Local Employers Creating “Welcoming Workplaces”

In February the BDCC hosted a two-part “Welcoming Workplaces” training on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Sixteen Windham Region employers took part in the two-part workshop delivered by nuwave Equity, recently featured at the Vermont Chamber of Commerce Economic Conference. These events were made possible by a grant from the Vermont Community Foundation, as part of BDCC’s Welcoming Communities initiative which seeks to expand the region’s ability to attract, support, and retain BIPOC and immigrant community members.

The nuwave training focused on structural racism within businesses, and helping human resource professionals and managers learn to recognize, dismantle, and rebuild processes to create more equitable outcomes in the workplace. Participants identified practices that need to be updated, and mapped out strategies to improve them such as revising language on job postings and websites, reframing interview questions, or removing identifiers from job applicants to reduce bias in reviewing.

If you are an employer that would like to participate in the next training, please contact Casey Haynes at BDCC – chaynes@brattleborodevelopment.com.

The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) is a private, nonprofit economic development organization that serves as a catalyst for industrial and commercial growth throughout Southeastern Vermont, including Windham County and the towns of Readsboro, Searsburg, Winhall and Weston. BDCC serves as the State of Vermont’s certified Regional Development Corporation (RDC) for the greater Windham County area. BDCC is one of 12 RDCs throughout Vermont. For more information visit: https://brattleborodevelopment.com/