DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION INITIATIVES
We are progressing several initiatives that help support belonging and diversity, equity and inclusion, including internal and external initiatives, programs and partnerships.
“I believe the success of CenterPoint Energy’s business goals and strategy will depend on making our organization look more like the communities we serve,” said Dave Lesar, Chief Executive Officer. “When we hold a mirror up to our communities, it is important that we see the faces of our CenterPoint Energy employees reflected back. We have already made a lot of progress, with even more yet to come.”
Our company-wide Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, comprised of colleagues from all levels and areas of our businesses and corporate functions, assists in leading conversations and driving diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across the organization, such as:
- A diversity, equity and inclusion anonymous survey engaged all employees on attitudes toward diversity, culture, hiring and recruiting, diversity training programs and other workplace experiences.
- Launching eight Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to date.
- Creating a leadership talent pipeline that helps support a diverse workforce and inclusive work environment that is reflective of the available workforce, placing a focus on driving awareness of the importance of supporting and enabling a diverse workforce.
Affinity and Employee Resource Groups
Our Affinity groups are formed around a shared interest or common goal for employees across CenterPoint Energy. Affinity groups help us build community, enhance purposeful networking and employee engagement across our company, promote career development, and offer leadership and professional development opportunities.
Affinity Groups:
- EnPoint: Gas Engineering employees
- EPN: Electric Engineering employees
- EV Point: Employees who are electric vehicle enthusiasts
- MyPoint: Finance, IT and Audit Services employees
- OnPoint: Employees who work in Operations and functional areas across Houston
EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS
Our eight employee-created and employee-led ERGs are a key part of CenterPoint Energy’s focus on DE&I. They provide vital opportunities for employees to get to know one another, share knowledge and experiences, promote collaboration and professional development, support employee recruitment and retention, raise cultural awareness, and enhance community engagement.
Our ERGs’ goals and activities are aligned with CenterPoint Energy’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Vision and Positioning Statement, as well as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council’s strategic goals. ERGs are employee-led, operated with the support of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council and are open to all employees. ERGs can contribute to increasing the diversity of the applicant pool and improving retention, as well as reaching traditionally underrepresented or underserved customers, clients, suppliers, and communities. ERGs can also help enhance civic engagement and strengthen CenterPoint Energy’s connections and reputation in the communities we serve.
CenterPoint Energy’s Employee Resource Groups:
- Black Employees Network
- C.A.R.E Connections (Children, Adult, Resource, Education)
- CNP Asian Professional Network
- CNP Military Network
- CNP Pride
- Cultural Niketan of India
- Hispanic & Latin Professional Network
- Women in Leadership
ERG Highlights
In 2022, our ERGs engaged 1,600+ employee members to develop and manage 59 events for all employees throughout the company.
C.A.R.E. Connections (Children, Adult, Resource, Education) is CenterPoint Energy’s newest ERG. Its mission is to empower members as they navigate their career and family responsibilities, maintain a work/life balance, and support overall mental health and well-being.
The Cultural Niketan of INDIA ERG celebrated Diwali – the Festival of Lights – by holding onsite celebrations at several CenterPoint Energy office locations. The group’s objective is to promote the welfare of community and an attitude of gratitude.
A special ERG showcase of our rich diversity in perspective, thought and experience was sponsored by the DE&I Council so employees could hear directly from members and learn how to participate. ERGs provide vital opportunities for networking, mentoring, professional development and promotion of the company’s business goals and strategy.
Recruiting
Our Talent Acquisition team is at the forefront of our efforts to create a workforce reflective of the communities we serve. We support best practices for promoting diversity through our recruitment process, and we actively recruit and hire veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Our College Recruiting program maintains relationships with student organizations at many of the schools throughout our footprint, providing opportunities to engage with a diverse mix of students as they plan their professional careers. Some of our partner organizations include:
- Ascend Pan-Asian Leaders
- Asian Business Student Association
- Collegiate Association for Women in Construction
- Construction Student Association
- Hispanic Business Student Association
- Human Rights Campaign
- National Association of Black Accountants
- National Society of Black Engineers
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
- Texas Diversity Council
Nationally, we partner with Disability Solutions, Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement, LocalJobNetwork (Circa) and RecruitMilitary.
Local partnerships include:
Houston
Texas Diversity Council, S.A.F.E. Diversity Communities, Lone Star Veterans Association, Playsmint, SER Jobs, Workforce Solutions, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Wounded Warrior Project, Houston Area Urban League, Women in Construction, and NextOp
Minneapolis
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Minneapolis Urban League, Step Up, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, and Minnesota Vocational Rehabilitation
Evansville
Evansville Vet Center, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, YWCA of Evansville, Evansville Arc, and Vanderburgh County Veterans Services
College Recruiting Program
Our College Recruiting program maintains partnerships with student organizations at many of the schools throughout our footprint. Internships, co-ops and entry-level job opportunities are offered throughout the company.
We use diverse interview panels for candidate interviews to promote a diversity of perspectives and thought when interviewing prospective new hires for opportunities across our company.