Stay right and slide. Hardy was
or some conventions now open in
Round Rock Texas.
>> We’ve known a TV as a
grocery store, but also as an
organization that contributes
to many causes and
organizations in the community.
Now as of this month, the
company is launching a bigger
effort to make positive changes
in the communities. It serves
joining me is James Harris, a
GB is director of diversity and
inclusion in supplier
diversity. Good morning James
good to see you as always I
miss seeing you in person
though we’ve got to makes it
soon as we can get clear we
need to make sure we get
together in person soon.
>> Well good morning, Kim
khambrel Marshall withdrawal
symptoms so I just stayed on
the trail as well all right
Sir.
>> Hey atv’s calling this new
program be the change building
on commitment to diversity
equity and inclusion that sound
big what is that.
>> Well actually it really is
big but more importantly, Kim
Burrell is something that we’ve
been doing really since the
inception of the GB in a
channel 5 with miss Flores but
started by a woman. But the the
change gives us an opportunity
to make a largely in the
community and basically for us
if he really has 3 pillars as
you know bag during the summer
we launched a 1 million dollar
campaign to really on the
nonprofits that focus on racial
inequality social for the black
community but quite frankly is
much room to something much
larger than that it has really
3 pillars you know to be a
better retailer to Getty be a
better employer. It to be a
better community partner those
things we do already but allow
us now to give a platform to
talk about those and a very
meaningful way and so by large
is the evergreen program and
actually The day was on January
30th, but year-old right into
black history, moderate it will
roll right into witnesses to
mind or pride might or June
teen has been a curious mind
and the list goes on so as not
just a black initiative, but
it’s an initiative that are
really building on what we do
every day and you TB is really
known for that you’ve got you
know you’ve been giving
millions of dollars to
educators.
>> And throughout the probe
throughout the communities.
We know you do a lot as well
but this is also as I’ve been
reading about is going to
impact the choice of the
suppliers you use as a company
as well.
>> That is correct you know
there are so many jobs
suppliers in the state of Texas
we’re so rich not just in
Texas, but let me bring it
home. Texas is rich with
suppliers. So one of the arms
of R B the changes to be a
better each other and that is
really my work I’ve been doing
now for you know great in 14
years is really focusing not
optically on local small and
minority suppliers and bringing
them to the marketplace to to
be with the goods or services
so this really gives us a lot
more muscle behind that program
that’s already in existence to
really seek educate build up
its all about economic impacts
and when you want to be a
change you can change one would
appear a little shopping
experience you can say someone
was social or economic
conditions but what better way
to do that in putting dollars
is says in someone’s pocket,
unemployed people across the
state and has such a long
reaching ramifications because
we found that the research to
we and do business with a local small minority suppliers.
small minority suppliers.
They do a lot of good in the
community because they’re
hiring and they’re actually
providing a revenue City
Council members in not directly
but to tax increases and paying
taxes rather see it
differently. In addition to we
found that a number of them do
what he does and that support
nonprofits so when you give to
work a local women or supplier.
It has so far reaching
ramifications to build up.
The community and the state of
Texas and I notice a few going
to an H e B store it looks like
the community you do a great
job of reaching out. >> A special black white Asian
>> A special black white Asian
across the board that’s kind of
one of your montrez as well is
it not that is exactly right so
we’ve been doing it for a
number of years we take a look
at H e B our stores are company
collectively is as diverse
Texas if not more. And so we
have a focus where we focus on
ex-military. The individuals
and veterans in diversity at
large, so we take a look at the
entire a tapestry of Texas in
the markets they will be
competing in and we make sure
that our stores reflect that
marketplace talk about to be
customers can help I know we
have the checkout stand you can
actually.
>> You’ve used that for a
number of charities an
organization talk about what
the customer can do to help
with this program.
>> and we engaged to to
participate in the program as
well because as you as you said
we have a check stand tear up a
campaign where a customer upon
checkout can donate 1, 3, or $5
to their favorite charity.
They were focusing on and the
month Black History Month,
obviously we’re focused on on
the the Urban League the NAACP
or UNC of education, those all
programs. We’re familiar with
there are established
institutions, we respect them,
we support them and they do a
lot for the Houston community.
>> So you go through that check
if you’re thinking about it you
see that pad to go ahead and
tear it off and give it to the
cashier and she can make that
happen. James Harris. Thank you
for you do it all your parts
and that’s what you call of the
employees or partners,
everybody’s got their little
name tag with only one name on
it. The first name unite that’s