This past year has brought us many lessons. COVID-19 has been only part of the challenge for business people, personally and professionally.
Since last May, we’ve all become more aware of social injustices, from major events with the murder of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police to less overt but just as troubling issues, like the lack of diversity in much of the business world.
Thankfully, companies both large and small in Maine are doing what they can to address these issues.
The term DEI — or Diversity, Equity and Inclusion — unknown by many until relatively recently, is now taking root in some of Maine’s best-known corporations, supermarkets, law firms, small businesses and so on. They’re hiring directors of DEI and creating committees and advisory groups.
But in this DEI issue of Mainebiz, we set out to take the temperature on where these efforts stand.
After chambers of commerce and CEOs last year signed a pledge offering to back meaningful change, the question became, “What next?” We take a deeper look at the issue in “A call to action.”
For many small businesses, where recruiting and hiring may not be every day considerations, we look at how DEI is revealed in everyday choices and actions. See “Grassroots efforts.”
DEI is not simply about who you hire. Often, greater cultural changes are needed to evolve from longtime issues and biases. See “Changing the culture one step at a time.”
Elsewhere in the issue, we have a Q&A with the new director of the Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center.
We also have a range of “How to” columns (starting on Page 15) as well as a directory of books for further reading.