U.S. Organizations Receive Diversity Council Honors

SANFORD, FL - The Association of Diversity Councils, a practice group of diversity and inclusion consulting and training firm PRISM International, Inc., honored and awarded the Top 25 U.S. diversity councils at the 2011 Diversity Council Honors Award ceremony last evening in Atlanta. They were also recognized in the current issue of INSIGHT into Diversity magazine, a nationally distributed diversity publication read by over half a million monthly.

In its third year, the prestigious Diversity Council Honors Award honors the outstanding contributions and achievements of diversity council groups that lead organizational diversity processes and demonstrate results in their Workforce, Workplace and Marketplace. A total of 101 councils participated this year, an increase of 20 percent from last year.

This year's award recipients include 9 first time applicant councils and 16 returning councils. Of those 16 returning councils, 12 or (75%) improved in the rankings. Award recipients include a diverse combination of corporations, federal government, non profits and higher education - representing all sectors, geographies and sizes, reports Janice E. Bowman, Practice Leader for the Association of Diversity Councils.    

To qualify for the Diversity Council Honors Award, participating council groups must have been in operation for at least two years and have demonstrated contributions and achievements in four categories: Demonstrated Council Results; Demonstrated Management Commitment; Measurement and Accountability; Communication and Education. A panel of independent judges evaluated the applications.

The 2011 Annual Diversity Council Honors Award? recipients are (by rank):

1 U.S. Navy Strategic Diversity Working Group 
2 Wipro Technologies 
3 American Airlines 
4 FedEx Freight Diversity Council 
5 Boehringer Ingelheim Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council 
6 Harland Clarke Diversity Council 
7 Siemens Energy, Inc. 
8 Comcast Diversity Management Council 
9 Prudential Financial - Law, Compliance and Global Business Ethics Diversity Council 
10 WellPoint - Associate Network for Gay and Lesbian Equality (ANGLE) 
11 CSX Global Inclusion Council and Affiliates 
12 Best Buy 
13 Ameren Corporate Diversity Council 
14 Wells Fargo Barnhart Diversity Council 
15 Johns Hopkins Bayview Diversity Council 
16 The McGraw - Hill Companies / Diversity & Inclusion Councils 
17 Diageo North America Inclusion and Diversity Council 
18 MGM Grand Hotel & Casino 
19 Oakwood Healthcare System 
20 The University of Akron's Diversity Council 
21 Pfizer Animal Health - Diversity & Inclusion Council 
22 The Boeing Company - Engineering, Operations & Technology 
23 Hyatt Hotels Corporation 
24 Cargill, Inc. 
25 AXA Equitable Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council

Linda H. Stokes, President and CEO of PRISM International, Inc, the parent organization of the Association of Diversity Councils says, "For many years, our firm had assisted organizations with their diversity and inclusion initiatives. We recognized early the important contributions and impact which diversity councils, ERGs and other type groups had on their organizations; yet, for all their great efforts there was little national recognition. We wanted to change that."

PRISM created a specialized practice - the Association of Diversity Councils ? to be a premier resource for diversity and inclusion council professionals. "The goal was to help councils and council members increase their impact and effectiveness in developing, implementing and maintaining an organizational strategic diversity focus; and, to recognize and honor the best practices and efforts," says Stokes. "This was the basis for the annual Diversity Council Honors Award."

A direct result of the Honors Award process is the creation and release of the survey findings. In May, the 2011 Diversity Council Honors Award Survey of Findings Report will be issued and made available to all councils who applied. This report will include results and analysis of each of the 4 specific focus areas compiled from the applications of the Top 25 councils.

"The work of these top councils elevates the overall significance and value of all councils. The strategies, tactics, activities, commitments, results and achievements they've identified help to set the standard of excellence for councils nationwide, " concludes Bowman.