AFRICAN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF PA, NJ & DE PARTNERS WITH DIVERSE FORCE TO BOOST DIVERSITY IN LEADERSHIP

PHILADELPHIA, PA, MARCH 18, 2024 — The African American Chamber of
Commerce of PA, DE, NJ (AACC) is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with
DiverseForce, a renowned leader in diversity recruitment and talent development. This
alliance establishes a remarkable outreach network of over 25,000 Black and Brown
professionals and entrepreneurs in the region. Its primary objective is to support
companies in their endeavors to recruit, retain, and develop an increasingly diverse and
equity-oriented talent pool for leadership roles.

Despite spending millions on corporate diversity efforts with good intent, U.S.
companies aren’t retaining black professionals or promoting them to top positions,
causing many of those workers to walk out the doors in frustration. Multiple studies
show that Black people account for about 13% of the U.S. population, but occupy less
than 4% of the senior leadership roles at large companies in the U.S. and just 1.2% of all
Fortune 500 CEO positions.

In an ongoing commitment to economic parity and growth, the AACC recognizes the
significant role of upper middle management in the corporate sector and board
positions in the nonprofit sector in shaping business practices and policies. These roles
often influence crucial procurement decisions that can open opportunities for
black-owned businesses.

This new alliance with DiverseForce enables the AACC to extend its reach and impact by
leveraging DiverseForce’s expertise in identifying and nurturing diverse talent. Together,
they aim to ensure that employers are equipped with the tools and resources necessary
to build diverse leadership teams, fostering an environment where underrepresented
voices can contribute to and shape significant business decisions.

“Diversity is more than just an ethical imperative; it’s a competitive business advantage,”
said AACC’s President and CEO, Regina A. Hairston. “Research continues to show that
companies with diverse management teams reach a wider audience, are more innovative,
and financially successful. Through our partnership with DiverseForce, we aim to help
companies unlock this potential and promote a more equitable business environment.”

The partnership will involve various initiatives aimed at fostering diversity, including
talent recruitment and development services. The focus will be to empower employers
to recruit, retain, and develop diverse leaders while providing role models for aspiring
black business leaders and inspire a new generation of diverse leaders.

As DiverseForce’s CEO Sulaiman Rahman states, “Our collaboration with the African
American Chamber of Commerce is an important step towards creating a more equitable
business landscape. We’ve heard a lot of good intentions about advancing diversity in
leadership over the last few years, but have witnessed a lack of intentional actions to
achieve it. We’re looking forward to working together to provide companies with the
solutions they need to attract and cultivate diverse leadership.”

“As we celebrate 30 years of AACC’s dedication to the African American business
community, this partnership with DiverseForce not only strengthens our foundation but
also reinforces our mission. Together, we are building a robust structure that will ensure
the growth and sustainability of black businesses for generations to come,” said AACC
Board Chair, Jovan Goldstein.

This partnership signifies the African American Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing
commitment to advancing black businesses by influencing systemic changes within
organizations’ leadership. By ensuring diversity at the decision-making level, AACC
makes another step toward promoting racial equity in procurement and driving overall
business success.