By Christina Wood, Contributing writer, CIO

According to a recent study in the Harvard Business Review (HBR), organizations of all sizes have made unprecedented investments around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the past few years. That same report, though, found that those efforts are not finding the level of success companies had hoped for. Much of the disappointment is not with recruitment, however. It’s with employee retention.

Host Dushaw Hockett is joined by Fatima Ware, the owner of Cleveland, Ohio-based WTD Mechanical. Fatima and Dushaw talk about Fatima's experience as a black woman rising through the skilled trades. The two also take a moment to discuss the state of diversity and equity in the industry and, using Fatima's real-world experience, consider some solutions that can better help the sheet metal and HVAC industry become more reflective of their communities. 

Ebony Flake, Essence

When Mel Gravely was deciding where to headquarter his business, his vision to impact the Black community led him down an unconventional, but brilliant path. 

Taneisha Fair, The Center for Community Solutions

At the beginning of this series, we discussed how declarations alone are not enough to ameliorate the unending public health crisis—racism.

Douglas J. Guth, Crain's

Over 25 years of leadership in marketing, communications and DEI work has brought Glen Shumate into the construction industry, where he develops programs and initiatives for underserved communities.

McKissack

Joe Bousquin, Construction Dive

Construction’s unified response to racism in the industry is growing stronger. Twice as many construction firms plan to participate in the second annual Construction Inclusion Week, the industry’s grassroots effort to stamp out racist incidents and hate on jobsites. 

Zachary Phillips, Construction Dive

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, women and Black workers encompassed about 11% and 6% of the construction workforce respectively. Both are below the groups’ share of the total national workforce.

Douglas J. Guth, The Land

From September 15 to October 15, Cleveland’s Hispanic leaders join others around the U.S. in championing the history, culture, and contributions of their diverse and dynamic communities. In the past, that effort has too often culminated in non-Hispanic Clevelanders complimenting their neighbors’ taste in food and music, then spending their money elsewhere for the other 11 months of the year.

Rhonda Crowder, Properties Magazine

For construction project owners and general contractors seeking a diverse talent pool but struggling to find the right fit, Contractors Assistance Association (CAA) can be a valuable resource.