RALEIGH – Addressing racial equality has become a topic of extreme urgency in recent weeks following the killing of North Carolina native George Floyd. But the issues confronting Blacks in America are not the only ones requiring attention. How about equal opportunities for women? The continuing debate over LGBTQ rights. Inclusion. And many more.
These problems have been made only more pressing by the economic, physical and emotional challenges stemming from COVID-19. So what are people supposed to do in striving to make for a more equal country?
Searching for answers is the North Carolina Technology Association which will host a two-day “Diversity + Inclusion Summit,” a virtual event, on Tuesday and Wednesday. WRAL TechWire talked with NC TECH CEO Brooks Raiford about why the business advocacy group is hosting the event and what he hopes to see happen.
More than 400 people have already registered to take part.
- Why is this event important to NC TECH, its members and the tech community?
The tech sector has long struggled to develop a workforce that reflects the broader community. There is a growing sentiment that the sector needs to take a more proactive role in broadening the diversity of its workforce, and the pipeline that feeds it.
- Why did NC TECH decide to take the lead in organizing this program?
In recent years, NC TECH has highlighted through its programming a variety of examples of how tech companies and tech organizations within non-tech companies are striving to improve diversity on multiple fronts: women, people of color, generations, and more. When planning our 2020 programming, we planned this Summit to feature a wide variety of people, perspectives, and resources.
- What is the mission? What do you hope to accomplish?
The Summit’s purpose is to raise the issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in a statewide forum. Desired outcomes include greater awareness of the opportunities and challenges in making progress, highlighting best practices, and issuing a call to action for individuals and organizations represented among the 400 registrants.
Brooks Raiford, CEO of NC TECH, talks jobs
- Why should people participate?
The Summit will help distill the myriad issues within the topic of diversity, identify experts and resources available to those committed to making progress, and build a network of people and organizations committed to supporting each other and this effort.
- Numerous tech companies (Cisco, IBM, others) have stepped forward with new initiatives and donations. Why are these happening now and can these do any good?
Recent events have made the racial component of diversity and inclusion especially prominent, but there are also initiatives underway to raise awareness around gender, generation, physical ability, and other populations that have historically faced barriers to full participation in the tech/innovation community. Company actions have perhaps been influenced by current events, but their initiatives and public commitments to affect change will hopefully lead to a sustained, conscious effort to make a meaningful difference.
- How is NC TECH as an organization and as a business seeking to implement change in order to further advance racial equality?
Spotlighting best practices in areas like this is a key role of an industry association. NC TECH has been gradually incorporating programming that features examples of how organizations, companies, and institutions are working to advance racial equality of opportunity. Additionally, NC TECH has welcomed an increasingly diverse set of leaders to its Board of Directors and has partnered with government and private sector efforts to improve diversity in the tech industry and the educational pipeline.
