COUNTRY Financial identified the need to ensure diverse voices are heard and perspectives are understood through conversations about race and equality. 

In June 2019, COUNTRY Financial CEO Jim Jacobs made a public statement declaring our stance against racial injustice. At the same time, he asked the corporate Multicultural Resource Group (MCRG) to recommend a process the organization could use to ensure diverse perspectives are understood, and conversations continue, about race and equality.

In response, the MCRG hosted a virtual panel discussion where leaders shared their perspectives and personal stories about current local and national issues regarding ongoing civil unrest.

The purpose of the panel was to:

• Kick-off the Courageous Conversations series and start conversations in the organization on topics such as race, equality, and inclusion.
• Provide a forum for leaders to role model how to have the conversations.
• Increase understanding about how colleagues are impacted by topics like Black Lives Matter, privilege, inclusion, what it means to be an ally and more.

Over 300 employees attended the kick-off panel discussion and a recording was made available for others to view who could not attend.

In addition, Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) program leaders and the MCRG implemented an action plan to keep the conversations going at COUNTRY Financial. The plan includes:

• Providing resources to leaders to help create a safe and inclusive space for engaging in conversations.
• Hosting additional Courageous Conversations to share a variety of perspectives and personal stories.
• Forming a new Diversity Action Committee to engage all resource groups in the planning of ongoing diversity discussions and community involvement.

In addition, the Early Career Resource Group integrated D&I into their leadership discussion series and the Women Lead Resource Group hosted a discussion on the intersection of race and gender.