Diversity and Inclusion Committee

The Diversity and Inclusion Committee (D&I Committee) shall promote diversity as a strategic component in individual and organizational success through the coordination of programs, partnerships, and resources. The appointed Chairpersons of this Committee shall oversee the activities of this Committee.

Co-VPs of Diversity and Inclusion
Jessica Olson, PHR and Monica Verma
E-mail: VPDiversity

Active Committee Members:
Michael Hernandez
Sharice Jessup
Irma Martinez
Jami Mozaffari
M. Wilson Stoker
Willie Watson
Shirelle Zachery
Teresa Zell

D&I Pipeline Participant Chair
Jami Mozaffari

Our Mission

To provide programs and resources that promotes diversity as a strategic component for the individual and organizational success of AHRMA members. To reflect the greater Austin community in membership demographics, program topics and issues, community involvement, and broader sponsorship.

Objective

To position diversity as a component critical to our individual and organizational success as human resource professionals.

Goals

Increase diversity in membership, leadership positions, and volunteers

Provide tools and workshops designed to assist employers to begin workplace diversity initiatives
Continue connecting the annual AHRMA diversity survey to diversity initiatives and benchmark the effects
Create innovative processes to engage Austin's diverse workforce
Connect with various Austin-area diversity partners in efforts to provide AHRMA's members a relevant and holistic source of diverse employment-related information

Committee Volunteer Opportunities

The Diversity Committee has a number of opportunities open for volunteers who would like to serve as an active volunteer within AHRMA, or can commit to 1 to 2 hours a month. Opportunities include:

Diversity & Inclusion Day - Volunteers are needed throughout the year to organize this annual event.
D&I Communications Chair - Write blogs, and post to AHRMA's Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. pages.
D&I Website Editor - Revise and edit content of AHRMA's D&I website; add new content which our members would find informative; any other suggestions/initiatives the volunteer dreams up!

Diversity Committee Programs

Diversity and Inclusion Day - Each year, AHRMA collaborates and partners with various Austin-area organizations with a goal of promoting diversity and inclusion awareness. Such an accomplishment begins with the dedication of a monthly program for which the sole topic is imbedded in diversity and inclusion. This program is devoted to providing sessions and resources in support of diversity initiatives as a strategic component in the individual and organizational success of our members. The day's events include diversity-minded professional development sessions during both the morning and the afternoon hours, as well as a midday luncheon speaker who will also speak on an engaging diversity-minded topic of interest.

Diversity and Inclusion Outreach - The committee frequently promotes, partners and attends functions with various local diversity-related events and their respective organizations. Establishing and maintaining relationships with these diversity-related organizations creates an opportunity for joint collaboration among organizations that have similar focuses, leading to the promotion of diverse constituencies. Such opportunities are discussed at Diversity Committee meetings, in an open-forum setting where fresh ideas are encouraged and explored.

Diversity and Inclusion Initiative - Initiatives to develop a wealth of resources, toolkits and articles about diversity for HR professionals available to members of AHRMA.

To get involved, contact the Co-Vice Presidents of Diversity at vpdiversity@austinhumanresource.org

Interesting Facts, Dates, etc.:

March 2013 Holidays:

March 25 (sunset) - April 2 (nightfall) is Passover, a Jewish holiday celebrated each spring in remembrance of the Jews' deliverance out of slavery in Egypt in 1300 B.C. On the first two days of Passover, a traditional Seder is eaten and the story of deliverance is shared.

March 27 is Magha Puja Day, a Buddhist holiday that marks an event early in the Buddha's teaching life when a group of 1,250 enlightened saints, ordained by the Buddha, gathered to pay their respect to him.

March 27-28 is Holi, a Hindu and Sikh spring religious festival observed in India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, along with other countries that have large Hindu and Sikh populations. People celebrate Holi by throwing colored powder and water at each other. Bonfires are lit the day before in the memory of the miraculous escape that young Prahlad accomplished when Demoness Holika carried him into the fire.

March 29 is Good Friday, celebrated by Christians to commemorate the execution of Jesus by crucifixion and is recognized on the Friday before Easter.

March 31 is Easter, a holiday celebrated by Christians to recognize Jesus' return from death after the crucifixion. It is considered to be the most important Christian holiday.

PDF Document-What is Diversity?

PDF Document-Diversity Calendar & Observances

PDF Document-Diversity Self Assessment