Strategic Engagement

About

The Research Triangle Foundation exists to make connections between people, companies and universities. Their understanding of our unique community and expertise in building strong relationships among local business, government and education are key to supporting the RTF mission.

RTP

RTP DEI Collective

Founded in the fall of 2019 with a goal of uniting and amplifying RTP companies’ diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, the RTP DEI Collective has grown to include more than 30 companies and partners.

RTP

The Diversity Movement & RTP DEI Collective Partnership

The collaboration between The Diversity Movement and RTP DEI Collective creates a powerful partnership for Research Triangle Park (RTP) companies and their employees to help illuminate the true nature of the Research Triangle as a welcoming and diverse community.

What is DEI and the collective mission?

DEI stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion. By amplifying our DEI values, we can create opportunities that better serve the skilled talent our companies are hiring, helping with recruitment and retention.

Additionally, it is crucial to recognize that the next generation of leaders not only values, but represents, a diverse and equal workforce. It is imperative that we create equitable and inclusive spaces for tomorrow’s leaders to thrive.

As we break down the silos across RTP companies to collaborate and synergize our efforts, we will all benefit from the resulting advancement in talent attraction, contributing to better business outcomes for all.

How can myself or my company get involved?

What companies are currently involved in the DEI collective?

How does joining the DEI Collective make a difference?

The DEI Collective works to:

ESTABLISH a network of professionals who share the same interests and goals for DEI.
CONNECT with regional efforts in the Triangle to showcase the Park as a diverse and welcoming center of business.
INTEGRATE DEI actions within our organizations with a focus on anti-racism and social justice for marginalized groups.
AMPLIFY visibility and engagement for existing DEI initiatives in RTP.
SCALE existing events and programs to create a bigger, broader impact for the 55,000 people working in RTP.
CHAMPION Park companies who are working to begin or scale their DEI efforts.

Our Work

300 in 100, a listening tour launched in 2021, connecting and establishing relationships with all 300 companies in the Park in 100 days.

Crossroads RTP Podcast

Learn about the intersection between talent, DEI, RTP, the Triangle Region and beyond. Hit that play button!

O&T Mission

The Owners and Tenants leadership team strives to connect and work in partnership with all our park companies, to advance our position as a major influencer aligned to the Research Triangle Foundation, as it is our belief and social responsibility to share knowledge and common goals to create a unified community for which all RTP partners can benefit and thrive.

Greg Luberecki

Director, Workplace Experience Americas Operations - East, NetApp

Gina Andersen, Cisco

Secretary

O&T Initiatives

Our team has identified five key initiatives that will help us fulfill our mission. Expand each window below to learn more and get involved.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

How We Do It Impact Our Approach

How We Do It

With the support of the RTP DEI Collective and RTP Charitable Fund, we provide grants to deserving organizations working to close the racial, gender and accessibility gap in STEM education in North Carolina.

Submissions for 2023 grants have closed.

Impact

In 2023/24, 6 organizations were awarded $25,000 to support their work.
In 2022/23, 11 organizations were awarded STEM RTP competitive grants totaling $150,000.
In 2022, the successful STEM outreach initiative evolved from in-person events to a grantmaking program. The recipients for 2020/21 include: Code the Dream, the Kramden Institute, WomenNC. Each organization received $25,000 to support their work.
From 2014-2020, STEM RTP's in-person programs mobilized over 2,600 STEM professional volunteers who have given a combined 16,000 hours of service. More than 60 organizations have improved or started their own STEM outreach programming through skills and knowledge gained at STEM Industry Summits.

Our Approach

With support from the RTP DEI Collective, we will identify small organizations (with budgets under $5,000,000) where the RTP STEM grants will make a significant impact.
These organizations will have demonstrated successful results in their programming, as well as have the potential for scaling up.
They will be led by committed, expert board members and staff that represent the richly diverse communities they serve in North Carolina.
Among the programs we support, we will include collaborative efforts, knowing these often struggle to find consistent funding.
Our approach will also emphasize the spirit of RTF’s mission by helping build a more diverse talent pipeline for Research Triangle Park, strengthening the economic security of people across the state, and partnering with our region’s universities and wider education community.
We will aim for selecting a portfolio of organizations that allow us to serve a range of people in North Carolina, including:
- Low-income families and children aged birth through young adult.
- Adults seeking sustainable career pathways in STEM fields, especially those underrepresented in these fields, such as women and people of color.
- Residents of the NC Triangle region as well as residents in rural areas of the state, where it can be difficult to access sustainable career pathways

2023/2024 Awardees 2022/2023 Awardees 2021/2022 Awardees

2023/2024 Awardees

CIS of Wake County, which provides equitable access, resources, and opportunities to Wake County students.
WakeEd Partnership, an education nonprofit focused on transforming teaching and leadership modeling to provide Wake County students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in the workplace.
Durham Literacy Center, which provides free instruction and tutoring to over 18,000 adults and out-of-school youth in Durham.
Wonder Connection, which provides pediatric patients with a connection to the natural world through hands-on natural science activities.
The Daniel Center for Math & Science, which provides math, science, and technology education opportunities that narrow the education gap for at-risk and disadvantaged students.
and Empower ALL, which strives to build sustainable, educational equity and academic advancement for marginalized students.

2022/2023 Awardees

Charles Hamilton Houston Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming the academic and professional success of young men of color.
North Carolina Central University Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise (BRITE) Institute, which develops emerging STEM leaders and supports the growth of North Carolina’s life science industry.
Engineering World Health, a nonprofit with a global reach serving engineering students, healthcare professionals, and communities in need.
WomenNC, an organization working to educate, empower, and advance gender equality in North Carolina by engaging in research, public policy formulation, and advocacy.
Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership, North Carolina State University Foundation, which provides high-quality professional development for K-12 educators through STEM-focused industry and higher education partnerships.
Empower ALL, which strives to build sustainable, educational equity and academic advancement for marginalized students.
Kramden Institute, which provides technology tools and training to bridge the digital divide.
Code the Dream, an impact training and free software development program for and by a diverse community of coders.
ISLA, a nonprofit focused on building community and leadership through educational Spanish language and cultural immersion programs.
Pupusas 4ED for SWIM, a nonprofit providing last-dollar scholarships to undocumented and DACAmented students pursuing higher education.
and SOAR Outreach, which promotes health equity among underserved populations.

2021/2022 Awardees

Code the Dream, based in Research Triangle Park, Code the Dream (CTD) offers free intensive training in software development to people from diverse, low-income backgrounds. Students work with experienced mentors to build apps and technology platforms for start-ups, nonprofits, and government clients. They then use that experience to launch new careers that benefit themselves, their families, and their communities.
WomenNC, an organization with a mission to empower the next generation to advance gender equality in North Carolina. Its Leadership Training Program is a competitive application-based opportunity for college and university students. The scholars work closely with mentors from RTI’s Global Gender Center to conduct research on issues affecting women, formulate policy and budget recommendations that address gender equity, and then present their findings to elected officials.
Kramden Institute, provides technology tools and training to bridge the digital divide. It collects, refurbishes, and awards computers to students and families without a computer in their home. It also teaches students of all ages critical computer, software, and Internet skills, and recycles and reuses donated computers and parts to reduce e-waste.

Events

News

August 21, 2023

RTP

About

RTP DEI Collective

The Diversity Movement & RTP DEI Collective Partnership

Our Work

Crossroads RTP Podcast

Owners and Tenants

O&T Mission

Greg Luberecki

Director, Workplace Experience Americas Operations - East, NetApp

Gina Andersen, Cisco

Secretary

O&T Initiatives

Grantmaking Program

Events

News

Empowering Diversity and Innovation: STEM RTP Unveils 2023/24 Grant Recipients

Durham Tech opens new location at Research Triangle Park, launches Center for Workforce Engagement

STEM RTP announces 2022/23 cohort grant recipients

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