Cummins Inc. has launched Cummins Advocating for Racial Equity, or CARE, highlighting the company’s intent to take a role in undoing systemic discrimination against the Black community in the U.S.
“Institutional racism is a disease; deeply rooted and longstanding, and makes our society weaker,” said Tom Linebarger, chairman and CEO, Cummins. “It will take decisive and sustained action to dismantle racism, and Cummins will be part of that action. We are in the midst of a national reckoning on race, and we need awareness, education and accountability to drive results. It’s the right thing to do and we will all benefit when we are cured of this disease.”
Since CARE’s creation in July, the company has developed strategies and initiated work in four identified areas:
Achieve police reform
Realize criminal justice reform
Create economic empowerment by building Black wealth and income
Drive social justice reform in healthcare, housing, workforce development and civil rights, including voting rights and education
“We are using impact assessment tools to select work that will generate meaningful change with measurable results specific to each community,” added Linebarger.
Cummins is focusing its efforts on four areas:
Cummins joined forces with Eli Lilly and Company, Roche Diagnostics, the Indianapolis Urban League, the local American Civil Liberties Union and other Indianapolis business and community organizations, to advocate for the establishment of a first-of-its-kind majority civilian General Orders Board that has the power to create policies and procedures that determine the manner in which policing is conducted in Indianapolis.
Cummins will launch four new Technical Education for Communities (TEC) workforce development programs: two in Nashville, Tennessee; one in Charleston, South Carolina; and one in Memphis, Tennessee. Each site will focus on creating educational pathways for Black residents to good, living wage jobs in transportation, logistics and other industries.
The company is also investing in current and future Black-owned suppliers by using its industry influence to support their growth and sustainability.
Cummins has committed $250,000 towards an Indianapolis Urban League initiative to invest in Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurship, in partnership with Eli Lilly and Company.
