&Inclusion Innovation in the Twin Cities
Opportunity. The department will
serve several functions, from overseeing civil-rights enforcement and
work-force development to opening up contracting opportunities to
local minority- and women-owned
business enterprises (MWBEs). The
new department and appointment
“will enable us to further our mission
and achieve our goals of increasing
economic opportunity for all,” said
Coleman in a statement. “If we fail
to create an inclusive environment
in which all vendors and contractors
have equal access to contract opportunities, we will fall short of building
strong neighborhoods, safe streets
and sustainable jobs.”
Inclusion Spurs
Innovation
The city is not alone in its commitment to diversity
management. Numerous regionally headquartered
companies—from retailers (Best Buy and SuperValu,
for example) to professional-service firms (Ameriprise
Financial and Travelers)—have strongly supported
diversity initiatives and events.
ANNUAL MULTICULTURAL FORUM
Now in its 22nd year, this two-day learning experi-
ence has been a diversity catalyst locally and nation-
ally. Hosted by the Opus College of Business at the
University of St. Thomas in partnership with the Twin
Cities chapter of the National Black MBA Association,
this year’s “Securing the D&I Future: Evolving
Strategies, Meaningful Outcomes”
will be held March 17 and 18 and is
expected to draw about 1,200 human-
resource professionals, diversity
practitioners, talent-acquisition lead-
ers and government managers from
across the country.
FROM THE 2009 ANNUAL
MULTICULTURAL FORUM
LEFT: Alicia Petross, Target’s talent manager, at 21st Multicultural Forum;
RIGHT: Robert Ngwu, president, Twin Cities chapter of National Black MBA Association
74 DiversityInc
Mike Ekern/University of St. Thomas
