The roots of the Inclusion Roundtable are firmly planted within the rich soil of the history of the United Way movement. In its current form, this gathering represents an evolution in our thinking about diversity and inclusion. At the 2007 United Way Inclusion Roundtable, we will celebrate diversity in a broad context with an agenda covering all types of diversity, including race, gender, age and sexual orientation. This event remains an important expression of the mission, values and Standards of Excellence for United Way.
The seeds for this event were planted by a group of committed professionals who believed that women and minorities should be more broadly reflected in leadership roles across the United Way system. In 1983, United Way of America (UWA) established two task forces; one to examine career development issues for women and one to address minority staff development. The Women’s Task Force was chaired by the late Dell Raudelunas, then President and CEO, United Way of Union County, in New Jersey. The group met several times in the 1980’s and made recommendations for how to increase the number of women in senior positions in the United Way.
Al Henry, then Associate Executive Director, United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast in Houston, Texas served as chair of the Minority Staff Task Force. Deborah Foster, then a senior human resource manager at United Way of America, staffed both the Women’s and Minority Development groups. Today, Deborah serves as Executive Vice President, Strategic Alliances and Inclusion, for UWA. One of the most significant recommendations from the group was to convene an annual event with a focus on career and leadership development for minority professionals within the United Way system.
The first Roundtable was held in 1984, in the birthplace of the United Way movement, Denver, Colorado. Initially the event was limited to an invited group of minority professionals in leadership roles within the system, but in 1989 the Roundtable advanced the recommendation that future events be open to all professionals. Also, in 1989, Hispanic professionals held a meeting in Orange County, California, which resulted in a recommendation that a full-time staff person be committed to developing human capital capacities of minority professionals within the United Way system. As a result, United Way of America created the position of Director of Minority Affairs, which has evolved into a Director of Diversity position at United Way of America.
United Way of America has since conducted the Roundtable on an annual basis since 1984 with the support of United Way professionals and the CPO/CVO Minority Alliance. The Roundtable serves as a key strategy for developing and sustaining minority leadership within the United Way system. The Alliance also supported a recommendation that United Way of America promote strategies to integrate diversity into all areas of United Way’s work and that diversity be a part of all of its future programs and conferences.
Over the years, the Minority Roundtable steadily grew and expanded to include participation by increasingly diverse United Way professionals and volunteers. Among the United Way movement’s most unique learning opportunities, the National United Way Minority Roundtable, which has evolved into the Inclusion Roundtable, blends skill building, personal development, networking, and best practice sharing on inclusiveness and diversity practices. All of these elements combine to create a positive community experience for participants. While still true to its root as a talent management strategy, today’s event can also claim a unique role in assisting the United Way System in leveraging diversity as a core business strategy for achieving the United Way mission.
2007 Highlights
The 2007 United Way Inclusion Roundtable took place in Philadelphia, PA on August 1 -3, 2007. The event was attended by a record number of 313 United Way staff from all backgrounds and was a tremendous success with an overall satisfaction rating of 98% given by attendees. This year, the Inclusion Roundtable was led by four United Way executives: Co-Chairs Kerry Blume, President & CEO, United Way of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff, AZ; Alan Perez, President & CEO, United Way of Erie, PA; Eric McDonnell, Executive Vice President, United Way of the Bay Area, San Francisco, CA; and Host City Chair Alba Martinez, President, United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
This is a unique event within the United Way system, in which a special feeling of family and community is created throughout. Though the main focus is on learning through blending personal development, networking and the sharing of best practices in diversity and inclusion, the Inclusion Roundtable is more than a meeting; it is a time of culture sharing and learning, with music and story-telling, and a sense of community that is strongly felt by all participants.
Participants were educated, engaged and informed through general sessions, which featured a spectacular line up of guest speakers. Among the outstanding presenters were Bill Parrett, Chair, United Way of America, Board of Trustees; Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, Past Chair, UWA Board of Trustees; Philadelphia Mayor John Street; Janet Murguia, President & CEO, National Council of LaRaza; Deborah Alvarez-Rodriguez, CEO, Goodwill Industries, San Francisco, San Mateo and San Marin Counties and Brian Gallagher. The event also included learning labs, which focused on practical techniques and initiatives to implement proven diversity and cultural competency practices in local United Ways; and cultural celebrations and networking opportunities where attendees got to meet their colleagues in unique settings.
Some new elements were added this year. The United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, the event’s host city organization, hosted a community service project in conjunction with the event. Through their “Stuff the Bus” campaign, they were able to pack more than 1,500 school bags full of supplies for local children living in shelters. A “Town Hall” session held to discuss the issue of immigration was also a highlight of the event, with panelists representing several important points of view weighing in on this critical issue. This was also the first year a group of attendees created a blog to share their experience with their home community, and we had volunteer teams joining us from Portland, ME and Utica, NY.
Some of the highlights from this year’s event include:
- The Inclusion in Action: A Conversation with Corporate Leaders discussion panel which included senior diversity officers and leaders from companies and organizations that are leading the way in corporate diversity work.
- A “Town Hall” meeting held to discuss the issue of immigration was also a highlight of the event, with panelists representing several important points of view weighing in on this critical issue.
- Janet Murguia, President, National Council of LaRaza informed attendees of critical issues facing Latinos.
- Attendees made a recommitment to diversity and inclusion by reading and signing the United Way’s new “Declaration of Inclusion”.
