Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, July 14, 2004, Page 5, Image 5

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luly 14. 2004
Page AS
Diversity Valued in the Workplace
cent had a negative view of their
companies’ efforts. The res, were
neutral.
Those with the most favorable
opinions of diversity program s in­
cluded executives - 47 percent of
whom though, their com panies
were effective - and em ployees at
com panies with more than 5,000
While the population of the coun­
try has gotten increasingly diverse,
American companies haven', kept
up, said Fariborz Ghadar, professor
of finance and director of the Cen­
ter for Global Business Studies a,
(AP) — Fewer than a third of
Penn State University.
American workers believe their
“ W e’ve got quite a hurdle to
companies have effective diver­
jum p before we become a truly
sity programs, accord­
diverse organizational
ing to a new report by
-------------- structure in many of
p o ll ;
the National Urban
our corporations,” he
League.
Diversity in the work force
said.
The rep o rt also
The guidelines could
Americans value diversity in the workplace, but fewer than a
found that fewer than third believe their companies have effective diversity programs
be useful, but making
half of the workers
l ? ~ l Favorable responses
surveyed had favor­
C T3 Unfavorable responses
able opinions of their
companies’ efforts on I am comfortable working in diverse teams.
recruiting, leadership
commitment, and ca­
reer development.
“We have work to A diverse work force improves creativity and
Innovation In the workplace.
do,” said Marc Morial,
president and CEO of
the League, a New
York-basedcivil rights
My company has an effective diversity initiative.
Urban League
group. "One of the rea­
President
Marc Morial
32%
sons why this study is
26%
important is it gives us
improvements requires
sense of where we About this pot 1.927 to 2,019 adults surveyed, margin of
that companies diver­
error plus or minus 5 percent
are.”
sify their management
Sixty-five percent of SOURCE National Urban League
said Todd
AP ranks,
those surveyed agreed
Campbell, manager for
that diversity improved creativity workers, where 43 percent thought diversity at the Society for Human
and innovation in the workplace, favorably of the initiatives.
Resource Management, an industry
and 80 percent said they were
The report noted that the dispar­ group.
comfortable working in diverse ity in outlook between executives
"If you want long-term impact
teams.
and rank-and-file workers “is an and success, eventually you’re go­
But when asked if their com­ important reminder that executives ing to have to diversify those top
pany had an effective diversity tend to view' their companies through levels,"Campbell said. "People want
program, only 32 percent had a differen t, perhaps rose-colored to see people like them excelling
favorable response, while 26 per­ glasses.”
within the company.”
But survey shows
many employers
have poor records
PHOTO C O I RTESY KAISER PERMANENTE
Market Reflects Cultures
Performers entertain visitors with African music at the Rockwood
International Market sponsored, by Kaiser Permanente. The market
is open for the summer on the
Saturday and Sunday each
month through September at Kaiser Permanente's Rockwood
Medical Office, 19500 S.E. Stark Street. Besides live entertain­
ment, the market features fresh produce and flowers, ethnic food,
and many handcrafted items reflecting the cultures of Rockwood's
many immigrants from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and republics of
the former Soviet Union.
ty,d
Sidewalk Sale to Draw Crowd
A summer sidewalk sale will draw resi­
dents to Northeast Broadway from 33rd
Avenue to Martin Luther King Jr. Boule­
vard this weekend.
Some 25 merchants are participating in
the July 16-18 event, sponsored by the
Broadway Business Association. There
will be discounts of from 20 to 70 percent
on selected merchandise, food and ser­
vices, including restaurants such as
Pastini'sPastaria, Irvington ComerTable,
Pizza Schmizza and Starbucks.
Slave Narratives Delayed
O ther special attractions include
"reading matter by the pound” from
Broadway Books, specials on eye ex­
ams from Hallmark Opticians, and free
bang trims and consultations from
M onte’s Hair Salon.
This weekend’s production of the Slave Narratives "Sun Up Till Sundown ”
by Storytellerz Readers Theater at the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center
in north Portland has been postponed for rescheduling in August. For more
information visit www.ifcc-arts.org or call 503-823-4322.
VI471 s e a s o n s 1
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