Page 12 - LRCC June 2022 Focus

CHAMBER NEWS FOCUS MAGAZINE | JUNE 2022

Peckham Named Recipient

of LRCC/LEAP Diversity
Star Award

he Lansing Regional Chamber
of Commerce (LRCC) and
Tthe Lansing Economic Area
Partnership (LEAP) joined forces
to create a new award honoring
organizations that champion diversity,
equity and inclusion (DEI) in the
workplace and the Lansing regional
community. The Diversity Star Award population. Nearly 55 percent
honors companies and organizations Sinha of their team members are
within the Lansing region that non-English speakers in their
demonstrate a solid commitment to manufacturing division. More
advancing equity and creating inclusive environments, than half of Peckham’s c-suite
champion efforts for diversity and equitable practices in is comprised of individuals
the workplace and beyond, support underserved and with disabilities.
underrepresented employees and communities and
contribute to a more just and equitable region. In addition to their
organization-wide efforts
Peckham is being honored with the Diversity Star around DEI, Peckham has
Award. Peckham is a large nonprofit vocational designed programming
rehabilitation organization that provides jobs and training specifically to support the
opportunities to more than 5,000 individuals with success of Veterans in its
disabilities and other barriers to employment each year. workforce. Peckham Veteran Services is included in the
Their mission is to provide a wide range of opportunities planning of community events where agencies help
to maximize human potential for persons striving for educate veterans and first responders about community
independence and self-sufficiency. resources available to them and their families. Some events
are helping homeless Veterans with resources such as
“Peckham’s core values of compassion, diversity, community, clothing, employment, healthcare and education.
and opportunity, provide us with a guiding light and a
moral compass on which we take this stance: Racism is not As a nonprofit organization supporting the abilities
tolerated in the workplace, diversity drives our excellence, of individuals with disabilities and other barriers to
is valued and embraced,” said Jo Sinha, president & CEO, employment, Peckham is always looking for ways to make
Peckham. “Our job is to create opportunity so that our greater impacts in its communities and the greater society
communities can thrive. As an organization, not only do we to highlight the incredible abilities, skills and talents of
stand in solidarity with those that speak out against racial this workforce. They do this by offering the Peckham
and cultural injustice, we also want to provide a platform Community Partnership Foundation Speaker Series free to
that allows for healthy and respectful discussion, points the community, a biannual event that brings in nationally
to valuable resources for learning, and hold ourselves acclaimed authors and motivational speakers to share
accountable to being a more diverse and inclusive employer on topics of disability, overcoming adversity, social justice,
at every level within the organization.” equity and more. Each year they host more than 1,000
individuals from the greater Lansing and surrounding areas
The individuals Peckham serves are a diverse group from to learn more about diverse topics. The lineup of speakers
many partnering agencies and the greater community. over the last 14 years has included, Wes Moore, Bertice Berry,
They offer more than 30 different rehabilitation and human Christina Ha, Steve Robbins, Kyle Maynard, Homeless to
services programs from art creation, career planning, Harvard’s Liz Murray, Patty Duke, and many more.
pre-employment screening, facility-based training, youth
programs, and organizational employment to residential Their Speaker Series in May, featured two speakers
services. Minorities represent 48 percent of their workforce, on racial and social equity, and reform: Opal Lee,
with 52 percent of their team members being women, “Grandmother of Juneteenth” and Philonise Floyd,
and some lines of business having a 60 percent female activist and brother of George Floyd. l

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