PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
November 21, 2022
Rockford, IL –
On October 18, 2022, the Belonging Task Force welcomed more than 165 business and nonprofit leaders to hear keynote speaker, john a. powell, Director of the Othering and Belonging Institute at University of California, Berkeley, share a keynote address on the imperative of Belonging as it relates to the workplace and the science behind his work on Othering and Belonging.
Given the increasing diversity of our teams, we cannot take a sense of Belonging for granted, and the work being done around Belonging has never been more critical. Purposeful and deliberate cultivation of a sense of Belonging for all, across all differences, is imperative to harness the benefits of Belonging for us as individuals, for highest-performing teams, and for our organizations, businesses, and institutions. Belonging is the top human capital issue employers face today and a sense of Belonging is one of the top five key factors in an employee’s decision to stay with an employer; Social Belonging is a fundamental human need, hardwired into our DNA, yet 40% of people say that they feel isolated at work.
Following a keynote presentation from john a. powell, Mr. Thomas McNamara, Mayor of Rockford, led a panel discussion with area employers who are working to build a culture of Belonging in their workplaces where everyone is seen, heard, and valued. Area employers shared their progress made and lessons learned to help other businesses chart a course to build a culture of Belonging in the workplaces across our community. Panelists included Collins Aerospace, Rockford Park District, Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity.
Keynote address, john a. powell (October 18, 2022)
Model employer panel discussion (October 18, 2022)
ABOUT NICNE
Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence (NICNE) provides training opportunities which help nonprofits make communities in our area safer, healthier, and more vibrant. NICNE’s mission is to promote, model and grow innovation, excellence and social impact. NICNE is a 501(c)(3) organization.
ABOUT THE BELONGING TASK FORCE
The Belonging Begins with Us: Rockford Initiative is working to build a culture of Belonging in Rockford where all people are seen, heard, and valued, visitors feel welcome, and residents and employees know they will be accepted, included, and provided opportunity and voice. The Initiative is a movement convened in 2019 by NICNE and is led by a Task Force of more than 30 individuals, businesses, and organizations. Learn more at https://www.belonging-rockford.com/.
ABOUT ROCKFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Rockford Chamber of Commerce has been a leader in our community for over 100 years. The Chamber leads business growth by delivering benefits to the community including the promotion of economic growth, advocating for the interests of business, and providing service and educational opportunities that help our members grow.
ABOUT john a. powell
john is the Director of the Othering & Belonging Institute at the University of California, Berkeley, a research institute bringing people together to identify and eliminate the barriers to an inclusive, just, and sustainable society and to create transformativechange toward a more equitable world. john is an internationally recognized expert and thought leader on civil rights, civil liberties, structural racism, fair housing, poverty, and democracy. He is well-known for his work on “targeted universalism” and “othering and Belonging” and is the author of several books, including his most recent work, Racing to Justice: Transforming our Concepts of Self and Other to Build an Inclusive Society.
