As the world continues to become more connected and diverse we need to improve the way we identify, attract, develop and retain talent while reflecting and supporting the communities we serve.

Earlier this year, Saks OFF 5TH committed it was going to do more as a company to advance racial equality. Our overarching mission is to reflect and support the communities we serve. We believe that differences not only make us stronger, but also guide the company’s evolution, innovative thinking and future growth. To support this work, we established three pillars for our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy, including:

1. Create and Sustain Opportunity
2. Foster an Inclusive Environment
3. Empower our Team with Education and Training

In August 2020, we established our DEI Council made up of corporate, store and distribution center associates across all levels. It is instrumental that we have inclusive representation to ensure our efforts will reach all areas of our communities, including our associates and customers. Our Council is collaborating with our leadership team to bring relevant and actionable items to the table that will drive meaningful change for our organization.

In line with our mission of reflecting and supporting the communities we serve, we also committed to identifying charitable partners that closely align with our efforts. As part of this, Saks OFF 5TH is continuing to support Girls Inc. and has entered into a long-term partnership with the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI), a national non-profit organization dedicated to advancing health equity and social justice for Black women.

We continue to make progress with our efforts and  we are seeing heightened activity through communication, collaboration and connectivity. However, we recognize there is more work to do and have robust plans in place to drive our work forward and foster a more inclusive culture. We’ve hired a DVP, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, started building out a targeted, diverse talent pipeline program, joined Civic Alliance to provide voting resources for our associates and launched a DEI speaker series. Additionally, with our BWHI partnership, we have pledged to donate $100,000 over the next two years to support the organization’s mental health, wellness and mentorship initiatives. We continue to build on our plans for 2021 and remain focused on reflecting and supporting the communities we serve.

Stefen J. Welch