Diversity and Business

Kimberly S. Reed, a global diversity strategist based in South Jersey and a member of the chamber’s DEIB council, called diversity essential to the success of many businesses, adding that the chamber is making sure it provides those services to its members.

“We have to take this stance,” said Reed, who owns the Reed Development Group. “We are not going away. Diversity and inclusion is great business and not just the right thing to do. It is ensuring that all Americans have the right opportunities to cultivate new businesses and survive and thrive in current corporations. Diversity is an essential ingredient to how we grow.”

One of President Donald Trump’s first executive orders was to eliminate all DEI programs in the federal government. Some of those plans are currently facing federal court challenges.

Marcus Allen, the former CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region, said companies that are following the administration’s lead and ending DEI initiatives may see short-term benefits, but their decisions will come back to harm them outwardly in reputation and inwardly with their employees in the long term.

“Right now, it is important to show their employees and businesses that they will stand behind what they have promised them and what they have promised their communities,” said Allen, who left Big Brothers Big Sisters this year.

“Businesses since 2020 have been saying they are committed to diversity and inclusion. Now we are seeing for a lot of these companies, it was more of a branding and marketing strategy than what they took seriously within their business.”

For Shel-Anne Bovell, co-owner of Snelling Staffing in Sewell, the chamber and its DEIB initiatives have been priceless in her company’s efforts.

“Having the chamber here and their promotion [of DEIB] has been invaluable,” she said. “We have our own network but the chamber has opened us up to new doors outside of our network and a broader diversity to connect with other businesses.”

Renna said that while DEI has become a political and social trigger, there should not be such dividing lines in fairness and access in business. She said that is the goal of the chamber.

“I think DEI has been politicized and our chamber doesn’t politicize anything,” she said. “We are fully an apolitical organization that just wants to see our businesses grow and thrive and their employees grow and thrive. We want everyone who walks into a chamber meeting to have a feeling of belonging and purpose. It’s built into our DNA. It’s extraordinarily important to us.”

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NEWARK, N.J. – Federal law enforcement are searching for the person who damaged property at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey in an effort to confront the state’s top prosecutor.

U.S. Attorney’s Office vandalized

What we know:

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on X that the incident happened Wednesday night.

Bondi said that an unknown individual tried to confront Alina Habba, the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. Bondi called Habba her “dear friend.”

Bondi said that the suspect damaged property in the office and then ran off. Habba wasn’t injured.

What they’re saying:

Bondi called the attack part of rising trend “as radicals continue to attack law enforcement agents around the country,” adding that she believes the suspect will be arrested and charged.

What we know:

Bondi did not offer any other information about the suspect, or if they did confront Habba. 

The backstory:

Trump appointed Habba back in March, according to the Associated Press. Habba formerly served as President Donald Trump’s defense attorney and White House counselor.