Academia, CBC Tech 2020, Congressional Black Caucus, Government, Industry

CBC Diversity Task Force Announce New Inclusion Plans

tech2020dc3

 

Congresswoman Barbara Lee, CBC Diversity Task Force Co-Chair provides opening remarks to industry and participating organizations.
—Photo courtesy Congressional Black Caucus Tech 2020

WASHINGTON | December 3, 2015
Friends,

Today, Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) CHAIRMAN, G. K. BUTTERFIELD (NC) and REP. BARBARA LEE (CA), Co-Chair of the CBC Diversity Task Force, announced that seven national African American tech professional organizations have adopted African American Inclusion Plans [1] (AAIPs) designed to increase tech diversity. See the full write up, videos, and photos toward the end of this post [2].  You also can see the photos and video on Facebook [3].
Chairman Butterfield called on tech companies to:
1. Reduce the weight they put on job applicants being recommended by
people who already work in the company. When companies give significant weight to a job applicant who knows someone in the company, that applicant has an advantage over a person who does not know anyone in the company. This practice of rewarding people who have connections in the company reinforces a lack of diversity since the current employees are not diverse.
2. Implement a “Rooney Rule” style process that ensures there is a
female candidate AND an underrepresented minority in the interview pool.
Congressman Butterfield also outlined next steps for CBC TECH 2020 [1]
including:
1. Focusing more intently on the African American representation within
the government affairs offices of the tech companies that have plenty of
available talent in the Washington DC.
2. Traveling to additional tech hubs outside of Silicon Valley to meet
with the leadership of tech companies. The other members of our task
force will be organizing events in their respective districts to engage
a broader group of stakeholders.
3. Working with a broader section of tech companies including
TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES, FINANCIAL SERVICES TECH, and BIOTECH firms.
4. Highlighting the work of innovative tech companies that are setting
clear goals, taking risks, and producing results.
TROY G. CLAIR
Chief of Staff
Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01)
2305 Rayburn House Office Bldg
202-225-3101
http://www.butterfield.house.gov [4]
Links:
——
[1] http://cbc-butterfield.house.gov/tech
[2] https://medium.com/@G.K.Butterfield/moving-beyond-the-pipeline-discussion-african-american-tech-talent-is-ready-willing-able-16c26a4104dc#.hl79fuz77
[3] https://www.facebook.com/congressmangkbutterfield
[4] http://www.butterfield.house.gov/

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BDPA, formerly known as Black Data Processing Associates, was founded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania over 45 years ago in 1975 to promote professional growth and technical development in underserved communities for those in or entering information and communications technology (ICT) oriented fields of interest and related industries. bdpatoday (ISSN 1946-1429) is a serial periodical published in Washington, D.C. with participating local BDPA Chapters of National BDPA (NBDPA) by local chapter Communications Committees across their respective regional media markets. bdpatoday is emailed to BDPA members, BDPA corporate sponsors, or electronically delivered to BDPA Chapters and Chapter Interest Groups (CIGs) via the association's social media channels as a benefit of membership or as a service to local communities. Popular Technology TV (PTTV) features the latest TECH-Inclusion innovations and multimedia STEM programming content produced for video streams and television programs by Industry with bdpatoday and National BDPA's Washington, D.C. Chapter for general audiences.