Turning Basin Labs launch event: Becoming An Ally
At TBL we are a cooperative staffing agency that sources and supports temporary and permanent workers.
We provide ownership in our cooperative staffing agency to our most prolific workers, and provide access to benefits to all. This means we do more than more recruitment - we are focused on building a future of work that works for employers and workers alike.
On a beautiful Autumn afternoon over at Checkr’s high-rise offices in downtown San Francisco, Turning Basin Labs hosted our first meetup (see pics attached at bottom :-). Overall it was a success and also a source of huge learning for us. With close to 50 people in attendance we managed to get the mix of participants we wanted, which included workers, leading local employers like Autodesk and Checkr, workforce funders, DEI experts, recruiters, and some incredible volunteers (thank you!).
After a quick introduction and explanation of TBL’s plan and goals, we split into two groups:
Employers Group which explored the themes, challenges and best practice in building DEI programs in your organisation, as well exploring what specifically DEI recruiters need to consider in building their skills and capabilities to deliver effectively for their people - led by Sabrina from Workologie and Salem from Change Catalyst.
Workers Group that engaged over a dozen jobseekers coming from varied backgrounds (formerly incarcerated, recent college grads, immigrants, and 50+ workers, amongst others) and skills (tech, accounting, sales, and customer service) in conversation about finding high-road jobs with local DEI employers like Checkr and Autodesk.
We then had a broader panel discussion with a selection of speakers but also with fantastic contributions from the audience, and we helpfully explored a series of themes such as:
Pushing back on the categorisation of Fair Chance hiring as separate from DEI hiring – when it's all about securing more diverse talent.
Exploring what it means to scale and how scale is not a big programme but hard wiring DEI recruiting approaches into the fabric of an organisation.
We also explored toolkits for diverse candidates to navigate the workplace with a huge focus on being nice, kind and treating everyone well + supporting each other and seeking advice; and
We were reminded that questions about the future of work, AI replacing our jobs, or the move toward reduced worker rights is not inevitable – we the workers can make a choice.
Overall it was an inspiring event, with great contributions from the SF community, where DEI hiring is alive and well. The event ended with drinks and food and networking, and people making great connections (one attendee already got hired through TBL!).
A huge thanks to all of those who helped make this event happen, and to those who attended. In particular a big thanks to Check for hosting and sponsoring, to Workologie and Change Catalyst for bringing their expertise, and to our speakers for making time.
If you'd like to connect with Bay Area workers and high-road employers, please join us again on Thursday, January 30, 2020 in Oakland to discuss how we can close the wage gap for women, minorities, and 50+ workers: More information to follow shortly.
