Representation Matters with Corry Joe Biddle

Corry Joe Biddle is the Executive Director of FUEL Milwaukee, a community engagement group for young professionals who live and work in the Milwaukee region.  FUEL is branded as a stand-alone program but is a service of the Metro Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC). Through in-person events with diverse speakers, they have been trying to signal to everyone that Milwaukee is for all of us, and every part of Milwaukee is for you, not just one little piece. Their work is more virtual now, but their mission is still the same - connecting, engaging, loving Milwaukee, and making it better for everybody. 

According to Corry Jo, the culture that you create in your organization is all about what is acceptable, what is not acceptable, and how you respond to acceptable and not acceptable. What tone are you setting for equity, diversity, and inclusion? It is not just about diversity. It does not mean that because you’re in the room you are included and your voice matters. Let’s get as many leaders as possible because leaders create more leaders, and that creates sustained change over time. 

What we talk about: 

04:55 – We were doing that through in-person events, speaking engagements. When the quarantine hits and social distancing, it was all about virtual, and we are now doing our work through Race Bridge webinars. 

11:19 – The first conversation we had was with all young professionals at the diverse panel, and it was them giving their reaction to what they have seen in the video. And 400 people registered for that conversation. 

25:42 – MMAC’s Region of Choice initiative is focused on employers. It is a program with goals around hiring for Black and Brown talent. The first pillar is representation. When we look at the management level across organizations in Milwaukee, black and brown talent are not being elevated to the level of manager at the same rate as their white counterparts. It is significantly less. 

30:34 – 111 companies have signed the pledge. In five years, we will collectively increase the number of Black and Brown managers by 25% and increase the number of Black and Brown talent hired at large by 15%.

39:17 – About 70% of millennials and Gen Zers list diversity as a factor when they’re choosing a job or a city. 

What we mention: 

FUEL Milwaukee

MMAC

Black Holocaust Museum

Connect with us:

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