NAF Town Hall Recap: “Post SCOTUS Ruling: Leaning into DEIA to Shape Tomorrow’s Workforce”

Courtney Savoia
|
09/21/2023

Last week, NAF was proud to host its second Town Hall, focused on an important and timely topic: “Post SCOTUS Ruling: Leaning into DEIA to Shape Tomorrow’s Workforce.”

We know that today’s high school students are the future of the workforce. The NAF design directly works to prepare high school students of all backgrounds and capabilities, specifically students of color and those who may not have access to opportunity, which are the very same groups that are now directly affected by the ruling.

Dirk Butler, Chief Program Officer at NAF, acted as the moderator for an esteemed panel that brought together NAF partners and DEIA leaders. The discussion featured Lisa Dughi, NAF CEO; Sandy Torchia, KPMG, Vice Chair, Talent and Culture; Juanita Logan, World Wide Technology (WWT), Vice President, Global Corporate Development; and Kenya Townsend, President, New York Urban League Young Professionals, who shared ideas and perspectives on the responsibility to lean into access, equity, diversity, and inclusion in employment practices.

Lisa stated, “Since the ruling, NAF’s commitment to building a diverse workforce is stronger than ever. For NAF, the ruling means that we continue on in creating impactful and meaningful access to opportunities for the 112,000 plus students and alumni we support, and for future generations to come. The work we do, the partnerships we bridge, the connections we engage, and the lives we impact proves that we are leveling the playing field for thousands upon thousands of students.”

NAF partners, WWT and KPMG, also communicated what the ruling means for their organizations and how they will continue to create access to opportunity for all students.

Juanita expressed, “WWT’s commitment to diversity in our workforce has not and will not change. Our founding and growth were by leaders of different backgrounds and experiences, and it shows what’s possible when a variety of worldviews and backgrounds are at the table. Diversity and inclusion are rooted in our culture and our values and meant to stand the test of time.”

“At KPMG, we also continue to remain committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. It’s so important to create a workplace where everybody feels valued, respected, and supported. We are going to continue to invest in programs and initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, and make sure our policies and practices reflect that,” Sandy said.

Kenya added, “New York Urban League Young Professionals’ mission and goals have been long-standing, and we are going to continue to make sure we stand ten toes down on that. Just like a wake-up call, we need to continue to burn the light that goes forward to help in the spaces of diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

The panel also thoughtfully reflected on the power of partnerships and how leaders can keep executives engaged in advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and access in their companies.

Lisa offered, “I would say that to keep executives engaged in advancing DEIA, it’s important to create brave spaces for communication and to promote a culture of transparency. NAF has solidified our position by creating DEIA principles that highlight behaviors and indicators of success for organizational-wide accountability.”

“For NAF to keep this important body of work top of mind, we created multifaceted DEIA roles, to lead our vision, which is to implement internal and external initiatives that build an organizational culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and access for NAF and its vast network of educators, business partners, students, alumni, and other stakeholders,” she elaborated.

For additional highlights, watch the full recording to hear more of what the panel had to recommend about how businesses can shape their organizations to create spaces where everyone feels a sense of belonging, as well as how they can future-proof their talent pipelines.

As we have seen time and time again at NAF, when doors are opened and opportunities are accessible, the long-term outcomes for students are life changing!

View Bio

Courtney Savoia is the Assistant Director of Communications at NAF. She’s passionate about sharing the stories of our network and elevating their voices. Courtney writes about a variety of NAF and partner experiences, as well as lessons learned, and also conducts student, partner, and educator interviews about their journeys, for our audiences to take inspiration from.

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