Reflecting on our Commitment to Diversity with LULAC and NCLR

Last week, the League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC) held their successful and star-studded 85^th Annual National Convention, which drew more than 20,000 people and featured both First Lady Michelle Obama and Jennifer Lopez.  As the largest and oldest Hispanic civil rights organization in the U.S., LULAC’s convention was a chance for the organization to address critical issues that impact Latino communities.

AT&T proudly served as a presidential sponsor of the event and hosted a booth at the expo hall. Ralph De la Vega, CEO of AT&T Mobility, delivered keynote remarks at the Partnership Luncheon (Read his blog post here).

Throughout the convention, workshops and special events provided opportunities for attendees to learn more about the important topics that LULAC works to address – in particular, civil rights, employment and education for Hispanics.  FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel participated in a digital learning workshop and discussed the FCC’s efforts to reform E-Rate and enhance broadband connectivity in schools, and Maria Cardona of Latinovations moderated a panel discussion about Latinos in media and entertainment.

The convention also featured seminars on career building and leadership for high school and college students, including workshops about applying for federal employment, sessions for veterans about health care and VA benefits, and business management workshops for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.  There were also sessions on civil rights coalition building, strategies and grassroots fundraising.

We also recently enjoyed time at the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) Annual Conference in Los Angeles, where AT&T served as a Silver Sponsor and host a booth at the expo hall.  The NCLR Conference is always an important opportunity for attendees to learn about key issues facing the Hispanic community and to connect with community leaders and key Hispanic organizations.  Today, we are thrilled to congratulate LULAC and NCLR on their successful convention and conference, respectively.

As a Latina executive at AT&T, I’m pleased that this company supports and values a diverse and inclusive workforce.  In fact, our workforce is 36 percent female and 40 percent people of color.  Among our managers, women make up 37 percent and people of color comprise 33 percent.  AT&T is also a world leader when it comes to supplier diversity, and our own Global Supplier Diversity organization connects certified diverse (minority, women and disabled veteran-owned) businesses with opportunities to work with AT&T.  But AT&T’s commitment doesn’t end there.  The company also supports many educational initiatives, including dropout prevention and mentoring programs for at-risk students, STEM educational programs, and other educational initiatives for underrepresented groups.

We are proud to honor these longstanding commitments to workforce and supplier diversity and education, and we are especially pleased to participate in events that highlight diverse communities such as the LULAC Convention and NCLR Conference.  When we value diversity and unite to help others, we all benefit.