Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

DIVERSITY IN ACTION:

Steven Horsford

Click to enlarge photo

Steven Horsford

Occupation:

Majority Leader of the Nevada Senate

Majority Leadership:

After being first elected to the Nevada state Senate in 2004, Steven Horsford is now the Silver State’s first African-American state Senate majority leader. Beyond his political appointments, the Las Vegas native serves his community in a variety of other capacities, including membership in the Latin, Asian, Urban and North Las Vegas chambers of commerce, chairing the Young Professionals Committee for the Urban League of Clark County, and executive committee membership in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He is also a board member of Aid for AIDS of Nevada and a member of the Southern Nevada Workforce Investment Board.

What are the key ingredients to a successful diversity initiative?

The first critical ingredient is a shared analysis of what a diversity initiative looks like. In other words, an agreement on what diversity means and how it can be achieved. That shared analysis will then become the framework for all of the other ingredients needed, such as support and input from stakeholders who make up the many different faces and experiences of our community.

Explain the importance of having a diverse work force in your industry.

I actually work in an industry that provides people, from all walks of life, opportunities to gain new skills to enhance their professional cachét. It is important that our particular work force represents all people, with all abilities, as our primary goal is to provide quality service. An industry cannot only be inclusive of diverse backgrounds, but (must) also utilize those rich experiences to enhance service delivery; (this) will (make it) successful and will sustain that success over time.

How has the recession impacted diversity efforts?

We have been forced, in many respects, to look sincerely at issues of unemployment, poverty, fair wages and how each has impacted all of us. An unexpected value emerging is this consensus by the community to rally in unity to support policies and programs that will help all of us.

Who is your mentor or hero?

Rose McKinney-James has been a mentor to me because she has the determination, tenacity and ethics necessary to succeed in the business community. She ... has become a valued and respected business leader in our community. In addition to being a mentor, Rose is also my friend.

Join the Discussion:

Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.

Full comments policy