ForAT&T, No. 4 inThe 2011 Fair360, formerly DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity, education is the most important social and business issue facing the company, says Charlene Lake, senior vice president, public affairs and chief sustainability officer.
One of the educational programs AT&T supports isPeace Through Business, a program that trains women entrepreneurs from Afghanistan and Rwanda in business practices including accounting, marketing, human resources and business-plan development. The program is run by the Institute for the Economic Empowerment of Women, a nonprofit based in Oklahoma that supports women business owners.
“The message we’re trying to get out is that we are absolutely committed to the empowerment of people to learn and grow in inclusive environments,” Lake says. “We empower people through the support of education, and, fundamentally, that’s what this program is about.”
