American Conference on Diversity

= Background/History =

The American Conference on Diversity is a nonprofit organization that promotes initiatives and programs throughout New Jersey that foster inclusion, respect and understanding for all, recognizing the value of diversity. It takes on an historic mission by creating programs and activities relevant to 21st century life. Throughout its history, the organization has developed, hosted and lead a series of initiatives focused on promoting greater inclusion and understanding in schools, businesses, institutions and communities through its state-wide programs and the efforts of its eight local chapters throughout New Jersey.

Headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, the American Conference on Diversity is the premier organization associated with promoting diversity, inclusion and understanding in schools, workplaces and communities in the state. Through its leadership development, training and education-based programs, the organization works with businesses, educational institutions and communities to create successful organizational cultures that enhance diversity initiatives, foster dialogue and build positive, aspirational values. As a nonprofit, the American Conference on Diversity dedicates its time and resources to creating relationships, programs and activities vital to an increasingly diverse New Jersey and the global 21st Century society.

Mission

The American Conference on Diversity's Vision, Mission and Philosophy are as follows:

: Vision: To work with New Jersey’s leaders to create and enhance a society that embraces social justice for us all.

: Mission : To value diversity, educate and empower leaders, promote inclusion and respect in schools, workplaces and communities.

: Philosophy: That the work of the American Conference on Diversity is among the most important activities we can do to create a positive, inclusive society. It is the unfinished business of living in a highly diverse state: educating and empowering our next generation of leaders; enhancing New Jersey workplaces; and helping to create inclusive communities. The American conference on Diversity takes an historic mission and creates programs and activities relevant and vital to 21st Century life. It’s a journey we can all take together.

Chapters

The American Conference on Diversity has a network of eight chapters throughout the state that work to execute programs that serve the unique populations, economics and needs of its local communities. These include:

* Atlantic County Chapter
* Bayonne Chapter
* Bergen-Passaic County Chapter
* Central Jersey Chapter
* Essex County Chapter
* Hudson County Chapter
* Jersey Shore Chapter
* Princeton Area Capital Chapter

Each chapter works to develop programs with the American Conference on Diversity’s understanding of the issues and diverse climate of the local communities it serves. The focus is to implement local programs designed to address these matters and produce safe environments for local conversations on diversity to take place.

Programs

Community Outreach

State-wide Humanitarian Awards – Through this annual event, the American Conference on Diversity recognizes outstanding individuals, businesses and organizations whose work and philanthropy contribute to the promotion and support of diversity throughout New Jersey and the region. Honrees' efforts exemplify the organization’s goal to build relationships, programs and activities relevant to creating an inclusive society. Funds raised through this annual dinner event benefit the many programs of the American Conference on Diversity, including the Youth Leadership Institute and Health Disparities initiatives.

Chapter Humanitarian Awards – Each local chapter recognizes the efforts of local humanitarians in the communities they serve that make a difference. Through annual dinner and luncheon events, the Chapters of the American Conference on Diversity recognize outstanding individual, business, organization and student contributions to the promotion and support of diversity throughout their communities. Funds raised through these annual events help support education programs.

Diversity Stride Walk-A-Thon – An annual program and fundraising event that brings together local citizens, young and old, and corporate teams to Liberty State Park for a three mile walk to celebrate the richness of New Jersey’s diversity. Funds raised from the walk directly benefit the American Conference on Diversity’s Youth Leadership Institute.

Interfaith Dialogues – Run by local chapters, a series of forums for local religious and community leaders to foster thoughtful and honest conversations that explore differences and similarities among their faith beliefs, traditions, texts and other practices.

New Jersey: A Statewide View of Diversity – As part of its ongoing research, the American Conference of Diversity engaged the Bloustein Center for Survey Research to implement a statewide survey that examined attitudes and behaviors relative to diversity and social issues over the last decade. Presenting Partners and corporate and foundation funding helped the American Conference on Diversity to commission this longitudinal study, which ultimately provides a clear comparison of the ongoing progress – and new challenges – facing New Jersey residents and businesses relative to the states growing diversity.

Youth Leadership for NJ High Schools and Campuses

Youth Leadership Institute - A year-round series of programs that provide peer leadership diversity education and training for the purpose of preparing our next generation to lead in our schools, our workplaces and in our communities. Each year, students from around New Jersey participate in the Youth Leadership Institute. All activities below are provided by the American Conference on Diversity through the support of corporate sponsors and local schools. The Institute includes the following programs:

* Lead for Diversity - A week-long summer peer leadership diversity education program, giving high school sophomores, juniors and seniors a focus on appreciating diversity and valuing differences. Student teams leave the program having created an Action Plan for human relations improvements in their schools and communities and impact thousands more students through their Action Plans. Once students “graduate” from Lead for Diversity, they move on to participate in their school and regional leadership programs.
* Manytown – Regional and local one-day forums planned by American Conference on Diversity Lead for Diversity graduates. The forum invites local high schools together to discuss topical human relations issues. More than 1200 students attend one of six Manytown forums.
* Youth & Community Summits - One-day forums where high school students and local business and government leaders come together to learn about each other and create positive social change within their communities. The forums are planned and facilitated by American Conference on Diversity counselors, local corporate participants and Lead for Diversity graduates.
* Break the Cycle Be the Change - A fast-paced, interactive performance which helps student audience members to identify the sources of prejudice in schools and communities. Using role play, dramatic reading, and facilitated conversation, this program helps students identify ways that they can "be the change" in their schools around issues of prejudice, diversity, and understanding.
* Awareness to Action – An intensive human relations and bias reduction training for student leaders and educators designed for a single high school. Through an interactive curriculum, it lays the groundwork for students of different backgrounds to step out of their comfort zones and begin to understand themselves and others, building teamwork and leadership skills.
* Campus Leaders - Brings together student leaders and faculty advisors of New Jersey’s colleges and universities to increase awareness of conscious and unconscious biases and prejudices that individuals may have towards others and to role model behaviors related to living in a multicultural society. Program participants develop the skills necessary to foster an inclusive campus community and a just society.
* School Swap - An interactive curriculum where students from one high school can experience a day in the life of students from a different area high school and build understanding for each other in different learning environments

Education

* Educators Institute – The Institute for Professional Development, offered through the American Conference on Diversity’s ShopRite Center for Workplace Diversity, offers this professional development series to middle school and high school teachers, administrators, counselors and other individuals interested in building more inclusive schools. Courses last two days and awards 12 professional development credits. The program is provided to teachers through a partnership with the Peter Sammartino School of Education at Fairleigh Dickinson University and funding from the Wachovia Foundation.
* Diversity Issues in Higher Education Conference - The annual conference brings together administration, faculty, staff and students from colleges and universities across the state to discuss and examine diversity issues impacting New Jersey's campuses.
* Faculty In-Service and Retreats - Working with individual schools, the organization prepares and conducts In-Service education and Retreats for faculty and administration in New Jersey high schools.

Health Disparities

Through multiple partnerships and support from the business community, the American Conference on Diversity works on the increasingly important issue of health disparities, as an economic issue as well as a social issue. This initiative includes the following programs and tactics:
* The Impact of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities on New Jersey Companies – Launched in 2007, this forum event addressed the impact of health disparities on New Jersey’s businesses. Over 100 representatives from 58 companies throughout New Jersey participated to discuss strategies and issues. Ongoing initiatives include the development and dissemination of a Tool Kit to help employers recognize the importance of and implement strategies and activities to address health disparities among their employees.
* Health Research – As part of its ongoing research initiatives, the American Conference on Diversity works with experts in the health field to prepare papers on the business sector’s role in addressing complex systemic issues regarding health disparities.
* Cultural Competency Training – The Institute for Professional Development, offered through the American Conference on Diversity’s ShopRite Center for Workplace Diversity with funding from the Horizon Foundation for New Jersey, provides cultural competency training for New Jersey’s healthcare providers.

Business and Workplace

* American Conference on Diversity’s ShopRite Center for Workplace Diversity – The Center provides education programs, training and consultation to enhance workplace culture for better teamwork, productivity customer service and service delivery. In addition to specialized programs featured above, the Center provides programming for municipal and state agencies, non-profit organizations, education-based institutions and businesses of all types.
* Journey into Diversity – A series of customized programs that assist organization’s efforts to create work environments where employees have an acceptance of co-workers regardless of backgrounds and to enhance employees’ working relationships (team building).

Sources/References

cite press release
title = American Conference on Diversity - "Engagement on Health Care Disparities" remarks delivered by Patrick J. Geraghty, Senior Vice President, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey
publisher = Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield
date = 2007-06-22
url = http://www.horizon-bcbsnj.com/community/community_press.asp?article_id=771&urlsection=
accessdate = 2008-08-01

cite paper
first =
last =
author = Professor Cliff Zukin
authorlink =
coauthors = American Conference on Diversity
title = New Jersey: A Statewide View of Diversity
version =
publisher = Rutgers University Bloustein Center for Survey Research
date = 2007-09-01
url = http://www.americanconferenceondiversity.org/documents/2-SurveyReport.pdf
format = PDF
accessdate = 2008-07-15

cite news
last = Jones
first = Ellen P.
coauthors =
title = In 'Manytown,' students examine their prejudices
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = The Philadelphia Inquirer
date = 2008-06-01
url =
accessdate = 2008-06-01

cite news
last = Birriteri
first = Anthony
coauthors =
title = American Conference on Diversity: Helping Businesses, Clients and Customers Get Along
work =
pages =
language =
publisher = New Jersey Business
date = July 2008
url = http://www.allbusiness.com/government/government-bodies-offices/11467897-1.html
accessdate = August 19, 2008

cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = American Conference on Diversity
work =
publisher =
date =
url = http://www.americanconferenceondiversity.org
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-07-30

cite web
last =
first =
authorlink = Monmouth University
coauthors =
title = Diversity @ Monmouth
work =
publisher =
date =
url = http://www.monmouth.edu/resources/diversity_training/default.asp
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-07-30

See also…

* Multiculturalism
* New Jersey
* Health disparities
* Diversity
* Minority Group
* Diversity training
* Religious Pluralism
* Toleration
* Martin Luther King, Jr.
* American Civil Rights Movement
* Racism

Notes/External Links

* [http://www.americanconferenceondiversity.org American Conference on Diversity]
* [http://www.americanfactfinder.gov Census Bureau: American Fact Finder]