A diverse group of more than a dozen area business leaders vowed today to do their part to improve race relations and socioeconomic inequality in the wake of the Alton Sterling shooting last week and the protests that followed.
At a press conference organized by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, the leaders acknowledged something not often heard from business brass in the Capital Region: “Our community is hurting and it is divided,” said Ric Kearny, market president of Capital One Bank. “We have to acknowledge that racism, bias and discrimination still exist today in America, in Baton Rouge.”
To that end, BRAC pledged to engage in a healing process for the racial divide and to enter into a deeper discussion about ways to effect long-term positive change. Specifically, the group called for bringing change to the criminal justice system, improving education, enhancing workforce training opportunities, expanding economic opportunity, championing and making the business case for greater diversity and inclusion in the workplace, reinvesting in the community and strengthening families.
“We know there are many problems that didn’t start July 5,” said Preston Castille, an attorney with Taylor Porter. “While many actions … are underway, they are not enough and we simply need to do more.”
So far, there’s no specific timeline or blueprint for working on the ambitious agenda for change, much less implementing solutions. But BRAC leaders said the ideas will not just collect dust on a shelf.
“We are going to commit to making sure something happens,” Castille said.
More than a year ago, BRAC created a diversity and inclusion committee to begin looking into some of the issues that, with the shooting and protests have been thrust into the spotlight. BRAC Board Chairwoman Ann Trappey says the committee’s work has now been accelerated and that in the coming weeks the committee will develop a process to follow through on the group’s goals.
“It remains our hope that, in the long run, our community will not be defined by this tragedy, but rather by our response to it,” Trappey said.
Asked whether BRAC had identified a mayoral candidate from the crowded field who shares the group’s vision for healing and solutions, BRAC President and CEO Adam Knapp said today was not the day to talk about politics.
“This is a day of business leaders speaking out on the acknowledgement and a call for action,” Knapp said. “We did not need to or want to have this discussion be about politics in our community or elections.”
—Stephanie Riegel
