Powering Inclusion Fall Forum Virtual Event: Undeterred Anti-Racist Leadership in an Era of Emboldened Racism.

JOIN US AS WE ANALYZE THE IMPACTS OF FEDERAL POLICY ON EFFORTS TO RACIALLY DIVERSIFY BUSINESS LEADERSHIP AND SUPPLY CHAINS

On Thursday, October 5, Tawanna A. Black, founder and CEO of the Center for Economic Inclusion, Tiffany Wilson-Worsley, and our panel of experts gathered online to examine the opportunities and risks facing employers and local governments in the wake of mounting pressure to dismantle the progress of affirmative action, SBA 8(a) and other programs designed to close stagnant racial wealth gaps and strengthen the economy. We’ll discuss what the most recent decisions really mean for your organization and what we can do together to build racially equitable, resilient and profitable organizations and communities.

At this virtual event, participants experienced an active overview of the timeline of institutionalized racism and White supremacy in America. This powerful exercise helps illustrate how the laws and decisions helped build concentrations of White power and wealth and simultaneously concentrated Black and Indigenous poverty, leading the way for systemic oppression and wealth extraction for communities of color.

Watch Now - Undeterred Anti-Racist Leadership in an Era of Emboldened Racism, October 5, 2023:

FEATURING

Tawanna A. Black, Founder & CEO, Center for Economic Inclusion

Tawanna A. Black - Founder & CEO, Center for Economic Inclusion

Tawanna A. Black is a nationally recognized thought leader known for influencing, inspiring, and equipping cross-sector leaders to transform a personal conviction for equality into actions that produce equitable and thriving communities. For more than 20 years, Tawanna has led multi-sector collaboratives, triple bottom-line diversity and inclusion strategy development, and economic revitalization organizations in Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota.

The Center for Economic Inclusion is the nation’s first woman-led organization dedicated exclusively to creating inclusive regional economies by equipping public and private sector employers to dismantle institutional racism and build shared accountability for inclusive economic growth.

Tiffany Wilson-Worsley - Director, Employer Learning & Engagement, Center for Economic Inclusion

Tiffany Wilson-Worsley leads the Center for Economic Inclusion’s work to build the knowledge and capacity of public- and private-sector employers in ways that position their leaders to take, sustain, and scale anti-racist, data-informed and market-responsive actions. She works collaboratively across all Center departments and with clients to develop and support the fidelity of design and implementation of the Center's approach to anti-racist, systemic change.

Tiffany joined the Center with more than 10 years of experience in racial equity work to eradicate generational poverty. Her discipline, analytical skills, and personal investment in racial equity and economic inclusion are key assets to the Center.

Tiffany is trained in the Collective Impact model using a Results-Based Accountability and anti-racism approach to ensure alignment in cross-sector partnerships to achieve bold outcomes and catalytic impact. She believes that by establishing then fostering key partnerships and relationships, better performance results and racial equity and inclusive growth is advanced.

Tiffany studied Psychology at Grambling State University and received a Master of Education in Family Education from the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development.

PANELISTS

Khadija Ali - Founder & CEO, Global Language & Staffing Connections

Khadija is a successful entrepreneur in the language services, staffing and cultural competence industries, and she has become a leader in creating opportunities for immigrant communities.

Born in Somalia, Khadija immigrated with her family to the United States in 1996, via the refugee camp in Kenya. After high school and learning English in school, she began serving as an interpreter for her family members. An experience within her own family, where language became a life-threatening barrier to health, led her to pursue a career in health care. 

While studying nursing she worked as a medical assistant, then as a medical interpreter, before founding her own interpreter agency. Khadija saw a growing workforce shortage, and immigrant communities with great work ethic, but not all the skills to fill those jobs. She began to understand that future economic vitality depends on accelerating the success of immigrants. In 2015, she founded Global Language & Staffing Connections, to focus beyond language services, to include staffing and recruiting, and teaching cultural competence to corporations and other organizations. These organizations are seeing measurable improvements in employee recruiting, retention, and productivity.

Amran A. Farah - Partner, Greene Espel

Amran Farah is an experienced investigator, litigator, and counselor with a tenacious knack for identifying creative solutions to complex problems. Amran provides investigation-related guidance and strategic counseling to clients confronting challenges and opportunities in the workplace. She assists cities and national employers to address sensitive workplace matters and conducts employment investigations related to claims of discrimination, retaliation, fraud, toxic workplace culture, and sexual harassment.

 Additionally, Amran conducts DEI audits and review, and provides strategic advice and counseling about potential litigation.  

In addition to her employment practice, Amran litigates complex commercial matters in an array of areas, including breaches of contract, construction, and social media.  She has broad experience successfully representing clients in state and federal court, as well as arbitration proceedings.

Amran’s talents are widely recognized. She was awarded Minnesota Lawyer’s Attorney of the Year award and recognized by Best Lawyers as “One to Watch.” The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal also selected her as a 2021 40 under 40 honoree. Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith selected Amran to serve on the Judicial Selection Committee for the open seat on the federal court bench, and appointed her to the selection committee to select Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshall, and Amran is routinely asked to assist in hiring executive officers.

Thomas Harris, Jr. , MHA, FACHE - Executive Vice President of Operations & Chief Operating Officer, Gillette Children’s

Thomas Harris, Jr., MHA, FACHE is the Executive Vice President of Operations and Chief Operating Officer at Gillette Children’s. With over 23 years of healthcare experience, Thomas is recognized as a highly skilled and results driven leader with expertise in the areas of change management, performance improvement and employee engagement. He is currently responsible for patient care operations spanning hospital, clinic, ancillary and integrated care services for all Gillette sites.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Dillard University and master’s degree in Health Administration from Tulane University. Thomas is currently a board member for LifeSource and is the President-Elect for the National Association of Health Services Executives- Heartland Chapter.

Dr. Angela Spranger - Senior Diversity Officer, Carlson School of Management

Dr. Angela Spranger is an engaging facilitator who transfers her knowledge and experiences in ways that learners and participants can relate to and remember. Her life mission is to educate and encourage, and she believes in taking advantage of “any excuse to celebrate!”

Professionally, Dr. Spranger serves as the inaugural Senior Diversity Officer for Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, and founding Director of the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Business at Carlson. Previously, she served for two years as Chief DEI Officer at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia, having switched careers to education after twenty-plus years in industry. Spranger had worked in human resources in the defense and nonprofit sectors, and in general administration in media and TV.

Her instructional experience includes teaching non-traditional learners at Hampton University and Regent University, specializing in Marketing, Labor Management Relations, and Human Resources. In 2012, she began teaching traditional learners at CNU, where she taught in the Luther School of Business for eight years. Subjects included Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management, Leadership in Business, and other management and leadership courses as needed.

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Showcase your commitment to racial equity and inclusive growth!

The Minneapolis-St. Paul region and similar regions across the country are at a critical moment in the journey to economic inclusion. The Center seeks partners who are ready to take action and join us in creating an economy that works for everyone by sponsoring our 2023 Powering Inclusion Annual Summit, Fall Series Reckoning to Rise Digital Workshops, and Reckoning for Truth, Trust & Racial Justice Tours.

As a sponsor, your investment tells the story of your commitment to anti-racism and inclusive economic growth to your clients, employees, and prospective partners and investors.