Photos: YouTube Screenshots
Newark, NJ–A powerful coalition of New Jersey’s decision-makers, influencers, and community leaders gathered at the “State of DEI Emergency” meeting on Thursday, September 26, 2024, to address the growing anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) movement that poses a significant threat to the progress made in advancing equality over the past fifty years. Hosted by State Senator Angela McKnight and Dee C. Marshall, CEO & Managing Partner of Diverse & Engaged, the meeting brought together leaders from across the state to chart a course forward in protecting DEI progress.
Originally initiated as an effort by the late Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr., this convening continues his mission under the leadership of Senator Angela McKnight, who has taken up the charge on this initiative following his untimely passing.
The meeting aimed to gather insights on the current state of DEI across New Jersey and to build a collective response to combat the anti-DEI movement. Leaders from various sectors shared experiences and perspectives to address the challenges that communities and organizations face today across five core areas Workforce, Higher Education, Healthcare, Supply Chain, and Community. These core areas served as focal points for the roundtable discussion, as participants shared their insights and strategies for sustaining and advancing DEI in each sector.
“We are at a pivotal moment, facing the largest pushback against Black progress in half a century,” said Dee C. Marshall during her address on the state of DEI. “It is essential for us as leaders to unite, share insights, and create an action plan that will uphold the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion in New Jersey.”
The roundtable discussion was the core of the meeting, where participants identified common themes, highlighted pain points, and brainstormed actionable strategies. The goal of the roundtable was to uncover specific challenges impacting DEI across sectors and to foster cross-sector collaboration to move from defense to an offensive strategy.
Agenda Highlights
- Welcome Remarks by Senator Angela McKnight provided a powerful opening, setting the tone for the urgent and collaborative nature of the meeting.
- Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman addressed attendees via phone, providing critical background and emphasizing the federal perspective on DEI challenges.
- Rachel Noerdlinger, Partner at Actum LLC, and Rick Thigpen, SVP Corporate Citizenship at PSEG, shared their insights on the purpose and intent behind the meeting, laying the groundwork for strategic discussions.
- Dee C. Marshall presented “The State of DEI,” emphasizing the current threats to DEI efforts and the importance of unified action.
The meeting also featured notable leaders from across the state, including Mayor Ras Baraka of Newark, Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, Chair of the Urban Mayors Association and Mayor of Plainfield, and James Lewis of the Garden State Bar Association. Health sector leaders were represented by Avonia Richardson-Miller, Chief Diversity Officer at Hackensack Meridian Health, and Atiya Jaha-Rashidi, MHA, RN, Chief Equity Officer and Vice President of Community Relations at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Rick Thigpen, SVP Corporate Citizenship at PSEG, also attended and provided valuable insights on corporate engagement in DEI. Additionally, Enobong (Anna) Branch, PhD, Senior Vice President for Equity at Rutgers University, contributed her expertise on equity and inclusion in higher education.
The event fostered an environment of open dialogue, community solidarity, and the determination to combat anti-DEI sentiments and protect the progress made in advancing social justice and equality.
