The Greater Houston Partnership recently created a list of eight racial equity principles that serve as a framework of how companies can commit to increasing and implementing their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.
Since December, 120 companies representing over 220,000 employees have signed a pledge committing those principles, the GHP said. Some of the companies include Rice University, Waste Management Inc. (NYSE: WM), Bank of America's (NYSE: BAC) Houston market, Burns & McDonnell Houston, and Baker Hughes Co. (NYSE: BKR).
While many businesses have already made their own individuals statements regarding racial equity and inclusion, the GHP believes that a unified approach sends an important signal about the Houston business community’s collective commitment.
The pledge is part of the GHP's One Houston Together initiative, which launched last summer and focuses on addressing racial equity in Houston. The Partnership, a business advocacy group made up of over 1,100 member companies in the Houston area, has since hosted a series of conversations with leaders in the Black community; hired LaTanya Flix as its first senior vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI); and created a Racial Equity Committee.
“We have to be more than just the most diverse city in the country — we must work to be the most inclusive city,” said Bob Harvey, president and CEO of the GHP. “By launching One Houston Together and forming our Racial Equity Committee, we now have a pathway to lead the business community on these important issues and realize meaningful change.”
The Racial Equity Committee, co-chaired by Ruth Simmons, president of Prairie View A&M University, and Gretchen Watkins, president of Shell Oil Co., includes over 30 Houston business leaders. The committee created the eight racial equity principles, which focus on creating and implementing policies and processes to make workplaces more inclusive and equitable.
The principles and pledge come after the GHP conducted a survey among Houston companies in November to measure how diversity, inclusion and equity efforts are progressing in the region. The survey found that 94% of responding companies have started DEI work within their organizations, but almost 50% of respondents indicated that they have no formal DEI plan and that there is a significant perception gap between CEOs and staff regarding DEI goal achievement.
The survey data helped the GHP determine two areas for immediate action: enhance corporate DEI with a focus on advancing equity throughout the talent pipeline and supporting equitable entrepreneurship for historically underutilized businesses. Flix will help with creating and implementing an action plan.
"We believe the Houston companies that have signed the pledge are doing so because they are committed to the principles and that they will give full effort and attention to taking action, as many of them are already engaged in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within their organizations," the GHP said in a statement. "In the coming months, we will unveil the One Houston Together initial actions and strategies, which include resources to help companies implement their commitments. We also anticipate developing a regional indicator to measure our collective progress."
The eight principles in the racial equity pledge are:
- We will practice and encourage behaviors that build trust and understanding rather than resentment and bias.
- We will set measurable goals and practice rigorous accountability in our diversity, inclusion and outreach efforts and within our own institutions.
- We will acknowledge missteps and correct course when warranted.
- We will support advancing equity in the communities in which we live and operate, understanding that our long-term success depends on our shared progress.
- We will regularly engage with and listen to underserved communities to deepen our understanding of the inequities experienced and seek lasting solutions.
- We will identify specific and concrete ways to foster the advancement and success of underrepresented groups, institutions, and individuals.
- We will promote the application of these principles within our spheres of influence.
