Diversity – Equity – Inclusion

Cultivating business workplaces to value diversity, equity, and inclusion.

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Diversity Equity Inclusion Council Statement

The Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry is dedicated to actively and intentionally cultivating business workplaces to value diversity, equity, and inclusion. We vehemently condemn all forms of prejudice, injustice, hate, intolerance, and racism by actively seeking ways to dismantle systemic discrimination in pursuit of a more equitable business community and a more just society.

The Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry will challenge our Board of Directors, employees, members, and partners, as well as our city, county, state, and other civic leaders to enact positive change in our organization and the communities we serve.

Diversity Council Press Release

Joliet, IL. – February 11, 2021 – The Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry would like to announce that a new council has been created with the following vision: The Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry is dedicated to actively and intentionally cultivating business workplaces to value diversity, equity, and inclusion. We vehemently condemn all forms of prejudice, injustice, hate, intolerance, and racism by actively seeking ways to dismantle systemic discrimination in pursuit of a more equitable business community and a more just society.

The Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry will challenge our Board of Directors, employees, members, and partners, as well as our city, county, state, and other civic leaders to enact positive change in our organization and the communities we serve.

The new council was initiated in the summer of 2020 and has been meeting since then to finalize the overall impact of their vision as diversity, equity, and inclusion is imperative to ensuring our communities are places people will want to live, work, and play. The DEI Council is comprised of various chamber members representing a variety of businesses and industry. They will work together on a recurring basis to ensure the statement above is carried out in our communities.

Three main areas of focus will be workforce, workplace, and marketplace. A concerted effort to recruit qualified employees from traditionally underrepresented groups will be the focus for workforce. The workplace goal is to adopt policies and practices that include people who have historically been absent from an organization/business. As for marketplace, we will work to deeply involve minority-owned enterprises in the regional economy and recognize the enormous purchasing power of minority groups.

DEI Council Members

View the listing of individuals that comprise our DEI Council

DEI Council

DEI Resource Group Documents

View and download documents including: Tool Kits, Business Collaborations, Related Articles, Stats, Mental Health and Podcasts.

VIEW RESOURCES

DEI Council Update – April 2023

Presentation delivered from members of the DEI council at April 20, 2023 member luncheon

VIEW PRESENTATION

“Diversity is being asked to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.”

Verna Myers

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Diversity

= Who and What

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Equity

= Why

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Inclusion

= How we get there

The DEI Council and Chamber are focused on the work environment of members:

Workforce – Concerted effort to recruit qualified employees from traditionally underrepresented groups.

Workplace – Adopting policies and practices that include people who have historically been absent from an organization/business.

Marketplace – More deeply involve minority-owned enterprises in the regional economy and recognize the enormous purchasing power of minority groups.

DIVERSITY

Diversity is the presence of difference within a given setting , and differences may include race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, language, disability, age, religious commitment, or political perspective and populations that have been – and remain – underrepresented among practitioners in the field and marginalized in the broader society.

EQUITY

Equity is promoting justice, impartiality and fairness within the procedures, processes, and distribution of resources by institutions or systems. Tackling equity issues requires an understanding of the root causes of outcome disparities within our society.

Equity recognizes that we do not all start from the same place because advantages and barriers exist. It is a process that acknowledges uneven starting places and uneven paths and seeks to correct the imbalance. Diversity and inclusion are both outcomes. Equity is not. It refers to the process an organization engages in to ensure that people with marginalized identities have the opportunity to grow, contribute, and develop.

INCLUSION

Inclusion is an outcome to ensure those that are diverse actually feel welcomed and have a sense of belonging. Inclusion outcomes are met when you, your institution, and your program are truly inviting to all.

It is the degree to which diverse individuals are able to participate fully, at every level, in the decision-making processes and development opportunities within an organization or group.

Inclusion is not a natural consequence of diversity. You can have a diverse team of talent but that does not mean they feel welcomed or valued or are given opportunities to grow.

USF Pause for Justice Radio Show

Interview Featuring the Joliet Chamber DEI Council

Kristin Hamilton & Mike Clark, DEI Co-Chairs and Jen Howard, Chamber President
University of St. Francis Pause for Justice Radio Program