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<\/a>Kiwanda Stansbury, Director, Inclusion and Diversity, Advance Auto Parts, Speaker at the North Carolina Diversity Best Practices Meeting.<\/p><\/div>In the diversity and inclusion field, there continues to be continued discussion on the importance of Employee Resource Groups, or ERGs. Traditionally, they have been referred to as \u201caffinity groups\u201d as they bring together employees around a common constituency factor such as Black, Hispanic, Women, Young Professionals, LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender), Veterans and more. These groups help make employees feel more at home and included in the workplace, and provide activities such as professional and social networking, mentoring and community involvement.<\/p>\n
As a diversity and inclusion consultant, I often attend various workshops to continue to pick up the latest development in my field. In early July, I attended a half day \u201cDiversity and Inclusion Best Practices\u201d seminar organized by the National Diversity Council \u2013 Carolinas<\/strong><\/a> in Durham, NC. One of the presenters was Kiwanda Stansbury, Director, Inclusion and Diversity, Advance Auto Parts.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Ms. Stansbury started off by stating that Advance Auto Part\u2019s and her mode of operation is to foster change and target to do things differently and better. That was evident in the way they structure and execute their employee resource groups, which they call \u201cTeam Member Networks\u201d which follows their corporate nomenclature of referring to their employees as team members. Current Team Member Networks include: And Ms. Stansbury\u2019s position title was different than normally found in the diversity and inclusion field in that her title is Director, Inclusion and Diversity. This highlights that inclusion is the real emphasis since that is where the work happens. Diversity is a fact of life, but inclusion is the hard work or making sure everyone is welcomed and valued in the workplace. Company Resource Groups very often staff booths and tables at community diversity activities like this one I attended on my 60th birthday.<\/p><\/div>The major best practice that Ms. Stansbury shared was Advance Auto Parts\u2019 robust and structured approach to inclusion and diversity which includes aligning their Team Member Networks to the overall organization\u2019s strategy. They have established a structure and approach around four agreed upon key focus areas (i.e. pillars) that keep the networks aligned with corporate strategy: Providing a strong framework around inclusion efforts will surely benefit Advance Auto Parts\u2019 Team Member Networks by providing them a structure to operate so they thrive and be effective for both the corporation and the team members over the long term.<\/p>\n * * * *<\/p>\n Other Blogs I have written about Employee Network Groups:<\/p>\n Evolving Employee Resource Groups \u2013 a Creative Approach from Erie Insurance,<\/strong><\/a> which I wrote after the 2016 National Diversity Council – Carolinas Best Practices meeting.<\/p>\n Diversity Councils and Employee Resource Groups \u2013 Not \u201ceither \/ or,\u201d but \u201cboth \/ and\u201d<\/strong><\/a> which I wrote in response to one firm planning to close down their employee resource groups.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In the diversity and inclusion field, there continues to be continued discussion on the importance of Employee Resource Groups, or ERGs. Traditionally, they have been referred to as \u201caffinity groups\u201d as they bring together employees around a common constituency factor … Continue reading
\n\u2022\tWomen in Motion Network (WIMN)
\n\u2022\tKnowledge Network \u2013 Diversity of Thought
\n\u2022\tA.L.I.G.N. \u2013 African Americans Leading Inclusion and Growth Network
\n\u2022\tS.E.R.V.I.C.E. \u2013 Serve, Educate, Recruit, Value, Celebrate and Empower (Veterans)
\n\u2022\t#Connext \u2013 Millennial Network
\n\u2022\tAmigos Unidos \u2013 Hispanic \/ Latino
\n\u2022\tAdvance Pride \u2013 LGBTQ
\n\u2022\tR.I.C.E. \u2013 Recognizing International Cultures and Ethnicities<\/p>\n
\n<\/a>
\n\u2022\tTeam Member Inclusion and Development<\/strong>
\n\u2022\tTalent Acquisition and Retention<\/strong>
\n\u2022\tCustomer and Community Outreach<\/strong> which involves connecting team members to the customers and communities they serve through outreach and community service projects.
\n\u2022\tBusiness Alignment<\/strong> which includes aligning with the cultural shift, corporate strategy, tying to organizational health and establishing metrics to measure efforts.<\/p>\n