Diversity

A diverse institution is a strong institution. Unfortunately, American institutions, from Corporate America to Capitol Hill, are weakened for want of diverse perspectives and inclusive environments. Of the Fortune 500 CEO’s, less than 1 percent are Black. Similarly, a 2016 Joint Center study found that African Americans account for less than 1 percent of top Senate staff. Ironically, while Congress requires diversity employment tracking in the private sector and across the rest of the federal workforce, no one tracks how many minorities work for senators and representatives. The CBC Diversity Task Force prioritizes the inclusion of African Americans at all levels of the public and private sectors. The Task Force challenges Congress to lead by example through increased transparency and devoted diversity resources. The Task Force also works with private companies and membership organizations to recognize that diversity is good for the bottom line, develop best practices to help firms increase diversity, and to strengthen networks of diverse candidates.