Workforce DE&I - TalentFirst

To Drive Meaningful DEI Progress, ‘See Yourself as Change Leaders’

Most organizational transformations fail. Those that succeed follow a change management process with senior leaders setting the vision and showing the way. And that’s what...

Meet the Experts Joining our Inclusive Leadership Development Event

We’re pleased to announce the lineup for our Inclusive Leadership Development event, 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, March 12 at Grand Valley State University’s Kirkhof Center in...

A Q&A with DEI Leader Dr. Sandra Upton, Keynote for Our March 12 Event

Dr. Sandra Upton, founder and Chief DEI Strategist with Upton Consulting Group, will be the keynote speaker for our Inclusive Leadership Development event, 9-11 a.m. Tuesday,...

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...

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...

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....

DEI: The Ethos of the New Workforce

We have all heard the proverb “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link,” by Thomas Reid. This proverb means that regardless of...

Continuing the Commitment to Cultivating Inclusive Workplaces Across West Michigan

West Michigan’s population is increasing in diversity across race and ethnic identities. Our region is expected to experience a 4% population growth (JPG) in the...

Old Faithful vs. Niagara Falls: What’s Your Approach to Inclusive Teams?

Talking about diversity, equity and inclusion is one thing. Measuring progress is another. But it takes real commitment to use that data to create meaningful,...

Leave no talent behind: Inclusive Team Culture event is critical

New data about Michigan’s shrinking workforce confirms that we cannot afford to exclude any segment of our workforce, and that practicing inclusion is a critical...