Mission Statement

The mission of the Alliance for Diversity Education, Practice, and Transformation (ADEPT) is to foster the delivery of high quality culturally and linguistically appropriate services, through training, resources, and technical assistance, so that organizations can benefit from the talent, performance, and engagement of a diverse workforce.

History of ADEPT

ADEPT’s activities are a continuation of efforts that have been ongoing within the community, previously coordinated informally through the New Jersey Statewide Network for Cultural Competence. The Network grew out of innovative work undertaken by the State of New Jersey in the area of cultural and linguistic competence. In 2002, New Jersey was one of five states selected to participate in a national effort to improve culturally competent policies, procedures, and practices. Working under the guidance of the National Center for Cultural Competence at Georgetown University, a diverse group of 60 state employees and community partners participated in a technical assistance program leading to the formation of the Network.

During the initial years of its existence, the Network developed a website, compiled data on community resources, created a listserv to disseminate information to a wider audience, and arranged presentations on best practices in the field. Since 2010, the Network has sponsored eight conferences that have addressed many important topics consistent with its mission.

In order to improve the Network’s ability to access available resources and to give the Network greater latitude in its work (including greater attention to diversity, equity, and inclusion), the Network, with the approval of the State of New Jersey, decided to privatize its operations in 2022. The Network negotiated an agreement with SPAN Parent Advocacy Network to act as its fiscal sponsor, and in November of 2023, the state Network website was retired and a new autonomous website was launched. The Network extends its deepest gratitude to the State of New Jersey and the NJ Department of Health for their sponsorship and management of the Network website from 2003 to 2023.

In 2024, with pro bono legal assistance from the law firm of Lowenstein Sandler LLP, the Network began the process of incorporating as an independent not-for-profit corporation. The Alliance for Diversity Education, Practice, and Transformation, Inc (ADEPT) incorporated and registered with the State of New Jersey as of July 17, 2025, and was granted 501(c)(3) tax exempt status by the IRS on September 16, 2025.