Supporting Black And non-Black Workers of Color in the age of Covid-19

Associated Black Charities (ABC) will hold its fourth of the popular series SOS Virtual Summits on Tuesday June 23 from 10:30 AM-12:00 PM. This online program is for employers, employees, and those wanting more understanding of the underlying systemic issues and needed remedies to address the negative impacts of the pandemic in the Baltimore region.

Anticipating a large response, ABC is directing people interested in participating to register here. There is no fee to participate.

The summit, sponsored by PNC Bank, will provide critical information on the impacts on workforce hiring and retention in the Age of Covid-19, as well asan exploration of ways to support Black and non-Black workers of color when Baltimore begins to recover from the initial pandemic.

Speakers for this session include Jim Britton, founder and president of Class Act Catering; Laura Gamble, regional president for the MD Region, PNC Bank; Laura Geissler, director of The Leadership Institute, LifeBridge Health; and Thomas Penny III, President of Donohoe Hospitality Services

According to Diane Bell McKoy, CEO of ABC, “America has now discovered that its ‘essential workers’ are Black and other non-Black People of Color: the very same people who are usually ‘…last hired and first fired’, lower-wage, lower benefits, in maximum risk environments.”

“As employers begin to reemerge, we are now seeing that these workers are again among the last to successfully recover, economically, from any crisis.”

Presenters will share their thoughts on what employers should be doing to support these workers as Maryland transitions to different phases of opening. They will also cover topics regarding pay, benefits, how we can function in the new workspaces, and what “business as usual” may and should look like in this continuing Age of Covid-19.

Previous SOS sessions included Supporting Black-owned Businesses in the Age of COVID-19 in Mayand Supporting Black led Nonprofits in the Age of COVID-19 Tips for Applying for Foundation Funding in late April..

ABC works across Maryland as an educator, advocate, and supporter to eliminate race-based structural barriers and advance long-term solutions that create new opportunities for African Americans to thrive financially and build a stronger economy for all.