Clemson University’s Office of Inclusion and Equity hosted more than 2,000 high school and college students, business professionals, educators, government officials, and community leaders for the second annual Men of Color National Summit in April.

For Milliken, diversity and inclusion have long been intentional topics we work to cultivate within our community of innovators. As a Thurgood Marshall Law and Justice Sponsor for the summit, Milliken participated in this important event to lean into the ways diversity and inclusion positively impact both our business and communities as a whole.

From powerful keynote speakers to small-group breakout sessions covering topics like closing the achievement gap, the Milliken team took away several meaningful conclusions to inspire our own actions.

Instill ambitions at an early age.

Through schools, community organizations and mentoring programs, we can equip young students of all backgrounds with the perseverance to grow and succeed in life. Talent and skillsets can be cultivated at an early age to help students be successful in school and in the workforce. At the summit, we found a room full of inspiring young leaders ready to engage, and it is our responsibility as their communities to build them up.

Break the boundaries of mentorship.

Mentorship – both formal and informal - play a powerful role in embracing diversity. Formal mentorship programs, like Big Brothers, Big Sisters and Tiger Alliance, are integral in communities and provide engaging outlets for young people in the community. Taking mentorship one step further, informal mentorships can engage young leaders in surprising ways. As shared from one of the speakers, “your angel might not look like you.” We all have the ability to informally mentor those around us – whether it is lending a helping hand to a co-worker or sharing life insight with the next generation. All it requires is taking interest in someone to help them recognize their potential and to support their success - from cradle to career.

Everyone can be a change agent, today.

An immediate action step for summit participants was to advocate change in each of our spheres of influence. Ask a peer you may not know well to lunch to get to know them, or join an organization that invests in local youth. Fostering your own diverse prospective helps broaden your horizon, and fuels innovation and teamwork. Challenging your perspective can help unlock new and exciting potential in your person or professional life, as well as within your spheres of influence.

The overarching theme of the Men of Color National Summit was the idea that we are stronger together. Milliken’s Diversity & Inclusion Council intentionally focuses on education, awareness, hiring, onboarding and development practices to encourage an inclusive environment and, ultimately, a strong foundation for the success of our associates and our company.

Pictured in feature image: Milliken associates Stacey Huddleston, LaKessa Wright, Jared Singleton, Deanna Milligan and Michael Cherry

Pictured in third image: Milliken associates Ricaye Harris, Judy Horton, Courtney Meeks, Amy Calvert and Ellen Richardson