Columbia Bank Sponsors Rutgers University’s Black Professionals Empowerment Forum: Positioning Black Professionals to Continue Making History

Columbia Bank is proud to announce its sponsorship of Rutgers University’s Black Professionals Empowerment Forum: “Positioning Black Professionals to Continue Making History”, featuring acclaimed guest speakers, Dr. Jeffrey Robinson and Dr. Randal Pinkett, authors of “Black Faces in High Places.” The event, to be held on April 11, 2023 at the Paul Robeson Center at Rutgers University’s Newark campus, includes an introduction to the writers who will highlight key themes within the book, and ways black professionals and students entering the workforce can be successful. Members of the Black Student Union at Rutgers and the Bank’s Black Employee Resource Group (ERG) will be in attendance.

Columbia Bank’s Black ERG is supporting the forum by bringing the distinguished writers to the university to lead a round table discussion, gifting copies of the book to guests and providing refreshments. Said the Bank’s Director, Credit Risk Review and Black ERG Chair Katherine Kinard, “The Black Professionals Empowerment Forum will provide energizing networking and professional empowerment, fulfilling the Black ERG’s mission of developing the leadership skills of our members. We want to inspire black professionals to continue the legacy of breaking barriers and making history in their respective fields. The dynamic discussion with the authors of this game-changing literary piece will equip attendees with the tools needed to evoke a great shift in their professional lives.”

The mission of Columbia Bank’s Black ERG is to provide employees with the opportunity to develop leadership skills, network and create visibility with colleagues, while enhancing cultural awareness throughout the organization to strengthen recruitment, retention, learning and advancement. The Black ERG is just one of the Bank’s eight company-wide Diversity, Equity and Inclusion ERGs, also encompassed of: Asian American and Pacific Islander ERG, Differently-abled ERG, Hispanic ERG, LGBTQ+ ERG, Veterans ERG, Women’s ERG and Young Professionals ERG.