James Burroughs
, senior vice president, government and community relations, chief equity and inclusion officer at Children’s Minnesota, was one of four Twin Cities diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) leaders selected for a panel discussion in July focusing on the importance of recruiting and retaining professionals of color. The Minneapolis/St. Business Journal’s DEI Update forum covered many important topics surrounding the significance of establishing and maintaining an inclusive corporate culture – especially in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the forum in downtown Minneapolis, Burroughs highlighted the strategizes that helped Children’s Minnesota diversify its Executive Leadership Team. He also shared how nearly a quarter of Children’s Minnesota’s employees are professionals of color, and the organization has a staffing goal to increase that amount to 34% by 2024.
“Equity and inclusion must be a core part of all business practices, from break-time meals to corporate boardroom meetings, for DEI to become fully integrated — especially practices where minority groups are not in the room,” Burroughs said during the event according to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
Burroughs’ was joined on the panel by (pictured left to right):
- Courtney Schroeder, director, diversity, equity and inclusion at General Mills Inc.
- Colette Campbell, chief talent acquisition and diversity officer at Bremer Financial Corp.
- Ieesha McKinzie Collins, managing director at ConnextMSP, Greater MSP Partnership
You can read more about the event in the Minneapolis/St. Business Journal with a paid subscription.
