People
Business Equity for Indy’s (BEI) People pillar is committed to ensuring the advancement of Black professionals through talent development, employee support, and corporate resource-sharing.
The People pillar is comprised of three previous task forces, which merged in late 2022 to direct their focus more broadly to advance the equity of Black individuals:
- Hiring and Promotion: Eliminate hurdles to increase equity and inclusion in Indy’s workforce
- Learning and Talent: Promote opportunity and access for all Black people to receive high-quality education and training opportunities
- Impediments to Health: Address disparities to healthcare access and funding focusing on COVID-19 vaccinations, infant/maternal health, and food security
Continue reading to explore tools that the task force has created to support equity across the community.
Sign up to attend a future PcP event
People Community of Practice (PcP)
Business Equity for Indy's (BEI) People Community of Practice (PcP) exists to increase diverse representation within companies. Through these events, hiring professionals have access to guidance and support as they look to attract, retain, and advance Black professionals.
The PcP aims to partner with those companies to identify, document, and promote best practices to advance Black professionals and other minority employees in their career trajectories.
Workforce Pilot
The Business Equity for Indy (BEI) Workforce Pilot is an intensive, two-year cohort designed to deliver high-value consultation for companies to adopt evidence-based strategies and engage with industry experts to reduce disparities, drive equity, and support companies’ talent strategies. In the fall of 2022, 19 businesses sought to identify where they can invest in greater equity and to work alongside subject-matter and technical experts to drive and measure outcomes.
Learning and Talent Opportunities Summit
After the Taskforce was formed, community leaders united to identify current gaps in the education-to-workforce journey. Unsurprisingly, Black and Hispanic students in Marion County continue to be falling behind compared to their peers, as reported in the Education to Workforce Pipeline Report. To address this gap, the Taskforce hosted a Learning and Talent Opportunities Summit during the spring of 2022. The virtual event featured moderated, panel discussions featuring regional business leaders actively working to address equity through:
- Early Learning
- Work-Based Learning, and
- FAFSA Support/Postsecondary Education
Impediments to Health Playbook
Healthcare access disproportionately impacts the Black community and other communities of color across the Indy region, and employers can take action to help drive towards greater equity. Through the Impediments to Health Playbook, employers can access a roadmap of targeted interventions to support equitable outcomes, improve employee health, and benefit business. The Business Equity for Indy (BEI) Impediments to Health Playbook focuses on outcomes in Covid-19 vaccinations, maternal health, food security, and mental health.
Read The Playbook Resources and Upcoming Events
Ascend Network
Join the Ascend Network, an innovative job matching platform that connects job seekers with good and promising careers, while helping Indiana employers find and hire qualified candidates’ participation.
Good Wages Initiative
Company certification with Employ Indy’s Good Wages Initiative (provide a sustainable wage of $18/hour + employer-sponsored healthcare benefits for all full-time employees).
Modern Apprenticeship Program
Participate in the Modern Apprenticeship Program and/or start your own work-based or experiential learning initiative.
