The Diversity Forum has been meeting since early 2005. The first 18 months were in the developmental stage where we focused on characterizing the issues we were trying to address, establishing goals and objectives, identifying and seeking out key stakeholder organizations to become members, and reaching consensus on the elements of diversity and inclusion we wished to focus our energies on.
We initially created three goal groups governed by a Steering Committee to address organization, infrastructure, and governance; communications and education; and diversity as related to the economic health of our community.
The first goal group, CSDF Steering Committee, recently completed its mission with the definition of the Diversity Forum structure, the establishment of a governance model, and the establishment of a fiscal agency through the Pikes Peak Community Foundation.
The second goal group, Diversity Communications and Education Committee, engaged the City of Colorado Springs as well as many businesses and individuals to sponsor the first annual Everybody Welcome: A Celebration of Culture and Diversity (a Cultural and Diversity Festival in Downtown Colorado Springs), strategically recruited membership, and created this website.
The third initial goal group, Communications and Education Committee, put together a Project Research Team and in June 2007 completed a training and resource guide for small to mid-size businesses. They compiled and modified existing diversity training techniques from award-winning companies in the Colorado Springs area in order to create this training and resource guide for small to mid-size businesses. In today's global marketplace, it's important that the entire Colorado Springs business community have access to diversity education and training tools. Whether that access comes through networking, sharing best practices, engaging in mentoring opportunities, downloading ready-made diversity training resource files or partnering with companies that have a proven diversification program, the Project Research Team is committed to providing smaller scale enterprises with quality tools for sustained growth.
In July of 2007 CSDF reorganized the structure of the organization to address the changing needs of our growing organization.
- Colorado Springs Diversity Forum Steering Committee - Jay Patel and Jeff Murrell
- Public Affairs and Government Relations - MaryLou Makepeace and Bill Mead
- Communications and Media Relations - Julie Boswell and Jeannie Porter
- Membership/Resource Development and Fund Raising - Mary Ellen McNally and C.J. Moore
- Initiatives and Programs - Susan Saksa and Hank Watson
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Colorado Springs Diversity Forum Steering Committee
Co-chairs:
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| Jay Patel | Jeff Murrell |
Goal:
- National recognition as a diverse and inclusive community by 2010
Completed Actions To Date
- Organized the Diversity Forum; created organization, governance, structure and resourcing to ensure successful ongoing operation of the Forum
- Worked with City Council to have the Forum recognized as community representative on diversity issues
- Met with civic, community, business and media groups to share the goals and vision of the Diversity Forum
- Conducted the first annual 'Everybody Welcome' event, celebrating Diversity in the community
- Assembled an 'action agenda' for each committee to pursue Forum goals
Meeting schedule: First Friday of every month from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (unless otherwise noted)
2008 Dates:
| January 11, 2008 Location: World Arena (see article) |
July 11, 2008 Location: Kaiser Permanente |
| February 1, 2008 Location: Wachovia |
August 1, 2008 Location: TBD |
| March 7, 2008 Location: Hewlett Packard |
September 5, 2008 Location: Pikes Peak Library District, East Library |
| April 4, 2008 Location: Experience Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak |
October 3, 2008 Location: TBD |
| May 16, 2008 Location: Leadership Pikes Peak |
November 7, 2008 Location: TBD |
| June 6, 2008 Location: Gay & Lesbian Fund for Colorado |
December 5, 2008 Location: TBD |
Public Affairs and Government Relations Committee
Co-chairs:
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| Bill Mead | Mary Lou Makepeace |
Affirmative Action Committee, Chair - Barb Van Hoy
Richard Florida Committee, Chair - Bill Mead
Boards and Commissions, Chair - Sally Davis
Indicators Research Committee, Co-Chairs - Wendy Limbert and Sally Davis
Committee Description/Activity :
- Building relationships with local government bodies
- Communicating with government bodies
- Researching and aiding in improvement of Diversity practices within our local government
- Hosting/supporting speakers and event which promote healthy diversity practices as related to our government
Skills/Tasks:
- Interest in local government
- Research - computer/phone
- Relationship networking
- Phone work
- Computer/database skills
- People skills
Meeting schedule: 3rd Thursday of every month, 3:00p.m. at the Gay and Lesbian Fund for Colorado - 315 E. Costilla Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903
2008 Dates:
| January 18, 2008 | July 17, 2008 |
| February 15, 2008 | August 21, 2008 |
| March 14, 2008 | September 18, 2008 |
| April 11, 2008 | October 16, 2008 |
| May 15, 2008 | November 20, 2008 |
| June 19, 2008 | December 18, 2008 |
Committee Goals - Action Plan
- Educate the community about the initiative to overturn Affirmative Action and the impact it would have on the economy
- Collect data on what would be impacted or eliminated if this passes
- Engage Linda Merrick of 9 to 5
- Present on this topic at the 11-2-07 CSDF General Membership meeting
- Artemis
- Develop mechanism to educate the business community
- Develop mechanism to inform educators
- Develop a flyer for distribution to minority groups/events
- Continue to explore the opportunity to bring Richard Florida to Colorado Springs
- Attract Allies - EDC, UCCS, Chamber, PP Workforce
- Work with the City of Colorado Springs to increase diversity representation on Boards and Commissions
- Guest speakers 11-9-07 meeting: Vice Mayor Larry Small and Denise Whinnen
- Help develop mechanism to enhance diversity
- Help recruit diverse applicants
- Analyze the make-up of current Boards and Commissions as relates to general population make-up
- Review all State, El Paso County and City of Colorado Springs Boards and Commissions on the Resources page
- Identify indicators of inclusiveness and diversity to include in the Quality of Life Indicators publication
- Work with the CSDF Initiatives and Programs committee and the United Way Vision Committee to identify diversity indicators that should be included in the study
- Partner with the EDC/Greater CS Chamber of Commerce to sponsor a conference of business leaders to discuss economic importance of diversity
- Explore best time - before, during, after Richard Florida
Communications and Media Relations Committee
Co-chairs:
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| Julie Boswell |
Committee Description/Activity:
- Creating and implementing a communications plan for the CS Diversity Forum.
- Media and communications activities
- Oversee website content
- Creating and distributing a quarterly e-newsletter
Skills/Tasks:
- Writing
- Layout/design
- Phone work
- Web skills
- Media or public relations background a plus but not required
Meeting schedule: 2nd Thursday of each month, 4:00pm - 5:00pm, Economic Development Corporation, 90 S. Cascade Ave, Ste 1050, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
2008 Dates:
| January 11, 2008 | July 10, 2008 |
| February 14, 2008 | August 14, 2008 |
| March 13, 2008 | September 11, 2008 |
| April 10, 2008 | October 9, 2008 |
| May 8, 2008 | November 13, 2008 |
| June 12, 2008 | December 11, 2008 |
Committee Goals - Action Plan
- Establish a Communications plan and timeline
- Press Kit
- Create a standard kit for use by all committees
- News releases and media briefing
- Introduce the Forums Resource Guide
- Promote educational workshops
- Media briefings provide good background information for future articles
- E-newsletter
- Produce and distribute to membership quartely
- Website
- Update and move to new host
- Television
- KOAA produced a 30 second awareness spot
- Obtain clean copy to run on local channels - librabry, city, etc.
- Create a print campaign based on this awareness spot
- Create an annual campaign package and negotiate local media for:
- Gift in kind advertising for the Forum in exchange for membership
- Advertising package for Everybody Welcome, educational workshops
Membership/Resource Development and Fund Raising Committee
Co-chairs:
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| Mary Ellen McNally | C.J. Moore |
Committee Description/Activity:
- Expanding the membership base
- Recruiting resources to meet the needs of the CS Diversity Forum and its efforts
- Fundraising - grant writing, sponsor/donor recruitment
Skills/Tasks:
- Research - computer/phone
- Relationship networking
- Phone work
- Database Skills
- People skills
Meeting schedule: 3rd Friday of every month at 3:30p.m. – 4:30p.m at Nosh, Plaza of the Rockies 121 S. Tejon, Colorado Springs, CO 80903
2008 Dates:
| January 25, 2008 | July 18, 2008 |
| February 15, 2008 | August 15, 2008 |
| March 21, 2008 | September 19, 2008 |
| April 18, 2008 | October 17, 2008 |
| May 16, 2008 | November 21, 2008 |
| June 20, 2008 | December 19, 2008 |
2007-2008 Committee Goals and Action Agenda
- Set a fiscal year
- Calendar year
- Formulate a comprehensive fund raising plan
- Assign a committee member
- Membership growth goal of $40,000 in new and renewal memberships: $25,000 renewal/$15,000 new
- Renewal Memberships
- Send annual renewal letters to current members prior to gift date
- Request an increase in membership level
- New Memberships
- Contact potential members through letter and follow-up call
- Volunteers and participants in Forum activities
- Aerospace industry
- Attendees of the Chamber Diversity Awards Luncheon
- Diversity Directory
- EDC top 20 area employers list
- Book of lists
- Professional associations
- Request current membership - submit potential member contacts/recruit additional members
- Recruit grant monies
- Assign committee members to:
- Research grants for which we qualify
- Set reasonable dollar goal based on reasearch
- Write/submit grant applications
- Start with Colorado Common Grant Application
- Assist event sponsorship team with potential sponsor targets
Initiatives and Programs Committee
Chair:
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| Susan Saksa |
2008 Cultural and Diversity Festival
2008 Everybody Welcome: A Celebration of Culture and Diversity - Event Co-Chairs Shirley Martinez and Dee Vazquez
CSDF Workshop Series - Co-Chairs Hank Watson and Mike Boyd
Resource Guide - Chair Terry Poe
Diversity Directory - Chair Michael Phan
Diversity Awards Research - Chair Veronica Frias
Committee Description/Activity:
- Plan and implement diversity programming to be offered by the forum for members and the community
- Develop products or services that can be offered by the CSDF to support business/organizational efforts to provide diversity programs or practices
- Distribute the CS Diversity Forum Resource Guide
- Organize and implement annual Everybody Welcome: A Celebration of Culture and Diversity
Skills/Tasks:
- This committee offers opportuinty to a wide variety of skills
- Interest in organizing/running events
- Detail oriented
- Research - computer/phone
- Phone work
- Computer/database skills
- People skills
Meeting schedule: As noted below
Regularly scheduled on the last Wednesday of each month
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Location: Leadership Pikes Peak, 24 S. Weber, Ste 135
2008 Dates:
| January 18, 2008 | July 30, 2008 |
| February 27, 2008 | August 27, 2008 |
| March 26, 2008 | September 24, 2008 |
| April 30, 2008 - Montague's | October 29, 2008 |
| May 28, 2008 | November 26, 2008 |
| June 25, 2008 | December TBD, 2008 |
2008 Everybody Welcome Committee Meetings
Regularly scheduled on the first Tuesday of each month
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Location: 2nd floor Conference Room Penrose Library, 20 North Cascade Ave Colorado Springs, CO 80903
2008 Dates:
| January 8, 2008 | June 3, 2008 |
| February 5, 2008 | July 1, 2008 |
| March 6, 2008 | August 5, 2008 |
| April 1, 2008 | September 2, 2008 |
| May 6, 2008 |
2007-2008 Goals and Action Agenda
Committee Activities - Susan Saksa
Initiatives and Programs will be coordinating activities that fall in line with the Diversity Forum's mission of Celebrating, Recognizing and Educating the City of Colorado Springs on diversity.
- Celebrate
- Everybody Welcome
- Chaired in 2008 by Shirley Martinez and Dee Vazquez
- Committee has begun meeting
- Date for 2008 has been set for Saturday, August 23, 12-5pm with an evening program
- More details pending
- Recognize
- Diversity Awards Luncheon
- A possible event for the Diversity Forum to be involved in
- At this time, the Greater Colorado Springs Chamber is not planning on holding/staffing the event. A meeting with members of the Pikes Peak Coalition of Chambers is needed to determine a new partnership for the event.
- Researching/exploring this opportunity Chaired by Veronica Frias
- Educate
- Workshop/Seminar Series
- Co-Chaired in 2008 by Hank Watson and Mike Boyd
- Series of workshops open to Diversity Forum members and the community
- We will work on presenting 4 workshops in 2008
- Series will be structured to begin with basic topics/concepts and build from there
- Fourth Quarter 2007 - Alberta Lloyd, co-founder and vice president of Coleman Management Consultants
- First Quarter 2008 - A Celebration of Black History Month, presented in conjunction with UCCS. Keynote Speaker: Daryl Scott from Howard University, The Lost Manuscript of Carter G Woodson. Followed by a panel discussion: Challenges and Opportunities for Multiculturalism in Colorado Springs
- Product: Resource Guide Distribution
- Chaired in 2008 by Terry Poe
- The guide is complete, ongoing updates may be needed
- Roll out with the first quarter 08 workshop
- Coordination for marketing and distributing the guide to businesses will be needed with the media communications committee