The Way Forward Leader Lunch Breaks take place every Wednesday at noon. Visit our calendar to see upcoming sessions.
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Constructing a female-focused pipeline
Keri F. Ash, Director of Preconstruction for Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania, Gilbane Building Company
Diana Anthony, Economic Inclusion Manager, Gilbane Building Company
Keri shared her journey in the construction industry and her role as a mentor in the rising contractor program. Diana emphasized the importance of economic inclusion and diversity in the construction industry. They discussed the importance of economic inclusion programs in the construction industry to break barriers and provide opportunities for women and minorities. They addressed the challenges women and minorities face in the workplace, including imposter syndrome and the emotional tax of being a minority.
Keri highlighted the achievements of the ACE Mentorship Program, emphasizing Gilbane’s founding membership and active involvement in mentoring high school students for careers in architecture, engineering, and construction. She also shared the ACE Transformative Partners Program, which extends mentorship to students as they graduate and pursue their career and college journeys.
Diana and Keri discussed Gilbane’s $4 billion commitment over five years to minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses, with a specific allocation of at least 20% to diverse-owned small businesses. They also emphasized the significance of inclusive workplace environments and the need for major construction corporations to adopt inclusion programs to provide continued opportunities for economic inclusion for women and minorities in the industry.
Recorded 03/27/2024
Closing the park equity gap
Sean Terry, Associate Vice President, Ohio State Director, The Trust for Public Land
Sean provided an overview of The Trust for Public Land’s (TPL) mission and work. He emphasized TPL’s core values, including promoting access to parks, leveraging data to target communities in need, and fostering resident input and empowerment. He highlighted TPL’s impact, including protecting over 18,000 total acres, connecting over 100,000 people to the outdoors, and helping Cuyahoga Valley National Park become a part of the National Park System. Sean discussed TPL’s efforts to achieve park equity in Cleveland, including the 10-Minute Walk campaign, challenges in park system understanding, and the launch of a park equity accelerator with the city.
Sean shared TPL’s strategies for building trust with residents and engaging partners to address community needs, understanding the community’s pace, and working collaboratively to uplift residents and stakeholders. He also discussed the organization’s approach to ensuring safety in public green spaces.
Recorded 03/20/2024
Changes and challenges in post-secondary education
Dr. Robert (Bob) Helmer, President, Baldwin Wallace University
Bob discussed the challenges and changes in higher education and highlighted the enduring value of higher education. He highlighted the enduring value of a college degree and shared the challenges posed by the changing perception of the value of college degrees and the significant impact of declining birth rates.
Bob presented a vision for the future of higher education, emphasizing the necessity to forge partnerships with businesses and communities to address evolving regional workforce demands. He also emphasized the need for universities to work together to share resources, collaborate on curriculum, and attract students to the region to create a thriving environment for all.
Recorded 03/13/2024
Integrating systems to address social determinants of health
Dr. Lisa Ramirez, Associate Director of Pediatric Psychology, Division of Psychology, The MetroHealth System
Dr. Ramirez presented on the importance of social determinants of health and social drivers, emphasizing their collective impact on overall health. She discussed adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the significance of understanding risk and protective factors in health outcomes. Dr. Ramirez passionately advocated for the integration of healthcare systems to address social drivers of health, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and partnerships.
She discussed the physical repercussions of ACEs, focusing on the concept of toxic stress and its profound impact on the body’s organ systems. She also touched on best practices for employers to support the well-being of their employees, emphasizing the significance of addressing social drivers of health in the workplace.
Recorded 03/06/2024
Preventing and alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies
Mike Parks, Regional Executive, Northern Ohio Region, American Red Cross
Rear Admiral Parks shared the mission and services of the Red Cross and highlighted their commitment to caring and its diverse range of services, including disaster relief, biomed, life-saving training, international aid, and support for the armed forces. He provided a comprehensive overview of the Red Cross’s disaster response initiatives, detailing the organization’s involvement in setting up shelters for residents affected by various disasters, including fires and hurricanes. Parks emphasized the pivotal role of volunteers and the organization’s partnerships with FEMA, local emergency responders, and nonprofit entities for successful disaster relief efforts.
He also chatted about the “Sound the Alarm” program, which provides free installation of smoke alarms in at-risk communities and teaches residents about fire safety and the importance of community engagement. Parks addressed the challenge of managing the Red Cross’s growth in the face of increasing disaster needs, highlighting the need for community resilience and partnerships to address these challenges.
Parks discussed the vision for the northern Ohio region, emphasizing the importance of community partnerships to effectively serve 31 counties and highlighted the need to expand reach through additional partnerships and community engagement.
Recorded 02/28/2024
Cleveland’s “joyful gathering” place
Tony Sias, President & CEO, Karamu House
Tony provided an update on the ongoing renovations at Karamu House, highlighting the completion of phases one through three and the plans for phase four. He emphasized their goal to create a vibrant campus environment that will attract more visitors to the Fairfax community. Additionally, he discussed the challenges faced and the efforts to engage neighbors and foster community involvement in the revitalization efforts and he touched on Karamu’s upcoming programming for children and summer camps. Tony also talked about the evolving subscription model in American theater and Karamu’s innovative approach to the pandemic. Tony highlighted their efforts to attract younger audiences to Karamu House by offering unique experiences and events.
Recorded 02/21/2024