RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — More than 1,300 people gathered at the Raleigh Convention Center on Tuesday for the city's annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conference.
The event, hosted by the Triangle DEI Alliance and in collaboration with the Raleigh Chamber, will bring together businesses large and small, executives and employees for workshops and discussions on DEI initiatives.
“We serve people who don't look like us, so it's important that the company reflects the people we serve,” said Audrey Barbee, a Durham native and NCCU graduate who works for pharmaceutical giant Merck.
Barbee said engaging with other employees and businesses in a forum like Tuesday's meeting has been eye-opening, and the message is more timely than ever.
“Companies sometimes forget that we're human beings and we have a human experience at work, so we're not just robots at work. So it's important to be able to have those conversations,” Barbee said.
The annual event comes in the midst of a national reckoning on DEI initiatives. In North Carolina, the UNC System rescinded its DEI policy in a controversial vote this spring. The system's new policy mandates the organization's neutrality on contentious issues and prohibits discrimination.
“There will be pushback, but we believe in the work we're doing and we're going to continue to do our best,” said Dr. Tori Staton, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion for the Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.
Staton spearheaded Tuesday's meeting, saying the turnout speaks to the commitment that Triangle-area businesses and commerce are making to DEI initiatives.
“The number of people here today and the interest in continuing this conversation is a testament to how much we care about diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in this region, in the Triangle region and in the business community,” she said.
Political experts predict the inclusive discussion surrounding DEI will be a frequent topic on North Carolina's campaign trail in the coming months.
“There's a lot of skepticism on the right about the argument that Democrats and liberals are going too far with any kind of DEI initiative,” said Steven Green, a political science professor at North Carolina State University.
Greene said she expects Kamala Harris, currently the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, will be the focus of some of those remarks.
“Part of it will be the fact that she's a Black woman and how that relates to the issues, and Republicans are already making the case that she's the environmental and social integration candidate,” Greene said.
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