OUR Oklahoma survey released

OUR Oklahoma announces the release of the OUR Oklahoma survey to benchmark Oklahomans’ views and perceptions regarding diversity and inclusion.

“Matters of diversity and inclusion affect all aspects of the business environment, including workforce attraction and retention, overall competiveness, customer and client bases and ultimately the bottom line,” said Mike Neal, Tulsa Metro Chamber President and CEO. “The Tulsa Metro Chamber applauds X Out Exclusion’s efforts to survey business leaders for their insight on challenges and issues concerning diversity and inclusion in the state of Oklahoma.”

OUR Oklahoma is a public awareness initiative being administered through X Out Exclusion! Inc. Our mission is to create awareness about diversity and inclusion as a strategy to create economic advancement.

This 10-minute survey was developed to gauge diversity’s role in the areas of quality of life, business attraction and (re)location, workforce development, image/perception and tourism throughout the State of Oklahoma. Oklahoma’s business community and their employees are encouraged to take this survey.

“This effort will be instrumental in gathering information that will provide our state and community leaders with data and a more thorough understanding on the current state of diversity in Oklahoma as well as how we can create economic benefits for our state through diversity and inclusion,” said Roy Williams, President and CEO of the Greater OKC Chamber.

Survey responses will be used to examine perceptions regarding diversity and inclusion, identify resources needed to implement diversity and inclusion practices, develop strategic initiatives as needed for statewide changes and develop an action plan that will be used to help prepare Oklahoma for the future.

“By embracing diversity and making workplace and business practices more inclusive, Oklahoma stands to attract a more vital workforce, greater investment and more consumers at all levels seeking better products and services,” says Risha Grant, CEO of X Out Exclusion!

All research will be utilized to form a report on the Current State of Diversity that will be presented to stakeholders, including state and community leaders, CEO’s and other senior level executives, company owners and elected officials. Subsequently, a portion of the survey responses, along with other public outreach efforts, will be used to develop The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion to Business and Economic Success—a diversity action plan.

Individual survey responses will remain completely anonymous and confidential. After the survey report is complete, an executive summary of key findings will be provided and available online. All survey results are being analyzed by our partner, Oklahoma State University.

The survey will be available via www.xoutexclusion.org until April 30, 2012.

OUR Oklahoma partners include: The Metro Tulsa Chamber, The Greater OKC Chamber, Chickasaw Nation, Cherokee Nation, Williams, LaFarge, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oklahoma, AT&T, BAMA Co., Advanced Research Chemicals, The Equality Network, and WNBA-Tulsa Shock among others.

For more information about the OUR Oklahoma Campaign contact Alaina Jones at 918.581.8900 or Alaina@xoutexclusion.org.