Although workplace diversity is currently a hot topic, many organizations have been cultivating an atmosphere of diversity for quite a few years. The state of Indiana is a prime example of being out ahead of the mainstream.

In 1999, in a response to then President Clinton's Initiative on Race, the Indiana Civil Rights Commission developed a Best practice manual entitled "Celebrating Diversity".

"Celebrating Diversity" is a resource manual of diversity programs and activities that are 'designed to overcome the racial barriers that divide Hoosiers,' according to the foreword by then Governor Frank O'Bannon.

The manual has an activity listing, which is comprised of various activities organized by groups, churches, faith based initiatives, and colleges throughout the state. These are offered as resources available to all Hoosiers, including all businesses, as a tool to help develop a plan of diversity, both in the workforce and in everyday life.

Some of the best practices listed in the manual include -

- how to identify differences among people in a diverse workplace.

- how to recognize the differences between prejudice and discrimination.

- how to recognize the benefits of valuing diversity.

The manual defines diversity as a difference or variety. Without differences among people in the workplace, the ability to grow and to learn would be limited. This is true for the individual as well as the business. So diversity in the workplace goes beyond race to include gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, physical and mental challenges, and ethnicity.

The manual stressed that it is necessary to understand and embrace diversity, and to understand that each person's contribution to the organization is a means for growth. The Indiana Civil Rights Commission distributes its Best Practices manual to all businesses that are interested in improving their workplace diversity, or interested in the implementation of a workplace diversity plan.

The concepts introduced by the state through the commission have been implemented now in many of the employment branches.

The Indiana Department of Corrections has a class for new employees entitled "Cultural Diversity". In the orientation class, the emphasis is on why workplace diversity is important, and how employees can be effective by developing specific skills to help them understand others.

The office of Attorney General Steve Carter has a web page committed to diversity and fostering a workplace of different cultures. The office has made a concentrated effort to increase the number of minority attorneys through several initiatives, such as -

- Gateway to Diversity Program.

- Tri-State diversity recruiting program.

- National Black Prosecutors Association.

The Department of Education conducted a seminar entitled 'Valuing Differences in the Workplace'. The objective of the seminar was to enable DOE personnel to -

- recognize the dynamics of culture in the state and its influence on the workplace.

- identify skills that open lines of communication while fostering understanding of others.

- develop and implement personal strategies to increase knowledge about different cultures.

The emphasis is on the fact that all workers belong to different cultural groups with different norms, roles, behaviors, and beliefs. Valuing diversity means being responsive to a broad range of people. This includes individuals of different race, gender, class, native language, national origin, physical ability, age, sexual orientation, religion, professional experience, personal preference, and work style.

During the seminar, role playing was used to model some of the key topics and to illustrate how to appreciate differences as different employees strive to work together.

Because Indiana took a proactive role in emphasizing workplace diversity, state departments now embrace the acceptance of cultural differences as a positive force in the business of public service.

Government resources

The President's Initiative on Race, mailto:oneamerica@whitehouse.gov

One America Dialogue Guide, http://www.whitehouse.gov/initiatives/oneamerica

Hope in the Cities, http://www.hopeinthecities.org

Indiana Civil Rights Commission, http://www.in.gov/icrc