Dec. 6th - Museum of the African Diaspora (MoAD) Re-opening. After six months of construction and renovation, costing close to $1.3 million, patrons can now enjoy a refurbished entryway, which has been transformed into a multipurpose space with more natural light, as well as an L-shaped hallway that’s been reworked into an Emerging Artists Gallery. On the museum’s second floor, two previously permanent exhibitions have been replaced to make room for two new galleries, a performance space, and a small theater. There were speeches from Executive Director Linda Harrison, Harvard Professor Dr. Alejandro de la Fuente, Los Angeles artist Lava Thomas and City Administrator Naomi Kelley. There is no party without The Honorable Willie L. Brown Jr., who officially announced MoAD's status as a Smithsonian Affiliate which gives it access to the larger museum’s exhibitions and works. Visit MoAD and enjoy its two current exhibits: “Lava Thomas: Beyond,” which focuses on a local artist, and “Drapetomania,” a survey of the Afro-Cuban Grupo Antillano. {Photo Vanessa Mason (MoAD Vanguard), Brenda Wright (Wells Fargo and Former MoAD Board President) and Tyra Fennell (MoAD Vanguard)
A SOLD OUT event with close to 300 party-people, you can rest assured the complimentary alcohol and food were draws to be in the house, while, from my observation, a nice handful were very interested in the exhibits and went through the treasure hunt and enjoyed the 3rd floor exhibit.
It was endearing to see so many bringing toys to donate to those less fortunate. Although these donations entered guests into a raffle to win some 'fan-tastic' gifts, I could tell the spirit of giving was much more important to them.
Don't dare show up without wearing 'show-stopping' attire. The ladies and gentlemen came ready for the camera and for some it was a 'mini' photoshoot session. You could tell who took hours 'to figure it out' and those who just have it like that 'effortlessly'. I knowwwwwwwwwwww, you're asking where is a photo of me and my 'smashing pink to-die-for dress'. LOL. Well as you can see I was the photographer on this particular night, as for just about all the events I attend. But don't fret, I did not disappoint, hehehe. And go!
{Photo: Ingrid Roseborough, MD - Rahel Marsie-Hazen - Meaghan Mitchell. Vanguard MoAD Leadership Council Member}. I serve on the Advisory Council of MoAD Vanguard.
Dec.
10th - Intel Hosts Rev. Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Push Coalition. Rev. Jesse Jackson has been demanding higher
employment for blacks, Latinos and women in tech companies and Intel stepped up
to the plate to host an honest conversation around the work they've been doing
in this space for more than 10 years. Rosalind
L. Hudnell, Intel, VP Human Resources - Chief Diversity Officer - Video. Tech companies have been targeted by the Rainbow
Push Coalition, founded by Rev. Jackson, for not employing enough people of
color at their companies. Following
pressure from the group, some companies like Google, Twitter and Facebook
released employee diversity data which showed that their employees in the U.S.
were predominantly white followed by Asians.
For many, as you can imagine, this was not a surprise, but rather just a
larger disappointment of the reality. We
are far beyond the excuse of 'the talent among these diverse groups cannot be
found' or 'these diverse groups are not applying for the jobs'. When you have intentional targeted
recruitment at, for instance non-HBCU colleges and/or predominately European
population high schools, then yes your workforce would exhibit the same.
Many of my colleagues who attended and
several new friends I made at the event, are very anxious to 'see' the steps
that are being taken to bridge this disparity, moving the dial beyond the
'conversation' to action, implementation and reported numbers that prove the same. So many are hiding behind the 'it takes time'
to develop the culture, get those at the top on board, and you can fill in the
blanks on the rest. However, I am very
optimistic, and the results are already showing, that Rev. Jesse Jackson's
efforts and passion behind this movement will hold those accountable to make
the changes happen, not just for a time, but for the culture of these tech
companies - Having Diversity and
Inclusion is Having Good Business Sense.
Author: Y'Anad Burrell
{Photo
#1: Rev. Joseph Bryant, Jr., West Coast Rainbow PUSH Tech Director. Rev. Jesse Jackson, Founder. Janice Mathis, Esq., VP Rainbow
Push/Director, Atlanta Regional Office.
Martin King, Esq., Chairman, Rainbow PUSH Coalition}
{Photo #2: Linda Parker Pennington, Talent & HR Advisor, Tech Futures Group
Awesome stuff!! Was fortunate enough to see the old MoAD but I am looking forward to seeing the new and improved building.
ReplyDeleteI am glad to see that Intel hosted an event surrounding the lack of diversity in tech companies and look forward to see how things will change in the near future. With programs such as Black Girls Code and soon Black Boys Code, it will be a great day when numbers rise for people of color in the technology sector.