The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice (NJISJ) has honored BD and the company’s Chief Employment Counsel, Claudia Curtis, with its Corporate Leadership Award. The award recognizes organizations that have expanded opportunities and justice by investing resources within marginalized communities.

For over twenty years, NJISJ has been working to advance policies of social justice and equity in urban communities of color across the state of New Jersey – home to BD global headquarters in Franklin Lakes.

“We are humbled by this recognition, but we recognize that our work in this area has – in many ways – just begun. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with NJISJ to transform our communities into more socially and racially just places for all.” – Claudia Curtis

In addition to serving as a founding member of the BD Inclusion and Diversity Council, Claudia is also a member of the company’s African Americans at BD (AABD) associate resource group, which encourages inclusion-related dialogue across the company, and drives programs and initiatives that seek to improve the way BD recruits, retains and fosters the professional development of diverse associates.

Acknowledging that storytelling is one of the most powerful tools for advocacy, Claudia has participated in a series of virtual “fireside chats” at BD, hosted by AABD, where she has shared personal stories of racism and social injustice alongside other African American leaders at BD. She is a driving force in raising awareness of the reality that racism and social injustice negatively impact Black people and people of color at all ranges of the socioeconomic spectrum.

Outside of BD, Claudia also serves as National Vice President of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., an organization comprised of mothers with children ages 2 – 19, dedicated to nurturing future African American leaders by strengthening children through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving and civic duty.

This year, BD donated $100,000 to the Equal Justice Initiative to demonstrate its support of widespread, nationwide calls for racial justice following the senseless deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery. The company has also supported associate-led efforts in Rhode Island and Arizona to raise funds for social justice organizations including the Center for Policing Equity and the YWCA.

And through its Social Investing initiatives, BD has a long history of providing philanthropic support to a wide array of non-profit organizations that seek to expand healthcare access among vulnerable populations, globally.

In its home state of New Jersey, BD recently announced additional philanthropic commitments to  help several of its longstanding non-profit partners’ – Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative, the Center for Hope and Safety, CUMAC, Eva’s Village, Family Promise of Bergen County and Zufall Health – work to expand access to food, shelter, healthcare services, job and skills training among diverse populations that are being disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.