Partnership to provide roadmap for employers to make progress toward a more equitable economy
WASHINGTON, DC (May 11, 2021)– Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), a national nonprofit working to transform our country’s leadership pipelines, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (U.S. Chamber), the world’s largest business organization, today announced a partnership that will offer a comprehensive, data-driven solution to help companies better manage, track, and measure, corporate diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in order to accelerate action and drive meaningful progress.
Building on both organizations’ longstanding commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion this initiative will utilize MLT’s Black Equity at Work framework to help companies develop and implement holistic and rigorous plans and hold themselves accountable to achieving meaningful and measurable progress toward equity commitments and goals.
Data fromtheU.S. Chamber’sEquality of Opportunity Initiative (EOI),launched last year shows that Black Americans representation in “high earning management and professional occupation” roles were under concentrated at 8.9%, less than their 12% representation in the workforce overall, and even within the same positions and education levels, Black workers earn less than their white counterparts.
“Our partnership with MLT will help the Chamber continue to make progress in this important work through a framework that’s already proven to be successful for a number of leading companies. With best-in-class tools and strong models for success, business leaders can confidently take intentional actions to tackle racial equity and promote a more inclusive economy,” said Rick Wade, Senior Vice President of Strategic Alliances at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “The Chamber launched the Equality of Opportunity Initiative to develop and advance private sector solutions and scale impactful programs that help close race-based opportunity gaps.”
The partnership will support companies in setting comprehensive goals and achieving impact in addressing issues of equality of opportunity such as expanding diverse supplier networks, increasing Black representation in leadership and board of director positions, investing in Black entrepreneurs, and growing the diverse talent pipeline including through partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions.
“Black Americans face profound and persistent inequities compared to White Americans, in wealth, in income, and in health outcomes, to name just a few,” said John Rice, founder and CEO of Management Leadership for Tomorrow. “The stark inequities are the product of past and present systemic and individual racism. Specifically and intensively focusing on Black equity is essential to ensure long-overdue progress.”
Tomorrow, MLT and the U.S. Chamber will host a discussion as part of the U.S. Chamber’s Equality of Opportunity in Action series.Equality of Opportunity in Action: Measuring Impact, will feature corporate leaders sharing best practices and insights on how they’ve utilized data and innovative tools through Black Equity at Work to improve accountability and achieve results in their efforts to build equitable and inclusive workplaces. To join the event, registerhere.
For more information about this initiative, visit:MLT Black Equity at WorkandEquality of Opportunity initiative.
About MLT Black Equity at Work Certification
In 2020, MLT launched the MLT Black Equity at Work Certification, calling on corporate America to take a stand on the right side of racial equity. As a first-of-its-kind clear and comprehensive standard for employers committed to achieving Black equity, the Certification provides the roadmap, support, and recognition necessary to enable and encourage employers across America to pursue Black equity with the same rigor and results applied to other key business priorities. Learn more atwww.mltblackequityatwork.org.
About Management Leadership for Tomorrow
Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT) is a national nonprofit working to transform our country’s leadership pipelines and increase access to the American Dream. MLT provides Black, Latinx, and Native American talent with the coaching, playbook, and networks they need in order to excel in high-trajectory careers, secure economic mobility for their families, and become high-impact senior leaders equipped to advocate for vulnerable communities. MLT also provides a comprehensive solution for institutions, which combines best-in-class recruitment, retention, and diversity strategy offerings. Learn more atwww.mlt.org.
About The U.S. Chamber of Commerce
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business organization representing companies of all sizes across every sector of the economy. Our members range from the small businesses and local chambers of commerce that line the Main Streets of America to leading industry associations and large corporations.
They all share one thing: They count on the U.S. Chamber to be their voice in Washington, across the country, and around the world. For more than 100 years, we have advocated for pro-business policies that help businesses create jobs and grow our economy.
