Community Equity Initiative
What is the Community Equity Initiative?
The Community Equity Fund is a partnership to help build a more inclusive future for all. Through this partnership, UM will work with local businesses and organizations to build a more inclusive workforce pipeline by attracting diverse students to UM and Missoula, supporting their success in college and in the community, partnering to create employment pathways for them to remain in Missoula, and collaborating to provide education and training. We encourage multi-year commitments that will help us to scale and sustain this work.
Why Now?
By 2027, 49% of high school seniors nationally will be students of color.*
This is our future workforce.
Today is our opportunity to design a thriving Missoula and inclusive prosperity for all.
Research at the intersection of business strategy, biology, and complex systems demonstrates diversity as critical to resilient, long-lived systems.**
Diversity and equity:
- enrich the educational and workplace experience for all people
- promote a competitive advantage through awareness of broad customer and constituent needs
- enhance economic competitiveness of our organizations and community
*Association of American Colleges and Universities, Committing to Equity and Inclusive Excellence
**Miki Tsusaka, Martin Reeves, Stephanie Hurder, Johann Harnoos, The Boston Consulting Group, Diversity at Work, 2017
Objectives of the Community Equity Initiative
The Community Equity Initiative is a partnership to help build a more inclusive future for all. Through this partnership, UM will work with local organizations to build a more inclusive workforce pipeline by attracting diverse students to UM, supporting their success in college, partnering to create employment pathways for them to remain in Missoula, and collaborating to provide local organizations with education and training.
Create Capacity and Systems to Drive Positive Outcomes
Establish high-level leadership and planning to ensure progress and accountability to the community
Attract and Retain a Diverse Community and Workforce
Attract and retain underrepresented and diverse students and residents, using UM as a portal.
Create workforce pipelines between UM and local businesses, supporting the success and retention of underrepresented and diverse populations in Missoula.
Communicate community work and the voices of diverse community members.
Provide Equity-Centered Education and Trainings
Collaborate to educate and train students, employees, businesses, and organizations in implementing equitable practices
What CEI Does for Missoula
This is a collaborative effort to ensure a more inclusive Missoula, if you are interested in learning more, being a partner, or have a community resource please reach out. Collectively we can ensure that Missoula continues to prosper and have a diverse talented workforce.
How
Missoula’s survival and success – economically and culturally – require that we center equity in how we do business, build inclusive educational and workforce pathways, and design our organizations. Become a Community Equity Sponsor and help build an inclusive Missoula for all.
› Make a 10-year financial commitment of $5,000 to $10,000 per year
› Commit to partnering with UM and other local organizations in driving positive outcomes.
Contact Marcy or Kelly at [email protected] to learn more about how you can contribute to the Community Equity Initiative.
Why
Your partnership with the Community Equity Initiative will support your community’s efforts to become more equitable and prosperous.
UM will take the following measures to increase diversity in Missoula.
› Center equity in its practices
› Act as a Missoula portal through which we attract diverse students to the community
› Support diverse student success and persistence
› Create employment pathways for diverse individuals to remain in Missoula
› Support local businesses and organizations with education and training to center equity and inclusion in organizational practices
Missoula Demographics
Data from US Census
Advisors
Coming Soon
Community Resources
EmpowerMT creates a more just and inclusive society by developing youth and adult leaders who work to end mistreatment, correct systemic inequalities and strengthen communities across Montana.
A research project team that is BIPOC led and directed. Each member comes with a repertoire of knowledge, skills and a professional value base. We also have a history of engaging in equity and diversity work. As a collective, we are committed to centering local BIPOC voices, experiences, and knowledge in the process of transforming community structures, municipal systems, and business institutions in Missoula.
The Montana Racial Equity Project, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, advocates equity and justice for historically marginalized, disenfranchised, and oppressed peoples in Montana. We educate, train, and activate organizers, individuals, groups, organizations, institutions, and businesses to invest in interrupting racism, bigotry, and prejudice whenever encountered.
Building on three decades of experience in the anti-racism field with dozens of organizations and institutions across the country, our trainings offer fresh, engaging, and timely resources for the demands of this challenging moment. Online tools can be done anywhere - in office or remotely.