As a part of a recent grant awarded to Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC), students will spend time this week exploring race, identity, and belonging in the workplace. On Wednesday, July 7, and Friday, July 9, at Spherion Staffing in Byron, Ga., two dual enrollment students will work at and closely with Spherion to explore their practices.

In May, the YES Project—Young, Employed, Successful—a national youth employment initiative led by America's Promise Alliance, announced the selection of six community-level grantees to host Virtual Action Roundtable conversations in partnership with employers and young workers.

The $20,000 investment was awarded to the CGTC Foundation who has worked with the Institutional Effectiveness Division and the College’s Raising Expectations of Achievement (REACH) organization to implement strategies for inclusion with local employers. The CGTC REACH Organization, a minority-serving program predominately geared for male students July of color, but welcome to all, regularly takes an active role in volunteering and community service.

The first step is the immersive learning experience set to begin Wednesday.

“We hope our students can learn from these great employers and the employers from them,” said program specialist and REACH organization advisor, Rolandria Tolbert. “Together we can explore strategies that are more inclusive, empowering, and beneficial to everyone.”

The CGTCF will also work with small to mid-size employer partners in high-growth industries in the region that have expressed an interest in and commitment to diversity and inclusion. These employers—the City of Milledgeville, Spherion Staffing and Recruiting, and Georgia Artisan Furnishings—have also committed to supporting REACH student representatives in job shadowing and other immersive workplace learning activities.

Virtual Action Roundtable conversations will take place later in July where everyone will strategize and learn from their experiences.

Based on the roundtable conversations and ongoing collaboration, employers and young people will co-design meaningful strategies to improve belonging and inclusion in the workplace for employees of color. All employer partners have committed to implementing at least one co-designed strategy by the end of the year. 

For more information about America’s Promise Alliance and the YES Project visit,https://www.americaspromise.org/press-release/six-community-partnerships-explore-race-identity-and-belonging-workplace.