This is who we are

Since its founding in 1961, the Atlantic Council’s mission has been inclusion in a fundamental sense: helping Americans understand that they are part of a broader international community.

The Atlantic Council has distinguished itself as an institution where Americans work collaboratively with our counterparts in allied and partner countries to develop ideas, propose solutions, and build a better world.

Then, as now, the organization was animated by diverse views and perspectives. Diversity has always been and will always be our competitive advantage. It’s our engine for exponential growth and exceptional performance.

Today, the Atlantic Council cherishes its status as a diverse international organization, where those who speak different languages, have different political points of view, and come from different national, religious, and ethnic backgrounds draw on their varied experiences to enrich our work.

We also recognize we can, must, and will do more.

As far back as 1952, Secretary of State Dean Acheson –one of the Atlantic Council’s founders – wrote in a letter included in an amicus brief submitted to the Supreme Court of the United States in Brown vs. Board of Education, that “the continuance of racial discrimination in the United States … jeopardizes the effective maintenance of our moral leadership of the free and democratic nations of the world.”

The United States has come far since then, and so too has the Atlantic Council. We pledge to do even better, realizing that diversity, equity and inclusion are part of the crucial domestic underpinnings of our international credibility and success.

We are committed to strengthening a culture that celebrates diversity, strives for equity, and breaks down barriers in pursuit of inclusion. Only an organization that reflects the world around it—and that acknowledges historical inequities, structures, and biases that perpetuate them to this day—can work to dismantle these barriers to progress and thus help shape a better, more just global future. Our mission is global, but our work begins at home.

We are taking steps to ensure that our community—from our talent pipeline and internship program to our leadership team, managers, senior fellows, external experts and partners, board of directors and advisory councils—embodies these commitments. We are building on our strength in reflecting a global workforce to better reflect diversity across race, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or identity, and political views at all levels of the organization.

Our institution, guided by its internal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, is developing a comprehensive strategy to ensure that the values that underpin the organization’s mission are expressed through our recruitment, content, convenings, talent management, and board members and partners.

The Atlantic Council has experienced unprecedented growth in the past decade, nurturing a high performance culture of excellence and expertise, results-orientation and entrepreneurship, and collegiality and optimism. Our team members bring their values and passion to our mission. Accelerating this success requires the Council to ensure that each member of our community is valued, heard, and given the opportunity to be a catalyst for positive change.

We therefore make the following commitments:

  • Atlantic Council Community: The Council is committed to recruiting, training, and retaining a diverse team across all levels of the organization to more effectively advance our mission of working with allies and friends to shape the global future.
  • Atlantic Council Culture: The Council is committed to fostering and promoting a community of individuals who celebrate and embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Atlantic Council Public Engagement: The Council is committed to ensuring that its publications and convenings are inclusive and reflect the diversity and values of the global community we serve.

Succeeding in our mission requires the hard work of building consensus and ensuring the inclusion of diverse partners. Just as importantly, it means engaging all segments of the public and preparing a new generation of diverse leaders to act on the core conviction that brought the Atlantic Council into existence at an earlier time of historic tension and volatility: a better future for the world is out there—and we can only secure it by working together in unity.

Meet the Council event series

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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council chair

Content

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Feb 23, 2021

Kholos Brooks featured by Moment Magazine

By Atlantic Council

On February 23, FD NRSF Michelle Kholos Brooks joined Moment Magazine for a Zoominar on her award-winning play “Hitler’s Tasters.” The play centers around the women who tasted Hitler’s food and explores the experiences of young women in war.

Germany Media

Event Recap

Jan 9, 2021

Event recap: “Women’s gains in Afghanistan: Supporting economic opportunities for Afghan women as a driver of peace and security”

By Atlantic Council

On Thursday January 7, 2021, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center partnered with the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council (USAWC) and the American Council on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) to host an event on women’s gains in Afghanistan, the critical role of Afghan women in Afghanistan’s peace and security, and the role of US actors in partnering with and empowering Afghan women.

Afghanistan Economy & Business

GeoTech Cues

Dec 18, 2020

Reimagining a just society pt. 2 | The end of an era

By Carol Dumaine

This blog post series will explore the meaning of a “just society” through multiple lenses and in the context of today’s challenges, including but not limited to the coronavirus pandemic. With contributions from multiple authors, it aims to stimulate thinking and questions that distill the prerequisites and responsibilities for “just societies” in our times. COVID-19 spotlights […]

Coronavirus Inclusive Growth

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Dec 14, 2020

The issue Ukraine’s first lady should champion vocally

By Laryssa Horodysky and Melinda Haring

A recent report by Amnesty International has highlighted the growing domestic violence crisis in war-torn eastern Ukraine. Coronavirus lockdown conditions are expected to add to the problem.

Coronavirus Human Rights

New Atlanticist

Dec 10, 2020

Gender equality can accelerate Latin America’s post-COVID-19 recovery: Men and boys must take part

By Valentina Sader, Cristina Guevara

In Latin America and the Caribbean, this year’s Human Rights Day marks a grim trend as COVID-19 sets back decades of progress for women and girls. And without enlisting everyone, including men, in the fight for women’s empowerment, society’s ability to achieve gender equality is limited.

Caribbean Coronavirus

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Oct 28, 2020

Afghan First Lady Rula Ghani: Women’s rights cannot be ‘the cost of peace’

By David A. Wemer

The progress Afghan women have made in the years since the fall of the Taliban regime could be at risk, Ghani said, should the Taliban be given too much power as part of a peace settlement.

Afghanistan Civil Society

ACFrontPage

Oct 28, 2020

Transcript: A conversation with First Lady of Afghanistan Rula Ghani and former First Lady of the United States Laura Bush

By Atlantic Council

The South Asia Center and the George W. Bush Institute host a conversation with First Lady Rula Ghani and former First Lady Laura Bush to discuss strategies for ensuring long-term security without compromising on the rights of women and minorities as well as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Afghanistan Human Rights

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Oct 23, 2020

The post-COVID world this week: COVID-19 as the next flu, the pandemic’s impact on retirement, and empowering women in Africa

By Atlantic Council

What can we expect from a post-COVID world after a pandemic that has reshaped international affairs? A world that demands more economic opportunities for women, for the sake of development in Africa.

Coronavirus Human Rights

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Oct 22, 2020

Younus in Dawn: Toxic masculinity is a problem. So what are men going to do about it?

By Atlantic Council

Civil Society Pakistan

Distinguished Leadership Awards

Oct 14, 2020

Transcript: The 2020 Atlantic Council Distinguished Leadership Awards

By Atlantic Council

At the 2020 Distinguished Leadership Awards, the Atlantic Council honored global leaders and unsung heroes responding to the political, humanitarian, and economic crises of today.

Civil Society Resilience