Transamerica Life Insurance Company requested the help of the Coe Writing Center last year to help with the revision and editing process of their book Finding Your Voice, produced by the company to promote awareness for the acceptance and encouragement of diversity among their employees. It contained a variety of personal accounts from employees describing a wide range of experiences dealing with diversity, both within the company and elsewhere. These accounts were then presented to the writing center through shared Google documents, and the staff was able to provide feedback by posting numerous comments on each piece.
The book was recently finished, and last month Transamerica sent a letter to Dr. Bob and the CWC, along with a copy of the newly published work. Included was a generous gift of $1,500 toward the endowed gift account which will help toward providing financial support for future staff trips. "Your time, commitment, and dedication to this project, went above and beyond our expectations," the letter states. "The book is so much better because of your efforts."
The combined work marked a unique collaboration between the Cedar Rapids community and the CWC, and will hopefully pave the way for similar endeavors in the future.
- Matt Barnd, '09