Oakland A's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are rooted in the A's organizational DNA. The A's commitment to these values is unwavering – on and off the field. Together, we continue to build an inclusive, innovative, and dynamic culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates belonging and amplifies diverse voices.

The A's Diversity Task Force brings together members of the senior executive team to plan and execute DEI efforts across the organization. Members of the task force thoughtfully lead their teams in order to embed inclusive practices throughout the organization.

The Diversity Task Force members include Dave Kaval, President; Miguel Duarte, Chief of Staff; D'Lonra Ellis, Chief Legal Officer; David Forst, General Manager; Catherine Aker, Vice President, Marketing, Communications + Community; Steve Fanelli, Vice President, Sales and Business Operations; David Rinetti, Vice President, Stadium Operations; and Kyle Ellington, Director of Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging.

The A's Diversity Council brings together junior to mid-tier employees from different backgrounds, tenures, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, disabilities, neurodiversities, ages, economic backgrounds, caring responsibilities, and more. This council shares their insights and perceptions of what it personally means to work at the Oakland A's and how current DEI initiatives are progressing from their viewpoint.

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are an integral part of the A's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program and are open to all employees regardless of background. ERGs foster a sense of belonging and inclusion that can spark innovation and accelerate employee development. Each ERG is resourced to drive actions that are inclusive, dynamic, and innovative – the organization's three pillars.

Women of the A's is an ERG that aims to support, empower, and encourage the women in the Oakland A's organization through professional development, networking, and social events and opportunities.

The A's Black Professionals ERG enhances the commitment to Black employees through professional development, education, history of the African American culture, management and networking affairs, and community outreach, while creating an inter-cultural understanding of Black employees.

The A's Siempre Unidos ERG brings together employees and our community in unity. Through this connection, we strive to grow together in personal and professional development, enhance cultural awareness, and positively impact the community through our philanthropic endeavors.

The Oakland A's are committed to supporting the growth of small businesses in Oakland and businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQ+ community. Supplier diversity adds value to the organization by ensuring that our supplier base mirrors the customers and communities we serve.

The A's want to provide significant opportunities to minority and women-owned businesses that are capable of providing the organization and its associated companies with commodities and services through a competitive bid process. This program is committed to aggressively seeking qualified vendors who desire to enter into a mutually beneficial relationship with the A's.

Please click on the link below to complete and submit the supplier profile questionnaire along with any additional information describing your company. Companies can also email Kyle Ellington, Director, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, at [email protected] to discuss the company's capabilities and potential bid opportunities.

The Oakland A's acknowledge that they operate on occupied Ohlone Land and sit in the territory of Huchiun. Through this Land Acknowledgement, we recognize the importance of, show respect for, and honor the Indigenous Peoples from the East Bay lands on which we work, live, and play. We acknowledge with sadness the centuries of injustice, discrimination, and violence committed against Indigenous Peoples. We express our gratitude for the presence of and contributions of Indigenous Peoples. Consistent with our organizational commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, we will continue to work towards building relationships with Indigenous communities through public recognition and community outreach. We support the Confederated Villages of Lisjan Nation and Sogorea Te' Land Trust, who are working to return Native land back to Indigenous stewardship.

This Land Acknowledgement is a living document written by members of the Oakland A's, in consultation with the Confederated Villages of Lisjan Nation and Sogorea Te' Land Trust.

The A's created the Junior Scout Program in 2018. This program allows underrepresented groups, including women, to learn the basics of the trade in high-traffic scouting areas for potential full-time hire. These scouts focus on underclassmen eligible for drafts further into the future and/or games that are less likely to be attended by full-time scouts due to other premium games at the same time. All Junior Scouts are included in internal meetings, including but not limited to the draft, and other scouting activities throughout the year. Some of the target areas for the program are Florida, Georgia (Atlanta), Texas, and Southern California. Previous members of this program have received full-time positions with the A's and other MLB teams.

For more information about the Junior Scout Program, please contact Raul Rios at [email protected].

• Supplier Diversity Commitment
• A's Job Opportunities
• MLB Diversity

Black History Month

This February, the A's joined the celebration of Black History Month and honored the accomplishments of African Americans throughout history. The A's and the A's Black Professionals ERG celebrated Black History Month in a number of ways during the month of February and throughout the 2022 calendar year. Some key highlights:

• Celebrated and highlighted the rich history of African Americans leaders in Oakland and across the Bay Area.

• Engaged, supported, and amplified local Black-owned businesses and organizations.

• Highlighted past and present African American athletes and coaches, club executives, and individuals connected to our sport.

• Hosted a staff Lunch & Learn for A's employees titled Celebrating America's Oldest National Park Ranger Betty Reid Soskin. Betty Reid Soskin is the oldest national park ranger, East Bay civil rights activist, musician, and leading spokesperson for diverse experiences of domestic war efforts during World War II.

• Made donations to Marcus Books, Cypress Mandela Training Center, Black Joy Parade, and the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation to support local Black-owned businesses and organizations.

Learn more here.

Lunar New Year, February 1

As part of the Lunar New Year, the A's made donations to the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, Lincoln Elementary, and Asian Health Services.

National Girls & Women in Sports Day, February 2

To celebrate the annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day (NGWSD), the A's made a donation to the Women's Sports Foundation.

Women’s History Month, March 2022

The A's and Women of the A's ERG celebrated Women's History Month during the month of March. Throughout the month, the A's highlighted women in the organization and community on their social media channels, through staff events, and more.

• As part of International Women's Day on March 8, A's coach Veronica Alvarez joined PA Announcer Amelia Schimmel and the front office staff for a discussion on her baseball career, her role as a coach in the organization, and what it means to be a role model to other girls and women in the game.

• The A's made a donation to Girls Inc., an organization that inspires girls to be strong through mental and physical health, smart through academic engagement, and bold through leadership.

• The Women of the A's ERG hosted a discussion with the front office staff on the topic of male allyship in the workplace.

AAPI Heritage Month, May 2022

The A's were proud to recognize and celebrate Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month throughout May, including AAPI Heritage Night at the Coliseum on May 13. The A's honored and recognized the important contributions that the AAPI community has made to our team and the game of baseball.

• The A's hosted a staff Lunch & Learn featuring A's multimedia journalist Jessica Kleinschmidt. Jessica shared her personal family journey, discussed her Filipino family traditions, and talked about her experiences as a woman in sports journalism and broadcasting.

• The A's made donations to Family Bridges and Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce to support local AAPI organizations. Family Bridges' mission is to empower low-income, limited-English proficient immigrant families to lead self-sufficient, independent lives. Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce's mission is to promote and advocate for business and trade in the Oakland Asian Community.

Pride Month

• During Pride Month, the A's offered LGBTQ+ Cultural Humility Training. This training was designed to build a basic understanding of LGBTQ+ identities, languages, and symbols with the goal of creating a more equitable workplace.

• On June 17, the A's celebrated the LGBTQ+ community and its allies during the annual Glenn Burke Pride Night at the Coliseum.

Juneteenth

The A's Black Professionals ERG hosted a virtual Lunch & Learn event to celebrate Juneteenth. Raymond Doswell, curator at the, Negro League Baseball Museum, hosted the event titled Celebrating Black Baseball & Black Players, which highlighted the great achievements from the Negro League Baseball Museum.

Hispanic Heritage Month

In celebration of Latin and Hispanic Heritage Month, the A's hosted a virtual Lunch & Learn. This event featured three members of the A's organization: Ray Abreu (Director, Latin America Operations), Leo Bejaran-Soecht (Coordinator, Educational and Cultural Programs), and Luis Victoria (Coordinator, Minor League Operations) to discuss their roles and how they support the A's Latin and Hispanic players, staff, and operations at the A's facilities in the Dominican Republic and Arizona.