Diversity doesn't mean much without inclusion; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 6/17/15

John Denny, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Diversity doesn't mean much without inclusion:

"So, back to that Regional Investors Council meeting, which was attended by 300-plus business, community and philanthropic leaders. We had gathered to address a pressing problem that’s popping up in many cities and regions, including Pittsburgh: We simply don’t have enough talent for the work that needs doing!

This is both a people problem and a diversity problem. Pittsburgh needs to include more people with talent, especially from the black community and our fastest-growing minority groups, to keep our community growing.

When we broke into more than 35 groups to discuss this issue, I sat at a table made up primarily of African-Americans, which I am not. Soon we got to the core of the problem: Diversity is one thing, but inclusion is something else entirely.

Who cares if you’ve got a lot of diversity if everyone isn’t included in the decision making? If communities, boards, companies, nonprofits, associations, foundations and governments don’t include minorities in critical discussions and promote them within their ranks, there is no inclusion. And without their voices, we are missing out on many, many opportunities and new ideas."