Racial Equity & Social Impact

The Racial Equity and Social Impact (RESI) portfolio is responsible for ensuring that CenterState CEO’s internal processes and external programs reflect the organization’s value of inclusiveness. This division, led by, Dr. Juhanna Rogers (read bio), prioritizes race and equity work within the organization, community and beyond.

The portfolio also overseas the Generation Next and Tech and Culture Initiatives, supporting the recruitment and development of diverse talent for both CenterState CEO and the region. Additionally, the RESI portfolio is focused on the development and advancement of organizational metrics, trainings and processes to ensure CenterState CEO’s diversity, equity and inclusion goals are being met.

As part of the programmatic offerings of the portfolio, CenterState CEO offers a suite of fee-based diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) corporate training services to the business community. These DEI services include professional development trainings, dialogue sessions and organizational evaluations to enable c-suite leadership to develop policy to shift culture, help middle managers think about culturally component leadership and management styles, and encourage employees to think critically about what they know and have learned about race and racism. 

CENTERSTATECEOEQUITY.COM

CenterState CEO has developed www.CenterStateCEOEquity.com, sponsored by Berkshire Bank, to offer a dynamic array of information, assessment tools and educational resources to support organizations in their efforts to address racial equity in their workplaces, the community and beyond. Regardless of where a business is on its journey toward equity and inclusion, the site offers a thoughtful space to foster racial equity dialogue and solutions across the region. CenterState CEO invites businesses to further their DEI goals by taking the Business Equity Pledge. The Pledge asks business leaders to commit to building welcoming, inclusive and equitable workplaces across Central New York.

DEI Training and Consultation Options:

Keynote Speaker Session – provides an overview of current events around racial injustices and inequality, and an introduction to high-level themes around race and equity.

C-Suite Experience – equips leadership at the C-Suite/management level for institutional change around racial equity, including: an examination of issues of race and equity and the impact it has on the corporate environment and an exploration of methods for implementing change.

Lead for Change Experience – equips hiring managers and corporate leaders for institutional change around racial equity. This is a good option for smaller companies with only one or two C-Suite level employees, and larger companies that have already invested in the C-Suite Experience and are looking to educate employees that report to the C-Suite level.

Race Dialogues – helps staff identify the concerns and barriers associated with the legacy of race/racism in our systems, and the impact of remaining silent in the workplace. Employees will be introduced to concepts of race, systematic racism, and ways that the current unrest is connected to racial legacies.

Leadership and Professional Development Courses – allow employees to take a deeper dive into issues of race and equity in the workplace. Led by trained facilitators, employees can choose from a variety of topics such as personal racial biographies, unpacking white privilege, microaggressions and racial battle fatigue, systemic injustice, and race in America.

Post engagement evaluations are also available to help companies assess their progress and implement and improve racial equity strategies. The DEI programming also offers opportunities for longer term engagements that provide cultural climate assessments and strategic guidance for creating meaningful change.

To learn more and inquire about customized curriculum packages, please contact Dr. Rogers at jrogers@centerstateceo.com.