Worcester Business Journal

22 Worcester Business Journal | September 4, 2023 | wbjournal.com Date: Saturday, September 9, 2023 In Case of Rain Date: Saturday, September 23, 2023 Time: 9 am to 2 pm Location: YMCA Fuller Family Park 104 Murray Ave, Worcester, MA Screenings | Information | Community Resources | Family Fun Health Screenings Health Education Resources Community Resources Family Fun Activities Raffle – Grand Prize: $250 Gift Card Interpreter Services Available! Sponsors: Scan QR code to register as a Community Health Fair volunteer. Promoting Healing, Hope and Health Equity e Japanese word "Gemba" means "the real place." At UMass Memorial Health, we go to the Gemba – the place where the actual work happens – to gain knowledge and apply innovative ideas to become the best place to give care and the best place to get care. A year ago, we used the Gemba to engage in a conversation with our Ghanaian employees (or caregivers, as all employees are known). During listening sessions at our Medical Center, our Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (ODEIB) and Human Resources leaders joined other leaders from Housekeeping, Food Services, Environmental Services and Nursing to hear unique perspectives and experiences from our caregivers who are also immigrants. We asked them if they felt a sense of belonging, of being respected and valued. If opportunities to grow their careers are offered and fostered. We also wanted their sug- gestions about how to get more great people to come to work with us. eir ideas about improving our relationship with the Ghanaian community are helping to enhance our recruitment and retention efforts. Listening and learning are at the heart of the ODEIB's Special Populations Project, focused on people from immigrant communities in Central Massachusetts. rough the feedback gained from our Ghanaian caregivers – feedback that was both concerning and empowering – we have charted a course to change internal operations and strengthen external connections. In partnership with caregiver Afrakomah Agyeman, the ODEIB, our Talent Acqui- sition team and the Ghanaian Church of Pentecost in Worcester hosted our first career fair within this community in March. Members of our Workforce Development and Organization and People Development teams encouraged attendees to explore a variety of roles across all shis at each UMass Memorial Health entity. We were ready with iPads for easy application submission and members of the church's congregation served as translators, if needed. e high level of engagement on the part of the fair's attendees was an incredible start, and Talent Acquisition continues to partner with those interested as new roles and programs open. Other suggestions inspired by the listening sessions includ- ed establishing at Church of Pentecost a food pantry, trans- portation assistance and a free health clinic. e latter has led to the inaugural Worcester Multicultural Community Health Fair, this Saturday, September 9, from 9 am to 2 pm at Fuller Family Park. e Fair – co-sponsored with UMass Memorial Health by the City of Worcester, My Health Matters Inc., the YMCA and the Upper Room Family International Church – offers attendees access not only to health information but also employment opportunities. Our Talent Acquisition team will be ready to greet community members interested in joining our organization, and their presence at the health fair is one example of how UMass Memorial Health recruitment efforts have evolved. For example, Talent Acquisition responds to a candidate within 48 hours of application submission to help expedite the interview and hiring processes. In-person recruitment events co-hosted with community partners including MassHire, Quinsigamond Community College, Mount Wachusett Community College and Worcester North High School. Recruitment advertising is provided in languages spoken in our local communities. Fueled by the tangible results of going to "the real place" – the hearts and minds of our caregivers – to improve their experiences at UMass Memorial Health, our Special Populations Project listening sessions continue, with the engagement of our workforce members from the Albanian community next. As an organization focused on the relent- less pursuit of healing – within our own ranks and the communities we serve – we are fortunate to have a diversity of voices as our guide. Eric Dickson, MD, President and CEO, UMass Memorial Health Brian Gibbs, PhD, Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Officer, UMass Memorial Health Learning from Employees to Recruit a Workforce Reflecting Our Communities Eric Dickson, MD, President and CEO F O C U S D I V E R S I T Y & I N C L U S I O N Special Sponsored Section Brian Gibbs, PhD, MPA, Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Officer W

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