Cardiovascular diseases and stroke afflict people of all races, ethnicities, genders, religions, ages, sexual orientations, national origins and disabilities. The American Heart Association is committed to ensuring that our workforce and volunteers reflect America’s diverse population. We know that such diversity will enrich us with the talent, energy, perspective and inspiration we need to achieve our mission: building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
The American Heart Association continually works to integrate diversity into daily business operations with initiatives such as:
Chaired by the chief executive officer, the CEO Diversity Advisory Cabinet is a cross section of American Heart Association staff who make recommendations on ways to change or improve programs focused on developing a culturally competent workforce.
CDAC Recognizes Diversity Champions
The CEO Diversity Advisory Cabinet (CDAC) recognized its first AHA Diversity Champion, Pamela Garmon Johnson. Pamela is the cause lead for the Power To End Stroke cause initiative. During the CDAC quarterly meeting on Friday, May 29 Pamela was congratulated by Nancy Brown for championing diversity every day.
Pamela’s nomination included reference to her leadership of the Power To End Stroke core team and her work as a mentor for younger diverse staff. She was also applauded for regularly coaching for the entire PTES team about cultural competence issues. She's pictured here with, from left, Nancy Brown, Pamela, Meighan Girgus and Laura Sol.
In addition, Pamela was recognized for her instrumental role in recruiting diverse volunteers, strategic alliances and Power Ambassadors to increase education and awareness of stroke and introduce the organization’s multi-cultural initiatives to outside audiences.
Lastly, Pamela was acknowledged for her work in developing a new Power Executive Leadership Team to support the fundraising for PTES. Pamela was praised for drawing from her own personal experience to help others gain perspective of diverse audiences.
The CDAC also recently recongized ECC international director Kevin Turner as its second Diversity
Champion. Kevin was nominated for playing a key role in creating a global perspective within ECC and for significantly increasing sensitivities to our multicultural world. Kevin has led the creation of culturally neutral ECC training information and culturally specific localized ECC products. His diversity e-mails help educate employees, consultants and distributors on diverse traditions and holidays.
Kevin, seen here with CEO Nancy Brown and Danielle Casagrande, nominator, encourages diversity in the international team and strives to involve remote ECC staff in AHA diversity programs.
AHA Affinity Groups — groups of employees with common perspectives, interests or backgrounds who gather regularly to interact and exchange ideas.
Supplier Diversity — a formal program that promotes and reports on the American Heart Association’s purchasing with qualified minority and women-owned business enterprises (MWBEs).
Cultural Health Initiatives — a business initiative to help reduce health disparities related to heart disease and stroke among core racial and ethnic populations.
To learn more about cultural competence at the American Heart Association, see our latest Diversity Annual Report.
