I&I Roundtable Conversations Summary: Bishop State Community College

This report summarizes lessons learned from UMA’s June 2023 roundtable conversation with Bishop State Community College in Mobile, Alabama. This roundtable featured the only HBCU in the I&I 2.0 cohort, and reflected many unique community dynamics of the American South. All of the participants remarked that the strong relationships among the major organizations in the region was a major contributing factor to their success and a fundamental building block towards making more strides in the future.

Key lessons from this conversation include:

1. Having tough conversations.

In some parts of this country, bringing up racial and ethnic diversity is akin to acknowledging the elephant in the room. Don’t expect employees and diversity advocates to already have an innate sense of how to tackle these conversations. Instead, Bishop State (and the I&I cohort) developed a culture of support and best practices around individuals that must broach sensitive topics with their workforce partners.

2. Trauma-Informed workplaces.

Frontline supervisors or C-Suite executives cannot play the role of health care provider, but it is imperative that employers build a culture of awareness around trauma, including what it means for their employees and how they can build an environment to support treatment.

3. Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) best practices.

ERGs are a tried and true method for bringing communities of support to a workplace, and thoughtful implementation can go a long way to ensuring employees have cultural sustenance that will boost their sense of belonging. However, businesses should keep in mind those employees on a shop floor or away from a desk that may not have access to these resources, and find equitable ways to reach all employees