WELCOME TO MUTUALLY INCLUSIVE.

I AM YOUR HOST.

ON THIS EPISODE, WE'LL EXPLORE THE EXPERIENCES IN THE WORKPLACE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ SUPPORT FOR MUTUALLY INCLUSIVE COMES FROM THE WK KELLOGG FOUNDATION.

A PARTNER WITH COME THINNINGS WHERE CHILDREN COME FIRST.

>> OVER THE PAST YEAR, DOZENS OF LOCAL COMPANIES HAVE COME OUT WIN COLLUSION STATEMENTS, PROMISING TO DIVERSIFY THEIR STAFF AND SUPPORT EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR MINORITY EMPLOYEES BUT WHAT IS A CHANGE LIKE THIS ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE ON THE INSIDE?

WE SPOKE WITH THE WEST MICHIGAN HIS PANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT LAUNCHED DURING THE PANDEMIC TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN COLOR IN THEIR INDUSTRIES.

I WALKED INTO THE ROOM WHERE I AM LOOK THE ONLY LATIN EXPERT AND IT CAN FEM A LITTLE BIT INTIMIDATING.

I FELT LOST, AND I FELT THAT, THAT I, YOU KNOW, WAS NOT VALUED.

AS A PROFESSIONAL.

I CAME TO FIND THAT I REALLY AM A HOLT COMMODITY EVERYWHERE ELSE, EXCEPT FOR WEST MICHIGAN.

>> THERE ARE COMMON THEMES THAT MANY LATIN TALENT ACROSS WEST MICHIGAN INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE WHETHER THEY IMMIGRANTED HERE.

>> 12 YEARS AGO WHEN I MOVED TO WEST MICHIGAN.

IT WAS VERY HARD FOR KNOW FIND MY PALL, FIND MY WAY IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> BORN ON U.S.

SOIL.

VIE TWO OLDER SIBLINGS THAT ARE DACA RECIPIENT AND BORN OVER THERE.

ME BURG THE FIRST BORN HERE THERE IS A LOT OF PRESSURE.

THE STRUGGLE TO DEVELOP EQUITY IN THE WORKPLACE AND SOMETHING THAT THE WEST MICHIGAN HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS DOVE INTO HEADFIRST DURING THE PANDEMIC WITH THE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH EDUCATION.

>> WELL, WE FELL AT THE INTERSECTION OF WORK FORCE AND EDUCATION, WORKING PRIMARILY WITH HALT TIN COLLEGE STUDENT ARE.

REPORTER: IN A SNAPSHOT THE FELLOWSHIP CONNECTS TALENT ACROSS MICHIGAN WITH EACH OTHER IN AREA EMPLOYERS TEACHING UPCOMING WORKERRERS THE INS AND OUTS AND HELPING COMPANIES BUILD CULTURAL CONFIDENCY FOR EXPERIENCES.

AS LATIN TAM LENT CULTURALLY WE BRING ASSETS THAT ARE NOT TYPICAL IN THE WORKPLACE, DOUBLE CULTURE ALLOWS US TO MOVE AND NAVIGATE OF CONTINUE WE COME FROM DUAL LANGUAGE BACKGROUNDS WHICH HELPS US IN THE COMMUNICATION, WE ARE A COLLECTIVE CULTURE, WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE GREATER GOOD OR THE GROUP.

JESSICA PROGRAM MANAGER SAYS SHE DOESN'T BELIEVE THE UNIQUE TALENTS LATIN X EMPLOYEES TEND TO BRING ARE BOLE BEING UTILIZED BY MODERN DAY EMPLOYERS BUT SEEN AS CULTURAL BARRIERS.

>> AS LATINOS HAVING A CULTURE.

THERE IS ALWAYS A DIFFERENCE IN THE MAJORITY IN THE WHITE CULTURE.

WHEN OTHER PEOPLE ARE TALKING WE REMAIN QUIET AND LET THEM FINISH.

OFTEN WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT BRAINSTORMING IN AN OFFICE FIT ARE NOT ENGAGING IN THE CONVERSATION AND NOT INSERTING YOURSELF.

YOU MAY LOOK DISENGAGED OR NOT INTERESTED AND THAT COULD PLAY A HUGE FACTOR IN PROMOTION, AND MOBILITY.

>> SHE SAYS THESE DIFFERENTS CAN PLAY IN MORE THAN OPPORTUNITIES IN THE OFFICE AND THE GAP CAN HINDER LATIN X TALENT'S ABILITY TO GET IN THE DOOR.

I SEE THIS EVERY DAY, AND I KNOW THAT TALENT DOES EXIST, HOWEVER, IT IS THE PROXIMITY WHEN IT COME ARE CUPS TO SOCIAL CAPITAL.

WHO YOU KNOW, WHO KNOWS ABOUT YOU REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN WEST MICHIGAN, RIGHT?

IN THE SMALLER COMMUNITY.

AND SO, WHENEVER THERE IS OPPORTUNITIES OR INFORMATION, YOUR AMOUNT OF SOCIAL CAPITAL REALLY DETERMINES WHETHER OR NOT YOU GET ACCESS TO THAT INFORMATION.

SO WHEN THERE IS A JOHN OPENING, OFTEN, EMPLOYERS USE WORD OF MOUTH ADVERTISING.

THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE OUTCOME THAT WILL APPLY FOR THAT POSITION, IT WILL REFLECT YOUR CURRENT WORKFORCE.

>> FOR BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH EDUCATION FELLOW, THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH OTHER YOUNG PROFESSIONALS WHO LOOK LIKE HIM AND SHARE SIMILAR CULTURES OR EXPERIENCES.

>> WHEN I SHOWED UP AND BLEW MY MIND, WHEN YOU WALK INTO THE ROOM WITH PEOPLE WHERE W THE SAME AMBITIONS AND THE SAME GOALS, IT REALLY HELPS WITH YOU THAT CONFIDENCE AND, YOU KNOW, IT REALLY SHOWS YOU THIS IS HOW MINORITY ANY MORE.

THIS IS DEMOCRATIC.

>> THE FIRST GENERATION AMERICAN, WHICH HE SAYS CAN CARRY A HEAVY SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY.

>> WHEN I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL, I GRADUATED VALEDICTORIAN, AND THIS WAS BUN ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT I MADE BECAUSE APART FROM BEING LIKE ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO GRADUATE WITH HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA IN MY FAMILY, THEN I GOT TO GRADUATE AT THE TOP OF MY CLASS AND REPRESENTING YOUR COME IN THE, YOUR FAMILY, THIS IS WHAT YOU HERE FOR, YOU KNOW, THAT IS WHY THE FAMILY CAME HERE 30 YEARS AGO, SO YOU CAN SUCCEED IN A PLACE LIKE THIS.

HE HAS TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE FELLOWSHIP NAVIGATORS WHO WORK WITH THE STUDENTS TO DEVELOP CONNECTIONS , STRATEGIES AND PROFESSIONAL PLAY IN THEIR INDUSTRY GAIN.

1:00.

>> COHORTS LIKE THIS REALLY PROVIDE THAT CONFIDENCE AND THAT COMFORT AND S SOMEBODY NEEDS BECAUSE THERE IS STUFF I CANNOT ASK MY PARENTS ABOUT, YOU KNOW?

WHEN IT COMES TO LIKE, APPLYING FOR A JOB, OR UPDATING A RESUME, AND COHORTS LIKE THESE HAVE SUCCESS NAVIGATORS THAT MAY BE IN THE SAME SHOES AS WELL AND HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE JOURNEY OR BEING A STUDENT.

>> EVERY INDIVIDUAL'S BACKGROUND ACTION AND EXPERIENCES MAY BE UNIQUE BUT PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE CHAMBER SAID PORTIONS OF THE PROGRAM HAVE MODELED THE REAL WORLD EX PIERCE.

WELL, WE HAVE SEVERAL LATINO THAT IS CURRENTLY IN COLLEGE THAT ARE THE CHILDREN OF WOKERS AND MANUFACTURERS WORKERS THAT DON'T HAVE THE SOCIAL OR THE SOCIAL NETWORKS.

WHEN I MOVE BACK IN 2009.

HE SAYS THEY FELT NUANCED WHEN TRYING TO MAKE CONNECTIONS.

I CAME WITH 11 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE FROM SPAIN, NEW MEXICO AND ENROLLED A COUPLE OF GROUPS IN GRAND RAPIDS TO NETWORK.

I WAS TRYING VERY HARD TO GET TO KNOW PEOPLE, BUT THE ONLY LATINO THAT TIME.

I WAS 9% WHITE AND SUPER NICE ME.

VERY, VERY NICE PEOPLE.

BUT WHEN I WAS TRYING TO GET INTO DEEPER RELATIONSHIPS EVERYTHING STOPPED THERE.

ALMOST LEFT WEST MICHIGAN ALL TOGETHER, THEY FOUND A SAFE SPACE IN THE WEST MICHIGAN HISPANIC CHAMBER WHICH LEADS.

TODAY HE SAYS THE STAKES ARE HIGHER THAN EVER BEFORE.

SIGNIFICANTLY IN WEST MICHIGAN.

WE JUST HEARD THE PROJECTIONS THAT IN THE NEXT 25 YEARS THE LATIN X IS GOING TO GROW 130%, SO WE DON'T MAKE SURE THAT WE CULTIVATE THIS TALENT AND THIS TALENT CONNECTS WITH A LOCAL EMPLOYERS AND EITHER THIS TALENT IS GOING TO ACCUMULATE HUGE AMOUNT OF DEL, THAT IS GOING TO HURT OUR ECONOMY OR THIS TALENT IS GOING TO LEAVE.

TO OTHER CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.

SOMEHOW A MIND STET THAT IS EN GAVED IN THE WORK FORCE FOR GENERATION THE PROGRAM SAYS PARTNERS IS KEY.

>> WHAT I STARTED, WE HAD TWO INITIAL PARTNERS, TODAY, WE HAVE 15 PARTNERS, WITH YOU BUT I WILL SAY WE GOT MORE NO'S THAN YES.

CREATING COME CONTINUES SIN THE WORKPLACE WHEREVER ONE CAN THRIVE.

>> THEY ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE HAVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

PEOPLE LIKE ME.

>> YOU HAVE NEVER DEALT WITH BECAUSE YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE NEED TO DEAL WITH.

ALSO, AS PEOPLE OF COLOR WE NEED TO GET READY.

WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THE ENVIRONMENTS WE ARE GOING TO BE A PART OF.

HE SAYS THESE ARE THE EARLY SALE SEEDS OF CHANGE, NOTING SOMETHING THIS SIGNIFICANT IN WEST MICHIGAN WILL TAKE YEARS TO GROW, BUT ITS SUCCESS COULD BE FELT GENERATIONS DOWN THE ROAD.

>> IT IS A JOURNEY, BUT TO BE A FIRST CLASS COMMUNITY, WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO INCLUDE EVERYONE.

NEW IS A SMALL GLIMPSE INTO THE VAST EXPERIENCES THIS VERY.

HERE TO EXPAND ON THIS CONVERSATION ARE SOME OF THE PLAYERS OF THE BUILDING BRIDGES THROUGH EDUCATION PROGRAM.

WELCOME, YOU GUYS.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT OF THE WEST MICHIGAN HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, YOU REALLY HAVE BROUGHT A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE INTO THIS FIELD AND YOU SAID, THERE IS GOING TO BE A BIGGER PUSH ON LATIN TALENT COMING TO WEST MICHIGAN TELL ME ABOUT WHERE WE ARE AIN'T TERM IF THE WORK FORCE IS READY FOR THEM.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I FEEL THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL OPPORTUNITIES TO TON PREPARE WORK FORCE FOR WHAT IS COMING.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, OVER 6,000 COLLEGE STUDENT THAT ARE GOING TO BE GRAD EIGHT IN THE NEXT FEW YEAR, YOU KNOW, WE DEALT WELL THE SOCIAL CAPITAL, THE SOCIAL NETWORKS AND MANY OF THESE STUDENTS WILL NEED TO GET PREPARED, YOU KNOW, FOR WHAT IS COMING, BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, CURRENT ORGANIZATIONS HERE IN WEST MICHIGAN NEED TO BE READY, KNOW, TO WELCOME THESE, THESE GROUP OF LA TIN X GRADUATES AND TALENT AND SO, SO LOOKING AT THEIR POLICIES, THEIR DIFFERENTS A PKS IN GENERAL, IN GENERAL ASPECTS WILL BE IMPORTANT FOR ANY, ANY ORGANIZATION THAT WILL LIKE TO EMPLOY LATINOS IN THE NEXT 25-30 YEARS.

>> ABC LIS.

THE PROGRAM ITSELF IS ALREADY SEEN A LOT OF GROWTH AND THE PROGRAM MANAGER, YOU HAVE SOME INTERESTING STATISTICS ABOUT THE PLACEMENT RATE WHEN YOU WERE FIRST STARTING TO NOW THAT FELLOWS ARE KIND OF GETTING THOSE CONNECTIONS.

DO YOU WANT TO SHARE THOSE WITH US?

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

YES.

SO WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR OF THE INITIATIVE WE HAD A 6% PLACEMENT RATE AND SO FAST FORWARD TO 2.5 YEARS IN, THEN AT IN THE OF OUR FIRST FELLOWSHIP OUR PLACINGMENT RATE IS ALMOST AT 80%, SO ITATION HUGE INCREASE, AND I THINK THAT WE KNEW WHAT DIRECTION WE WERE GOING INTO, WE JUST NEEDED TO KIND OF CONNECT THE PIECES AND GET PEOPLE ONBOARD.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT.

>> WONDERFUL.

THEN MARLEY YOU ARE IN EXCITING TIME BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU ARE ONE OF THE FELLOWS WHO IS TAKING PART IN THE.

WHAT HAS THE EXPERIENCE BEEN LIKE SO FAR?

>> WELL, GOING TO THE FELLOWSHIP, IT WAS KIND OF, YOU KNOW, A DOUBLE TAKE ON WHAT I WOULD NEED IN ORDER TO PREPARE MYSELF FOR THE WORKFORCE.

THE JOBS THAT I HAD ARE LOW LEVEL, SO IN TERMS OF INTERVIEWS, KNOW, BUILDING RESUMES, IT WAS BASICALLY, YOU KNOW, THE BASICS OF THAT.

AND SO WITH THE FELLOWSHIP, I REALLY GAINED AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE WORK FORCE REALLY LOOKS FOR IN TERMS OF STUDENTS LIKE ME AND LOOKING INTO YOU KNOW, LOOKING FOR A JOB IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS AND REALLY JUST PREPARING MYSELF FOR, YOU KNOW, MAYBE, YOU KNOW, THE BAY ASS THAT MAYBE IN THE WORKFORCE, ALSO, JUST IN TERM OF SETTING MYSELF TO LOOK AT MY STRENGTHS AND BEING ABLE TO YOU KNOW, ENHANCE WHAT I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO BRING TO THE TABLE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEN A BIG CONGRATS TO YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE INTERNSHIP YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE PROGRAM AND THAT IS A HUGE FEAT IN ITSELF.

WHEN ARE LOOKING.

THIS IS NOT A ONE-WAY STREET.

OBVIOUSLY LATIN X TALENT TO GET INTO BUSINESS AND ALSO HAS TO BE A GOOD MATCH FOR TO YOU WANT TO APPLY.

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR WHEN YOU THINK I MIGHT WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS ORGANIZATION, BUT IS IT THE RIGHT FIT FOR ME?

>> RIGHT?

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO WITH NEXT SUMMER AND YOU KNOW, WANTING TO GET INTERNSHIP IN SOUR FIRM, I HAVE AT LEAST HERE IN GRAND RAPIDS.

I KNOW THERE IS A PUSH FOR MORE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN TERMS OF, NO, STUDENT INTERNS, KNOW, COMING INTO THE PLACE, THEN, YOU KNOW, POSSIBLY GETTING A FULL-TIME JOB AT THOSE FIRMS.

BUT EVEN NOW, I SEE THAT, A GOOD MAJORITY OF THEM YOU KNOW, I DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, POINT NAMES OR ANY HINGE LIKE THAT.

TERMS OF GETTING MOSTLY WHITE EITHER MALE OR FEMALE STUDENTS OVER, YOU KNOW, MINORITIES IN GENERAL, FOR ME, IT REALLY DOES MATTER, YOU KNOW, WHAT THE WHAT, THE TOUCH STUDENTEST THIS WANT TO INTERVIEW AND WHO THEY ACTUALLY END UP INTERVIEWING IN THE FIRST PLACE BECAUSE MOST OF THE TIME EVEN WITH APPLICATION AND IT DOESN'T GET AS FAR AS THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.

AND JUST IN TERMS OF ALSO, DIVERSITY INCLUSION POLICY, THAT IS LASS BIG THING BECAUSE ONCE YOU GET INTO, YOU KNOW, THE SPACE OF WHERE YOU WILL BE WORKING, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON JUST DEPENDING IN HOW YOU ARE WORKING, IT ALSO AFFECTS YOU ONCE YOU ARE ACTUAL THINK.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

RIGHT.

THEN I KNOW YOU RAILROAD STEEL CASE WHO HAS BEEN A LONG-TIME BUSINESS PARTNER WITH US.

DO THE WORDS MATCH UP TO WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN HEARING THROUGH THE PRAGUE SES?

>> YEAH.

I THINK ANY TIME YOU SEEK TO CHANGE YOUR ORGANIZATION OR SHIFT OR ADAPT THERE IS EXTERNAL WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND INTERNAL WORK, SO A BIG ASPIRATION OF STEEL CASE IS HOW WE BUILD TEAMS THAT ARE REFLECTIVE OF THE COME TINS THAT ARE PART OF ACROSS THE WORLD AND A CHUNK OF THAT IS LOOKING AT NEW RECRUITMENT STRATEGIES AND A BIG CHUNK OF THAT IS ALSO LOOKING AT WHAT, WHAT INTERNAL WORK ARE WE DOING TO CREATE THE CULTURES AND INCLUSION AND DOING A LOT OF WORK OFFING WITH THE LEAD SHERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS TO FIGURE WHAT DOES IT LOOK TO BUILD CULTURES OF INCLUSION FOR THE TEAMS.

>> WELL, HOW DID YOU FEEL WHEN YOU WERE APPROACHING TO BE A PART OF THIS PROGRAM, WAS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU HAD ON THE HORIZON AS WELL, LIKE AN IDEA?

>> WELL, I FELT SUPER EXCITED AND I THINK, ANY TIME A PASSION IS SEEING STUDENTS KIND OF COME ALIVE AND UNDERSTAND AND SOME OF THES CONTRIBUTING AND HELPING SHAPING THE WORLD, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH THIS HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TO INVITE 30 TO 40 STUDENTS IN TO HELP SHAPE AND NOT ONLY SEE AND UNDERSTAND HOW WE WORK AT STEEL CASE BIX PERIENCE THAT THROUGH A PROJECT WAS REALLY EXCITING.

>> WONDERFUL.

AND INVESTIGATION A.

KNOW YOU HAVE SAID.

YOU KNOW, YOU GREW FROM TWO BUSINESS PARTNERS DO YOU HAVE 13 NOW I THINK YOU SAID.

>> 1 A.

>> 15.

WONDERFUL.

WELL, 15.

TALKING TO ME ABOUT KIND OF WHAT THAT GROWTH MEANS TO YOU?

EARLIER WE WERE TALKING THAT IS SAYING YES TO CHANGE, AND GROWTH THAT IS SAYING YES TO MISSION WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE.

YEAH.

YEAH.

SO I THINK ACROSS THE NATION AND IN JUST GENERAL TERMS OF WHAT WORK TABORS DEVELOPMENT, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF MANY COMPANIES, AND MANY UNDERSTAND HOW IT IMPACTS BUSINESS AND THE BOTTOM LINE TO HAVE DIVERSE TALENT AND ON TEAMS AND SO, STARTING FROM TWO WHICH STEEL CASE WAS ONE OF THOSE, ONE OF THE TWO WHEN WE STARTED THEY REALLY GOT BEHIND THIS IDEA, YES, THIS IS NEEDED, AND WE WILL PARTNER WITH YOU GUYS AS YOU FIGURE IT OUT.

THEY HAVE BEEN ACTIVE PARTNER, I THINK, AS WE HAVE BEEN MOVING ALONG FOR THE YESES THAT WE HAVE GOTTEN FROM PARTNERS GROWING FROM 2 TO 15 HAVE REALLY SIGNED UP IN THAT WAY, HAVE NOT JUST BECOMING FINANCIAL PARTNERS TO HELP SUPPORT THE WORK, BUT BEING ACTIVE, AND ESSENTIALLY STEPPING UP AND ACTUALLY MENTORING DEVELOPING TALENT ON THE ONE-ON-ONE BASIS.

SO I THINK THAT HAS REALLY MADE DIFFERENCE IN HOW MUCH PROGRESS WE HAVE MADE AND HOW OUR OUTCOMES HAVE CHANGED FROM YOUR ONES.

THE GROWTH HAS BEEN RAPID.

NO I WHEN I TALKED TO YOU.

THEN I SAID, WHAT IS THE TIMELINE FOR THIS.

YOU HAVE A SMILE, YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL TAKE YEARS, YOU KNOW, TO SEE SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN.

TALK TO ME, I GUESS, THE WINS YOU HAVE SEEN.

THEN THE BARRIERS THAT ARE STILL OBVIOUSLY TO COME.

1:00.

>> WELL, SO, AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THIS IS, THIS IS GOING TO BE A JOURNEY.

YOU KNOW?

WE ARE THE STARTING TO BUILD SOMETHING FROM SCRATCH.

WE KNEW THAT, YOU FIRST NEED TO BRING THE PARTNERS TOGETHER, START DEVELOPING A PROGRAM, SEE WHAT IT WORKS, YOU KNOW, SEE HOW, YOU KNOW, THE PARTNERS ARE RESPONSIBLE AND BUT YOU KNOW, AS WE CONTINUE TO DEVELOP THE PROGRAM, WE ARE ALSO FINDING AND DISCOVERING DIFFERENT PIECES, YOU KNOW WITHIN THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERS THAT NEED TO CHANGE, YOU KNOW.

IN ORDER FOR THESE ORGANIZATIONS TO REALLY ATTRACT PEOPLE OF COLOR AND RETAIN THEM.

THERE ARE SEVERAL INTERNAL STRUCTURES THAT WE HAVE CHANGED.

YOU KNOW?

SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO CHANGE, YOU KNOW.

THOSE STRUCTURES HAVE BEEN, KNOW, DESIGNED, IN A WAY, AND THAT HAVE BEEN YOU OH, PRODUCED IN THE SAME RESULT COM, YOU KNOW, TO ALL THE YEARS.

IN ORDER FOR SEEING DIFFERENT OUTCOMES DIFFERENTLY.

YOU WILL HAVE TO TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND ALSO, ALSO, TO NOW IN VATE, SOB THAT IS ONE OF THE I HAVE, THAT WE ARE BRING OUR PARTNERS TO THE TABLE, WE ARE BRINGING TO THE TABLE, AND WHERE WE SHARING, YOU HO HE, WHY IT IS WORKING, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE NEED TO CHANGE, AND THAT INNOVATION PIECE IS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW, FOR US TO BE ABLE TO SEE DIFFERENT OUTCOMES.

YOU KNOW?

A LOT OF PEOPLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT CHANGE, YOU KNOW, IN TWO, THREE, FIVE YEARS, IT TAKES TIME.

YOU KNOW?

IT IS GOING TO TAKE, YOU KNOW, IN MY PERSONAL OPINION, IT IS GOING TO TAKE A GENERATION TO GET THERE.

BUT WE NEED TO START SOMEWHERE.

WE NEED TO START WITH PROGRAMS LIKE THIS.

YOU KNOW?

WHERE YOU BRING SEVERAL STAKEHOLDERS TOGETHER TO FIGURE THINGS OUT.

AND, AND, AS WE CONTINUE TO GRO LAZ TINOS TO EVOLVE.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LEARN HOW ORGANIZATIONS WORK SO IT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE AM UNDERSTANDING FROM ALL OF THE PARTS AND ALL OF THOSE HAVE TO CHANGE.

NOT JUST THE COMPANIES BUT ALSO THE WORK FORCE AND THE TALENT THAT ARE GOING TO GO TO THESE ORGANIZATION AND HAVE TO ADAPT AND AND IT IS EXCITING TO BE WHERE WE ARE AT AND REALLY LEADING THIS COMMUNITY THAT IS WILLING TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP FOR THE KISS AND ALL THE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE WITH US IS WHAT REALLY MAKE US HOPEFUL IN THE INITIATIVE.

>> WELL, I KNOW THAT YOU BOTH HAVE BEEN PART OF THE CONVERSATIONS WRIGHT THE STUDENTS FINING OUT WHERE THEY ARE AT, THE TOOLS THEY NEED.

BOST BOTH OF YOU HAVE COME WITH EXPERIENCE AS WELL, THOUGH, OF FEELING SHUT OUT, LIKE YOU HAVE SAID SHALL OR FEELING LIKE A HOT COMED TY LIKE JESSICA SOLD TOLD ME EVERYWHERE ELSE BUT WEST MICHIGAN.

SOME SEEM NUANCE AND JESSICA AND YOU KNOW, WHERE DO YOU FIND THAT TALENT RIGHT NOW IS AND WHAT THEY ARE MEETING.

>> YEAH.

JUST TO ADD WHAT HE WAS SAYING THE MICHIGAN THROUGH BUILDING BRIDGE AND WHAT IT PROVIDES IS SOCIAL CAPITAL.

IT IS EXCHANGE OF SOCIAL CAPITAL AND REALLY THERE IS NOT A DEFINITION FOR SOCIAL CAPITAL BUT TO PUT IT SIMPLE, IT IS RELATIONSHIPS PLUS RESOURCES.

AND SO, THERE IS SOCIAL CAPITAL ON BOTH ENDS, EMPLOYEES NEED TALENT, TALENT NEED CONNECTIONS BUT AS TO WHAT HE WAS SAYING FOR US TO SHIFT OUTCOMES WE NEED TO TRULY BE IN RELATIONSHIPS, SO TO BE IN RELATIONSHIP MEANS WE HAVE PERMISSION TO MESS UP, WE HAVE PERMISSION TO SUPPORT EACH OTHE OTHER, WE HAVE PERMISSION TO CRAFT EACH OTHER, RIGHT?

SO, IN OH ORDER TO DEVELOP NEW CUT COMS, BETTER OUTCOMES FOR ALL, THAT IS THE CHANGES WILL HAPPEN IN THE PLACE OF KNOW WHAT?

WE'RE HUMANS.

WE MAKE MISTAKES.

BUT WE ARE ALL, WE ARE ALL HEADED IN THE SAME DIRECTION WANTING THE SAME RUT COM AND ESSENTIALLY YOU HAVE TO GET ON THE SAME AGENDA TO DO THE SAME THING AT THE SAME TIME.

1:00 SO I WOULD SAY THAT YOU HE, TALENT IS ALL ACROSS MICHIGAN EVEN THOUGH IT IS BASED IN WEST MICHIGAN WE KNEW STARTING OUT WE COULD NOT LIMIT TO ONE REGION BECAUSE TALENT ON ALL CORNERS EVERY PART OF MICHIGAN SO WE NEEDED TO CAST WIDE TO BE INCLUSIVE OF THE DIFFERENT NARRATIVES AND EVENTUALLY CREATE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND DIFFERENT PATHWAYS SO I WOULDN'T SAY THAT THERE IS ONE PLACE THAT HAS MORE LATINO AND THE OTHER PER SAY, OBVIOUSLY, THE NUMBERS DO WHEN IT COMES TO DATA AND THERE ARE MORE CONCENTRATED CITIES WITH LATINOS AND BUT WE REALLY ARE ACROSS THE STATE.

>> WE TALK ABOUT THE DIFFERENT NARRATIVES THAT MAY BE THERE AND I KNOW YOU AND I TALKED ABOUT WHAT IT I LIKE TO BE A FIRST GEN AMERICAN, FINING THEIR WAYNE THE WORKFORCE.

HOW DOES THIS PROGRAM HELPED YOU IN TALKING TO JESS CAN AND GUILLERMO WHEN YOU DID A THE FELLOWSHIP WITH DTE.

HOW HAS THAT PREPARED YOU TO GO TO THE WORKPLACE.

>> WELL, DEFINITELY WAS THE FELLOWSHIP YOU KNOW.

DIDN'T REALLY KNOW, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF KNOWLEDGE OR WHAT MY INITIAL KNOWLEDGE OF GOING INTO THE WORKFORCE LIKE I MENTIONED YOU KNOW, I JUST HAD LOW LEVEL JOBS AND REALLY I WAS NOT SURE YOU KNOW WHAT THE DEMOGRAPHIC WAS FOR WHAT THE POTENTIAL CAREER THAT I WANT TO GO INTO I WAS PASSIONATE THAT I WANTED TO WORK DOOK IT WELL.

I WANTED TO INDULGE GO TO BRING THAT TO THE WEST MICHIGAN COMMUNITY SO WHEN I STARTED LOOKING AT A MALE DOMINATED CAREER AND THAT EVEN IN TERM OF KNOW, MINORITIES IT IS EVEN LESS, LESS INCLUSIVE, WAS NOT SURE HOW TO PORTRAY THE POWER AND BE ABLE TO PORTRAY MYSELF WHEN I START APPLYING FOR JOBS AND THE FIRMS I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT I DO HAVE SKILLS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN MINORITY DOESN'T MEAN I AM ANY LESS THAN THE FELLOW COLLEAGUE OR FELLOW PLEM WHYS I HAVE IN THE FUTURE.

KNOW, JUST BEING ABLE TO ACCEPT THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE MINORITY THAT DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING LESS AND YOU KNOW, BEING THAT I CAN DO THIS AND THIS AND THIS THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF ANYONE ELSE THAT IS ALSO PURSUING THE CAREER.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WELL, WE ARE I BILLLE WILL COME TO YOU FOR FINAL THOUGHTS TALKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PARTNERSHIPS THAT NEED TO BE IN PLACE FOR REAL CHANGE TO OCCUR, DO YOU FEEL THAT IS SOMETHING THAT BETWEEN YOU AND STEEL CASE AND YOU AND TDTE ENERGY ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTNERS ABOUT SOMETHING YOU ARE REACHING?

A WITH YOU KNOW, THE OPENNESS.

YOU KNOW, OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE CHANGE AND EXPLORE.

AND A BIG DIFFERENCE.

AND IT HAS TO BE IN ORDER FOREARE THIS TO WORK AND COMPANIES AND AND PRIORITY AND OTHER CHANGE AND YOU KNOW, AND YOU KNOW, ADJUST SO IT IS EXCITING.

I FEEL THAT, I FEEL THAT WE HAVE A LONG WAYS UNTIL WE FULLY SEE, YOU KNOW, THE DIVERSITY AND THAT WE ARE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT, BUT THEN AGAIN, IT TAKES OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND TAKES CONVERSATION AND A LOT OF END HR GAIN EFFORT BUT I FEEL THAT THAT WE'RE GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN IN WEST MY AND THANK YOU TO THE PARTNERS ALSO IN THE PROCESS.

>> WONDER.

WONDER OF.

THANKS ALL SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME AND GIVE DOING IN SIGHT TODAY.

THANK ALL FOR WATCHING AS WELL.

WE HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE, WGVU.

ORG/MUTUALLY INCLUSIVE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> SUPPORT COMES FROM THE WK KELLOGG FOUNDATION, A PART MER WITH COMMUNITIES WHERE CHILDREN COME FIRST.