Amid Heightened Racial Awareness, Corp! Honors Diversity Leaders
We as a country are becoming more aware of systemic racism and racial inequities within our business communities. The need for leadership with cultural intelligence and an eye for system transformation is in high demand. Individual leaders and organizations are stepping up to create new and/or improved diversity and inclusion programs within their companies in an effort to battle systemic and institutional racism. At the Corp! Magazine Diversity Awards and Conference held Oct. 5-8, more than 60 companies and individuals who are leading the way were honored for their efforts at diversity and inclusion in three categories; Diversity Focused Companies, Diversity Business Leaders and Diversity Champions.
The WM NAHSE Chapter has two of it’s leaders and their organizations recognized; Ovell Barbee, chapter president as a Diversity Business Leader for his work as senior vice president for human resources and the chief diversity officer for Spectrum Health, and GRAAHI, Grand Rapids African American Health Institute, as a Diversity Champion. Micah Foster, chapter president elect, is the executive director of GRAAHI. There were 60 awards presented for some incredible work that is being done across the state, but our leaders stand tall and are outstanding among their peers for the exceptional work being done here in the Greater Grand Rapids, West Michigan area.
Having this caliber of leadership within our Western Michigan Chapter puts us in a unique position to carry this conversation forward with all of our region’s healthcare provider organizations to find out what their positions are and what initiatives they have in place around diversity, equity and inclusion, Education and conversations will help produce positive impact and change as we continue to open people’s eyes. NAHSE as an organization prides itself on bringing fourth that next generation of executive leadership and it won’t happen unless we drive the change forward that is needed and that so many young black professionals and organizations lacking diversity in our community are waiting for.
Please join us in congratulating both Ovell and Micah for their awards and for the work they do in our community. Be part of the change and continue the conversation within your organizations and with leaders of other organizations to keep the momentum going that will lead to a brighter and more equitable future for our entire community.
Diversity Business Leaders
Ovell Barbee
Barbee is the senior vice president for human resources and the chief diversity officer for Grand Rapids-based Spectrum Health, a not-for-profit, integrated health system with a network of hospitals and care facilities in Southwest and West Michigan. The health system provided $585 million in community benefit in fiscal year 2019 and received $30 million in philanthropy to support research, academics, innovation and clinical care.
In 2017, CEO Tina Freese Decker signed the #123 for Equity Pledge to eliminate healthcare disparities; increase workforce diversity at all levels, including board members; increase supplier diversity; commit to engaging in community; and provide cultural competency education to all employees. In June 2020, after the murder of George Floyd and a large protest in the community, Spectrum recognized team members were hurting and created a Day of Understanding on Juneteenth 2020 to host conversations about racism, Black Lives Matter, allyship and intersectionality.
Spectrum also has Inclusion Resource Groups, which are employee created and led groups that have been formed around common demographics, characteristics and shared interests such as support for African Americans, Latinx inclusion, support of LGBTQIA individuals, Veterans’ issues, people living with disabilities and others.
In the hiring process, Spectrum has implemented a panel interview style to eliminate bias. Its Talent Acquisition Team members have gone through implicit bias training. Every year Spectrum holds a week-long volunteer event where employees volunteer at various community organizations in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King. In 2020 more than 600 volunteers across west and southeast participated.
Since 2018 Spectrum has implemented a quarterly survey to all team members to gauge employee engagement and belonging.
Barbee is perhaps best known in the community for efforts to “Stop the Silence,” having spent a whole year meeting with and talking to leaders throughout the Grand Rapids community to understand their perceptions, challenges and attitudes with Spectrum Health.
“I work to help leaders understand how they play a crucial role in culture change,” Barbee said. “I also mentor young professionals and contribute to the organizations that supported me throughout my education. In February 2020, I was humbled to receive the Grand Rapids Community College’s Giants African-American Leadership award specifically the Walter Coe Public Service Award for my commitment to helping others.”
Diversity Champions
Grand Rapids African American Health Institute
The Grand Rapids African American Health Institute is devoted to achieving healthcare parity for African Americans. Driven by research and committed to education and advocacy, GRAAHI aims to create awareness of systemic inequities and develop strategies to achieve positive health outcomes for all communities.
The value position diversity presents has empowered GRAAHI to dedicate itself to achieving healthcare parity in the African American Community. It is the driving force behind programs that connect communities to health wellness education. GRAAHI’s programming includes Real Women Real Change, Diabetes Empowerment Network, Senior Care, and Strong Fathers.
Executive Director Micah Foster said GRAAHI’s presence in the community has “provided the opportunity to engage” across sectors with employers and other organizations. This has created a behavior of intentional relationship building that is essential to fostering an environment of inclusion. GRAAHI is determined to fight health equity issues and disparities in West Michigan. They continue to set the standard for responsible data collection and reporting at the community level. By collecting, recording, and disseminating data beneficial to the improvement of African American health and wellness, GRAAHI provides West Michigan with recommendations to make a real impact.
“GRAAHI is built upon a foundation rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Foster said. “Though GRAAHI’s efforts are focused on healthcare, diversity in all situations including in the workplace is of great importance to the organization and its mission to end disparities among minorities.”
Source for details from article are from Everything Business Corp! web article found at https://www.corpmagazine.com/interest/diversity/amid-heightened-racial-awareness-corp-honors-diversity-leaders/