York Build Expo. She serves on multiple diversity councils and is a member of organizations such as the American Contract Compliance Association and National Association of Women in Construction.

Candyce Singletary

Mission Advancement Coordinator YWCA of Rochester & Monroe County

Candyce Singletary is a dynamic leader in issues of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. She serves as the Mission Advancement Coordinator for YWCA of Rochester & Monroe County. The main focus of her role is to eliminate racism and empower women. Candyce is entrusted with creating a path that leads to an internal culture shift and aligning with other organizations that share the same core values and mission. Candyce understands the intersectionality of race and trauma, and she leads the charge in shaping the organization’s commitment to trauma-informed care and anti-racism. As the chair of the JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) committee, Candyce has co-created an anti-racism curriculum with the Buffalo YWCA after the Tops mass shooting. She has led the charge in training other organizations on Trauma-Informed approaches and understanding how racism impacts systems of care. Candyce has served on a number of community organizations that advocate for social justice and racial equity including Diversity Café, which led community conversations to heal the racial divide between urban and suburban areas, and Enough is Enough, which advocates for victims of police brutality. She is also a member of the Black Panther Party of Rochester, who advocates for racial and social justice and equity, and who was responsible for having the racist cartoon images removed from the historic carousel at Ontario Beach.

Dr. Sheila Strong

Director of Leadership Development & Equity

United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes

Dr. Sheila M. Strong is a scholar and an inclusive leader. She has over twenty years of executive-level experience in nonprofit and higher education. As Director of Leadership Development and Equity at United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes, she directs United Way’s six longstanding leadership development programs (Latino, African American, Emerging Leaders, Pride, Asian-Pacific American, and Development of Indo-American Leaders). Also, Dr. Strong leads the DRIVE (Diversity, Race, Inclusion, Value, Equity) Team to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging initiatives at United Way and supports other organizations in the community. She launched United Way’s first Leadership, Equity, Advancement, and Development (LEAD) Mentoring and Coaching Program.

Dr. Strong serves as a trustee on the Friends and Foundation of the Rochester Public Library, Susan B. Anthony House, Inc. and BoardStrong, Inc. In addition, she has served as a mentor to young women and community leaders in the Greater Rochester community.

Sheila is a lifelong learner; she completed her Doctor of Education in Executive Leadership from Saint John Fisher University. She holds a Master of Publication Administration and Graduate Certificate in Non-Profit Management, a BS in Business Communications from The College at Brockport, and an AAS degree from Monroe Community College.

Sesha Yalamanchili

President, On the Mark Consulting, LLC

Focused on driving results, Sesha leverages her extensive background in sales, marketing, operations, and innovation to influence organizations of every size and scope. From entrepreneurial startups to large corporations, Sesha’s vast realworld experience spans careers in consumer goods, technology, banking, healthcare, and insurance.

Sesha has an inherent ability to comprehend the many issues and challenges that face organizations in today’s world of constant change, disruption, and uncertainty. Passionate about empowering others with the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to make an immediate impact, Sesha works with business professionals to sustain long-term results at their organizations.

A seasoned leadership consultant and trainer with nearly two decades of business experience, Sesha specializes in equipping leaders with the knowledge, tools, and resources to make an immediate impact in their organization. “Understanding real world challenges from the human perspective is key to helping professionals accelerate their growth as leaders,” she says.

Sesha holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from University at Buffalo and is a certified Everything DiSC® facilitator, designating her certification to administer personality profile assessments and coaching services. She is an ICF accredited coach and trained at the world renowned CaPP Institute. She specializes in strengths-based and positive psychology practices.

To see all of our upcoming events, visit my.GreaterRochesterChamber.com/Calendar

Celebrating Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

LeChase congratulates all of the finalists for the inaugural Colors of Success Award. Thanks to the Greater Rochester Chamber for its efforts to promote and celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion within our community.

Thank You to our Selection Committee

Greater Rochester Chamber thanks the independent panel of judges that determined the recipient of its 2023 Colors of Success DEI Leadership Award. These community leaders from diverse backgrounds and industries volunteered their time to assess the applications and select a recipient. The Colors of Success DEI Leadership Award, introduced to our community in 2022 by Greater Rochester Chamber, recognizes individuals who:

Demonstrates excellence in sustained efforts toward advancing DEI in the workplace.

Directly contributes to DEI related programs, policies, or initiatives that positively impacts the status of a community issue/initiative.

Demonstrates commitment to coaching and/or mentoring others in the workplace, or in the community, as it relates to DEI.

2023 Color of Success DEI Leadership Award Judges

Dr. Keith Jenkins Rochester Institute of Technology

Colors of Success DEI Leadership Award Ambassadors

Meet our 2023 Colors of Success DEI Leadership Award ambassadors. As supporters of our DEI programs including our DEI Leadership Exchange, they give back and support this event and the DEI trailblazers being honored today.

SUNY Brockport

What strategies are in place to ensure that DEI efforts are sustained and integrated into the long-term organizational culture?

SUNY Brockport believes EDI is everyone’s responsibility. We foster this value by articulating our commitment to EDI verbally and in writing. To that end, we invite all members of our community to commit to the principles of our Better Community Statement, establishing shared values, norms and expectations among students, faculty, and staff. We also believe in leading by example. Thus, the University’s leadership team is charged with setting EDI goals for their divisions, assessing and reporting out on the effectiveness of their efforts. It is one of the ways we hold each other accountable to our EDI efforts as a community.

Talethea Best

Chief People and Culture Officer, YMCA of Greater Rochester 2022 Colors of Success DEI Leadership Award Finalist DEI Leadership Exchange Participant

What strategies are in place to ensure that DEI efforts are sustained and integrated into the long-term organizational culture?

One of the things important to us at the Y is doing our work with an equitable, inclusive lens. We proudly stand “for all” and want to demonstrate that commitment in everything we do. To help put that commitment into practice and sustain over time, we’ve created an infrastructure made up of 3 key parts:

1. The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Advisory Council: the strategic arm of the Association that guides DEIB key focus areas, addresses policies and procedures, and represents a cross section of staff across our branches, camps and youth divisions.

2. Inclusion Champions: individuals who are our local branch or camp “go to” people for questions, concerns and activities related to DEIB. By completing the Y’s “Global Leadership Certification”, these individuals are equipped with the skills and tools needed to navigate different situations our frontline staff face.

3. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): ERGs represent the “pulse” of our staff in a broad range of areas including Women, LGBTQA+ and African Americans. It’s through our ERGs that we educate, advocate and celebrate the uniqueness and value of our staff.

to our Vice President Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Sady Alvarado-Fischer and all the 2023 Colors of Success DEI Leadership Award Leaders. We salute you on this well deserved honor!

We are thrilled to recognize Darrell Bell for his professional accomplishments and the inspired leadership he brings to the Nazareth community.

Celebrating leadership

Congratulations to all the 2023 Colors of Success DEI Leadership Award honorees on their well-deserved recognition and achievements. Thank you for using your voice, vision and extraordinary leadership to help create more diverse and inclusive workplaces.

We proudly support Greater Rochester Chamber and celebrate these amazing community leaders. jpmorganchase.com/dei