Winter 2006
California is the most ethnically diverse state in the country. The California Utilities Diversity Council (CUDC) was created in 2004 to promote diversity within utility companies to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation, resulting in improved human relations and business opportunities.
The CUDC, which includes the business community, consumer groups, multi-language interests, education, labor and utility companies, serves as a forum and an advisory body to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on diversity issues and utility regulation.
A major area of concern for the CUDC has been education. While California's demographics reflect a dramatic increase in school age-population diversity, we see few minorities and women who are qualified for jobs that require math, science and engineering skills. At the same time, the number of retiring science and engineering professionals is growing rapidly. This situation has a profound negative consequence on California's utilities and other industries, all of whom need a larger technical workforce to meet our growing needs in the labor market.
The CUDC believes that California's business community has a responsibility to help solve our state's education crisis. We believe that a strategic investment in education initiatives that focus on developing the academic potential of high-growth populations such as educationally disadvantaged students is key.
This is why the CUDC has decided to invest in MESA.
MESA has a long and successful record of supporting students who have potential but lack the academic support to excel in math and science. Many CUDC members, including my own company, PG&E, have worked with MESA for many years because we know that the program works. The CUDC has confidence that the $1.4 million we have awarded to MESA will result in more math and science professionals that the utilities—and our state—need to stay competitive.
Our collaboration with MESA serves as an outstanding industry/education model. It ensures an improved quality of education for California's diverse student community, while fulfilling our companies' short- and long-term economic interests. We are proud and pleased with our new partnership with MESA and look forward to our future work together.
Steve Leder
Chair, CUDC Education Committee
Director of Professional Staffing and Diversity
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
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