No need to remind you that Xerox is a company that celebrates and values diverse thinking, cultures and perspectives. If you don’t believe it, just ask Philip Harlow, Xerox’s chief diversity & employee advocacy officer.
How can employees make a difference? “By doing the things they do every day,” said Harlow. “Xerox people are passionate about doing what’s right by others and speaking up. If we live our core values, valuing our employees is a big part of that. Treating one another with equality, dignity, and respect makes a huge impact.”
A key part of the diversity equation at Xerox is an active set of six employee caucus groups. Caucus groups are independent organizations that represent blacks, Hispanics, Asians, women, and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Xerox employees. In addition to being a resource to Xerox, they offer support and means to help members reach their full potential. Their aim is to assure that their members have equal employment and promotion opportunities, receive training and development, and give something back to the community.
Each caucus group is matched with a champion, a senior executive, to educate senior management on the unique diversity issues Xerox employees face. Now, lets meet the Xerox caucus groups:
ACT (Asians Coming Together)
Champion: Mike Mac Donald
President: Ronna Treier
ACT in the Community
ACT developed a unique community outreach partnership with the Xerox Science Consultants Program. Members volunteer their time and scientific expertise to teach the next generation about science, biology, chemistry, earth sciences and physics. The program provides a way for ACT members to give back to the community-at-large.
Xerox’s youngest caucus group counts among its members some of Xerox’s leading technical experts. ACT began with 12 employees meeting at an employee’s California home in 1999. Ronna Treier took over as ACT president in 2003 and almost immediately she dealt with separations at west coast facilities in El Segundo, and the transition of the Palo Alto Research Center that cut membership sharply. Treier organized the 2003 ACT Conference with the support of champion Mike Mac Donald and Ed Ciaschi in Rochester that spearheaded the group’s campaign of awareness to draw new members. The strategy is paying dividends but Treier feels there is still more to be done.
“Our Wilsonville chapter is getting stronger and we’re seeing gains; however, one focus we have is seeing more Asian employees in the sales organization. Xerox has an opportunity to reach Asians for those sales positions in areas with heavy Asian concentrations such as New York City and California.”
Asian advisors Kam Shenai and Dave Rowlands helped by lending their voice to further the visibility of constituent’s concerns to the corporate level.
“We’ve been very successful because we have good people,” Treier said. “As a young caucus group we have been faced with challenges, but we are making progress and we know opportunities are there.”
According to the ACT mission statement, the group seeks to “provide a voice and forum for education, professional development and interaction; improve awareness and advocate equitable recognition and advancement opportunities for Asian employees within Xerox.”
ACT has four regional chapters (Northern California, Southern California, Greater Rochester and Wilsonville)
http://www.asianscomingtogether.com/
GALAXE Pride At Work (Gays and Lesbians At Xerox)
Champion: Jim Firestone
Co-Presidents: Cathy Lewis and Mike Oswald
Galaxe
The Holiday Project is one of the initiatives Galaxe members look forward to each year. Members sponsor 75 gift boxes in conjunction with the AIDS Community Health Center to help people with necessities. Galaxe also provides a “Safe-Space” program at Xerox to foster an environment of support for gay and lesbian co-workers.
Galaxe Pride At Work is a formal organization for Xerox employees who are or who support gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender people. Galaxe Pride At Work provides an official point of contact between its membership and Xerox Corporation, as well as with other gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender organizations external to Xerox.
The group came into existence in 1992 from what was originally a distributed electronic mailing list for gay and lesbian employees throughout Xerox called Lambda.
Rochester-based presidents Cathy Lewis and Michael Oswald assert that the organization’s members are well accepted throughout Xerox but there is still work to be done.
Said Oswald: “Xerox has made good progress. But, the farther you get away from the corporate world, the harder it gets. So, Xerox’s stand and attitude towards diversity definitely helps.
“It is comforting to know,” he added, “there are policies in place to help gays, lesbians and transgender individuals do their job without fear. Having this caucus group is invaluable to that end.”
http://www.galaxe.org/
HAPA (Hispanic Association for Professional Advancement)
Champion: Ursula Burns
President: Rita Cortez
HAPA National Conference
The recently completed national conference featured workshops; tributes to past members; executive roundtables with employees; executive panel discussions; and a $2,500 money makeover sponsored by the Xerox Federal Credit Union. In addition, BGO President Ursula Burns delivered the keynote address while CEO of La Opinion magazine Monica Lozano was another keynote speaker.
For 28 years, the Hispanic Association for Professional Advancement has constituted a myriad of professionals striving to be the best. The group works for the advancement of employees of Hispanic descent while providing ongoing support through mentoring and coaching.
Said HAPA President Rita Cortez: “The importance of Hispanic representation inside of Xerox should mirror the growing Latino customer base we serve. Our heritage, intelligence, passion, and value system we bring as leaders at Xerox are all strong traits.”
HAPA was first established in Los Angeles in 1977 by a group of seven Hispanic Xerox employees who saw a need for a single unified voice of Hispanic representation within Xerox.
The interest in HAPA is continuing to grow as more Hispanics join Xerox and are successful. A HAPA chapter helps provide visibility and offers a vehicle for them to voice concerns and get answers. Both locally and nationally, meetings emphasize the following messages to members: help others reach their potential, network, get involved, stay current and retain your heritage.
http://www.hapa.org/
BWLC (Black Women’s Leadership Council)
Champion: Tom Dolan
National Chairpersons: Jackie Denny
The BWLC, which began in 1986, works to ensure equal treatment for its members by way of hiring and promotion, and making sure learning, training and development opportunities are available. This caucus group seeks to energize their members by helping them give back to their communities with outreach programs.
One such program is the BWLC Foundation. The Foundation, which is dedicated to the continual development of young black women, has been a catalyst for building the group’s future success. It funds full and partial scholarships for exemplary students. Moreover, BWLC members act as mentors throughout the recipients’ college careers and allows them to network within the organization and with its members.
“There is still a huge need and a lot of work yet to be done,” said BWLC Chairperson Jackie Denny. “Black women in the company need to know that we are here to help them, but this is no social club. To be successful, we need to make sure our champion hears us and is a role model to our organization.”
Resources are available for African-American women who want to talk about issues and get involved via the established “Sister-to-Sister” conference call sessions.
http://www.bwlc.com/
NBEA (National Black Employees Association)
Champion: Larry Zimmerman
President: Dale V. Sedgwick
NBEA/BWLC
NBEA partnered with its local caucus groups to set up a matching fund to help those affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The group matched up to $1,000 for the effort. Monetary donations were also collected to help affected members of BWLC and NBEA cope with loss after the tragedy.
NBEA has the distinction of being the first-ever organized caucus group recognized by Xerox. Started in an era of national turbulence, the 1960’s, the Bay Area Black Employees was the impetus for what we know as caucus groups at Xerox.
This year’s joint NBEA and BWLC conference showcased a plethora of African-Americans working toward many common goals ranging from increased visibility, mentorship and sponsorship to marketing oneself within Xerox. The coming together of these two caucus groups demonstrates exactly what each group strives for: national unity.
The NBEA goals include: increasing black employee representation at all levels; developing and supporting black women within Xerox; increasing intake, retention, training and development of black employees; and supporting, expanding and strengthening participation in the African-American led caucus groups.
Today, there are 12 individual groups nationwide that make up the NBEA and they function as the voice for all African-Americans at Xerox.
http://www.nbea.net/
TWA (The Women’s Alliance)
Champion: Mike Brannigan
President: Marlene Bessette
TWA
The Monroe County TWA Chapter created a scholarship fund for young women studying the sciences and engineering called the Molly Efron Technical Women’s Scholarship, in conjunction with the Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley. In the first 90 days, $32,000 was raised. The goal to begin granting scholarships to deserving women in engineering and scientific pursuits is $50,000.
TWA is a catalyst to advance the personal and professional development of women at Xerox and enable them to reach each goal. Representing all Xerox women is a large task, but TWA said it is meeting that challenge by helping women attain higher degrees of success, visibility and opportunity in present and future positions.
TWA started nearly 18 years ago when a handful of senior-level women, noting the success of the black employee caucus groups, decided it would be beneficial if women could get together to discuss mutual problems and opportunities. That initial meeting has spawned into what is now a truly global effort merging women from various parts of the globe with similar interests.
“Inclusiveness is very important to us,” said outgoing president Janice O’Rourke, “so we made sure we reached out to women in Canada, Asia, and Europe.”
This international organization is working to identify critical Xerox jobs and to implement plans to develop women to fill those positions.
http://www.thewomensalliance.net/
