Commission on Economic Inclusion 10th Anniversary
Year-long focus on change management
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Commission on Economic Inclusion. As we begin a year-long observance, we recognize that we must continue to be an essential resource to our members. Our focus will be to provide diversity and inclusion change-management tools, tips and successes in our member communications and meetings throughout 2011.
Click here for an overview of highlights from the past decade.
Starting with the January 2011 issue of the Commission Connection e-news, we'll feature a quarterly column of diversity and inclusion tips by Lisa Gaynier, M.A., director, master's degree Diversity Management Program, Cleveland State University. Other resources will be delivered through a variety of channels:
Events and Meetings
- Senior Executive Forums (April and September)
- Commission Annual Meeting (May)
- CEO briefings (June and October)
- Diversity Professionals Group: Feb. 16 (change management strategy); May 25 (Best-in-Class winners' successful change strategies); Aug. 17 (full-day conference); Nov. 16 (wrap-up)
MBE services
Through the Minority Business Accelerator 2.5+ and other services, we're working to meet our goals to grow local MBEs and support our Commission members' supplier diversity initiatives.
Collaborations
Each initiative will have clearly defined change-management goals. Our partners include:
- Business Volunteers Unlimited (BVU): Training nonprofit board chairs on maximizing the impact of diversity on boards and preparing high-potential minority managers from Commission members for board service through BVU's "Role of Board" training;
- The Presidents' Council, Ernst & Young LLP, and PricewaterhouseCoopers: Delivering Boardroom to Boardroom consultations for MBEs;
- The Surety & Fidelity Association of America, the Small Business Development Center, and the Minority Business Assistance Center: Providing Bonding Prep classes for local MBEs.
We're committed to achieving positive change for our members and the Northeast Ohio business community. We welcome your input. Please e-mail Deborah Bridwell, the Greater Cleveland Partnership's senior director of inclusion initiatives, with your questions, comments, and suggestions.
Minority Business Accelerator Planning and Estimating Room
This year’s events include the launch of the Minority Business Accelerator Planning and Estimating Room, which opened for business in January 2011. Located on the fifth floor of the Terminal Tower in space donated by Forest City Enterprises, the Estimating Room will provide Minority Business Accelerator 2.5+ clients and other MBEs in the construction industry with the blueprints, technology, and expertise necessary to bid competitively.
Click here to see photos of the room.