U.S. Department of Commerce

Diversity Networks

Diversity Networks: Enhancing the Census Bureau Experience

Census employees connect through Yammer.Link to a non-federal Web site

Diversity Networks, also called affinity groups, provide forums for Census Bureau employees to gather socially and share ideas outside of their particular business units. After all, a diverse workforce must be a priority for organizations that produce statistical information.

The logic is easy. We study a society filled with diverse subgroups. The groups experience life in different ways; they see the world through different lenses; they react to others based on those shared experiences. If we are to create research designs and measurements that work, we need to understand those differences. The best way to understand the differences is to employ staff that has themselves had the diverse experiences.

With the overall goal of making the Census Bureau a more diversified and premier workplace, we're improving our recruitment efforts, creating a sense of belonging, and establishing work/life balance activities to help retain high caliber employees, supervisors and future leaders.

We currently have 15 diversity networks at Census: American Indians and Alaskan Natives (AIAN); Asian Pacific American Network (APANet); Association for Persons with Disabilities at Census (APDC); Association of Autistic Census Employees (AACE); Blacks in Government (BIG); Census African American Managers Group (CAAMG); Census Bureau Veterans Group (CBVG); Census Welfare and Recreation Association (CBWRA); Census Chorale; Census SAS Users Group (CenSAS); Census Weights and Endurance Training (CWET) Shop; Commerce Latino Employee Organization (CLEO); Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Employees (GLOBE); Next Generation Network (NXG) and three Toastmasters (Suitland, Presidential, and Fast Forward) clubs.

With a more diverse staff we can more fully celebrate diversity; with a more diverse staff we can better serve the country's need for statistical information.

Please see also Director Groves' Blog Post about The Best Staff for Measuring America.

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau | Disability and Diversity Programs Office | 301-763-4060 | Last Revised: March 20, 2012