Climbing a Moving Ladder: Navigating the Politics of Inequality

Racial disparities in workforce opportunities, upward mobility, and compensation and benefits are, in large part, attributed to labor markets structurally designed to perpetuate inequality in the workplace. While private and public sector investments in DEI initiatives address the aforementioned gaps and create safe spaces for employees facing discrimination or other shared concerns, it is also important to center your own personal circumstances, networks, challenges, and opportunities in order to customize a career path of success that recognizes an imperfect, nonlinear, and often unfair processes that face so many of us who may identify as BIPOC, first gen, LGBTQIA+. Dr. Demessie will provide a realistic overview of equity and equality in the workplace and the necessary steps to help empower you to make more informed decisions on your roadmap to success.

Speaker: Menna Demessie '02 , Ph.D. Race & Ethnic Politics Scholar, DEI Strategist

Dr. Menna Demessie is a political scientist, public policy professional, and social justice advocate with a track record of advancing research and policy solutions to bridge the racial gap across a host of socioeconomic issues including voting rights, criminal justice reform, minority access to capital, and employment. As the former SVP of Policy and Research and the Leadership Institute for the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Dr. Demessie spent a decade spearheading partnerships with the White House, Congress and nonprofits.

This event fulfills one of the workshop requirements for Junior Practicum and Senior Launch. 

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