Mission statement

Create high quality jobs in places where they would not otherwise exist and create positive change in the communities in which it operates

Case study

Rural Sourcing (RSI) began to discuss what Equity, Inclusion and Diversity (EI&D) meant to the organization many years ago as a grassroots effort. RSI’s EI&D ambition is to have a workforce representative of the cities in which it operates and to have an inclusive workforce that employees speak highly of. These goals led to the formation of the EI&D Council – a group that solicits engagement across the company, sets the EI&D framework, metrics and goals, and develops initiatives to achieve progress - internally, within local communities, and within the technology industry at-large.

Elevating & Empowering Micro Communities

RSI encourages informal workplace communities where employees can come together for open and honest dialogue. Over the past year, the company has formalized those communities into Colleague Resource Groups (CRG). To date, RSI has established CRGs for: Rainbow, Women and Friends, Black Voices, Marines, and Remote Veterans. The CRGs offer direct input on local and company-wide EI&D initiatives, such as organizing Pride celebrations, identifying diverse talent management and recruitment platforms and developing partnerships with nonprofits focused on driving diverse candidates into STEM. As an example of the influence and impact of its CRGs and its EI&D council, RSI helped organize a Juneteenth celebration, virtually bringing together 80% of RSI colleagues to celebrate black culture with poetry, music and speakers.

Formalizing CRGs has had a direct impact on employee satisfaction, but also, Rural Sourcing’s role in the technology industry, as well as level of service it offers to clients.

“If we have a more diverse team, we have a more diverse approach to software development. At Rural Sourcing, it is critical that we bring multiple perspectives to a software development project. Ultimately, we believe that different backgrounds, and different experiences improve the quality of the product. And it’s hugely important in the mission because our clients will benefit.” -Anne Lucero

Scaling our Partnerships – What’s Next?

Many of RSI’s locations’ partner with local organizations that focus on empowering underserved individuals to gain access to STEM topics. In Albuquerque, RSI partners with CodeClubs.org - a non-profit organization that works with local schools to bring coding classes to kids ages 11-18. In Augusta, we partner with Brown Girls Who Code. As we look forward, the company hopes to scale these local partnerships nationwide.

“Rural Sourcing has acted with intention in formalizing the link between our mission of supporting local communities and our role in driving progress on the key issue of gender and racial talent gaps in the technology industry. The goal of our strategic investment is to put dollars in the right places and to make sure that we’re putting them to use to help grow our local communities.”