Eastridge Workforce Solutions

Update: 10/15/2020

On behalf of the employee-owners of Eastridge Workforce Solutions, I am pleased to provide another update on what we are doing to improve and support diversity, equity and inclusion.

Today, I am pleased to announce the formation of another Eastridge Employee Resource Group to support the LGBTQ community.  This group will meet regularly to coordinate conversations, guide leadership on educational opportunities, and ensure that we are held accountable to delivering our best to achieve a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Update: 08/25/2020

In June of this year, I committed to spending time to better understand my role, and collectively our roles, to stand up for racial equality.  Our goal was to determine how as an organization we can use our voices to move forward and impact true and meaningful change in support of Black Lives Matter and anti-racism work.  As I finished writing this update, the shocking video of the shooting of Jacob Blake was released and is a stark reminder that we must remain committed to using this pivotal moment in time to springboard forward and perpetuate our ability to deliver opportunity and enrichment for all.

Today, I am pleased to be able to share what the employee-owners of Eastridge Workforce Solutions have accomplished since our last update in June.

We immediately formed an Employee Resource Group to explore all meaningful options to help impact the change that is so desperately needed. The group, Creating Conversations and Committing to Change, is a collaboration between our executive team and employee- leader Briana Morris to impact change in our company, communities and personal lives.  Comprising 20 Eastridge employee-owners of different races, ages and genders, the group meets regularly to coordinate vital conversations, guide leadership on education initiatives, ensure community outreach and hold leadership accountable to ensuring we deliver our best to achieving a diverse and inclusive workforce.

The Eastridge team has developed and will measure against our corporate D&I goals.  We purchased a corporate subscription to Anti-Racism Daily to engage teams in weekly discussion topics to help stop racism around the world.  Over the next 6 months, we hope to accomplish the following:

In the next 30 days, we will:

• Establish concrete goals for hiring and promoting diverse candidates and employees
• Implement a targeted recruiting strategy specifically for diverse candidates which includes posting openings on sites including DiversityJobBoard.com
• As part of our company-wide town hall meetings and operations newsletters, we will promote D&I awareness, articles, and activities

 30-90 Days

• Develop Client partnerships to extend awareness and ensure alignment
• Host a networking event to partner candidates with individuals to build connections via Zoom
• Establish additional resource groups (including resources for women, LGBTQ, and Veterans)
• Repeat our in-depth bias training for staff

3-6 Months

• Develop an orientation and assessment program to facilitate access to administrative and professional roles
• Enhanced, module-based (rotational) training for internal employees to enhance career trajectories and ensure retention

We are more resolved than ever to impact the way in which we create a safe space for hard but necessary conversations. We must continue to seek out ways to continue to better the path of equality, together. 

Juneteenth: Sent 06/16/2020

As part of our ongoing conversations about Black Lives Matter and the raising of our collective consciousness about racial equality, it is our duty to recognize and honor Juneteenth (June 19th).

In recognition of this historic event, all internal staff members have the option to take the day off as a floating Juneteenth holiday. I recognize taking additional time off may be challenging this year given the late notice and current workload. Therefore, if you cannot take the day off this Friday, June 19th, subject to manager approval, you may take a day off within the next 30 days to honor and reflect upon the ending of slavery in America.

I encourage you to visit the links posted on the Intranet to learn more by reading a book, watching a documentary, listening to a speech, and engaging with us to consider how we can live up to this moment for ourselves and the Black Community. I continue to welcome your partnership on this journey as we seek out ways to continue to better the path of equality, together.

Our Plan: Sent 06/08/2020

Eastridge Family,

Our plans are in their infancy.  The first step is starting a group, we referred to this group as an Affinity or Resource Group. The group will have the liberty to explore all meaningful options to help impact the change that is so desperately needed.  I will meet with the committee monthly to receive recommendations and insights.  In our Town Hall we explored the following as a starting point:

• Conduct additional implicit bias training
• Explore how we can take action in the form of service
• Strengthen our talent acquisition process by enhancing our efforts to reach diverse candidates
• Job Search Training for the Black Community to include
• Salary negotiation
• Resume writing
• Interview prep, coaching and practice
• Outreach campaigns to engage youth through affinity groups, explore internship programs, engage colleges (including Black Fraternities and Sororities)
• Celebrate and engage during Black History Month
• Start a book club on the subject and meet monthly
• Donations and support of organizations like the CA Innocence Project

There is so much work to do. When it comes time to roll up our sleeves, the entire Eastridge community will be invited to contribute in a meaningful way.

Black Lives Matter: Sent 06/02/2020

Over the past week, I, like all of you, have been struggling with the events unfolding in our country right now. The tragic death of George Floyd, and countless others before him, has hit our society at its very core. The demands for justice and cries for reform are being heard throughout our country and around the world. Issues that have plagued our country for far too long are seeing new light, tragically illuminated by these catastrophic losses.

These words are not easy for me because I so deeply want to get this message right. But my time reflecting this week has led me to believe that right now, it’s not about getting something perfect or having the exact words. It is about no longer staying silent about the injustices happening to black Americans.

I will be spending time listening to the voices of activists, organizers, community leaders, and organizations sharing their messages. I will be reflecting on their teachings to better understand my role in using my voice to actively stand up for racial equality. I am eager to receive your stories, your messages, your thoughts on how as an organization we can use our voices to move forward and effect true and meaningful change in both our workplace and our communities. This won’t be simple. There is no clear path to follow. I will make mistakes and learn from them and grow forward in this process. I encourage you to take this journey with me, to emphatically say that Black Lives Matter.

I am eternally proud of the work we do together, guided by our purpose of providing opportunity and enrichment through work, and our values. I am confident we can use this pivotal moment in time to springboard forward and perpetuate our ability to deliver opportunity and enrichment for all. I will value and depend upon your partnership in the coming days as we look for ways to better ourselves and our company.

I welcome your thoughts and comments regarding what we can improve and what we can do differently. I welcome your community spirit and the family we have created together, as a safe space for hard but necessary conversations. I welcome your partnership on this journey as we seek out ways to move forward to continue to better the path of equality, together.