DiversityInc - October 2006

enhance academic achievement for about 800 high-school students in West Philadelphia and the surrounding area.

The Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council has also made 250 apprenticeships available to high-school graduates, while the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce (GPCC) provides paid internships to hundreds of students to prepare them for the work force. The GPCC and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission are working jointly to attract more knowledge workers to the region to keep pace with the rapid economic growth.

But educational programs across the region start long before high school. In Philadelphia, about $80 million has been invested in after-school programs. Together with the school district’s extended-day programs, this gives diverse students extra opportunities to learn during after-school hours. Area teen cen-

ters also offer youth job-training and employment programs.

To help place newly skilled workers with local employers, numerous work-force development programs are available. In Southern New Jersey, One-Stop Career Centers provide job counseling, vocational training and support services. The Philadelphia Workforce Development Corp. (PWDC) prepares and places residents into full-time positions and manages a commuting program to help employees without access to transportation get to their jobs.

Supplying Jobs,

Strengthening the Economy Initiatives in the region are also igniting women- and minority-owned business growth, a plus for corporations seeking diverse suppliers and for residents seeking employment. To help support W/MBEs, the Minority Business Enterprise Council certifies companies for participa-

tion in city contracts, while New Jersey’s Urban Enterprise Zones provide tax abatements and tax credits. The African America Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce also assist small-busi-ness growth through access to capital and low-cost insurance.

Further fueling regional growth is a host of private-public technology partnerships. Consider Innovation Philadelphia, a program designed to nurture technology-based businesses with financial assistance. Another private-public partnership is creating a wireless network that will bring the Internet to underserved areas and help the region grow its high-technology economy. According to Philadelphia Mayor John Street, this new network dis-tinguishes “our vibrant city as we compete in the national and international marketplace.”

The area’s travel and hospitality industry is also booming. Tourism

Campbell Soup Company’s Varied Diversity Menu

Under Doug Conant’s leadership, Campbell has raised diversity to a higher level of significance. “Diversity is incorporated into our five core strategies,” says Conant, president and CEO since 2001. That commitment has played out in many ways.

Employee and supplier-diversity programs lead the way, while the company also supports many educational opportunities for underprivileged children in Camden, N.J., where Campbell is headquartered. “We spend $4 bil- Doug Conant lion in goods and services annually. The supplier-diversity initiative ensures we are strengthening our supplier base and reflecting the markets we serve,” Conant says.

Diversity is essential in the company’s recruiting, development and retention efforts. Within the organization, affinity groups for persons of color and for women are aimed at fostering professional development. More significantly, the company has a 17-member Global Diversity Advisory Board that represents a cross-section of the company and is responsible for helping to implement diversity priorities. A half-day training session covers the impact of small but powerful biases communicated in the workplace. A few groups at Campbell—such as Campbell

USA Marketing—have used the ‘Plays for Living’ training tool, which uses actors to re-create workplace scenes to expose issues about diversity and a lack of inclusion. Diversity training also includes employees at production facilities across the country. Senior executives participate in major recruiting events hosted by universities for their MBA students of color.

Campbell’s diversity commitment extends to its community involvement. Funding from its foundation and employee involvement bring programs such as Arthur Ashe Youth Tennis and Education, the Philadelphia Zoo on Wheels program and the Arden Theatre, all based in Philadelphia, to students of Camden’s public and private schools. Other programs help develop literacy in non-English-speaking parents and their children, feed the hungry and turn low-income residents into first-time homeowners. Campbell works with 17 Students in Free Enterprise chapters in the Philadelphia area.

“We still have more to do, but we are making good progress in enhancing the diversity of our organization. We believe that the success of our diversity initiatives is critical to our ability to win in the workplace and win in the marketplace, ” says Conant.