TRENTON – The New Jersey Civil Service Commission (CSC) hosted its Second Annual Diversity and Inclusion Summit, on Thursday, December 3, 2020 from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm. This year’s Summit theme was, “2020 Vision: Managing Change, Conflict, and Creating Opportunities.” Over 150 people attended including diversity and inclusion professionals working at the State, county, and local levels, along with college and university professionals, and community organizations.

The inaugural Diversity Summit was held in 2019 and attracted over 100 State government employees who assembled to learn about the value and importance of diversifying our public workforce through panel presentations, workshops, and small group discussions. This year’s event included a presentation by Cedric Ashley, Esq, on The Intersectionality of Emotional Intelligence and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; a panel presentation on Best Practices in Diversity and Model Programs; and an open forum/Q&A segment.

Presenters on the panel included: Jared M. Maples, Director, NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness; Lora Fong, Chief Diversity Officer, Office of the Attorney General; Dodi Price, Acting Chief of Staff, NJ Department of Education; and Jennifer Webb-McRae, Prosecutor, Cumberland County. Julie Diaz, Chief of Staff at the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development served as the panel moderator and Kia King, EEO Officer at the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development and CSC Diversity Council member, served as a program facilitator.

“We are grateful to have received such a positive response during our Second Annual Diversity Summit as we continue to work toward creating a diverse pool of talented and qualified individuals that reflects the population of our state,” said Deirdre L. Webster Cobb, Esq., Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Civil Service Commission, “CSC is proud of its efforts to promote cultural diversity throughout state government and to serve as a resource to our constituents.”

“We hope that attendees left our 2nd Annual CSC Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Summit with the tools they need for increasing awareness and an understanding of the value of meaningful diversity and inclusion within the state workforce. We look forward to hosting the event again next year,” stated Dr. Charlie Williams, Executive Director, Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Programs for the CSC.
As part of its Diversity and Inclusion initiatives, CSC has hosted Virtual Information Sessions with Colleges and universities across the state, held a Virtual Diversity in Law Enforcement Forum in October, and launched the CSC State Workforce Diversity Council.

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For more information related to the New Jersey Civil Service Commission, please visit: https://www.nj.gov/csc/