(PRESS RELEASE)ALEXANDRIA, VA — The Vision Council earned a Power of Associations Silver Award from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) for its successful Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts.
“Fostering a more diverse, equitable and inclusive community is paramount to our mission of creating more opportunities for community-building and encouraging industry growth,” said Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council. “We are honored to see our efforts come to life through actionable opportunities for our members and tangible results. We appreciate the recognition from the ASAE and look forward to continuing our efforts.”
ASAE sealThe Vision Council’s recent diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives include: the launch of The Vision Council’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force in 2020; the fielding of a comprehensive industry survey on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Survey in 2020; the launch of Opening Your Eyes: The Vision Council Scholarship Fund in 2021; and the creation of an online certificate program in partnership with Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) in 2021.
“Congratulations to The Vision Council for exemplifying the impact associations have on the industries and professions they represent, and on society at large,” said ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE. “It’s always so incredibly satisfying to see associations going above and beyond their everyday mission to change the world. We’re very proud to spotlight this award-winning initiative.”
Opening Your Eyes: The Vision Council Scholarship Fund
Opening Your Eyes: The Vision Council Scholarship Fund is designed to support minority high school students who have an interest in pursuing a career in the optical industry. The program supports selected students through monetary scholarships to opticianry school. The intent of the program is to launch a far-reaching effort that can expand to other segments of the industry. Since its launch in 2021, almost $340,000 has been pledged towards the scholarship fund.
In July 2021, the first round of seven recipients were selected. In 2022, The Vision Council plans to award 12 students with a scholarship. While the direct audience for the scholarship is the future generations of leaders, the scholarship acts as a pipeline of talent to further grow and expand the entire vision community.
To learn more about The Vision Council’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts, click here.