Recently in the Diversity Category

By Lisa Gable, Executive Director of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation

1963 was a critical year for African-Americans. Dr. Martin Luther King led the March on Washington. President John F. Kennedy called for a Civil Rights Act. African-American leaders intensified their organizing efforts aimed at strengthening their communities.

One of those efforts was the 100 Black Men of America Inc. It brought together community leaders to explore ways of improving conditions in their community.

Black History Month is a good time to mark the work of 100 Black Men of America. One of their goals is to promote wellness, especially reducing childhood obesity. A member organization of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, the organization is committed to promoting energy balance - taking fewer calories-in and expending more calories out through physical activity.   

Battling obesity is not easy, especially where recess and physical education classes have been cut back. 100 Black Men's dedicated vehicle for pursuing energy balance is called Youth Movement, a program that helps students improve their heath, develop long-term goals and overcome obstacles and achieve lifetime success, by providing an outlet for physical activity, along with nutritional education. Volunteer nurses and coaches bring equipment and assess health and fitness levels at participating schools. After-school and weekend programs offer track and field clubs, athletic training and clinics facilitated by Olympians and world-class athlete volunteers.
Black History Month is a time to pay tribute of the power of community to better lives. 100 Black Men, Inc.'s efforts to improve wellness and reduce obesity among young people is an important part of that.

Today, by request of the U.S. Department of State, WIPP President, Barbara Kasoff, joined by WIPP Board Member Dr. Ann Blackburn, met with the Honorable Katalin Csobor, a Member of Parliament for the Republic of Hungary.  Hon. Csobor, a former small business owner, was appointed to the Committee for Human Rights, Minority, Civil and Religious Affairs.

Kasoff, Dr. Blackburn and Hon. Csobor discussed women in politics and their impact on public policy. They focused on diversity issues, specifically concerning leadership and advocacy for minority and women business owners. Moving forward, Kasoff, Dr. Blackburn and Hon. Csobor will continue to collaborate for the wellbeing of women business owners.

Click here to view a picture.

I recently read an article featured in the Huffington Post by Susan Solovic, CEO/Co-Founder of SBTV.com titled "Workplace Stereotyping: A Silent Productivity Destroyer", and it made me contemplate stereotyping factors in the workplace. One initially thinks of more obvious factors such as: race, gender, religion - but in reality: workplace diversity is much broader.

Additional factors in the workplace could include:

- Single vs. Married

- Children vs. No Children

- Baby Boomer vs. Generation Y

- Women - Married and Marginalized

- Domestic Lifestyle Choice

Stereotypes result in a damaging work environment - and all of the above factors listed could potentially harm your ability to work with others. As a business owner myself (WIPP), I pride myself on creating an open and productive work environment, where my employees can respect the diversity of everyone in the organization.

To read Susan's complete article, click here.