Metro Atlanta’s companies continue to invest in policies to advance racial equity
ATLANTA – February 9, 2024 – Today the Metro Atlanta Chamber celebrated the third anniversary of its groundbreaking ATL Action for Racial Equity initiative and announced preliminary results of its annual racial equity assessment. Companies committed to the initiative reported an increase in Black representation in leadership roles and increased access to employment with policies like flexible work environments and skills-based hiring. An executive summary of the report is available for download, with the full assessment report to be released later this month.
A multi-year initiative, ATL Action for Racial Equity equips metro Atlanta businesses with a roadmap for implementing best practices in their organization’s unique racial equity journey, with the ultimate goal of advancing racial equity through collective impact. At the outset of the initiative in 2021, more than 250 businesses committed to taking action, tracking measurable results and sharing lessons learned in pursuit of progress on their racial equity journey.
“This is a long-term commitment,” said Katie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “This is not a challenge that will be solved overnight. But the progress the committed companies are making is promising. We are seeing businesses create more opportunities, and they are recruiting and promoting from a broader talent pool.”
In 2023, an assessment survey was shared with 262 committed companies and received completed responses from 72 organizations. The 2024 Assessment Report, which includes 72% of companies with global or corporate offices headquarters in metro Atlanta, reveals that a remarkable 65% of organizations consider themselves leading or progressing in their racial equity journey, up from 44% last year.
“We know this critical, multi-year, multi-step effort will continue to address the ongoing pervasive effects of systemic racism in the community and workplace,” said Michael Baptiste, vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion for the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “We remain committed to tracking progress and sharing lessons learned to help make metro Atlanta a more vibrant, equitable, and inclusive region.”
As a foundational step in creating ATL Action for Racial Equity, the Metro Atlanta Chamber defined four key focus areas: corporate policies, inclusive economic development, education and workforce development. Detailed playbooks were created to share best practices and resources in each area. Since the inaugural assessment was first conducted in 2021, survey responses indicate positive movement across the four areas, including:
Large companies with 1,000 or more employees made up 44% of survey respondents. Creative Research Solutions, LLC., a Black, woman-owned, award-winning research and evaluation partner, administered the survey and wrote the 2024 Assessment Report.
To view the ATL Action for Racial Equity Assessment Reports and playbooks, including the 2024 Executive Summary, please visit www.atlracialequity.com/reporting.
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About Metro Atlanta Chamber
The Metro Atlanta Chamber (MAC) serves as a catalyst for a more prosperous and vibrant region. To advance economic growth and improve metro Atlanta’s quality of place, MAC is focused on starting, growing and recruiting companies to the 29-county metro Atlanta region. The Chamber is also focused on expanding the region’s innovation economy by promoting and strengthening connections to drive Atlanta’s innovation and entrepreneurial culture. MAC is committed to being an active voice for the business community, serving as an advocate for a competitive business climate and promoting Atlanta’s story. For more information, visit www.MetroAtlantaChamber.com.
