The Foreign Service Journal, October 2020

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | OCTOBER 2020 39 A Forward-Leaning Agenda The council is currently leading discussions on new work- streams following several blog posts from former State Depart- ment Consular Fellow Tianna Spears, and engaging the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency to improve practices at border checkpoints. The bureau is focusing on establishing and coaching “first responders” so officers know there is always someone they can turn to. Discussions are also underway to establish sponsorship programs for Foreign Service and Civil Service officers and develop a midlevel program modeled after the Powell Fellows program advanced during the mid-2000s. Additional plans are underway to enhance outreach to contractors, office manage- ment specialists and interns. The bureau is also working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to join forces on diversity W e believe strongly that the [State] Department and the Bureau should look like the United States and reflect America’s diversity at all levels. We embrace diversity not only because it is right, but because it works: diverse teams are more likely to have a wide range of ideas and better outcomes, challenge con- ventional wisdom, innovate, and produce more thorough analysis to advance the Bureau’s mission and goals. We are committed to focusing our collective efforts mov- ing forward on the recruitment, retention and development of talented staff. We strive to be the Bureau of choice for the Department’s top talent in all its diverse forms. We are building a cadre of leaders at all levels through active outreach to Employee Affinity Groups, other Diversity Councils, international affairs agencies, and interns who will contribute to the success of the Department wherever they serve. WHA is committed to developing and promoting active mentoring and sponsorship programming. We value and actively seek diverse candidates. We will dedicate ourselves to creating a work environment in which they can succeed. We take affirmative steps to recognize and mitigate unconscious bias, including by strongly encouraging all staff to take the requisite online training on this issue. We promote a vibrant, innovative, and results-focused Diversity Council in which all are empowered and invited to participate. We welcome and embrace the contributions of every member of the team and seek to ensure that everyone understands the important role they play in our mission. We are also empowering and coaching Deputy Chiefs of Mission, Directors, Deputy Directors and first line supervi- sors as they strategically develop entry and midlevel staff so that they are seen, heard, respected, and valued so that no officers are left out and each has full opportunity to succeed. We honor the value of each employee and will take all possible measures to reduce or remove obstacles in Washington and in host countries so that all employees and their families may serve with dignity further reducing undue stress and harm. We hold ourselves, our staff, and leadership account- able for building and supporting a diverse and inclusive workplace by incorporating those values in work require- ment statements/commitments and acknowledging them through performance reviews and annual award processes, as appropriate. We respect each other, invest in one another, and we suc- ceed together as one. WHA Diversity Council Pledge issues. The collective experiences of 2020 led WHA to release its own diversity pledge on July 24 (see sidebar, below). The council has established a Microsoft Teams site (TEAM WHA: Diversity and Inclusion Councils Forward!) to facilitate opportunities for all WHA embassies and consulates to discuss best practices as they develop their respective goals. Likewise, the group is constantly seeking talented, diverse officers and continues to support WHA’s ongoing efforts for the summer 2021 bidding season. Through its innovative and forward-leaning work, the council has made WHA a model of how to better understand and promote diversity and inclusion, one that other bureaus actively seek to emulate. For more information or guidance, please contact the WHA Diversity Council Core Group at WHADiversityCouncilCoreGroup@state.gov. n