University of Baltimore and MCCR's Maryland Equity and Inclusion Leadership Program Gets Underway with Full Class
March 27, 2017
Contact: Public Affairs
Phone: 410.837.5739
The Maryland Equity and Inclusion Leadership Program (MEILP)—a joint effort by the University of Baltimore's Schaefer Center for Public Policy and the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights (MCCR)—successfully launched its inaugural class on March 23 and 24 at UB with 38 participants. The program had twice as many applications as could be accepted, an indication of the high demand from professionals for the tools and support to proactively approach addressing matters of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
"The focus of MEILP is, at its core, about understanding what inclusivity means, and how to achieve and sustain it in the workplace and elsewhere," said Ann Cotten, director of the Schaefer Center. "From the day we announced the program early last fall, there was strong interest from professionals who want to develop leadership skills in this area. It's a topic that consistently generates a lot of interest?and now we have a programmatic approach to match that consideration."
MEILP participants are learning diversity and inclusion best practices, as well as enhancing their personal leadership and management skills. The program seeks to be offered annually, and hopes to create a diverse alumni network from which information can be constantly exchanged. Participants come from the public, private, and non-profit sectors. Over the coming year, this cohort will attend in-person and online sessions to explore the historical underpinnings of racial and social inequities in our society, better enabling them to change the dynamic of a workplace culture in positive, long-lasting ways through the implementation of strategic policies and best practices.
"It is important that we do all that we can within our own sphere of influence to promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace,” states MCCR Executive Director Alvin O. Gillard. "We believe MEILP is a direct response to the needs being expressed across Maryland."
In anticipation of MEILP becoming an annual program, applications for the second class are tentatively scheduled to open up in September, 2017; classes would resume in March, 2018. Go here for additional information on the program and to sign up to be notified when the application period opens.
Learn more about the University of Baltimore's Schaefer Center for Public Policy.
The University of Baltimore is a member of the University System of Maryland and comprises the College of Public Affairs, the Merrick School of Business, the UB School of Law and the Yale Gordon College of Arts and Sciences.
The Maryland Commission on Civil Rights represents the interest of the State of Maryland to ensure equal opportunity for all through enforcement of Title 20 of the State Government Article and Title 19 of the State Finance & Procurement Article, Annotated Code of Maryland. MCCR investigates complaints of discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations and state contracts filed by members of protected classes under federal and state law. Learn more about the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights.