The Hampton Roads Diversity and Inclusion Consortium (HRDIC) has been selected for a 2019 Director’s Community Leadership Award by Martin Culbreth, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, for its commitment to civil rights and inclusion.

The FBI Director’s Community Leadership Awards is an annual award that recognizes individuals and organizations that make extraordinary contributions to education and the prevention of crime and violence in their communities. Recipients are nominated by each field office, and once selected they are invited to a ceremony and reception at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. For more information about this prestigious award go to https://www.fbi.gov/about/community-outreach/dcla.

For six years, HRDIC’s work has intersected with the FBI’s civil rights mission to ensure the protected rights of all persons are not violated. HRDIC maintains a list of more than 150 allies from the nonprofit, academia, business, and law enforcement sectors who engage in quarterly consortium meetings that encourage collaboration on diversity and inclusion (D&I) solutions. As a result, the Norfolk FBI’s Civil Rights Unit has engaged in proactive outreach efforts with HRDIC constituents to address questions about human trafficking and violence motivated by race, religion, national origin, gender identity, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

In 2019, HRDIC supported the Norfolk Field Office to enhance local initiatives where D&I are a priority. HRDIC was actively engaged in various roundtable discussions with community leaders to address community concerns related to racial discrimination, recruitment and hiring of minorities, and law enforcement’s presence in disparaged communities. Most recently, HRDIC partnered with Norfolk FBI and moderated a panel discussion involving the Newport News Police Department and the FBI to provide a venue for community members to openly discuss processes and grievances that taint the view of law enforcement.

HRDIC Executive Director Emily Reaves and HRDIC Chair Billy McIntyre will receive the award from FBI Director Christopher Wray at a ceremony in May at FBI Headquarters.

HRDIC will be informally recognized by Special Agent in Charge Martin Culbreth on Thursday, January 9, 2020 at 10 a.m. at the Norfolk Field Office of the FBI at 509 Resource Row in Chesapeake, Virginia. Media are invited to attend.