The Black Enterprise and Executive Leadership Council (ELC) have partnered to champion corporate accountability for diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) efforts and racial justice issues, one year after George Floyd’s murder.
Black Enterprise, the multimedia resource for African American entrepreneurs and business leaders, and the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) developing Black corporate C-suite and board leaders, will examine economic and racial justice issues through the Town Hall Series. The first event, on 10 June, is entitled” One Year After George Floyd: Has Corporate America Made Good On Its Economic Equity Pledges? It will examine corporate accountability through a Black business lens one year after George Floyd’s murder.
CHALLENGES FACING BLACK COMMUNITY
The Town Hall series consists of seven virtual roundtable sessions featuring top corporate executives, entrepreneurs, civil rights activists and social thought leaders. The roundtable discussions will examine a range of challenges confronting the Black community; with the goal of yielding strategic plans to galvanise Black Americans to act.
The sessions seek to advance the state of the Black community; help position Black professionals to gain more C-suite and board positions; increase capital and procurement opportunities for Black-owned businesses; and ensure corporate America’s accountability to their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. The series is one element of a broader partnership that seeks to strengthen The ELC’s existing ties with Black Enterprise; and to promote shared goals focused on elevating Black excellence in business. This is in addition to driving additional viewership and engagement to the content and resources of Black Enterprise. Other major sponsors of the Town Hall Series include Manulife and Apple Inc.
CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY
“Corporate pledges of commitment to diversity and inclusion are not new to Black people in corporate America,” stated Black Enterprise CEO Earl “Butch” Graves Jr. “However, the events of the past year, triggered by the killing of George Floyd, have elevated the conversation around fairness, equity and social justice and driven actionable steps to ensure the advancement of Black people by intentional and effective corporate DE&I efforts. If we are to achieve economic equity, we must hold corporate America accountable for making sure that the billions of dollars pledged during the past year in the name of ending systemic racism actually results in systemic change; including actual wealth creation – for Black people both inside and outside of their companies. Our powerful alliance with The ELC will further enable us to achieve this end.”
CONFRONTING SYSTEMIC RACISM
“In alignment with our mission, this partnership with Black Enterprise is a pathway of opportunity for Black executives to positively impact business and our communities,” added ELC President and CEO Michael C Hyter. “It gives us a broad platform to have a national dialogue about a range of issues and challenges facing the Black community today. Ignited by the brutal killing of George Floyd, the racial justice movement is challenging corporate America to confront systemic racism in the workplace. As we continue to recognise the significance of the challenges we face a year after Mr. Floyd’s death, we are proud to join forces with Black Enterprise to empower and educate the Black community and Black business leaders along their professional journeys. Creating safe spaces for Black leaders to invest in their own futures is a key component of our commitment to supporting Black business excellence.”
TOWN HALL SERIES EVENTS
Here are the dates and topics for the upcoming virtual roundtables:
10 JUNE 2021
One Year After George Floyd: Has Corporate America Made Good on its Economic Equity Pledges?
8 JULY 2021
Voter Suppression: How Black Business Leadership Will Protect & Preserve Our Franchise
9 SEPTEMBER 2021
Homeownership & Wealth Building: Creating Pathways to Lasting Black Prosperity
12 OCTOBER 2021
Education: Ensuring No Black Child Will be Left Behind
3 DECEMBER 2021
Black Women: Gaining a Seat at The Table
13 JANUARY 2022
Black Business Development: Achieving Parity in Capital & Contracts
24 FEBRUARY 2022
Criminal Justice Reform: Developing A Fair & Equitable System for All
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