Partners in Diversity was named Community Partner of the Year by the Portland Business Alliance at its 2016 Annual Meeting on May 3rd at the Oregon Convention Center. The award was recieved by Vicki Nakashima, a founding member who for years ran the organization as a volunteer, and Jilma Meneses, current Chair of the Partners in Diversity Leadership Council.
Partners in Diversity was founded ten years ago by a group of CEOs who knew early on that their organizations would be stronger and more competitive if they were successful in attracting and retaining a diverse workforce. Partners in Diversity was founded with a mission to build equity while creating economic growth for businesses in the region, and that remains its driving purpose. It has grown from a mere idea with a volunteer executive director to a professional organization today with more than 100 members.
The organization’s signature event, Say Hey!, has grown to become one of the region’s premiere multicultural events. Through events like Say Hey!, the CEO Forum, and the Workforce Diversity Project, Partners in Diversity works to keep the mission of diversity and inclusion top of mind and relevant with employers throughout the region.