Building a more inclusive world is a goal that requires commitment to the cause at every level, an approach that Comcast NBCUniversal has deployed with fierce dedication.
With the company reporting that 70 percent of its new hires were women and people of color in 2017 and that 55 percent of its director positions and 50 percent of its VP+ positions had become equally as diverse in 2018, the company is well on its way to achieving its commitment to cultivating a workforce that represents people from all backgrounds.
However, as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer David L. Cohen explains, it’s not enough to simply diversify your team through hiring—although that is certainly important. The vision for a better world takes just a bit more.
“Diversity and inclusion might sound like the same things,” Cohen explained. “But there is a difference. Diversity is making sure everyone has a seat at the table. Inclusion is making sure everyone feels comfortable when they get there.”
Cohen shared these insights during a Comcast Cares Day event at Hillside Community Center in Colorado Springs, CO. Comcast Cares Day brings together employees from many different parts of the company to volunteer their time in their local communities. This year, local employees and community organizers in Colorado Springs selected Hillside Community Center for their philanthropic efforts. Hillside is one of only four community centers in the sprawling city and a key hub for neighbors and local youth to gather.
During the event, Comcast’s Rich Jennings, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Mountain West Region, also announced that it had awarded a $25,000 grant to Colorado Springs’ Olympic city USA youth development programs.
“We are very excited to announce our support to Olympic City USA with a $25,000 grant to support community programs and youth engagement initiatives. That includes expanding sports scholarships for youth, Team USA athlete appearances in the community and broadening the reach of Olympic City USA Field Days,” said Jennings.
Asked how grants and community service fit into Comcast’s big-picture diversity and inclusion initiatives, Cohen said, “I don’t think there is anything at Comcast that isn’t strengthened by diversity and inclusion. It makes the company stronger. It positions us better for innovation. It’s part of the secret sauce that makes us such a special company.”
Cohen explained that projects like painting Hillside Community Center’s gym and pavilions and preparing its gardens for the summer make the facility more attractive for people in the community that use it. The gift of volunteerism fosters a sense of welcome and appreciation that is so necessary for making others feel included.
“The power of Comcast Cares Day is how it can bring the entire company together with all of its diverse populations. It truly represents the inclusion part of diversity,” said Cohen.
Cohen said that grants like that awarded to Olympic City USA were equally important to achieving the company’s diversity and inclusion aspirations because they provided opportunities to create a level playing field and a sense of basic equal treatment for every person. To date, Comcast has contributed nearly $25 million in grants to local nonprofit partners like Olympic City USA.
