MMAC announces next steps in Region of Choice initiative to reduce racial disparities

MMAC board approves strategies to further engage region’s employers in reducing racial disparities

MILWAUKEE – The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce’s Board of Directors has approved a plan to improve the region’s competitiveness by reducing racial disparities among its African American and Hispanic/Latino populations. Specifically, the plan is focused on supporting employers in developing and advancing talent, improving educational outcomes, and growing corporate partnerships -- all aimed at raising prosperity and moving forward as a Region of Choice for all.

To measure progress towards the goal of a more inclusive and competitive economy, MMAC is releasing data reported in aggregate from more than 100 companies with a combined total of 120,000 employees in the region. This data establishes a 2020 baseline for both overall employment and management employment of African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos. The companies providing this data have pledged to increase employment and management of African American and Hispanic/Latino employees, while sharing best practices for creating more inclusive workplaces.

Current employment levels of companies that have signed the Region of Choice Pledge

By 2025, these companies have pledged to increase overall employment of African American and Hispanic/Latino talent by 15% and management employment by 25%.

• For example, a 25% increase in the total of African American managers would result in the addition of 150 more managers, or 757 total African American managers among the companies.
• This result would increase the percentage from 3.8% to 4.8% of total management positions.
• If achieved, this increase would double the last decade of growth in half the time.
  
  

“This must be a movement, not a moment,” said MMAC Chairman Jonas Prising, Chairman and CEO of ManpowerGroup. “Accountability is a commitment necessary for the future. The next five years should be marked by one determined step, one specific action and one measurable result at a time. In the past few months, our Board of Directors met in small groups to provide insights on what areas the business community can make the most significant impact. The resulting strategies, approved by the Board, provide additional direction to these efforts.”

The three objectives approved by the Board include:

• Improving the recruitment, retention and advancement of Black and Brown talent
• Increasing educational attainment and career development opportunities for Black and Brown talent
• Supporting wealth creation through business partnerships and entrepreneurship 
  
  

MMAC data shows that as a metropolitan area, Milwaukee ranks last in a composite ranking of seven prosperity measures for both African Americans and Hispanics.

“Racial disparities are perhaps the greatest single factor holding the Milwaukee Region from reaching its full potential,” said MMAC President Tim Sheehy. “Employers participating in the Region of Choice pledge acknowledge their responsibility to be part of the solution. They also recognize what study after study tells us: Building more diverse teams leads to better decision-making and ultimately boosts a company’s bottom line.”

Supporting actions for each objective will be refined as the work evolves, they include:

1: Improve the recruitment, retention and advancement of African American and Hispanic talent.
MMAC’s survey of 1,100 diverse managers, along with focus groups and executive interviews, provided several key takeaways, including that corporate culture is a key barrier to the recruitment, retention and advancement of Black and Brown employees. Recommendations include:

• Facilitate business community peer group exchanges to more rapidly scale best practices.
• Build resources that help employers improve their recruiting, retention and advancement efforts.
• Produce an annual Region of Choice report with aggregated corporate employment data.
• Implement a regular survey to gauge improvements in corporate culture.
• Create corporate-sponsored opportunities for Black and Brown leadership to foster personal and professional development.
• Continue to partner with, among others, the Hispanic Collaborative, African American Leadership Alliance Milwaukee and The Business Council to improve collaboration.

2: Increase educational attainment and career development opportunities for African American and Hispanic talent

The region’s working-age population is projected to grow by less than 1% through 2040. During that time, the region will become a minority-majority community. Eliminating racial gaps in educational outcomes is critical to meeting the workforce needs of the region’s employers.

• Coordinate corporate support for the expansion of quality schools serving diverse students.
• Partner with City Forward Collective to vet quality and make recommendations.
• Through the MMAC Education Committee, continue to aggressively pursue policy changes to drive equitable resources for all children in the City.
• Better align corporate investments by mapping resources focused on neighborhoods.
• Continue to operate career exploration and pathway programs, including Be the Spark, CareerX and TEALS.
• Recruit corporate partners to grow the number of mentors to fill the community need.
• Promote programs to corporate sponsors that help improve college completion.
  
  

3. Support wealth creation through business development and entrepreneurship 
Identifiable by ownership race, 95% of the region’s 25,000 businesses are White-owned, while 3% are African American-owned, and 2% are Hispanic/Latino-owned. Corporate partnerships have the capacity to grow African American and Hispanic/Latino business wealth.

• Develop corporate partnerships and supplier diversity goals as options for companies participating in the ROC.
• Establish a directory of African American and Hispanic/Latino businesses to promote with the broader business community.
• Develop best practice sharing programs for corporate partners and minority businesses.
  
  

For additional information on how companies can connect to the Region of Choice initiative, visit
https://www.mmac.org/diverse-talent.html.
 

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