Supporting The Global Diversity Institute

"Never doubt that a small group
of thoughtful, committed citizens
can change the world;
indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

- Margaret Mead

Our Supporters

Keystone Circle Very large grants to support GDI's infrastructure and to ensure our ability to attract and retain well qualified and dedicated researchers and trainers to the Institute's efforts. Keystone Circle Contributors receive organization-wide access to Diversity Praxis, substantial participation in all GDI sponsored functions and are acknowledged in GDI vehicles such as publications, brochures, conference materials, annual report, and website. Sustaining Donor Foundations or Corporations that commit to a substantial multiyear contribution focused on support for long term research, practitioner symposia, or the funding of staff. Sustaining Donors receive organization-wide access to Diversity Praxis, substantial discounts to all GDI conferences and symposia, and are acknowledged on GDI conference materials, annual report, and website. Funding Donors Those who provide funds to support specific research projects, symposia, conferences or staffing needs. Funding Donors receive access to Diversity Praxis, discounts to selected GDI conferences and symposia, and are acknowledged in the GDI website and annual report. Associates Organizations such as other institutions, agencies, or suppliers who support GDI through in kind contributions, access to resources, or donations of materials important to our work such as computer software or publication rights. Associates are acknowledged in GDI's annual report. Patrons Foundations, Corporations, Practitioners and interested individuals who make occasional donations to support GDI. Donate When Shopping Online for the Products You Buy through Giveline You can support Global Diversity Institute when you shop online. Giveline has over a million bestselling products - including books, videos, CDs, gifts, and everyday products - at nicely discounted prices, and every purchase you make generates a significant donation earmarked for GDI. We invite you to check out Giveline by clicking on their logo at right. Shop now to get FREE SHIPPING! (Use discount code NCD07 during checkout.)

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A Call To Support GDI

First, the Diversity and Vitality Assessment tool - to bring greater vigor and rigor to the Vitality Assessment Tool developed in 2000 by our Executive Directors, R Vicenzi and G Adkins. Originally published in the Journal Technological Forecasting and Social Change, the assessment tool was trialed in such organizations as Lucent Technologies, AT&T Worldnet, AT&T Operations, and PATH Medical Technologies. The instrument has met with great success. However, in order to offer this tool for various workplaces, regardless of industry, several elements need to be strengthened. GDI intends to add a focus group and survey tool, the research analysis portion needs both streamlining as well as social scientific validation, and lastly a training and certification module needs fine tuning and visibility. The tool provides businesses with an accurate and thorough picture of the diversity climate in the organization, as well as the leadership legitimacy and trust levels in the organization, the levels of power distribution including shadow systems, information distribution, and levels of anxiety and its influence on productivity. The tool can be made available for businesses either by the certification of in house practitioners in the assessment methodology or by using GDI certified resources.

Second, the recruitment and development of speakers, materials and relevant research on issues relevant to GDI's vision and mission and current business vitality issues, such as the ongoing skilled labor shortages and workforce retention challenges, as they emerge, including case studies, needs funding support.

Third, Three key ongoing research and development projects need funding to attract the best and relevant talent needed for such enterprises if GDI is to make them available and meaningful to our constituents.

1. To solicit and develop material for the ongoing E-Journal, Diversity Praxis.
2. To research, investigate, compare and anaalyze several global phenomena:
   • the rise in identity militancy, identity fundamentalism including theo-religious, regional-linguistic and ethno-assertiveness, especially as it impacts the worlplace;
   • the causes for ethnocultural warfare; and,
   • research on integration and acculturation processes for cross-cultural workteams, immigrants and racial minorities.
   This tracking analysis will provide practitioners with meaningful methodologies for both conflict resolution and for facilitating creative conflict within multicultural spaces of collaboration. It will contribute to the building of workplace vitality from a platform of ethical pluralism.
   
3. The development of a constitutional project for global businesses, and attracting the best in class practitioners, thinkers, and scholars to participate. This constitutional project will address the issues of workplace social justice, multiculturalism, socially responsible stakeholder balance, ethical and regulatory systems, corporate constitutional citizenship education, communicative and training systems, and accountability grammars. This project represents GDI's greatest and most direct contribution to ensuring that globalization addresses the key values of justice, diversity, and community responsibility.