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The Eastern Iowa Human Resources Association (EIHRA) established a Diversity Committee in 2002 in response to our members' growing interest in this area. On this page you will find information about Diversity, Diversity resources you can use, and news about the Committee's activities.
We invite you to visit this page often and check out the diversity information and resources listed below.
Who We Are
The EIHRA Diversity Committee is comprised of a group of professionals that are committed to diversity in order to increase the value of Cedar Rapids – Iowa City Corridor organizations.
Our Mission is to provide tools to serve members and increase the visibility of Diversity within EIHRA. Our purpose and scope is the following:
Ø To support Human Resource Professionals to study, apply, and teach the value of workforce, client, and supplier diversity.
Ø To provide forums for Human Resource Professionals to exchange insights and information related to diversity.
Ø To identify opportunities for expanding and developing diversity within the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Technology Corridor.
Ø To monitor and address challenges to the understanding of diversity in organizations and work environments.
Ø To promote public awareness and education of the importance of diversity to the community and its economy.
Ø To reinforce the highest ethical standards with regards to diversity.
Interested in becoming a member? Email Nikole at Nikole.stewart@adeccona.com
Upcoming Diversity Events in the Corridor
PTDN Third Places
February 13, 5:00 PM
- Brewed Awakenings Coffeehouse
- 1271 1st Ave. SE, Cedar Rapids, IA – Across 1st Ave. from Coe College
- http://www.brewedawakeningscr.com/
- As I tried to decide how to describe Brewed Awakenings, I found that Katie Geltz, a student at Coe did a good job of it in a piece Brewed Awakenings has included on their web site. She writes, “Brewed Awakenings has a wonderful atmosphere that you can feel as soon as you walk through the door; it’s a relaxing, home-away-from-home feeling where you can sit down and take a break … Go somewhere that you’re a person. Dare I be so painfully clichéd as to tell you to go somewhere that everyone knows your name?” That sure sounds like a “Third Place” to me. Join us for a coffee and some good conversation next Monday.
- You might also enjoy dropping by Brewed Awakenings on Friday’s from 8-10:00 when they feature local entertainment in a friendly and intimate atmosphere.
February 20, 5:00 PM
- University of Iowa College of Engineering
- Lobby Near the South Entrance of the Seamens Center, Iowa City, IA
WHAT ARE “THIRD PLACES”? Our lives have three “Places”: the home, the workplace, and “Third Places”. These “Third Places” are neutral places where we can unwind and visit with a variety of people we may not encounter in our other “places”.
ABOUT THESE EVENTS: Join the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Professional Technical & Diversity Network (PTDN) as we explore interesting and new “Third Places” in the Corridor. Meet in an informal, friendly environment to network with new friends interested in our community’s diversity. These events will also give us a chance to find and visit establishments in our community that we may otherwise never encounter. We try to pick places we feel help celebrate the diversity of our community.
Our PTDN “Third Places” events are generally scheduled for the 1st Monday of the month in Cedar Rapids, and the 3rd Monday of the month in Iowa City, starting at 5:00 PM. Our hosts have graciously agreed to reserve an area of their establishments for us to gather, and/or to extend their hours for us. Refreshments will be available. There will be no formal program, just a chance to “unwind” after work and visit with other people of like interests.
Mount Mercy Presentation Addresses Competence in Cross-Cultural Communication
Words, gestures and facial expressions have different meanings in different cultures. As cultural diversity continues to rapidly spread across the nation, and globalization requires interaction with culturally different people in other countries, awareness and competence in cross-cultural communication is necessary for communal harmony, peace and productivity.
Physician and behavioral scientist Venugopal S. Reddiar, MD, MRCP, ABIM, will present How Much Does Ignorance About Cross Cultural Body Language Cost? at Mount Mercy College on Monday, Feb. 13 at 7:00 p.m. in the Flaherty Community Room, Basile Hall. This event is free and open to the public.
Reddiar will address how unintended conflicts and misunderstandings arise because of misinterpretation of verbal and non-verbal messages in a multicultural environment. He states that awareness and competence in cross-cultural communication are no longer options, but are necessary. People, at all levels, need training and education in cross-cultural communication skills.
This event is part of Mount Mercy College’s Cultural Enrichment series Cultural Survival Skills. This series is presented by the Mount Mercy College Cultural Enrichment Committee and partially funded through a generous grant from the Cedar Rapids Sisters of Mercy to Campus Ministry. As members of an increasingly global community, our cultural understanding must be deep and great. This series of events offers reflection and insight.
International cuisine featured at 32nd Coe International Club Banquet
You can sample cuisine from around the world without leaving town. The Coe College International Club is sponsoring it’s 32nd annual banquet on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 6:30 p.m. in the lower level of Gage Memorial Union. Appetizers will be served during a 6 p.m. reception in the upstairs Gage lobby.
As in past years, Coe international students will don costumes and serve from a buffet line reflecting their nationalities. A brief program featuring the students will follow the dinner.
This year's banquet features foods from Japan, Italy, India, Korea, Nepal, Paraguay, Mexico, Vietnam and Hong Kong. Bulgogi, korma, mango lassi, shrimp scampi, cannoli, arroz con leche and Vietnamese egg rolls will be among the specialty items served. Several amazing desserts will also be featured.
The event is open to the public and tickets are $6.50 for adults, $3 for students, and free for children 12 and under. They are available by calling the Coe Box Office at 399-8600, 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Tickets will also be for sale at the door.
Women Entrepreneurs (WE) was founded by Joni Thornton in March 2002 in order to establish a network of women business owners who could support one another. The Mission Statement, "Connecting, supporting, educating and creating new customers and friends" sums up how the idea for WE came to Ms. Thornton. As Director of The Women's Business Center of Iowa, Inc. Joni noticed that many women were not aware of the many businesses being owned and operated by fellow women entrepreneurs. "There was not a 'Good Old Women's' club or network for women entrepreneurs. I felt it was time for us to join forces and support one another through networking in Linn County and the surrounding areas.” Women Business Center of Iowa. For more information please contact:
Joni Thornton, Executive Director
136 36th Street, Drive SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52403
Phone: 319.298.2407
E-mail: womens1@mcleodusa.net
If you're interested in meeting other women entrepreneurs, or know of someone that may be, please call or e-mail to receive additional information for the next upcoming event.
WE welcomes all women entrepreneurs (or women considering starting their own business).
Calendar of Events for the African American Historical Museum & Cultural Center of Iowa
For more information on African American Historical Museum & Cultural Center of Iowa and its events, please see the museum’s website at http://www.blackiowa.org
If your organization would like to be showcased on the EIHRA Diversity Website, please contact Nikole Stewart at Nikole.stewart@adeccona.com.
Check out the results from the EIHRA Diversity Survey of July 2002
DiversitySurveyResults.ppt, 631k (Download)
Summary of results:
Ø 97% of responding EIHRA Members are interested in learning more about diversity.
Ø Tools preferred for reference are lists of resources, workshops and this website.
Ø 24% of respondents listed no diverse customer base or workforce.
Ø 50% felt their respective organizations would benefit from a diversity program. Of those companies, 28% felt that management was interested, but didn’t know where to start.
Ø 37% of the companies with diversity programs do not know how to measure its impact or value to the organization and only 10% thought their diversity program was effective.
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Ø Tell us about your organization in the 2005 EIHRA Diversity Survey – coming soon in your email.
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In the News
Katrina job network created
Department of Labor Web site will work to connect employers and victims of Hurricane Katrina.
September 13, 2005: 12:04 PM EDT reported by CNN/Money
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In an effort to aid individuals who have become suddenly unemployed due to Hurricane Katrina, the Department of Labor announced the creation of a new job resource on Monday.
The Web site, called the Katrina Recovery Job Connection, will work to connect employers and those looking for employment.
"We have created this new Internet resource to connect workers to employers who have jobs to give, including temporary jobs cleaning up and rebuilding devastated communities," said Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao.
The site will target three groups including those looking for a new, full-time job in their home state or in a different state; individuals looking for temporary employment or wanting to help with clean-up and rebuilding efforts; and employers who are looking to hire individuals that lost their job because of the hurricane.
The Department of Labor, which will handle the hiring for clean-up of affected areas, is asking multi-state employers to consider adding jobs to the new Web site.
The Katrina Recovery Job Connection can be found by visiting www.jobsearch.org/katrinajobs or through America's Job Bank at www.ajb.org. |
Katrina Recovery Iowa Job Connection http://www.iowaworkforce.org/katrina/index.html This site connects job seekers impacted by the hurricane with employers who have chosen to extend job opportunities for both temporary and permanent opportunities in Iowa. Individuals seeking employment opportunities in Iowa should register for employment and search these and other opportunities available through Iowa Workforce Development.
Diversity, Equal Employment Opportunity, and Affirmative Action Resources for HR Professionals
Iowa Committee on Diversity, www.iowadiversity.org
DiversityIowa is a network of local diversity employment Web sites committed to connecting employers with qualified, local applicants of all backgrounds. We understand that creating an inclusive, progressive work environment goes beyond just recruitment. Please explore the different areas of our site to experience a comprehensive diversity resource for your local community at www.diversityiowa.com
Need help with immigration and integration, I9’s and translation? Contact Oscar Rosales of the New Iowan Center of Iowa Workforce Development, 800 7th Street SE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406, oscar.rosales@iwd.state.ia.us
Training for Recruiters finding diversity candidates http://www.airsdirectory.com/training/diversity/find/
Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs offers assistance to employers with Affirmative Action Plans and commitments to diversity. www.dol.gov/esa/ofccp/
Uniform Guidelines on Employee Selection Procedures, www.uniformguidelines.com
The Diversity Toolkit, by Lee Gardenswartz, PhD & Anita Rowe, PhD. Available at the SHRMStore at 1-800-444-5006.
Have a Diversity Best Practice that has worked for your organization? Tell us about it by sending it to nikole.stewart@adeccona.com.
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