Quorum launched a pledge to help organizations build diversity and inclusion programs

Quorum Analytics is trying to help organizations become more diverse through its new pledge.

The downtown D.C.-based startup curates customer relationship management (CRM) software that tracks what’s happening in government. Its new Path for Progress pledge, an initiative from its Inclusion and Diversity Council, is a step-by-step outline designed to help small and medium-sized businesses build diversity and inclusion programs from scratch. When businesses sign the online pledge, they will gain access to a set of free resources, events and mentorship opportunities to help them along the way.

At @QuorumAnalytics, inclusion & diversity isn't something we pay lip service to — we bake I&D into our benefits, manager evals, etc for real, everyday impact.

Today we launched Path for Progress for companies like us to meaningfully incorporate I&D into their work. Join us! https://t.co/wMiV1M6oBk

— Mary Katherine Hanley (@mary__hanley) January 20, 2020

“As Quorum was taking steps to build a more inclusive and diverse workplace, we really struggled to find free resources for small employers,” said Melissa Theiss, Quorum VP of operations and executive sponsor of inclusion and diversity, in a statement. “Now that we have built an award-winning inclusion and diversity program, we’re excited to be able to pay it forward by establishing a network of people and accessible resources to promote inclusion and diversity at organizations of all sizes.”

Theiss led the charge on launching the three-stage pledge process: laying the groundwork, building a stable foundation and expanding the impact, per a press release. She saw the need for a pledge program like this after noticing the lack of diversity and inclusion programming, events and resources specifically for companies with 500 employees or less.

Quorum launched the pledge program on Jan. 20 in recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. The company has been on its own diversity and inclusion journey since its Inclusion and Diversity Council launched back in 2018.

“One of the unique parts about being at a startup like Quorum is that all team members can take an active role in promoting inclusion and diversity, not just executives,” said Quorum recruiter and Council co-chair Lee Buoy. “Our experience is that startups are not afraid to change and they’re excited to innovate. That applies to how startups build products and to the way they build teams and communities.”

Interested executives can sign the Path for Progress pledge online.