The W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Battle Creek, Michigan, has announced the launch of a program aimed at transforming corporate workplaces into equitable places of opportunity.

Piloted earlier this year in partnership with five financial services firms with more than $300 billion in assets under management, the Expanding Equity program will provide corporations with the tools, knowledge, and human-centered approaches needed to create workplaces that attract, develop, retain, and promote diverse talent. Among other things, the nine-month program offers a supportive learning environment; access to racial equity/healing tools, coaching, and expertise; a racial equity mini-diagnostic tool designed to provide baseline information that can be used to inform internal employee development initiatives, engagement, and retention strategies; workshops that support peer learning, problem solving, and the development of concrete plans for piloting internal racial equity initiatives; and specialized leadership programming.

According to the foundation, all five firms in the pilot project rated the program highly and said they would recommend it to other firms. The program currently is recruiting participant companies for 2021 and 2022.

"Right now, many companies have the desire to expand racial equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts but are wondering how to take action within their organizations," said WKKF president and CEO La June Montgomery Tabron. "The [f]oundation has been on our own journey in this work. We have experience and expertise to share with the corporate sector and recognize this is the time to offer it more directly. Doing so can drive better results for companies and create a more just economy where all families can thrive."