e-Newsletter: October 2006
Come join us at IDEAL on the Rise!
Come and help advance IDEAL on October 25 at The City Club in San Francisco. This event will support the college aspirations of the Bay Area's diverse and talented youth by providing scholarships, summer internships, laptop loan program, mentoring, academic advising and leadership skill building opportunities. Listen to the Afro-Cuban rhythms of Orquesta La Moderna Tradición and benefit a good cause.
Out & Equal Photography Committee
Leveling the Playing Field for LGBT Employees
Level Playing Field Institute’s Freada Kapor Klein and Greg Humpa presented a workshop on retention of lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender (LGBT) employees at the annual Out & Equal Workplace Summit. The summit was held September 14-16 in Chicago and included over 1,700 participants representing 36 states, 10 countries, and over 230 employers. Companies with the largest contingents of participants included PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Ernst & Young, State Farm, Raytheon, and General Electric.
While some of the issues faced by LGBT employees overlap with those faced by other minorities (e.g., lack of mentoring/development/feedback opportunities, unwelcome work environment), others are unique to the LGBT community (e.g., the decision to be “out” or “closeted” and the struggle for domestic partner benefits). A nationally representative survey conducted by Level Playing Field Institute and the University of Connecticut in 2003 also revealed that gay and lesbian employees still face an uphill battle with regard to “fitting in” in the workplace.
When survey participants were asked whether a hypothetical “homosexual” person would fit in well in their workgroup, only 39 percent of respondents gave the homosexual person the highest possible fit score. Thirteen percent of respondents said that the person would not fit in at all, giving the lowest possible score. Among all groups listed (e.g., Blacks, Whites, Democrats, Republicans, foreigners, Muslims, etc.), gays/lesbians were deemed to have the lowest “fit in” scores.
In order to successfully address the challenges faced by LGBT employees and improve their retention, employers were given a number of proactive steps to take, for example: establishing LGBT employee resource groups, giving opportunities for anonymous feedback from employees, offering domestic partner benefits, and developing recruitment and retention action plans targeting the LGBT community.
Learn more about Out & Equal Workplace Advocates here
IBM Donates Laptop Computers to SMASH
IBM’s Corporate Giving Program donated laptop computers for the second year in a row to be used by Summer Math & Science Honors (SMASH) Academy students. As SMASH is increasing the technology component of the program, IBM’s donation plays a substantial role in making this possible.
The ultimate goal of SMASH is to encourage students from underrepresented communities (Hispanic/Latino, African American and Native American) to pursue studies and excel in math, technology, engineering, or science at top universities and graduate schools. IBM’s generous donation of laptops furthers the development and integration of a cutting edge, technology-rich curriculum for our scholars.
IBM’s corporate philanthropy efforts are active worldwide, with a range of programs that support initiatives in math/science education (pre-kindergarten through 12th grade), workforce development, and arts and culture to benefit communities in need. IBM provides grant recipients with technology, project funds, and employee time and talent.
Learn more about IBM’s philanthropic endeavors here
Women of Color Action Network Members Share “Corporate Leaver” Stories
Thirty-five members of the Women of Color Action Network (WCAN) joined Level Playing Field Institute’s “Corporate Leavers Research Initiative” Team for an evening of dinner and “stories from the trenches” on September 14. Discussion topics included fairness issues in the workplace and the unique challenges that face women of color and prompt many to voluntarily leave their employers. Vanessa George, Marketing Chair of WCAN had this to say following the event:
It was truly a wonderful event! Thank you so much for the opportunity to allow us to share our experiences. It meant a great deal to know that we weren't alone in our shared journey through the labyrinth of corporate America!
WCAN joins a rapidly growing list of organizations that are partnering with Level Playing Field Institute to gain a better understanding of the types of workplace experiences that prompt professionals to leave their positions in order to change sectors, join the non-profit world, become entrepreneurs, or stay home with family. Sometimes there is a single event that triggers the decision; other times the cumulative effect of subtle barriers and slights is the critical factor. To learn how your company, employee resource group, or professional organization can participate in the Corporate Leavers Research Initiative, please contact Caroline Barlerin at 415-946-3055 or [ cbarlerin AT lpfi DOT org]. Participation can take many forms, from hosting a focus group or dinner discussion to posting an online interview link on a website or in an email publication.
WCAN is a Bay Area organization offering relationship building, networking, and access to opportunities and “transformational” learning to professional women of color. The group also serves as a catalyst in designing best practices for employers to attract, retain, and advance women of color.
Learn more about Women of Color Action Network here.
IDEAL Scholar Arthur Jackson (right) welcomes special guest speaker Jonathan Poullard, UC Berkeley Dean of Students.
IDEAL's Fall Reception
The IDEAL community and general public celebrated scholars’ summer achievements and welcomed 21 incredible new scholars into the family at IDEAL’s Fall Reception on September 18. With a total of 50 IDEAL Scholars as well as IDEAL alumni in attendance, it was a fabulous event.
The IDEAL Scholars and community came together in celebration for this event that was run entirely by the scholars themselves. Jackie Hawkins, a graduating senior, set the tone with these opening remarks:
Family, love, support, community, and friendships. My childhood was a constant struggle; everything, every aspect of my life was set up for me to fail, but then there was IDEAL. They gave me a chance to live up to my full potential and here I am, confident, strong, and amazing. With IDEAL’s support and encouragement, I earned 4.0 GPA for the first two years of my college career, accomplished achievements beyond my wildest dreams, and will hopefully have a seat at Columbia next year in the School of Social Work. I just want to say thank you to Cedric, Genevieve, Freada, Mitch, and rest of the IDEAL community for making these things possible.
IDEAL (Initiative for Diversity in Education and Leadership) provides resources and support to outstanding underrepresented undergraduate students at UC Berkeley so they may maximize their academic and leadership opportunities in college and beyond.
