NCITD Announces Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiative with GATT DC

Dear NCITD Members:

The Board of Directors of the National Council on International Trade Development (NCITD) is proud to announce a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiative designed to support our core mission of international trade engagement and expanding networks. Beginning in June 2022, NCITD will be partnering with GATT DC (LGBT+ Professionals in International Trade) for a unique, year-long “organizational mentorship” program. GATT DC is a non-profit, non-partisan organization designed to facilitate education, networking, and professional development among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+) professionals and allies in international trade. While GATT DC only became a formal non-profit organization in the past year, the group has been operating informally since 1986 - a time when discrimination against LGBT people in the workplace was common and legal. Since its inception, GATT DC has provided a safe, welcoming space for LGBT+ professionals and allies in international trade to learn more about legal, policy, and technical issues in this field, gain access to a network of other professionals, discover employment opportunities, and seek career advice from peers and mentors. More information on GATT DC can be found here.

The NCITD Board believes that offering our expertise and resources to GATT DC is a truly impactful way to support our own DEI goals, as well as the DEI initiatives of many of our member companies and firms. Further, we believe that this project supports NCITD’s core mission to support the international trade community.

NCITD’s engagement with GATT DC will include financial support for one year to help GATT DC retain non-profit management support related to taxes, banking, fund raising, and other financial matters. Further, the NCITD Board will work with the GATT DC Board on governance, membership engagement, and other practical matters of overseeing a non-profit membership organization. And finally, NCITD and GATT DC will co-host trade events over the next year to enhance our trade related programming and professional networking opportunities.  

There are GATT DC members who work for NCITD member companies and firms and for some of the government agencies that our members work with on a daily basis. We believe that this DEI initiative will be mutually beneficial for both NCITD’s members and for those involved with GATT DC. We encourage our members to engage with us on this initiative to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in the international trade profession.

Sincerely,

Kevin J. Cuddy
Chair
NCITD Board of Directors