When Greg Allen moved to Denver, he focused on his environment, new activities and new city. But he still missed the comforts of cities with larger African-American populations and more cultural activities.
It wasn’t until he volunteered with the Colorado Association of Black Professional Engineers and Scientists that he discovered his place in the community. Other members of the organization shared their experiences, pointed him toward churches and black arts festivals and other African-American events.
“They were the people that plugged me in,” Allen remembers of that time after moving to Denver in 1994 from Atlanta. “When you come to Denver, you find that the cultural outlets, the places to eat, the musicians are not at the same level you experienced before.”
Now Allen, who manages employee resource planning at ProLogis, hopes to share his experience with new Denverites of color through a Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce program called “Welcome Denver” that kicks off today.
The program, considered a “multicultural retention initiative,” is a formal networking program for people of color in mid- to senior-level positions. The program is intended to connect employees and their families with other professionals of color, ethnic organizations and social networks.
The goal, organizers say, is quick community access and connectivity.
The program originated with Dell Hendon, director of talent acquisition and diversity for Coors Brewing Co., who found that recruiting and retaining talented professionals of color was not just his challenge, but a challenge across industries.
“We want to make sure people can rapidly connect with others in their community,” Hendon said. “Make sure that people understood where they could get some basic things, such as where to get a haircut or particular ethnic food.”
Today, Luke Visconti, partner and co-founder of DiversityInc Magazine, is speaking to the inaugural group of about 20 participants. Companies that send employees pay $250 a person per session. There will be four sessions each year; the first is being hosted by Coors.
“This organization can provide the nucleus for Denver to begin to build the kind of culture that stops brain drain, because you can keep the people you bring to the city or who grow up in the city,” Visconti said.
