By Sheldon Ingram
WTAE Reporter
Updated: 6:21 PM EDT Mar 17, 2025
Original Article here
PITTSBURGH —
Members of the Black Political Empowerment Project defended the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion at a Monday news conference while saying a strategy is already established with the local corporate community to keep them in place.
Members of B-PEP have formed the Corporate Inclusion Equity Roundtable, a think tank that has developed a “playbook” strategy to maintain the core values of DEI, a concept that has been introduced to Pittsburgh’s three major sports teams, with an upcoming meeting with the Allegheny Conference.
“We have a commitment from Allegheny conference to meet very, very soon,” said B-PEP Chairman and CEO Tim Stevens. “The whole plan is laid out. We’ve been told it’s very workable, very usable and accessible. ”
B-PEP was joined by the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh and a faculty member from the University of Pittsburgh who says DEI is a fundamental value of the United States that cannot be erased or ignored.
“DEI dose not lower standards. This is not the case,” said Dr. Kyaien Conner, associate dean for justice, equity, diversity and inclusion and a professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. “DEI programs were designed to ensure that all people have equal opportunity to have access to success. That is part of the foundation we should be standing on as Americans, right, that we embrace diversity.”
B-PEP says it will also appeal to lawmakers in Harrisburg and Washington.
