“Our society doesn’t work if it doesn’t work equally for all.” This is a core belief we hold true at AT&T and one which drives our commitment and responsibility, year-round, to foster a sense of belonging and empowerment among our employees, our communities, our customers and our suppliers. We are shaping the future by investing in the present, as we understand the positive impact that economic empowerment can bring to the communities where we live and work.

 One way we can make a meaningful impact to the economic growth of diverse companies and communities is through our Supplier Diversity program. We also drive meaningful impact with our AAPI suppliers through advocacy efforts with groups like the US Pan American Asian Chamber of Commerce (USPAACC), and with scholarships and educational opportunities like the AT&T Business Growth Acceleration Program (BGAP), which provides mentorship to a select group of qualified business leaders toward improving their business operations.

We work closely with our suppliers to stimulate job growth, improve opportunities for technical training and drive new diverse businesses. Minority-owned businesses have a major impact on our economic output, much of which is reinvested in local communities. According to the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), “certified minority-owned businesses generate $400 billion in annual economic output—and $49 billion in annual revenue for local, state and federal tax authorities—that results in the creation or preservation of 2.2 million jobs.”

 At AT&T, we are proud to have collaborated for more than 50 years with a diverse group of businesses and enterprises owned by BIPOC, women, service-disabled veterans, LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities. The Supplier Diversity program not only provides an opportunity to a diverse range of business owners but empowers them, in turn, to provide opportunities for others.

I’m proud of our continued work towards providing economic empowerment opportunities for my community. In honor of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Heritage Month, we would like to acknowledge our more than 90 AAPI suppliers, with whom we have invested $4.6 billion in the past three years alone.  Learn more about some of those courageous journeys, here: