Diversity Focus executive director leaving post

The executive director of the nonprofit organization that promotes diversity awareness and inclusion in the Corridor is resigning to return to Cincinnati, Ohio.

Hazel Pegues started her appointment as executive director in Cedar Rapids right after the massive flood of June 2008, which heavily damaged the nonprofit's office. Her last day will be July 31, according to a e-mail sent to friends on Friday, June 10, that was obtained by SourceMedia Group.

Pegues wrote in the e-mail that the decision was the result of inward reflection and conversations with friends and family. She plans to resume her nonprofit consulting work and explore other professional opportunities that she termed “intriguing.”

Under Pegues' leadership, Diversity Focus created a diversity climate study, a diversity speakers series, and a leaders conference. It also developed new “constituency-specific” diversity and inclusion training, and reestablished the organization's downtown office.

Before coming to Cedar Rapids, Pegues' work included vice president of programs for the Urban League of Greater Cincinnati and executive director of the Friends of the School for Creative and Performing Arts.

Pegues was the second executive director to lead Diversity Focus, which was founded in 2005.

Diversity Focus has received the state's One Iowa Award for promoting diversity and improving the lives of minority residents in Eastern Iowa. The organization receives financial support from major employers in the Corridor.