On June 19, 1865, U.S. troops entered Galveston, Texas to announce that freedom had arrived for all enslaved people in the United States. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued January 1, 1863, technically freed all enslaved peoples, but it was not until that first Juneteenth that the news had reached all Americans and was enforced throughout the …
Juneteenth: Indianapolis Events, Festivals, and Celebrations Read More »
I’ve always had a passion for marketing and communications work, and though I had always worked for someone, one day I decided to take the plunge into self-employment. I started Herd Strategies in 2011, and since then the business has grown—both in headcount and clientele. As a Black, woman-owned business, our 12-year journey has included …
A Seat at the Table: My Journey as a Minority Business Owner Read More »
Professional football teams build franchises by drafting young talent from college or recruiting available professional talent via free agency. At the end of every season, most football fans and cities begin to anticipate and discuss potential new talent teams will bring in to pursue a championship. Fans start looking at the top college players and …
Talent Development: Building Every Employee to be a Champion Read More »
Real estate developers working with communities to determine what their needs are—it’s an idea that seems radical. When you think of a developer, you probably picture a group of people in a board room deciding what they want to build without consulting the people that live in the area first. And in many cases, you’re …
Building With, Not For: Developing Communities Together Read More »
Business Equity for Indy Chair Jeffrey Harrison has said, “In order to grow a more inclusive business environment, company CEOs, managers, and boards must shift mindsets to improve the systemic roadblocks to equity.” I couldn’t agree more. We’ve watched companies across America and throughout Indiana publish inspiring statements and pledge billions of dollars toward achieving …
Achieving a Corporate Social Mindset Shift for Racial Equity Read More »
It’s difficult to place a number on the cost of one’s suffering—but it is something that must be done. Mental illness holds one in five Hoosiers—a disproportionate share of which are people of color—in a tight grip. It will take a combination of intentional outreach, supportive services, and funding to help someone break free. $4.2 …
During the summer of 2020, at the height of racial tensions coupled with the dire, disproportional impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Central Indiana business community united to form Business Equity for Indy (BEI). Through this initiative—a joint partnership of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and Indy Chamber with support from the Indianapolis Urban League, …
Business Equity for Indy—Two Year Anniversary Reflections Read More »
Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council (MSDC) is a cherished partner of Business Equity for Indy (BEI), most commonly working alongside the Procurement & Participation Taskforce to support awareness, education, and relationship-building between corporations and Black- and minority-owned businesses. As interim CEO & President of Mid-States MSDC, Daryle, often better known as The Idea Guy, has …
At the Indianapolis Airport Authority (IAA), our overarching mission is to deliver public value for our community, and one way we accomplish this is by intentionally cultivating a self-sustaining culture that fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our business. We work strategically to make the IAA a place where ALL employees, passengers, …
Talent acquisition and retention continue to plague companies post-pandemic in ways that are, simply put, bad for business. Some 92 percent of C-level leaders say their companies will not meet 2022 goals if record quit rates and hiring challenges continue. A commitment to equity can help address this challenge by strengthening organizational culture and attracting …
Workforce Equity: Engaging Employers in the Solution Read More »
