Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Council

The Board of Pensions believes that all employees' voices are welcome — no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or any other characteristic that makes us unique. The DEILC is a representative group of Board of Pensions’ employees who serve as an advisory board. Together they help the organization adopt strategic initiatives, develop educational opportunities, and support celebrations that foster an equitable and inclusive workplace.

The DEILC focuses on four main areas

  • Human Capital and Professional Development: Positioning the Board as an employer of choice through recruitment, retention, and promotion of diverse talent and the development of mentoring and sponsorship programs
  • Communication and Education: Helping to foster cultural competence through training and education
  • Strategic Planning and Accountability: Measuring progress in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
  • Community Engagement: Exploring opportunities to engage with professional organizations that help us achieve our goals and promoting collective action that builds internal community as well as external engagement

The Council also has dedicated workstreams composed of DEILC members who work toward the goals of these four focus areas throughout the year.

History of the DEILC

In February 2020, the Board of Pensions formed the Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Leadership Council (DEILC). Since its inception, we have made several fundamental policy changes to promote belonging through the guidance provided by the DEILC.

Over the last five years, the DEILC has spearheaded efforts to dismantle structural racism through leadership action, promote inclusivity through the development of our Inclusive Communications Resource for colleagues, and refine our hiring practices to broaden our candidate pool so we attract exceptional talent for open roles.

Although we have accomplished many objectives, we acknowledge that our culture is always evolving to become a more welcoming workplace.

The council's work

The DEILC has driven several initiatives to champion diversity, equity, and inclusion while fostering a culture of belonging and engagement for all employees.

DEI Begins with ‘Hi’ campaign

New faces and busy schedules can impact the feeling of community at any organization. As a response, the DEILC launched the DEI Begins with “Hi” campaign to encourage colleagues to greet one another every day. The campaign was designed to help employees at the Board of Pensions forge new relationships with their peers. This campaign later transformed into an interview series featuring different members of the DEILC. The series continues today and is now captured on video. Watch the Reverend Dr. Regina Groff’s interview below!


Celebrating Black History

In February 2025, the Board of Pensions celebrated Black History Month with events and activities honoring Black culture, including the development of an on-site museum dedicated to influential leaders within the Black community, cultural cuisines, and dress down days featuring historically Black colleges and universities apparel and traditional African prints and fabrics. We also published stories of significant Black historical figures who made impactful contributions in areas including politics, engineering, aerospace, and music.

Honoring Hispanic Heritage

The DEILC honored Hispanic Heritage Month in September 2024 through celebrations that featured traditional Hispanic heritage and culture. Colleagues participated in a tasting event, featuring galleta and Mexican Abuelita hot cocoa; sampled baked goods like quesitos from a local Hispanic bakery; explored a craft exhibit; and more. We also shared resources on ways to learn and do more during Hispanic Heritage Month, encouraging ongoing education on the history and culture of Hispanic and Latino peoples.