Reducing Racial Employment Disparities in Ramsey County BRC: Anne O’Connor, Patricia Bradley Thomas Bales, Madhvi K. Dhaumya, Zsuzsanna Hill, Gaigongdin Panmei, Dinesh Singh

Background Why we chose Which group? From best to promising What this is about Data Case studies Leadership Recommendations What do we hope to accomplish A new direction of thinking

Black Unemployment Rates

Why Inclusion and Equity Matters for the Blue Ribbon Commission? African American Unemployment Rate is 22.5 % in Ramsey County In 25 years one in four Minnesota’s will be a person of color Blacks are three times as likely as Whites to be without jobs Equity and inclusion directly effects economic sustainability

Seattle City Profile Population: 608, 660 African American Population: 57,716 Black Unemployment Rate: Promising Practices City Profile Population: 608, 660 African American Population: 57,716 Black Unemployment Rate : 8% in the region (ACS 5yr) To address this leadership challenge, Seattle has taken steps to developed collaborative partnerships to: Reframe the city’s identity to solve racial disparities Round tables Public participation Add anti-discrimination language to Seattle’s municipal code

Seattle That every individual is entitled to feel safe and be safe in his or her person, home, and community. That a vibrant downtown is important to the entire city by contributing to the economic vitality and social welfare of all residents over the long-term That every individual is equally entitled to due process protections That a human rights “lens” requires a careful review of government actions to protect vulnerable or marginalized populations.

St. Louis Annie Casey Foundation led Job Initiative Program Outcomes: 6000 entry level/hard to place workers were employed Average wage $ 9.10 per hour Annual earnings increase: $ 4,000 Create a one stop center for workforce development, public sector intermediary and build strong coalitions Three Key Components Engaging employers Retention and advancement Systems reform City Profile Population: 319, 294 African American Population:156, 454 African American Unemployment: 16.9 % Promising Practices

Center for Working Families (CWF) CWF coalition proves that right opportunities, incentives and supports can significantly improve employment prospects By providing the following services Employment and education Financial education Asset building Income and work support Outcomes: 3840 total participants in % participants from TANF St. Louis

Dallas City Profile Population:2.3 million African American Population:512,900 African American Unemployment Rate: 10.7 % Promising Practices The Turn Around Agenda: Rebuild Communities from inside out Improve and enrich the lives of urban families from the community up Strategy-Public School Outreach: Mentoring, life skills education, High School Heroes- student leadership program, The Six Pillars of Character

Dallas Outcomes: 70 partnerships in public schools 4000 students have access to TTA services 50,000 youth and families impacted positively through PTA’s programs National Church Adopt –a-School Initiative Better Kids=Stronger Families=Transformed Communities

City Profile Population: 305, 704 African American Population: 80,000 African American Unemployment: 16 % Pittsburgh Promising Practices Hill House Association (inclusive community organizer): Strategic areas: Early Childhood development, youth services, family and workforce development, senior and neighborhood services Workforce Development and First Source Hiring Center: Multi-level approach model, job readiness, soft skill training, case management Private-Community partnership: Consol Energy Center (CBA agreement)

Pittsburgh Kassi after-school program: Leadership Academy for young adults, cultural and social activities. Serves 120 students daily Three Rivers Workforce Development Board Job Ready Pittsburgh-6 weeks internship program Outcomes: Supporting 500,000 children and 70,000 adults 522 new jobs, 39 % filled by Hill residents, 94 % success rate

India-New Delhi City Profile Population: 16 million Scheduled Casts: 2,720,000, Scheduled Cast Unemployment Gap: 1.9 % NDPL (New Delhi Power Ltd), Affirmative Action: 4 E Model – Education, Employability, Employment & Entrepreneurship Positive Discrimination Preference shall be given to Scheduled Castes candidates in areas of employment and career advancement. NDPL prefers Scheduled Castes entrepreneurs for inclusion in its contracts. Outcomes: Positive impact on business, reduce school drop-out, student mentoring, provides scholarship for Scheduled Cast children. Promising Practices

Recommended Leadership Strategies Leadership should come from top to bottom Cross-sector collaboration: government, businesses, intermediaries, community leadership Help the African American community to overcome barriers in Ramsey County in: Education Employment Workforce development Criminal justice pattern Housing

Recommended Leadership Strategies Reframing a city’s identity to develop equity Create private public partnerships for workforce development Collaboration with FBCO’s to rebuild the community from inside out Corporate and social responsibility certification Nonprofit strategies to develop the disadvantaged Two pronged affirmative action based on 4 E’s model and positive discrimination