Making the Michigan workforce inclusive of the diverse population in our state, together

Guest blog by Carrie Rosingana, CEO of Capital Area Michigan Works!

As a female CEO who also serves as our agency’s Equal Opportunity Officer, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace is personal to me.

I am proud of the work we’ve already done as a local workforce system to ensure our policies, practices and procedures support serving all people of our region, provide opportunities to link DEI resources and training to our staff and the impact we can have on partners and businesses in the community.

We know there is still work to be done — especially now as we grapple with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and ever-present systemic racism. I know there’s still work for me – personally – as a white woman to do as I examine my own privilege. I know implicit bias shapes me, as it does everyone. And I know the first step to meaningful change is being unafraid to admit this and being willing to do the truly never-ending work to grow, evolve, make mistakes, accept feedback and do better.

We all have this opportunity.

If employers are purposeful in creating, supporting and sustaining diversity in their workplace, the state will improve economically, be more culturally diverse and increase the public perception of the state being welcoming for all people. While it is illegal to discriminate against a job applicant because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, national origin or disability, there are still discriminatory practices happening in businesses across the county, and many are unintentional or unseen by those in charge.

An equal opportunity employer understands applicable laws, achieves diversity in the workplace and acknowledges that everyone is entitled to an equal chance for a job. These employers provide staff training to ensure equal opportunity laws are adhered to and the organization maintains their commitment to diversity in the workplace. I am proud to say that CAMW! is an equal opportunity employer and that our agency continually looks for opportunities to foster growth around DEI best practices in our centers.

There are many ways to support and sustain diversity in a workplace, and a good place to start is to evaluate your business plan and mission. Is it inclusive? Does it directly name diversity as a goal or even a priority?

Part of an employer’s diversity plan and mission should be to diversify the pool of candidates they recruit, hire and promote. To broaden their search, employers should share the postings through media channels, newspapers — both community and city publications — and with local groups that may represent a wider audience of people they are trying to reach.

Another way to encourage inclusion is by clearly defining discrimination policies and procedures for all employees, participants, service providers or on-the-job training providers during orientation sessions.

For employers looking to diversify their hiring process, a number of great partners in our state are focused on diversity, equity and inclusion work and provide training opportunities for individuals as well as employers. One such partner, the Michigan Diversity Education Center, is a Michigan-based nonprofit committed to serving as change agents by providing quality diversity education and training to ensure a business is more diverse and inclusive.

Diversity and inclusion go beyond existing businesses. Entrepreneurs who are from underrepresented populations — including people of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, military veterans, racial or ethnic minority groups, refugees and returning citizens — face unique barriers to starting their business. And there are grants and resources out there for such entrepreneurs, but are they aware of these resources?

Businesses that listen to their employees and incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion will attract a more diverse and committed workforce and, in turn, improve the workflow and environment for everyone. Together, we can make the Michigan workforce inclusive of the diverse population in our state. That’s why I’m looking forward to helping moderate Michigan Works!’s upcoming Diversity, Equity and Inclusion panel at the end of October. I hope you can join us and join in on this conversation for a more inclusive and equitable workforce for our great state.

Carrie Rosingana is the CEO of Capital Area Michigan Works!. Visit www.camw.org to connect with the Capital Area Michigan Works! team for assistance with career exploration or staffing needs. Capital Area Michigan Works!, a proud partner of the American Job Center Network, offers services in Ingham, Clinton and Eaton counties at our Lansing, St. Johns and Charlotte American Job Centers.