Recently, the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (FCOED) released its Top 50 EmPOWERed leaders. I’m honored to be one of them, alongside great leaders and colleagues like our ‘office mate,’ Sue Hough of Octavo Designs, and the Frederick Factor, Season Two host Ashleigh (Kiggans) Rossi of MacRo, Ltd.
The FCOED recognizes leaders from diverse backgrounds who are “breaking glass ceilings, blazing trails, and inspiring the next generation of innovators.” While my name is on the list, the entire PPR team is the driving force behind the recognition.
For years, my team and I have been educating ourselves on how economic development organizations can create greater diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). We’ve had the great honor of creating and working on important projects to support more diversity, such as the Diversity & Inclusion Pilot Program for FCOED (which you can learn more about here). We’ve also brought many underrepresented voices into the spotlight through the Frederick Factor podcast.
Listening is the first step in any DEI program (and is closely followed by action which we’ll cover in next week’s newsletter).
A great starting point is to assemble focus groups of individuals in underserved groups within your community. There’s no better way to learn the needs of others than to engage in direct conversations. This insight can help inspire programs that make your community a more inclusive place to live, thrive, and empower others.
Listening to community members and leaders of all backgrounds inspires me to think bigger about DEI and its potential for our clients. I’m hoping these interviews with fellow Top 50 EmPOWERed leaders inspire you too.
- The Authenticity Factor with Ángel and Crystal Rivera
- The Mentorship Factor with Ashleigh (Kiggans) Rossi
- The ‘Cheering on the Underdog’ Factor with Sue Hough
- The Welcoming Factor with Jarad Bowens
- The Helping Factor with Tina Harper
- The Vibrance Factor with Sandra Hofmeister
How can PPR empower you to dig into your DEI plan? Let’s talk it through. Schedule a 15-minute consultation with us here.
Reimagining Places With You,
Sandy and the PPR Strategies Team
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