Business Equity for Indy Archives - The Central Indiana Corporate Partnership

Business Equity chair says group’s overall mission hasn’t changed with political winds

Courtney Kerr2025-07-10T13:47:39-04:00July 10, 2025|

This release was originally published by IBJ on July 4, 2025. Click here to read the original release. In the wake of the 2020 protests after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, Indianapolis business leaders committed to driving measurable progress in advancing racial equity in a group called Business Equity for Indy. Jeffrey Harrison, CEO of Citizens Energy Group, has served as that coalition’s leader since its founding. Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, Indy Chamber and the Indianapolis Urban League are partners in the work. BEI launched with 11 member companies; it now has 50. Each member has pledged to adopt at least one BEI recommendation or strategy, a list that includes participation in a modern apprenticeship program, certification as a company that pays more than $18 an hour with benefits, and implementation of best practices [...]

Kristen Lampkin Named to 2025 IBJ Forty Under 40 Class

Courtney Kerr2025-04-24T10:02:41-04:00April 16, 2025|

Kristen Lampkin leads Business Equity for Indy, a joint effort of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and the Indy Chamber, in collaboration with the Indianapolis Urban League. The initiative aims to promote workplace diversity and foster economic opportunity for people of color through training, resources, data and advocacy. Central to her role is building relationships with other nonprofits, community organizations and partners. “Kristen Lampkin’s work and leadership,” one peer said, “is at the forefront of growing a more inclusive business environment.” Lampkin helped launch the People Community of Practice, a forum to provide guidance to hiring professionals as they look to increase diversity within their companies. She also guided a Mentors of Color event, which connected 40 young Black professionals with local business leaders. She is CEO of HR Guru LLC, which helps professionals with their LinkedIn profile and [...]

Tobias Leadership Center announces 2025 cohort of Tobias Fellows

Courtney Kerr2025-04-16T10:35:52-04:00December 20, 2024|

The Randall L. Tobias Center for Leadership Excellence at Indiana University introduces the 20th class of Tobias Fellows, an exclusive cohort designed to enhance the leadership skills of high-talent, experienced leaders. “The 2025 Fellows are accomplished leaders committed to refining their leadership knowledge and skills,” said Julie Manning Magid, executive and academic director of the Tobias Leadership Center and vice dean of the Kelley School of Business Indianapolis. “Their experiences during this transformative journey will drive innovation and strategic insights that benefit their organizations and communities.” During the year-long program, Fellows receive individual coaching and meet at 11 leadership retreats for innovative experiential programming designed to develop six key leadership competencies and offer unique insights to address the complex issues facing executive-level leaders. The program provides intensive study in leadership, bringing theory into practice and developing actionable skills. The ability to interact with [...]

Business Equity for Indy launches free membership program

Raquel Bahamonde2023-07-20T08:57:49-04:00July 20, 2023|

INDIANAPOLIS (July 20, 2023) – Business Equity for Indy (BEI), a collective of local organizations committed to advancing racial equity and driving results for Black residents and residents of color, announces a new, free membership program. Through the new, free membership program, organizations will transparently share their commitment to and progress toward advancing racial equity. It is also an opportunity to join a collective, like-minded effort to learn best practices and find new resources to support their strategies for equity and inclusion. “We are thrilled to introduce our membership program, which is a critical catalyst for change in Indianapolis. By joining forces with Business Equity for Indy, organizations can make a tangible impact in addressing racial disparities while unlocking the immense potential that diversity and inclusion bring to their businesses,” said Jeffrey Harrison, chair of Business Equity for Indy and [...]

Business Equity for Indy launches Workforce Pilot

Raquel Bahamonde2023-01-13T13:05:58-05:00December 7, 2022|

INDIANAPOLIS (December 7, 2022)—Business Equity for Indy (BEI) announced today the launch of an inaugural Workforce Pilot. The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation awarded a grant to the Indy Chamber Foundation in support of the BEI effort to support small- and medium-sized companies in their efforts to reduce racial disparities and drive equity within businesses. Implementation of these strategies will help these companies build and retain diverse teams—a proven way to spur innovation and increase competitiveness. “Filling job openings—particularly with diverse talent—remains one of the most significant challenges facing our members today,” said Taylor Hughes, vice president of policy and strategy, Indy Chamber. “Through the BEI Workforce Pilot, companies will be equipped with strategies and resources to develop equitable talent pipelines, enhance inclusive hiring practices, and support the health and wellbeing of a diverse workforce. Ultimately, this opportunity is built to [...]

Indianapolis Recorder: Business Equity for Indy: 2-Year Anniversary Reflections

Raquel Bahamonde2022-10-28T10:48:07-04:00October 21, 2022|

During the summer of 2020, at the height of racial tensions coupled with the dire, disproportional impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the Central Indiana business community united to form Business Equity for Indy (BEI). Through this initiative — a partnership of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership and Indy Chamber with support from the Indianapolis Urban League, led by 120 growing businesses — we’re working to create collaborative, sustainable solutions to dismantle more than 240 years of systemic racism, injustice and inequity that are preventing our Black and brown Hoosiers from opportunity and advancement. Article by Jeffrey A. Harrison, chair of Business Equity for Indy, and President and CEO of Citizens Energy Group. [READ MORE] (Source: Indianapolis Recorder)

Racial disparities in education and workforce limit opportunities for individuals and talent for employers

Raquel Bahamonde2021-11-09T10:36:45-05:00November 9, 2021|

Report finds poor K-12 outcomes, high waiver diploma usage, and declining college enrollment among the key factors in education and workforce opportunity gaps. INDIANAPOLIS (November 9, 2021) — Black and Hispanic residents in Indiana and Marion County experience significant gaps in education outcomes and employment opportunities compared to white residents, a new analysis shows. Disparities are pronounced in K-12 education and continue through postsecondary education and the workforce, hindering individuals’ ability to prosper, businesses’ ability to thrive, and the vitality of the city and state. The report, released today by Business Equity for Indy’s (BEI) Learning and Talent Opportunities Taskforce, examines public data from the U.S. Census, Indiana Management Performance Hub and other state agencies. The Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation and Ascend Indiana produced the analysis. In Marion County, of the 3,077 Black students who graduated high school in the [...]

Business Equity for Indy marks one year of advancing racial equality

Raquel Bahamonde2021-10-26T05:26:09-04:00October 25, 2021|

INDIANAPOLIS – Business Equity for Indy (BEI), a joint venture of Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) and the Indy Chamber, in collaboration with the Indianapolis Urban League, today hosted a virtual event to highlight the corporate community’s progress in activities and programs to improve racial equity and economic opportunity across Central Indiana. “Business Equity for Indy (BEI) was formed last summer during a period of intense racial tension across our nation following the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Over the past year, BEI member companies have come together to outline meaningful actions to advance racial equity across Central Indiana,” said Jeffrey Harrison, BEI Chair and President & CEO of Citizens Energy Group. The event also commemorated one year of the Indy Racial Equity Pledge, a commitment by corporate and civic organizations to advance racial equity in Indianapolis and neighboring [...]

Business Equity for Indy publishes playbook to help employers navigate workforce vaccinations

Raquel Bahamonde2021-09-13T08:31:02-04:00September 1, 2021|

INDIANAPOLIS (September 1, 2021)— With cases of the COVID-19 delta variant on the rise in recent weeks and the FDA’s full approval of the Pfizer vaccine, Business Equity for Indy’s (BEI) Impediments to Health Taskforce has published the Vaccinations Employer Playbook to provide clear, actionable recommendations and implementation resources for employers of all sizes to increase employee vaccination rates. These resources are designed to be especially valuable for small and medium-sized businesses, consolidating critical insights to assist decision-makers. “The delta variant is surging across the nation. It is more transmissible, often more severe, and is stretching our medical system to its limit,” said Chris Weaver, Chief Clinical Officer, IU Health. “Employers have a critical role to help protect their employees and increase vaccination rates to end the pandemic. The Vaccinations Employer Playbook was created to be a helpful tool for [...]

Business Equity for Indy (BEI): Beyond the Logo contest – Winners announced

Raquel Bahamonde2021-08-09T07:46:04-04:00August 6, 2021|

Over the past year, the global pandemic has challenged us in ways that we did not think possible. For Black people and other communities of color, those challenges have been heightened by preexisting racial disparities and inequities. For others, these compounding issues have created a call for meaningful action and immediate progress toward racial equity. Businesses are stepping up with a strengthened commitment to make concrete changes to the way they do business in an effort to advance racial equity around our region. The Business Equity for Indy (BEI) initiative, a joint venture between the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP) and the Indy Chamber in collaboration with the Indianapolis Urban League, was formed in response to these calls for action. The initiative is now looking to brand its work and over the past several months has conducted the "Beyond [...]

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