American Institutes for Research Recognized for Creating an Inclusive Workplace

Arlington, Va. – The American Institutes for Research (AIR) has been named to Seramount's 2021 Inclusion Index for its commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. The Inclusion Index helps organizations understand trends and gaps in demographic representation, creates a road map to drive internal change, and identifies DEI solutions to close the gaps.

This year, 193 organizations applied to participate in Seramount’s 2021 Inclusion Index (formerly known as the Diversity Best Practices Inclusion Index) and 78 were recognized. AIR was among the 44 organizations recognized for creating an inclusive workplace. Completed applications were collected online from December 2020 through March 2021, and results reveal opportunities for all organizations to target their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts for greater effectiveness.

“AIR is proud to be recognized by the Inclusion Index for our DEI work,” said Karen Francis, Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at AIR. “It shows that we have made good progress over the years in effectively advancing our DEI strategy, but we know there is still more work to be done for us to achieve our mission.”

AIR has adopted a DEI strategy that is based on four pillars—workforce and work environment; cultural competence; aligning our work and organizational identity and reputation; and sustainability and growth. These pillars are fully integrated into AIR’s broader organizational strategy, its approach to research and evaluation, and how AIR staff deliver training and technical assistance.

Organizations provided data to Seramount (formerly Working Mother Media) and were measured in three key areas: 1) best practices in the recruitment, retention, and advancement of people from historically underrepresented groups—women, racial/ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ people; 2) inclusive corporate culture, including leadership accountability; and 3) demographic diversity for women and racial/ethnic minorities. This year, questions on how organizations are addressing racism were included in the survey.

About AIR
Established in 1946, with headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, the American Institutes for Research® (AIR®) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world. We advance evidence in the areas of education, health, the workforce, human services, and international development to create a better, more equitable world. The AIR family of organizations now includes IMPAQ, Maher & Maher, and Kimetrica. For more information, visit www.air.org.

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