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Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

DEI/Volunteer Recruitment Committee


Formed in 2020, the DEI/Volunteer Recruitment Committee purpose is to make Junior Achievement of Western New York a more inclusive organization with diversity at all levels and a commitment to equity by overcoming unintended and/or systemic bias. This committee can connect with diverse organizations to help engage and diversify our JA volunteer base to better represent the communities we serve. 

Key Objectives:

  • Ensure that all JAWNY committees are culturally inclusive.
  • Ensure that JAWNY staff, board, committees, and volunteers reflect the diversity of the students we serve, the Pathways we teach, as well as the geographic breadth of the counties/communities we serve. 
  • Outreach to local community organizations to engage the broader community.

Accomplishments To Date:

  • Participation in the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County (UWBEC) 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge.
  • Participation in Deloitte Culture Path survey to understand and measure internal opportunities for growth.
  • Continued education and training, nationally and locally, including: UWBEC Alice Simulation, UWSCC Cultural Responsiveness Training, national partnership with Paradigm Reach platform, JA USA training with Denise Thomas.
  • Ensuring all JA virtual programs and website content will meet 508 compliance requirements.
  • JAUSA has retained consultants to fully review all learning experience material to look for any unintended bias.
  • Translation of JA programs into Spanish (ongoing).
  • ALL JAWNY volunteers receive classroom training that addresses classroom diversity.

Committee Members:

  • Bill Andrews - Monofrax
  • John Crawford - Society of St. Vincent DePaul
  • Kenyana David - 81Eighteen, LLC
  • Nina Heard - GM Tonawanda Engine
  • Ricky Scott - Bank on Buffalo
  • Stephanie Clabeaux - ACV Auctions
  • Wil Green - Canisius College
  • Danny Baco - M&T Bank
  • Dave Lyman - Cetera Investors
  • Jaime Dombrowski - M&T Bank
  • Elizabeth Callahan - Buffalo Manufacturing Works
  • Jennifer Yap - HSBC Bank
  • Kirsti Hunt - NOCO Energy Corp.
  • Rachael Herrmann - Rich Products
  • Talia Rodriguez - Buffalo State College, West Side Promise Neighborhood
  • Marie Pazych - Business BeActive, LLC, Freelance Buffalo
  • Stephaine Huston - Highmark BlueCross BlueShield of WNY
  • Michelle Plesh - Excelsior Orthopaedics

Select a button below to see how you or your organization can get involved with Junior Achievement of Western New York, Inc..

Donate Volunteer Request A Program

Any questions? Contact us!

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