Business Group to Promote Diversity Plan

The Minority Business Council of Orange County joined nearly a dozen state companies Tuesday in announcing California Partnership on Diversity, a business and community initiative.

The corporate initiative, unveiled Tuesday in Los Angeles and San Francisco, “encourages and promotes the business and economic benefits of embracing diversity.” Members from local companies will meet quarterly, starting in December.

The business members will discuss corporate initiatives and programs that promote diversity through employment, procurement, philanthropy and consumer protection. They will share these programs with other companies, according to Frank Quevedo, vice president of equal opportunity at Southern California Edison.

Greenlining Institute, a San Francisco-based organization representing 35 ethnic, low-income, small-business, civil rights and community-based organizations, spearheaded the partnership.

Members include Southern California Edison, Wells Fargo Bank, Bank of America, Washington Mutual, Union Bank of California and Sanwa Bank.