African Americans, Latinos and other minority communities represent undervalued markets in the United States that aspire to fully participate in society. If America is to continue to be a global economic leader that delivers on the promise of democracy and free market enterprise, the country’s leadership, across sectors, must take action to encourage and facilitate the full participation of these communities in the U.S. economic system, as they are an important part of future economic growth.

It is not just about money. There are, of course, a distinct set of issues and challenges that act as impediments to the full participation of people of color in the U. S. economy – health disparities, wealth and enterprise creation, education, community development. These issues remind us that we all have a role to play in creating the conditions that allow ALL to reap the full benefits of being a citizen of the richest country on earth.The ELLA Awards are our answer to that call. It is our contribution to the movement for equality. With these awards, we aim to raise awareness of those innovative corporate community involvement initiatives that directly address these issues in ways that remove barriers that prevent ethnic minority communities from fully participating in the American democracy. We will pay homage to pioneering organizations that lead the way with bold initiatives that veer from the beaten path to continue to set the course and pace so others might follow.