PDC VIBES

Author: Aisha Greene

Director of Attorney Development and Training

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP

In 2020, the PDC formed a working group to discuss the DEI goals and initiatives of the organization. Since that time, the working group has developed into a permanent committee called the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Committee.
 
The PDC Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (“DEIB”) Committee is committed to working with the PDC Board and the various PDC committees to foster diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging within our organization. We aim to fulfill the following objectives:

1. To help ensure that all PDC members feel seen, included, engaged, and valued
2. To increase the diversity of professionals in our membership
3. To assist in the ongoing professional development of PDC members, by providing tools, training, and best practices for the implementation of DEIB inhouse initiatives
4. To increase the visibility of, and opportunities for diverse legal professional development experts

During our PDC Summer Conference in 2021, we hosted a Diverse Vendor Fair via our conference app. Vendors with diverse backgrounds were invited to participate by sharing information about their work and services. Since that time, the DEIB committee has been developing the VIBES program, a more longstanding vendor program to address one of the key objectives – increasing the visibility of diverse experts.

Why is this so important?

Supplier Diversity is a proactive strategy that many of our institutions are engaged in to increase the number of, and spend with diverse businesses. In our roles, many PDC members are deeply involved in the engagement of speakers, consultants and coaches and we can add value to the supplier efforts at our organizations. Supplier Diversity, even if not, an active strategy in our organizations is critical in the following ways because it:

• Speaks to an institution’s value and furthers its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility.
• Promotes innovation through the introduction of new products, services, and solutions.
• Provides multiple channels from which to procure goods and services.
• Allows a company to take advantage of new opportunities for business expansion.
• It’s the right thing to do!

We are excited to announce the first cohort of our Valuing Inclusion, Belonging & Equity with Suppliers (VIBES) Program. To help the PDC and its members achieve critical objectives in this area, the VIBES Program has identified vendors who conduct business directly with customers and self-certify as being at least 51% owned and operated by:

• Individuals with disabilities;
• Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (“LGBTQ”) community; or
• Minorities (i.e., U.S. citizens who are at least one quarter Asian-Indian, Asian-Pacific, Black, Hispanic/Latinx, or Native American)

 This two-year cohort features 27 organizations who will have the opportunity to build relationships with the PDC and membership in the following ways:

• A vendor showcase video feature on PDC’s social media pages;
• Inclusion in an online vendor directory on the PDC website; and
• Receipt of RFP information and regular communication as a cohort

Please visit our dedicated VIBES program page on the PDC Site to learn more about our VIBES participants and consider hiring them for your next program, event, or initiative.