Texas Diversity Council Celebrates 10th Year Anniversary in 2014
Dennis Kennedy has an unwavering passion to ensure that all individuals receive equal opportunities in the workplace regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, and sexual orientation. In 2004, he founded the Texas Diversity Council (TXDC) to champion diversity as a business imperative, with a primary goal to turn all communities into inclusive environments where individuals are valued for their talents and unique characteristics and have opportunities to reach their full potential.
As with many non-profit organizations starting out, there were ups and downs, but when you have a strong vision and conviction, the ups far surpass the downs. Such was the case for this venture. Although the first year consisted of just Dennis Kennedy, he began to gain traction towards his organization signing on H-E-B as his first corporate partner. He soon found Angeles Valenciano, who is now president, to help champion his cause along with a full-time staff.
Interest in the Texas Diversity Council continued to grow gaining more and more partners, bringing it today to over 100 corporate partners. The success of the Texas Diversity Council led to the development of the National Diversity Council in 2007 operating in over 22 states across the nation.
The Texas Diversity Council will proudly celebrate this 10-year milestone during one of several signature events, the Texas Diversity & Leadership Conference in San Antonio, TX, April 30-May 2, 2014. This year's theme is "We are Just Getting Started." Since the inception of the Texas Diversity & Leadership Conference, we have made great strides in fostering an environment for diversity and inclusion. However, there is still much more to be done.
In order to remain competitive in today's global economy, organizations must be innovative and creative when it comes to maintaining diversity within their workforce. They should also actively seek to mold leaders and encourage employee engagement throughout every level of their infrastructure in order to ensure organizational objectives are not merely fulfilled, but exceeded. To achieve these goals, businesses must constantly strive for change and promote environments of inclusion while also educating employees on the importance of this commitment.
The three-day conference will afford organizations the opportunity to explore tools and resources necessary to build diverse workforces and remain competitive on the global stage. The event will also provide a valuable opportunity for individuals to network and grow in their knowledge of diversity and leadership, which can be utilized to craft long and distinguished careers. Finally, the speakers and various panel sessions will offer a unique perspective on a plethora of topics including the creation of a diverse workforce, essential leadership skills, personal branding, and diversity and inclusion best practices.
The Texas Diversity Council invites each of you to join Dennis Kennedy, TXDC staff, and corporate partners in celebrating all of the accomplishments throughout the past 10 years and help continue the path towards a more diverse and inclusive environment. Have photos of some of the events held during the 2004 Texas Diversity & Leadership Conference? Please send a copy to laura.alvarado@nationaldiversitycouncil.org or mail to National Diversity Council, 2656 South Loop W Suite 109, Houston, TX 77054.
