fbpx
Greater Louisville Inc. The Metro Chamber of Commerce
× Greater Louisville Inc. The Metro Chamber of Commerce
 

Business Council to End Racism

Greater Louisville Inc.’s Business Council to End Racism

The recent movement for equality and justice has led GLI to take a serious look at how we serve as the voice of the business community. We recognize that GLI has an opportunity to use that collective influence to highlight racial issues in Greater Louisville and join the call for accountability and reform.

GLI strives to be a type of convener that will bring people and stakeholders together in a way that is thoughtful and joins the call for accountability and reform. During this pursuit of justice and healing, the business community in Greater Louisville must engage and collaborate in meaningful conversations aimed at uncovering the causes of racism and inequities.

Now is the time to listen and build a deeper acknowledgement of racial issues and their impact on our marginalized communities. We acknowledge the great pain that is felt and the injustices that have led us here. As we find ways to put action behind these words, join us in committing to do your part to highlight the racial issues that hold us back as a city and work toward a prosperous Louisville for all by signing this pledge.

In support of the pursuit of equity, GLI announced that we have established the Business Council to End Racism to focus on how oppression and injustice impacts marginalized communities. This Council will help raise up our marginalized community through concerted efforts aimed at:

  • Building a stronger sense of belonging
  • Developing dedicated talent strategies
  • Identifying business advancement opportunities
  • Targeting ongoing policy work in relation to public education, workforce development and barriers, health care access, law enforcement and criminal justice reform.

Crystal Peterson, senior vice president, chief diversity inclusion and global community relations officer for Brown-Forman Corp. will co-chair the committee, along with Cynthia Knapek, president of the Leadership Louisville Center, and Jerilan Greene of Yum! Brands Inc. We will be asking many business leaders and community members to join us in serving this important mission.

The Council has been divided into five different workstreams, acting together toward the common goal of an equitable business community. Those five workstreams are being led by the following Workstream Champions:

Access to Healthcare Workstream Champion
Corenza Townsend
Director of Provider Operations, Practice Administration, Norton Healthcare

Workforce Development & Barriers Workstream Champion
DeVone Holt
Vice President of External Affairs, Goodwill Industries of Kentucky

Education Workstream Champion
Dr. Nat Irvin II
Assistant Dean, Thought Leadership & Civic Engagement Professor of Management Practice, University of Louisville College of Business

Inclusion Workstream Champion
Condrad Daniels
President, HJI Supply Chain Solutions

Criminal Justice Reform & Law Enforcement Workstream Champion
David Tandy
Of Counsel, Dentons Bingham Greenebaum

The Business Council to End Racism would not be possible without funding from Brown-Forman, Humana and Yum! Brands Inc.