Our Commitment to Inclusivity

The Pacific Council embraces the inclusion of all voices in our community, across our membership, staff, Board of Directors, event speakers, and guests, regardless of race, ethnicity, ability, class, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other differentiating characteristic.

To solidify and guide our commitment to inclusivity and diversity, the Pacific Council formed a staff committee dedicated to creating programs and opportunities that elevate underrepresented voices in our membership. Our Pay It Forward Annual Giving Campaign, launched in 2016, aims to build a network of tomorrow’s thought leaders from all corners. We also continue to fulfill a promise made at the beginning of 2017 to feature women experts on all of our panels.

Pacific Council President and CEO Jerry Green has shared a vision for the Council as it aspires to grow into a 21st century thought leader. He says the Pacific Council must reflect the evolving character and composition of our community through our membership, leadership, staff, and programming. To this end, the Pacific Council strives to change the face and practice of global affairs. It is our goal to set a new standard for diversity, equity, and inclusion in our field.

As we move toward the future, we hope to better mirror the broader community in Los Angeles, the city we call home. We are aiming for more diverse representation across our membership, staff, and Board of Directors, especially in the area of gender parity. We will report demographics of our constituents annually, to show our progress against that goal.

Membership

From 2019 to 2020, the percentage of self-reported members who identify as people of color increased from 25 percent to 31 percent. Other demographics that we have reported such as gender and age stayed close to the same between 2019 and 2020.

2019 membership statistics: 1 in 3 were Emerging Leaders, 1 in 4 self-reported as people of color, 2 in 5 were women, 2 in 3 based in LA, and 54% work in non-profit while 46% work in for-profit.

2018 membership statistics: 1 in 5 members were Emerging Leaders (age 40 and under), 1 in 4 self-reported as people of color, 2 in 5 were women, 1 in 3 based in LA, 50 percent worked in the for-profit sector and 50 percent worked in the not-for-profit sector.

We welcome and support diversity in all its forms; indeed, we believe it is the only way to effect change on global issues.

Diversity at the Pacific Council is:

Our organization’s commitment to representation that reflects the wider elements of human difference in society. We currently focus on five key diversity indicators: race and ethnicity, gender, age, geography, and profession, but recognize a broader understanding of the wide psychological, socioeconomic, and physical differences that occur amongst individuals.

Equity at the Pacific Council is:

Access to fair treatment and the opportunity to contribute ideas, perspectives, and leadership within the organization. We strive to identify and eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of underrepresented groups in international affairs, supplanting those barriers with new platforms for speech and inquiry.

Inclusion at the Pacific Council is:

The act of creating environments in which any individual or group can be and feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued within the Pacific Council community. An inclusive and welcoming climate acknowledges historical barriers to full participation, embraces differences, and offers respect through the words, actions, and thoughts of all community members.