Company: Portland General Electric Company
Headquarters: Portland, Oregon
Industry: Electric Utility
Company Size: Large (annual revenues of more than $250 million)

"Portland General Electric invests in the arts as a means of strengthening the social, economic and educational fabric of our community."
                – Peggy Y. Fowler, Chief Executive Officer and President

Objectives
To enhance employee relations by offering employees the opportunity to explore diversity through the arts, and to increase interest in community arts organizations.

Process

• Portland General Electric (PGE) collaborated with the Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center (IFCC), a small multi-cultural arts organization located in northeast Portland, Oregon to develop Creative Differences, an innovative work environment program, facilitated by visual and performing artists, which addresses issues of diversity and inclusiveness.
• In addition to providing start-up funding, PGE funded the IFCC’s workplace training sessions, and provided grants to Portland-area not-for-profit groups so they were able to participate in the program. The company also worked with the IFCC to market the initiative to other businesses.
• Various PGE departments scheduled full- or half-day Creative Differences programs for their teams, which took place in the IFCC’s historic 90-year-old firehouse. Among the programs were: receiving project instructions in an unfamiliar language; exchanging poetic insights; completing exercises that simulate the challenges of a physical disability; and using dance as a vehicle for cultural sharing.

Results
Creative Differences has helped PGE address workplace diversity issues, build trust and team spirit, and foster communication among employees. The program has also established the company as a national leader in developing innovative diversity programs, and at the same time increased interest in, and support for, the IFCC and other arts organizations in the community.

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