Wafa Dubashi, the NFTA's EEO/ADA/DBE Specialist has been appointed to Business First's Diversity Advisory Board.  Please see Business First's Announcement below:

Meet Buffalo Business First's Diversity Advisory Board

Three-and-a-half years ago, emotions were raw. Another divisive presidential election season was in full swing. George Floyd, a Black man in handcuffs, had just been killed by police in Minneapolis. And as a global pandemic raged on, conversations about generations of racism and systemic discrimination boiled over onto our nation's streets and into corporate boardrooms.

At Business First, we sought ways to use our voice to promote conversation, justice and healing. We called on some of our community partners to help, and in fall 2020, launched the Business First Diversity Advisory Board.  We asked the members to hold us accountable and provide guidance as we strive for better coverage of communities of color and all underrepresented populations.

Since then, honest conversations with that group helped shape much of what we do each day. In fact, that has led to the second annual Power 100 Business Leaders of Color list, which you have before you today.

Business First regularly watches and writes about powerful leaders. In 2013, we launched the Power 250, an annual list ranking the most powerful people in the region. In 2016, we added the Power 100 (now 200) Women. Last year, we launched the Power 100 Business Leaders of Color.

For all three Power brands, we consider factors such as the size of a workforce, an organization's revenue and a leader's time in a position. We look at community impact and influence. We think of this simple test: If he or she makes a phone call, how quickly does it get returned?

For the Power 100 Business Leaders of Color list, we focus only on business and nonprofit leaders and not on those who are solely politicians or religious or community leaders, despite their influence.

Recently we met with the newest members of our Diversity Advisory Board and talked about this list and its goals. We hope it prompts conversations about the people and companies who are on it, and those who aren’t; about the systems that hinder the next generation of diverse executives; and about the talented leaders we are fortunate to have among us.

Men and women from underrepresented groups regularly face additional barriers on the way to the boardroom – from access to capital to a lack of relationships with those already in power to biases, unconscious and otherwise.

One day we might not need three separate lists, but for now we will be watching and listening. Thank you to all who lend us your voice, and especially to our advisory board members.

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Wafa is also a NYS Unified Certification Partner and Member of the NFTA's Diversity and Inclusion Committee. We hope you will join in congratulating Wafa on this great achievement.