When thinking back to when the worldwide shutdown was put into place in 2020 due to COVID-19, people across the globe experienced job loss, or having to move to remote environments. This caused major turmoil for many families who previously had what they needed to make ends meet. The reality of financial crisis and not being able to afford necessities was traumatic for many families, especially for children and youth. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, adults in households with children were more likely to not have enough to eat compared to households without children.
The intersecting ongoing pandemic of systemic racial inequity continues to harm communities of color, especially in the workplace. Racism in the workplace is prevalent across the United States, impacting workers of all ages. A study by the Youth Futures Foundation found that almost half of young people who identify as ethnic minorities have experienced racism when attempting to enter the workforce. As we embrace Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) in the workplace as critical initiatives that benefit all staff, organizations must commit to building the infrastructure necessary to support a thriving workforce that is growing in multi-generational diversity across race, ethnicity, ability, and other identity markers.
It is important to note that some individuals may lean on their workplace as an escape from their home life or may just need extra support. Working in a supportive, affirming, and trauma-informed environment can be beneficial for an individual’s wellbeing. Below you will find toolkits and guides for becoming a trauma-informed workplace.
There are many steps an organization can take in order to combat racism to make the workplace a safer place for young people of color. Featured resource from ChildTrends:
Integrating a Racial and Ethnic Equity Lens into Workforce Development Training for Young Adults (2021) explores how one local partnership in the Generation Work initiative, led by the Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana (GCSI) and specifically its Excel Center® adult high schools—rolled out REEI training for its staff throughout the organization as part of its recognition that PYD approaches would have limited reach without more explicit REEI work.