Partnership Chosen to Participate in Minority Community College Program

The Greater Des Moines Partnership will participate in a new national program to help strengthen the chamber of commerce’s partnerships with community colleges and organizations to increase the number of people of color who earn degrees or diplomas. According to a press release, the Partnership is one of seven organizations selected by the Association of Chambers of Commerce Executives [ACCE] to participate in the program. “We have an opportunity to be more intentional in reaching out to members of any of our identified untapped talent communities who are looking to get the training they need to qualify for local job openings,” said said Marvin DeJear Jr., senior vice president of talent. development within the Partnership. The ACCE Foundation and the American Association of Community Colleges have identified a virtual cohort of teams from seven cities or regions. Each team will be made up of a chamber of commerce, a community college and an organization representing minority communities. Partnership will partner with Des Moines Area Community College, Evelyn K. Davis Center for Working Families, Director’s Council, Oakridge Neighborhood, Children and Families of Iowa, and United Way’s Central Iowa Works program of Central Iowa. The team will join counterparts from other regions in monthly virtual meetings to gain access to national experts, receive technical assistance and engage in peer-to-peer activities to develop long-term collaborative strategies. The Lumina Foundation provided a grant to start the process. Other communities participating in the program are Aurora, Illinois, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Cleveland, Fargo, ND, North Central Massachusetts, and Tallahassee, Florida.