Racial Diversification, Inclusion Summit Held In Pleasant Hill

PLEASANT HILL, CA — A summit to address the challenge of racial diversification and inclusion got underway Wednesday at the Pleasant Hill Community Center. The summit, which is called "Centering Racial Equity," is being hosted by the LeaderSpring Center, a 22-year old Oakland-based equity-driven social impact intermediary that seeks to create a healthy and equitable
society.

The training, which targets chief executives and executive board members, was set to take place from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the community center at 320 Civic Drive.

Summit organizers say a study of 1,300 nonprofit organizations and 1,700 leaders that was conducted by BoardSource, which supports, trains and educates nonprofit leaders, found that 90 percent of chief executives and board chairs, and 83 percent of all board members are Caucasian.

The report said that although 65 percent of executive directors indicated dissatisfaction with the racial diversity of their board compositions, board diversification was not prioritized.

The report also indicated that these percentages and attitudes have not changed since 2014.

The LeaderSpring Center said the summit will train chief executives and board executive leadership about racial diversity, equity and inclusion.

The center said the summit also will provide information on tools and practices for creating more diverse boards that advance a culture of equity and inclusion.

— Bay City News Service