2007 Diversity Action Award Recipient

2007 Diversity Action Award

The Pennsylvania Dietetic Association (PDA) is the recipient of the 2007 Diversity Action Award. The Pennsylvania Dietetic Association has a goal to build an aligned, engaged and diverse membership. The PDA diversity program was established in 2003 with a task force charged to implement the goal of diversity and to build programs that would increase activities related to diverse populations within the affiliate. The samples of activities that are part of the PDA program of work are exceptional covering, library events, school counselor workshops and National Hispanic Health Fairs.

Using profits from a previous annual meeting, a series of diversity/mentoring grants was established as well as a diversity scholarship from the generous donation of a member. In addition, a career information page was established on the PDA website.

Through collaborations with other organizations, PDA focused on career promotion as an outgrowth of childhood wellness in the state. They received a grant from the Attorney General's office to develop a presentation about nutrition given by RDs to parents/caregivers of elementary school students. The PDA Foundation cookbook is in the main library of each of the Pennsylvania's 67 counties.

To keep the momentum throughout the state, districts were encouraged to include diversity activities in their plans. The state leadership receives reports from these units and reinforces their work with encouragement and networking.

PDA has built a model program reflecting a variety of activities that showcase an organization committed to being as inclusive and diverse as possible. Their work provides ideas and implementation strategies that can be used by other affiliates and organization units of the Association.