COMMITMENT TO OPPORTUNITY, DIVERSITY & EQUITY

Join the Coalition

Building Equitable Access and Opportunity.

The Commitment to Opportunity, Diversity and Equity (CODE) was created to help the community achieve sustainable growth in the areas of diversity, inclusivity, equity and opportunity. By collaborating with Greater Omaha and Lincoln businesses, we work to accomplish this through two initiatives:

  • CODE Employer Coalition — This group is dedicated to expanding diversity and inclusivity in our workplaces by turning insight into measurable action.
  • CEOs for CODE — This group brings business leaders together in their shared commitment to break down barriers and drive change at the executive level.

When combined, these efforts can achieve economic equity and inclusiveness for all. And we want you to be a part of it.

%

of Black young professionals in Omaha felt their workplace was inclusive and welcoming, compared to 79% of all other races, according to a 2017 survey

Our Employer Coalition Members Are Leading Change.

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Creating Inclusive Workplaces.

Our Employer Coalition seeks to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace. As a member of the Coalition, you will be supported as you develop an action plan to cultivate a trusting environment where all ideas are welcomed and employees feel represented.

All companies are encouraged to join.

Diverse Talent Playbook

We created a guidebook to help you be more effective at attracting and retaining diverse talent at your company. It’s a tool to help you start conversations, plan your strategy, set goals and lead long-term organizational change.

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Two co-workers chatting

Guidance on Your Journey.

To support employers in the midst of developing their organization’s diversity and inclusion (D&I) strategy, we’re created a step-by-step guide. Whether you’re an Employer Coalition member who has just completed your assessment or a D&I professional looking for tips, this toolkit can help guide your work.

We Will.

On June 3, 2020, the Greater Omaha Chamber hosted nearly 150 CEOs, founders and leaders of the Omaha business community with the purpose of identifying collective action for diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces and communities.

We discussed a variety of inequities—from healthcare and housing to education and employment —and recognized the shared root of all of these disparities is racism. As a direct action of this, more than 260 CEOs signed a personal commitment to lead change.

We Will headline in a newspaper
Come ready. Engage openly. Leave empowered.
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About CODE

Created in 2016, the Greater Omaha Chamber’s Commitment to Opportunity, Diversity and Equity (CODE) is focused on creating positive, measurable outcomes leading to increased opportunities and equity for underrepresented populations.

Research conducted in 2015 showed Black young professionals were five-to-six times less likely than all races to recommend Greater Omaha as a place to live, work and play, among other issues. Two years of focus groups, additional research and collaboration among organizations, nonprofits and corporations revealed these trends were ongoing and systemic. Something had to be done – because “nothing” is never an option.

The result was CODE—a call to action for those who believe we can and must do better.

CODE seeks to:

  • Increase workplace diversity in the workforce, management and senior leadership among Greater Omaha companies to accurately reflect the demographics of our city
  • Increase community satisfaction among underrepresented groups
  • Assist companies in achieving an increase in diverse employee satisfaction and inclusion ratings
  • Provide opportunities for dialogue, engagement, networking and training/education surrounding Diversity and Inclusion
  • Increase number of minority-owned businesses through access to existing networks and resources for training, technical assistance and funding
  • Create networking opportunities and support mentorship programs for underrepresented groups

If your organization is ready to address these challenges, consider joining our employer coalition.

Advisory Council

A cohort of D&I practitioners, nonprofit representatives, content experts and passionate stakeholders form the CODE Advisory Council. The group serves as an advisory council to the Chamber, Urban League and other partners in their efforts to increase diversity and inclusion in employment and the community.

COUNCIL MEMBERS

Carmen Tapio (Chair), North End Teleservices

Angel Starks, Nebraska Realty

Angela Cooper, Mutual of Omaha

Ashley Turner, Borsheims

Cammy Watkins, Inclusive Communities

Chris Johnson, Leo A Daly

Christopher Estwick, Fraser Stryker LLC

Christopher Whitt, Creighton University

Donald Neal, KPMG, LLP

Jessie Feinstein, Jackson Lewis, PC

Joyce Cooper, OPPD

Michael Beverly, (Update)

Moniki Cannon, Gunn & Cannon | Empowerment Group

Morgann Freeman, Nebraska Appleseed

Richard Webb, 100 Black Men of Omaha

Stancia Jenkins, University of Nebraska

Tamika Mease, Signature Performance

Victoria Novak, Metropolitan Community College

Winsley Durand, Greater Omaha Chamber, REACH

Ronald Fleming, Greater Omaha Chamber, REACH

Kayla Toney, Urban League of Nebraska

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