Inclusivity Advisory Council

Support provided by the Business and Education Together Foundation ​thanks to the generosity of the Citizens Charitable Foundation

Chair: Mari Marques-Thomas, VP-Inclusion & Belonging, Crum & Forster
Looking to Speak to Our DEI Team? Please reach out.
 
Mission: To foster an inclusive community that embraces the diversity of Morris County Chamber member organizations and individuals

The Inclusivity Advisory Council will enable the the Morris County Chamber's mission and vision by:

• Embodying representation and diverse perspectives on the community level
• Serving as role model for local organizations 
• Shifting the role the Chamber plays in the advancement of DEI

 
The Morris County Chamber believes that diversity, equality, inclusion and belonging are fundamental to a healthy and vibrant community. Embracing the skills and perspectives of a diverse workforce will make greater Morris County a dynamic live-work-play region and a desirable location for world class organizations, skilled professionals, and entrepreneurs.
 
The Inclusivity Advisory Council aims to:

• Create a safe and welcoming place for all members of our community to come together and share ideas
• Expand community awareness about the economic benefits of a diverse workforce and best practices for fostering equity and inclusion.
• Recommend actions to the Morris County Chamber Board of Directors on key issues related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.

DIVERSITY
is having and encouraging differences in backgrounds, beliefs, and behavior.

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EQUITY 
is giving each person the resources and opportunities they need based on their circumstances to reach an equal outcome.

INCLUSION 
is the state of being valued, respected, and supported, with the right conditions in place to achieve your full potential.

BELONGING
​is a person’s perception of acceptance and feeling heard and seen within a given group.

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​ Together we can create something greater than the sum of our individual contributions.

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Resources

Top DEI Trends for 2024

The year of Inclusion – with rising tide of attacks on DEI, including increasing spread of misinformation about DEI’s scope and business, practitioners are focusing more on Belonging and Inclusion. It’s moving beyond misconceptions and emphasizing DEI’s true purpose is business critical in the current climate: fostering a culture of inclusion, understanding, support, and equitable outcomes for all ultimately leads to enhanced engagement, increased innovation, and overall organizational success. 

Seramount’s CEO, Subha Berry, talks about the future of DEI – the conversation around DEI may be louder than ever, but amidst the noise there is opportunity; “by reframing the narrative, taking concrete actions, and adopting comprehensive, proactive approach to DEI, organizations can build forward momentum, creating truly inclusive workplaces benefiting business and society.”

What’s the Difference Between DEI and Allyship

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and allyship, terms often discussed in the same conversation, are very different in practice. DEI is about issues of representation, dismantling bias in systems and creating spaces where everyone feels they belong. Allyship is about partnering and supporting marginalized individuals and communities that are different from your own identity group.

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Pronouns at work: HR’s Guide to Getting it Right – and What to do When You Get it Wrong

What does it mean to rollout pronoun initiatives in the workplace and when do they succeed/fail? Even if you don’t have an employee who has disclosed their gender identity or pronouns, that doesn’t mean that the practice of inclusive language and allyship should be put on the backburner. 

From ERGs to BRGs: Three Essential Factors for Organizational Alignment

In recent years, there has been a trend toward the BRG model, which emphasizes the importance of allies and advocacy. This model introduces metrics and performance evaluations for leaders and links the groups directly to business goals. These goals can include internal initiatives, such as increasing representation, retention, and promotion rates as well as marketplace goals such as improving cultural competence about customers, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives, and increasing supplier diversity.

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Resources | CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion

Public Diversity, Equity & Inclusion resources housed in one location to help organizations advance their internal DEI strategy. 

Download ​2025 Seramount Diversity Holiday Calendar