Nancy Lyons, Clockwork’s CEO, shares why we started the MN Tech Diversity Pledge.
On April 25th, Clockwork, a Minneapolis-based interactive design and technology agency, opened an online pledge that invites members from the local tech community to commit to improving the diversity within the industry. Clockwork is asking agencies, corporations, small businesses, and software companies to join them in changing the workforce to be more inclusive of underrepresented communities like women, people of color, and LGBTQ.
The pledge lists actionable strategies that partners can use to drive their own programs and conversations. Nancy Lyons, CEO of Clockwork and long-time activist, stated her reason for introducing the pledge: “We have to start taking steps that improve things now, not just for future generations. There are people all around us who are intelligent, dedicated, and driven. We have to invest in them and in our businesses. Our workforce should reflect our actual community and that’s something we are all responsible for making happen. This alone won’t solve the problem, but I hope that together through commitment and intention, we can start to make change.”
That’s what the pledge is about — stating our intention to do better, try harder, experiment with new things, and share what we’ve learned. And encouraging other businesses to do the same.
The pledge form can be signed online. Signature names and businesses will be added to the site with a shareable link for leaders and staff to share with their networks.
