The Diversity and Inclusion (D & I) Committee's activities include the planning and handling of the October Dinner Meeting -the dinner meeting that focuses on Inclusion.   At this meeting, the Committee presents the GMSHRM Diversity & Inclusion Award to honor an organization that has demonstrated commitment and excellence with regard to inclusion in the workplace -a workplace leader.

Winners of this award are organizations that foster an inclusive work environment in which all employees are encouraged/inspired to contribute their best, strengthened by their different backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences.  These are employers who promote excellence in our workplaces.

After consideration of the nominations submitted online to GMSHRM, the Committee has selected The Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade and Monroe counties (ELCMDM) as the winner of the 2009 GMSHRM Diversity & Inclusion Award. 

Founded in 2000, the Early Learning Coalition of Miami-Dade/Monroe counties offers a variety of affordable and innovative early education and voluntary pre-kindergarten programs serving more than 50,000 children in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.

The ELCMDM was selected as this year's Diversity & Inclusion Award recipient for its ambitious and impressive inclusion efforts despite its relatively small size and its limited resources.   Worthy of mention is its diversity training program which is now shared with other coalitions and entities, its recruitment of minority vendors through its RFP process, and its teen-mentoring program.

CONGRATULATIONS, ELCMDM!!!

ELCMDM was recognized at the Dinner Meeting on October 20, 2009.  This meeting also featured a D & I Best Practices Discussion Panel consisting of speakers from former D & I Award recipients. The panelists were Danielle Shannon, Director of Legal Recruiting, Akerman Senterfitt; Robert Perkins, VP, Inclusion & Talent Management, the Burger King Corporation; Dr. Joy Ruff, Director, Equal Opportunity Programs/ADA Coordinator, Miami Dade College; Catherine Campbell, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Ryder Systems and Marc Grad, Sr. Director, Recruitment & Retention Services, VITAS Hospice Care. The panel discussion was pre-approved for 1.25 HR Certification Institute credit hours.  The Discussion Panel was presented in a Talk Show format with the Panelists sharing practical ideas and thought-provoking discussion with the audience and Gigi Glazer from Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, acting as Moderator/Host.