The Power of Two
Q & A with Ebony Porter, vice president of opportunity and inclusion, Greater Akron Chamber and Tammy Tucker, director of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), City of Akron
Uniting to advance opportunity in the region
Q: What do you each do?
A: Porter: I lead DEI eff orts within the business community, serve as a thought leader on racial equity, and bring leaders and businesses together to drive inclusive economic growth in Greater Akron. Through a DEI lens, I work to support minority, women, veteran, LGBTQIA+ businesses and entrepreneurs to help them thrive. Examples include guiding companies through creating ERGs (employee resource groups), connecting them to outlets to identify diverse talent, or referring diverse vendors that can help.
A: Tucker: I focus on racial equity issues—the inequities in communications, housing, workforce development, health, education and criminal justice. I actively listen to peoples’ ideas, frustrations and hopes, seeking equitable policies and procedures that model humanity as our best practice so we can prevent future inequity.
Q: How do you two work together?
A: Porter: GAC’s Diversity Professional Council (DPC) brings members together to discuss a variety of diversity topics. As the current chair, Tammy works with me to connect more than 45 DEI/HR leaders monthly to discuss and address regional issues Also, the City of Akron, GAC and other partners collectively address regional supplier diversity. GAC created a Procurement Council to see increase diversity spending in our region that will provide more opportunities.
A: Tucker: We partner to close the generational wealth gap for Akron’s small and Black-owned businesses. The City is reviewing its procurement policy to promote supplier diversity and support local entrepreneurs. Working with Ebony, we elevate Akron and its businesses. By diversifying our workforce to match our demographics, we appeal to millennials and Gen Z, fostering growth.
Q: How do your positions overlap?
A: Porter: At their core, both of our positions exist to ensure that Akron prospers. We both advocate for the needs of people and especially those in vulnerable populations. We work to ensure that people are heard and that needs are met.
A: Tucker: Our positions overlap in the major area of thinking well of the City of Akron and its residents. It permeates everything we do.
Q: What are some important initiatives?
A: Porter: 2023 Economic and Inclusion Committee goals: • Increase visibility and access to work experience, internship and employment for Black talent.
• Provide tools, resources and customized support for the internal work GAC members are doing on individual policies, procedures and practices to increase inclusivity.
• Increase commitment to support and purchase from Black- and woman-owned businesses—both B2B procurement and promotion of consumer opportunities to our employees.
A: Tucker:
• The Racial Equity and Social Justice Taskforce that recommended my position.
• Partnering with human resources to train supervisors and managers on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
• Celebrating heritage months. It’s a pinhole in a cultural balloon that has dominated the workspace and city government. It’s the crack in the wall allowing change to flow.
