Church Mutual recognized with ‘Social Equity and Community Empowerment’ award from APCIA
June 16, 20224 min readCompany continues to advance diversity and inclusion efforts
MERRILL, Wis. – Church Mutual Insurance Company, S.I. (a stock insurer)1, was recently recognized by the American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) for leading efforts to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the insurance industry. In May 2022, Church Mutual received a corporate award for “Social Equity and Community Empowerment” at the DEI: Expanding Opportunity in Insurance conference in New York City.
APCIA is the primary national trade association for home, auto and business insurers. APCIA members represent all sizes, structures and regions—protecting families, communities and businesses in the U.S. and across the globe. The organization, in conjunction with the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) and the Life Insurance Council of New York (LICONY), hosts its annual conference to bring together insurance thought leaders from across the country to discuss the current state of diversity, equity and inclusion in the industry and tangible ways insurers can move forward on the issue.
“At Church Mutual, we partner with purpose-driven organizations and individuals whose missions are as diverse as their beliefs — each sharing a common passion for serving the greater good,” said Rich Poirier, president and CEO of Church Mutual. “As a company, we believe in the strength and potential within us all – and with that, the importance of including diverse people and perspectives. Without question, both make Church Mutual a stronger and more competitive organization. The APCIA’s award is an important recognition of our initiatives to advance diversity, equity and inclusion at Church Mutual.”
D&I Initiatives at Church Mutual:
• Advancing Disability Inclusion: Led by the company’s Disability Inclusion Taskforce, Church Mutual participated in the 2022 Disability Equality Index (DEI), a national, transparent, annual benchmarking tool designed to provide businesses with an objective snapshot of where they are in their disability inclusion journey and help identify opportunities for continued improvement in advancing disability inclusion. Additionally, the company publicly committed Church Mutual to benchmarking efforts and taking actions to advance inclusion of people with disabilities within its business by signing the Disability:IN CEO Letter on Disability Inclusion in May 2022.
• Dialogue in Diversity: Elevating the importance of diversity and inclusion within Church Mutual, the company continues its Dialogue in Diversity speaker series, which provides opportunities to hear from people with a variety of backgrounds about their personal experiences with diversity and inclusion. Recent notable speakers have included Min Jin Lee, whose novel Pachinko (2017) was adapted for an Apple TV + series that debuted in March 2022; as well as Steph Davis, renowned as the most accomplished female free solo climber in the world.
• Courageous Conversations: Sparked by the need to increase awareness about unconscious and conscious racial bias, Church Mutual launched its Courageous Conversations Series in June 2020. Senior leaders focused on supporting each other by listening, learning and addressing the impact of race both at Church Mutual and in the broader community. The series includes quarterly supervisor-led, all-employee conversations on topics such as race, privilege, individuals with disabilities and micro-aggressions.
• Toward One Wisconsin Inclusivity Conference: Church Mutual co-founded and continues its sponsorship of Toward One Wisconsin, a Wisconsin learning event that supports building communities of equity and opportunity. The conference features discussions with many of the nation’s foremost experts on social issues, and will be held again on April 25-26, 2023, in Appleton, Wisconsin.
• Greater Good Scholarships: Demonstrating its commitment to diversity in education, Church Mutual presented the third round of 24 Protecting the Greater Good scholarships, awarding a total of $72,000 to students at 12 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
• Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service D&I Survey: Church Mutual partnered with the Wisconsin Institute for Public Policy and Service (WIPPS) in late 2021 to research public perceptions of diversity, inclusion and access in Wisconsin’s Marathon and Lincoln counties. Results from the survey are expected to be released in July 2022, and will outline potential initiatives to advance the region’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.