Purpose:
In 2015, the Brattleboro Police Chief and Superintendent of Schools convened the human resources directors of the largest employers in Windham County to consider working collaboratively to recruit workforces that demographically reflected our region’s population. Soon thereafter, the committee membership expanded to include the Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation, United Way of Windham County, the Windham Regional Commission and The Town of Brattleboro.
Together committee members agreed to develop a common agenda and face the following challenges: Workforce: develop educational curriculum that meets workforce needs and engages underrepresented student population Workforce: effective outreach to insure a diverse applicant pool
Workforce: development of diverse leadership at every level of the organization
Workplace: creation of inclusive culture in the workplace
Community: development of an open welcoming community free of prejudice and discrimination
Current Projects:
Sponsorship of http://www.iamavermonter.org/, a website produced by the Vermont Partner-ship for Fairness and Diversity featuring representatives of our diverse community telling their stories about what it’s like to live in Vermont. Our members sponsored the section of the website featuring residents of southeastern Vermont.
Bridge to Brattleboro- Student Site Visits: Our committee partners with colleges in New England to extend equitable career education opportunities to BIPOC students. Students spend a day visiting worksites, consider future internships and jobs, and get acquainted with community members with diverse backgrounds. The Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation takes the lead in the organization of these visits, and has helped host job shadows with employers like Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, Brattleboro Police Department, the Town of Brattleboro, and HCRS. Education partners include College of St. Joseph, Franklin Pierce University, and UVM.
Employer Resource Guides
This group has also developed and aggregated resources that support and promote workplace equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. These resources can be found here.
The Diverse Workforce Development Committee is a sub-committee of the Community Equity Collaborative.