Goddard Celebrates Workforce Diversity

	Diaz speaks to attendees of morning address for Celebrate Goddard Day

Celebrate Goddard Day was held on Thursday, June 26 and opened with little voices from the Goddard Daycare Center, followed by opening remarks by Bill Townsend, Deputy Director.

Center Director Al Diaz addressed the audience by highlighting the successes of the Center, "the implementation of the integrated financial management system, an approved Master Plan and the innovation of the landfill gas installation all of which were done within a work environment that is consistent with our values agility, balance, creativity, dedication, integrity, respect and teamwork."

Diaz concluded by saying that "Goddard is a place where people really make a difference and where the differences in characteristics aids to Goddard growing strong through diversity."

Voices of Wallops sing a medley of national songs

The hot day continued with diverse entertainment most of which included performances by talented Goddard employees, such as the Voices of Wallops, a group of Wallops employees that harmoniously sang several national songs. Chuck Powers provided Scottish music with bagpipes and Chante Hubbard performed a moving Christian modern dance. The Mall was filled with appetizing aromas from a variety of foods such as Greek, German, Latin and Caribbean. Employees enjoyed food and music as they gathered information and giveaways from the directorate and Goddard Clubs' booths or purchased items from the many craft booths.

Code 100 employees preforming to the country tune "Thank God I'm a Country Boy."

The day ended with the karaoke for diversity competition among the many directorates which used any form of expression to convey how diversity is used within their directorate. Hidden talents were revealed as participating directorate or staff offices gave their performance.

	Employees from Code 130 in costumes which protray ingredients used in chocolate chip cookies

This year's contenders did lots of singing! Code 100 opened the competition with a nice country setting and a song about diversity that was sung to the tune of "Thank God I'm a Country Boy." Code 500 participants sang and artistically included sign language as they sang to the tune of "YMCA." Last year's winners, Code 110 expressed their organizational diversity to the look of the younger years of Michael Jackson and to the tune of "ABC. " Code 130 used creative costumes, an innovative skit and talent to communicate how diversity is used within their organization. However Code 200 prevailed as the winners.

Guitarist from Code 200 band gives a great performance.

The concert-like band performed to a blues tune about Code 200's diversity registered the loudest applause from the audience.

The karaoke performances and the activities throughout Celebrate Goddard Day clearly demonstrates how diversity is used within the Goddard workforce which creates agility, balance, creativity, dedication, integrity, respect and teamwork and with these qualities Goddard will continue to grow stronger through diversity.

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