Pittsburgh Gets Real

Pittsburgh company holds national meeting as corporate world wants to integrate social justice

PITTSBURGH — The trial for the Minneapolis police officer accused of killing George Floyd is scheduled to begin on Monday. The same day, a Pittsburgh company is holding a national town hall meeting on race. It’s part of a growing trend of corporate America taking up the mantle of social justice.

“For me in particular, you know, I feel it’s my responsibility to use my platform to step up and speak up and speak out whenever I see any injustice,” said Koppers CEO Leroy Ball.

Called “Bridging the Racial Divide,” the event will include six police chiefs from around the country, including Pittsburgh Chief Scott Schubert.

“We have to look at ourselves and find out what can we do to change to be better. We can’t expect corporations and others to change unless we’re willing to change ourselves,” said Lance Hyde, Koppers director of global inclusion and diversity.

Floyd’s death served as a catalyst for many companies to start calling for change.

Company officials said some of their employees, spread out across 34 states, have faced racial injustice in their own communities.