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High-demand C-suite job
It’s something that we’ve seen through our jobs board – the increased demand for diversity officers. Now, a new workforce report by LinkedIn has the numbers to prove it. According to the report, hiring for diversity and inclusion officers saw the biggest gain in the past 12 months – up 111 percent as a share of all hires. That’s up from the previous 12 months when it saw an 84 percent rise. The number provides insight into the changes in organizational priorities and a new sense of awareness of the issue. More than ever, the role of the DEI officer is now part of the C-suite versus residing farther down the org chart. Read more about the LinkedIn workforce report and see which other roles are on the rise.
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National Disability Employment Awareness Month
According to the World Bank, about 15 percent of the world—around one billion people—experience some form of disability. In the US, that number is about 26 percent of adults. This month, we recognize and honor the many contributions of people with disabilities to workplaces and the economy.
The pandemic has had far-reaching impacts on people with disabilities, including employment, health, education and transportation. In 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that 17.9 percent of persons with a disability were employed, down from 19.3 percent in 2019. That’s why this year’s theme is “America’s Recovery: Powered by Inclusion,” which reflects the importance of ensuring that people with disabilities have full access to employment and opportunities.
In October and all year long, employers and employees can create workplaces that are inclusive, welcoming and safe for people with disabilities. You can find a few ideas on the Office of Disability Employment’s website.
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Opportunities and Community events
October 8 | From here and de allá | A benefit for Hacienda Community Development | Learn more
October 17 | MLK Dream Run | Supports economic development in Portland’s “Soul District” | Learn more
October 21 | “What is public safety?” | Building Bridges of Understanding in Our Communities | Learn more
October 29 | Dream Bigger, Fly Higher | Gala to benefit De La Salle North Catholic High School | Learn more
November 5 | 18th Annual NAYA Gala and Auction | Largest celebration of National Native American Heritage Month in the Pacific Northwest | Learn more
On-going | Portland Indigenous Marketplace | Learn more
On-going area events | Part of Here for Portland | Learn more
For community events, volunteer or board opportunities, please visit our Community page.
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Screen capture of the presentation by Dr. Theresa Chan, assistant professor at Pacific University, during the Asian Pacific Islander Community Resource Group's discussion on emotional resiliency and racialized healing.
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News and updates
Help us welcome new professionals of color
Say Hey! is back and it’s virtual. Mark your calendar for Tuesday, November 16 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Join us this quarter as we celebrate Native American Heritage Month with a special performance by Global Music Awards Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Jan Michael Looking Wolf.
To help make Honorees feel welcome and more connected to this region’s multicultural community, we provide Honorees with gift cards and passes to businesses and attractions, encouraging them to spend their time and money locally. If your organization would like to donate a virtual gift, please email sayhey@partnersindiversity.org.
In case you missed it
The new school year brought with it a change in season and a time for renewal. In September, our programs reflected these themes. The Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Community Resource Group hosted a poignant conversation on emotional resiliency and racialized healing. About two dozen community members who identified as Asian or Pacific Islander gathered to share space with each other and explored the different ways toward healing and renewal.
The following day, Partners in Diversity hosted Breakfast for Champions discussion on DEI lessons learned. About 150 members attended and many found the information to be valuable and relevant to their own work – saying it was “helpful to hear how others have navigated this past year and learnings,” and that “[it] felt like it included some very real time advice/input.” If you missed it and wish to view the recording, we posted it on our YouTube channel. Be sure to subscribe to be notified of other free recordings that we post periodically.
Upcoming programs for members
Here is a look at what’s ahead for members. If you are a not a member and wish to attend these events, please contact us at hello@partnersindiversity.org.
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Welcome New Members
We are proud to have 392 organizations as our members. Please join us in welcoming the following new members who joined in September.
Platinum
- City of Gresham
- NWEA
- See's Candies
Gold
Silver
- Albertsons Companies
- American Heart Association
- Children's Cancer Society
- Planned Parenthood Southwest Oregon
- Portland Youth Philharmonic
- World Oregon
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Mari's memo
Is this a moment or a movement?
As we enter the final months of the year and look ahead toward 2022, some are reflecting on the current state of social and racial justice and asking whether this is a moment or a movement? As you read this, statues depicting racists are torn down, buildings renamed, businesses owned by people of color are receiving the attention they deserve, employers are creating equity councils, thousands continue to turn out for marches and protests, and many other noteworthy acts. At the same time, school districts fight over critical race theory while one banned Pride and Black Lives Matter symbols. Attacks on Asians rose from 6,600 in April to more than 9,000 in June. Laws recently passed restrict women’s rights.
When the vestiges of system racism and social injustice run this deep, how can we turn a moment into a movement? When protests are mere blips in a news cycle and causes are no more than hashtags, what can we do to effect meaningful change?
For one, organizational and community leaders can start from within. Dr. Tiffany Jana, CEO of TMI Consulting, spoke at Partners in Diversity’s inaugural NW Equity Summit this past summer and said, “Many leaders don’t even see that their house is on fire... their people are breathing in the smoke, yet they don’t see it or get it.” Partners in Diversity’s recent report on workforce diversity retention offers insights into why the house is on fire and solutions to dousing the flames.
Perhaps only time will tell whether this is a moment or a movement. What do you think? I would love to hear from you and what you think needs to be done to go from moment to movement. Send us a note to hello@partnersindiversity.org.
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