by At the 2018 Annual Conference in Atlanta, SoACE presented the Mosaic Award to Ernst & Young and the Wake Forest University Office of Personal and Career Development, who, in the spirit of diversity and inclusion, collaborated on a project entitled “Diversity Matters: Building Professional and Career Relationships.” The focus of this program is to connect students from underrepresented groups (e.g., women, students of color, LGBTQ students, students with disabilities, and first-generation students) with employers who care about recruiting diverse talent. Resources provided by this initiative ensured students would be well presented and prepared with fresh haircuts, counseling support and professional attire.
One of the students participating in the event shared the following:
I have been feeling pretty lost lately when thinking about my plans for the future, and what I need to do in college to get there. Just attending a prep workshop for Diversity Matters eased my mind. And then attending the actual event, having a career coach at the table, and being coached and supported up until we started the actual event was so helpful. I felt prepared and more confident, asking questions of employers and even branching out by looking into fields that people in my major don’t normally pursue. I feel like I mattered to these employers, giving me a chance to stand out because of my diverse background, not disadvantaged by it.
The award was accepted by Ryan Emerson from Ernst & Young, along with Cheryl Hicks, Dana Hutchens, and Lori Sykes from Wake Forest University’s Office of Personal & Career Development (pictured below).
Criteria for the Mosaic Award includes a commitment to the spirit of diversity and inclusion through active participation in promoting diversity and inclusion initiatives within the last twelve months. In addition, the organization(s) must support positive communication and education that promote mutual respect, acceptance, cooperation or tolerance among people of different backgrounds. The Mosaic Award is presented to a group or organization that exemplifies these same commitments and intertwines them within their professional practice.
