January 19, 2023 | Employer Talent Pipeline news from around the region
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Making or Renewing a Business Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging |
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Employers are increasingly recognizing that a diverse and inclusive workforce results in significant business advantages, including a better representation of their customer base, better hiring efficiencies, innovative thinking, boosted productivity, an improved company culture and employee morale, enhanced employee retention, and loyalty, as well a greater brand recognition and value among consumers.
For businesses, they are known as opportunity populations and provide potential opportunities for sourcing talent as well as expanding and enriching the sense of belonging in their workplace. Opportunity populations might include those who have been limited by age, disability, ethnicity/national origin, family status, sex, gender identity or expression, generation, language, life experiences, neurodiversity, organizational function and level, physical characteristics, race/color, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or veteran status.
There are initial steps to optimize a business decision to diversify and bring better equity to their workforce. First, find out where you are. For diversity initiatives to be successful, they must have the support and commitment of senior management who also have the power to influence change across the organization. Have open conversations about the advantages of a diverse workforce. Spend some time looking at numbers in your business for various categories of opportunity populations. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Talent Pipeline Management Program recommends an internal assessment which can be found at Become an Opportunity Employer - Take Quiz | Opportunity Navigator
“This Navigator will help you understand proven practices in Opportunity Employment that lead to positive outcomes for employees and for your business. Your individualized results will highlight which areas you’ve mastered and in which areas you have the most potential to make valuable changes and connect you to the resources you need to make them.”
Another step most likely needed is to actively increase development of a culture that welcomes diversity in the workplace. The goal is to have an organizational culture and quality of life for employees that is sensitive to the needs of a diverse workforce. Continuous training, policies and communication will help shape and reshape your organizational culture, feeling of belonging and overall commitment of employees to diversity, equity and inclusion. Consult with outside resources regarding training and/or other local initiatives you might partner on.
There are several training programs and resources a business might use as a starting point, ranging from no cost to high cost, some with personal facilitators using various modules, to meet your targeted needs.
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The Center for Diversity and Inclusion, a division of Corporate Class, Inc of Toronto, offers training, consulting, assessments and surveys to assist businesses moving from “good intentions to integration of inclusion.” Their services are not free of charge, but their website has some very good support materials at Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Centre for Diversity and Inclusion | CDI
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Gary Holik, Business Relations Consultant, Michigan Rehabilitation Services, Phone: 989-402-7550, Email: HolikG1@Michigan.gov
In addition, Carol McCaul, Employer Talent Pipeline Lead has U.S. Department of Commerce training on Opportunity Populations as talent sources and can assist businesses making connections to desired resources. She can be reached at cmccaulsps@gmail.com.
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The Value of a STEM Internship
There are a ton of reasons why STEM internships (through STEM Forward or otherwise) can benefit your learning journey and help you solidify a career path. Here are just a few , including:
- Internships are an excellent way to learn about an industry of interest while also acquiring some of the necessary skills and tools for success in that industry;
- Internships can satisfy certain college program requirements and may allow the student to earn college credit, enriching the college experience and preparing for entrance into the workforce;
- Internships are a great way of building a relationship with an employer in an industry of interest. This relationship can open doors to future positions and networking opportunities that can strengthen one’s career;
- Interns participating in an internship are typically more engaged in their learning and develop a better work ethic as well as more skills and abilities. These interns later become more dedicated employees and involved community members;
- By providing experiential learning while still in school, internships can give students real-life experience in their future choice of career; and
- Internships provides robust employment experience for your resume.
Or if you're interested in other work-based learning opportunities and information in the Great Lakes Bay Region, check out the work-based learning podcast from Hey! Bay City here."
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Upcoming Career Fair Calendar |
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February 3 - Breckenridge FFA Alumni Agricultural related careers
February 3 - SVSU Spring Career Fair
February 7 - Midland Great Lakes Bay Nursing Forum
February 7 - Virtual Technology Forum
February 8 - Alma College Psychology Career Exploration Night
February 10 - CMU (Business & Business Professionals focus)
March 9 - Alma College Spring Career Fair
March 10 - Mock Interview Day
Michigan State University Extension with Mid Michigan College
March 21 - Clare/Gladwin RESD Reverse Career Fair
May 2 - Mid Michigan College
May 5 - Gratiot Isabella CTE
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Breckenridge High School 9am-1pm
Ryder Center, SVSU Campus
12-3pm
Davenport University
10am-12pm
6-7:30pm
Alma College Heritage Center
4-7pm
- 4-5pm Q&A panels
- 5-7pm Micro-career fair and open networking)
Finch Field House
9am-1pm
Alma College Hogan Center
11am-2pm
Mid Michigan College - Mt. Pleasant campus
8:30am-12pm
Clare/Gladwin RESD
Mid Michigan College - MP campus community room
1-3:30pm
Gratiot Isabella CTE
Mt. Pleasant Campus
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Madisen Sigafoose
(989) 495-1343
Caryn Jenkins
(989)620-7336
Jessica Godley
(989)317-7277
Registration and more info at:
To register - please submit the registration form linked here.
There is no cost to register or attend this event.
Handshake (joinhandshake.com)
Diane Prenkert
Sara Keinath
Clint Colosky
Mary Kay Voeks
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Chief Science Officer + Employer Talent Pipeline Spotlight
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The Great Lakes Bay Region Alliance is working to connect with students from the Chief Science Officer (CSO) Program to help fuel the talent pipeline. There is tremendous benefit in linking employers in the region to our future workforce through students with STEM interests and aptitude. As students are looking to focus on a particular area of study in college or for a career choice after college, development tools like internships, mentoring, job shadows, and site tours provide valuable context to both students and employers.
In support of this effort, we are sharing CSO Spotlights to highlight these amazing students and connect our STEM talent to opportunities in the region via the Employer Talent Pipeline newsletter!
CSO Spotlight: David Jahnke
Our CSO Spotlight this month is on CSO Alumni David Jahnke. David is a dynamic college sophomore at Michigan State University currently pursuing a degree in nutrition science and biomedical and molecular nutrition.
We hope you take the time and enjoy reading about the future of STEM talent in the GLBR and maybe even find your next employee right here in your backyard! If you’re interested in learning more about the CSO Program, below are a few articles about some of the amazing things a few of the students have done.
About the Chief Science Officer Program
The Chief Science Officer Program began five years ago here in the GLBR and has provided an amazing opportunity for students in the region to not only experience STEM, but begin to educate others about it. As CSO’s, these STEM Ambassadors advocate for STEM learning and work with their team to complete an action plan within their school or community.
Our CSOs have done some extraordinary things including:
- Hosting flight nights with Jack Barstow Airport;
- Sending STEM Kits to Africa; and
- Putting together Teen Science Cafes for other students to become involved in STEM
These action plans and consistent participation in STEM learning have helped shape these young minds to take on and conquer anything in their way. The CSO Program has helped students develop into vocal STEM leaders, as well as helped build their communication, teamwork, time-management, and creative skills needed for the future.
Other articles highlighting CSOs:
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