On Thursday, OSI-Baltimore and Business Volunteers Maryland held the first event in their “Business in Community” Discussion Series, focusing on workforce and employment. You can watch the full event here.
Joe Jones, CEO of the Center for Urban Families and Vice Chair of the OSI-Baltimore Advisory Board, moderated the conversation, which began with a presentation by Seema Iyer of the Baltimore Neighborhood Indicators Alliance. Iyer shared a series of maps showing the major disparities among Baltimore neighborhoods in investment, employment, and access to transportation.
In the ensuing conversation, Jones, Jason Perkins-Cohen, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development, and Lisa Rusyniak, President and CEO of Goodwill Industries, Inc., discussed these disparities and the ways the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated them, and shared ideas to narrow them.
The Business in Community Discussion Series offers an opportunity to learn about challenges facing our community that have been exacerbated by the pandemic and to identify ways for business professionals and their organizations to be part of the solution. Upcoming sessions will focus on “Education and Youth” and Violence Prevention and Safety.” If you would like to participate, email Evan Serpick for an invitation.
