Future Focus: HR is All About People, and DEI is Not About Charity
Human Resources and DEI Strategist Ovell Barbee, SPHR, tells a story from his career that emphasizes the importance of remembering that people are at the center of all HR work.
DEI Strategist Dr. Sandra Upton to Share Insights for Lasting Change
With her new book, “Make It Last: A Roadmap and Practical Strategies for How to Do DEI Work,” Dr. Sandra Upton poses a straightforward but critical question:
State of State 2024: Beyond Headlines, Focusing on What Works
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s 2024 State of the State address on Jan. 24 generated headlines about two topics that have long been priorities for TalentFirst: improving kindergarten readiness and postsecondary attainment.
Before State of the State 2024, Let’s Compare Notes on 2023 Progress
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is set to deliver her 2024 State of the State address 7 p.m. Wednesday, prompting Bridge Michigan to take a look back at progress toward the goals from the 2023 address.
The State of DEI on MLK Day: Our Actions Speak Louder Than Words
If anyone understood the power of language, it was the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
A Look at the Talent Horizon for 2024: More Change and More Solutions
By now, employers and talent professionals are seasoned veterans of the turbulent labor market we have experienced for several years
A Systemic Approach to the Talent Puzzle
On Wednesday, December 6th, at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville, TalentFirst was joined by expert practitioners from Corewell Health for an enriching conversation and interactive workshop puzzling toward outcomes in talent management. In the dynamic landscape of talent acquisition, development, and retention, organizations grapple with the evolving challenges of skills gaps, rising turnover costs, and […]
Some Promising Attention to Michigan’s Early Literacy Crisis
The alarm bell is still ringing, but we are seeing signs that communities are waking up to the early literacy crisis that has been building for years in Michigan. The challenge now is turning that attention into action. If we fail in this, we risk leaving a generation of children woefully unprepared for the rest […]
Population Headlines Are Grim, but West Michigan is Doing Something Right
A recent Bridge Michigan article might have surprised anyone accustomed to dismissing our neighbor to the south, Indiana. Headlined “Indiana is beating Michigan by attracting people, not just companies,” the article pointed out that the Hoosier State’s population grew at more than twice the rate of Michigan’s from 2010 to 2020: “Indiana is actually growing […]
Let’s Solve These Talent Puzzles: Onboarding and Career Pathways
Retention is the name of the game in today’s talent market. All the effort that goes into recruiting can be wasted if you can’t keep your new hires — or if they can’t see opportunities for growth at your organization.