Creating and Fostering a Diverse and Inclusive Organization at EDENS
Challenge
EDENS is committed to creating and fostering a diverse and inclusive organization and culture that allows all members of its community to not only succeed based on merit, but thrive, and appreciate our shared humanity. Our goal is to build and develop an organization that is a collective of diverse and talented people who find ways to Enrich Community using ideas that reflect the best of their unique points of view. We believe different perspectives add strength, creativity and innovation to our work and lead to optimal solutions. This goal was set by our executive management and is embraced across all levels of employees. Each employee is encouraged to participate in the promotion of inclusiveness. EDENS is committed to providing an environment free of discrimination, racism and harassment, where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, can contribute fully and have equal opportunities while bringing the entirety of themselves to the workplace. The challenge we face is working to increase diversity within our organization, while focusing on an environment that is also inclusive.
Actions
We addressed this issue head on and undertook many initiatives. First, ensuring top-down support was imperative to the success of this initiative. Second, we invested our resources in forming and strengthening relationships with organizations that could help us identify talented individuals from minority populations because we understand that expanding our pool would help us identify and consider a more well-rounded applicant population. Third, we started a task force in June 2018 that served as a safe place for us to discuss topics like diversity and inclusion. This group has since grown to a Diversity & Inclusion Committee which is in charge of four goals:
- Create a diverse organization as reflected in our employees, culture and strategic partners.
- Provide accessible and equitable growth opportunities for employees at EDENS and throughout the Real Estate industry.
- Launch a Diversity & Inclusion training and education series that will facilitate meaningful conversations and growth for all employees.
- Build an inclusive organization where all employees are equally engaged.
Outcomes
We have seen a 33% increase in diverse hires in 2018 and 2019 vs 2016 and 2017.
Contact
Jodie McLean, CEO
Caroline Davis, Vice President – Employee Engagement
Quote
At EDENS, we actively foster culture where diversity of thought is empowered. When you gather diversity around a table that is not only present but empowered to ask questions and share their thoughts, propose ideas, and engage critically – that is when innovation truly occurs.