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Inclusive Workplaces Cohort: Achieving Equity Together
Thank you for your interest in the Inclusive Workplaces Cohort! Applications for the upcoming Cohort are now being accepted and are due by the end of the day on Friday, February 21, 2025. Details about the Cohort and the application form are provided below. If you have questions about the Inclusive Workplaces Cohort or the application process, please contact Becky Milbrandt at Rebecca.Milbrandt@ramseycounty.us.
An information session for all interested businesses to learn more about the Cohort experience will be held on Wednesday, February 4 at 1 p.m. Register here for the information session.
What:
The Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County (WIB) is providing Ramsey County businesses with an Executive Leadership Cohort learning experience. This initiative, in alignment with Ramsey County’s Economic Competitiveness and Inclusion Plan, will support employers in becoming more inclusive workplaces to ensure we are amplifying the diversity of our community as a tool for economic growth. Businesses in Ramsey County will have the opportunity to participate in a peer learning community while advancing equity and inclusion in their organizations.
Again in 2025, the WIB will partner with ADR Consulting Group, an experienced facilitator who will create a learning environment that fosters discussion and sharing of ideas, while encouraging accountability through safe and brave spaces for confidentiality. ADR's team of facilitators come from unique and diverse backgrounds that allow them to truly center intersectionality in the way they approach DEI work and serve as trusted advisors to navigate the learning journey.
This program is sponsored by the WIB and led by the WIB’s Equity Committee with assistance from the Partnership and Outreach Committee. There is no cost to participating businesses.
Who:
Eligible employers must:
- have a presence in Ramsey County.
- designate two participants who have decision making power or can facilitate organizational change.
- commit to attending all nine sessions (June and August sessions will be virtual).
- agree to have their participation in the cohort shared out by Ramsey County and the WIB.
Up to 20 businesses will be selected to participate and influence the advancement of racial equity, diversity and inclusion throughout their organization. Preference will be given to businesses with 10-250 employees (including all locations).
Why:
The goal of the cohort is to accelerate employers’ ability to advance racial equity, diversity and inclusion within their organizations and to support businesses that aim to leverage and sustain a more inclusive and sustainable workforce that supports better bottom-line results.
When:
The cohort will then meet monthly for 2 hours over the course of the year, beginning in April, except as noted in the full schedule below. Watch for the exact dates and times to be added soon. In person sessions will be held at the Wilder Foundation, 451 Lexington Pkwy N., St Paul 55104.
| Cohort Session Dates | Session Title |
|---|---|
| April, virtual | Cohort Welcome and Orientation |
| May, in-person | Foundations of DEI: Defining Terms and Exploring Social Identities |
| June, in-person | Inclusive Leadership |
| July, in-person | Bias Part 1: Unpacking Unconscious Bias |
| August, in-person | Bias Part 2: Addressing Bias in Hiring Practices |
| September, in-person | Creating an Inclusive Workplace Culture that Builds Retention |
| October, in-person | Navigating Conflict Across Differences |
| November, in-person | Racial Equity in the Workplace |
| Thursday, December 4, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. | Cohort Recognition Event with the Ramsey County WIB |
Want to learn more about this cohort opportunity? Check out the slide deck and the recording from the January 10 information session. Please contact Rebecca.Milbrandt@ramseycounty.us.
