Lutgert News

Southwest Florida Leadership Institute Launches "Building Equitable Workplaces: 2024 Summer Workshop Series" to Drive Economic Development through Grant Funding

May 02, 2024  / Lutgert News  / Tags: Southwest Florida Leadership Institute, sfli, Workforce Development, Southwest Florida Equitable Jobs Pipeline

The Southwest Florida Leadership Institute, bolstered by the support of a $22.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), proudly announces the launch of its transformative Building Equitable Workplaces: 2024 Summer Workshop Series. This series is a pivotal component of the broader initiative aimed at accelerating education, job placement, and economic development across Southwest Florida. Each session is offered free of charge to participants. At a value of $100 per session, it is a savings of up to $600 for participants that register for up to six (6) sessions.

The Building Equitable Workplaces: 2024 Summer Workshop Series is designed to equip organizations and leaders with the knowledge, tools, and strategies necessary to advance workplace equity, foster inclusive cultures, and build robust talent pipelines. By addressing critical areas in human resources management, talent acquisition, and leadership development, the workshop series aligns with the mission of the Southwest Florida Equitable Jobs Pipeline to cultivate a skilled workforce and drive economic prosperity in the region.

"The Southwest Florida Equitable Jobs Pipeline represents a bold vision for strengthening our regional economy through education, job training, and workforce development," stated Dr. Meagan Baskin, Director of the Southwest Florida Leadership Institute within the Florida Gulf Coast University ecosystem. "With the support of the EDA grant, we are proud to introduce the Building Equitable Workplaces: 2024 Summer Workshop Series, which will empower organizations to champion workplace equity, nurture diverse talent, and drive sustainable economic growth."

The Building Equitable Workplaces: 2024 Summer Workshop Series comprises six dynamic sessions, each strategically crafted to address key challenges and opportunities in modern workforce management. The session lineup includes:

June 14^th at Collaboratory

• Session 1 – Building Gender Equity in the Workplace – Ashley Mandeville, PhD
  Tickets, Fri, Jun 14, 2024 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite
• Session 2 – Leading with an Equity Mindset – Lex Washington, PhD
  Tickets, Fri, Jun 14, 2024 at 12:30 PM | Eventbrite
• Session 3 - AI for All: Challenges and Opportunities in Deploying AI Across the Workforce – Chrissann Ruehle, DBA
  Tickets, Fri, Jun 14, 2024 at 3:00 PM | Eventbrite

July 24^th at Collaboratory

• Session 4 – Are you Biased? Applying an Equity Lens to Talent Acquisition – Matthew Leon, PhD
  Tickets, Wed, Jul 24, 2024 at 9:00 AM | Eventbrite
• Session 5 - Retain & Reign: Employing Equitable Retention Strategies – Joseph Liu, PhD
  Tickets, Wed, Jul 24, 2024 at 12:30 PM | Eventbrite
• Session 6 - GENerate Success: Breaking Down Age Barriers in the Workplace, Stephanie Torrico, MBA
  Tickets, Wed, Jul 24, 2024 at 3:00 PM | Eventbrite

In addition to providing valuable insights and actionable strategies, the workshop series is informed by the mission and objectives of the Southwest Florida Equitable Jobs Pipeline. As stated by Stephanie Torrico, Manager of Community Leadership Programs, “This workshop series will empower leaders and professionals to drive organizational resilience and achieve prosperity through equitable workforce strategies that also strengthen economic development in our region.”

The Building Equitable Workplaces: 2024 Summer Workshop Series embodies the commitment of the Southwest Florida Equitable Jobs Pipeline to creating equitable job opportunities, fostering economic resilience, and promoting inclusive growth. By empowering organizations to cultivate diverse talent pipelines and embrace equitable workplace practices, the workshop series aims to create a thriving and inclusive future for Southwest Florida.

For more information and to register for the Building Equitable Workplaces: 2024 Summer Workshop Series, visit Discover #swflequitablejobspipeline Events & Activities in Fort Myers, FL | Eventbrite.

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About Southwest Florida Equitable Jobs Pipeline: A collaborative initiative aimed at accelerating education, job placement, and economic development across Southwest Florida. Supported by a $22.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration, the initiative focuses on building talent pipelines, advancing workplace equity, and driving sustainable economic growth.

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About SFLI: At SFLI our purpose is to strengthen the SWFL business community by cultivating forward-thinking and innovative educational programs to develop and enhance the skills of employees at all levels in our region. We partner with non-profit, for-profit, and governmental agencies from small to large to determine the knowledge and skills gaps that impact the functioning, growth, and sustainability of their workforce and create customized learning opportunities that enhance the economy of the region. www.fgcu.edu/cob/sfli