​​I often find myself reflecting on where I’ve been and where I’m going at the end of a year. I’m sure many of you do the same. There seems to be no better time to appreciate the lessons learned, celebrate the wins, and bring into focus the dreams for a new year. 

There's a saying that with every challenge comes an opportunity. My journey over the past few years has been filled with both. 

In 2018, I was frustrated. Our country was becoming increasingly polarized and it felt as if the progress we’d made toward gender and racial equality had stalled. I’d experienced firsthand how a question about your previous salary could impact your future earnings, regardless of the role or responsibilities. I'd seen women in low wage jobs struggle without access to paid parental leave or even unpaid FMLA. I listened as a friend shared how she was denied a full-time job because of her pregnancy. While talent isn't limited by gender, race, or any other identity, opportunities often are. I knew we could do better—we had to do better. Recently laid off and with a young daughter at home, I set out to design an employer certification fueled by data that would create a race to the top. And with supportive partners, a community of courageous employers, an experienced Advisory Board, and a talented team, that's exactly what Queen City Certified has done.

My goal this year was to empower organizations—and people—to lead with empathy, compassion, and understanding. To dig deeper into the systems that benefit some people, but harm others. To share the skills, tools, and data needed to make meaningful change. No doubt, the global pandemic has taken its toll. But despite its challenges, 2021 has been a transformative year full of growth. I’m grateful for the silver linings.

Our collaborative learning sessions are a key component of our program. Moving from an in-person model to virtual one felt overwhelming at first, but it enabled Queen City Certified to bring together more employers and partners from around the country that align with our mission. 

We expanded our Advisory Board and our team, growing from one employee to four. We participated in Flywheel's ElevateEquity accelerator and secured funding from Main Street Ventures and Miami University's Social Impact Fund. We are using the funds to develop a tech-enabled platform that will help us engage a broader audience, streamline our processes, and scale sustainably, amplifying our impact nationwide.

To better serve mid-sized and large employers, we began offering custom cohorts, the first of which was completed this year. The program included customized learning sessions for a cross-departmental team, employee surveys disaggregated by operational units and demographic subgroups, a policy assessment, a pay equity audit, an ideation session, and action planning.

In addition, Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF), the region's leading community foundation, became the first employer to receive Gold-level certification. While equity and inclusion have long been foundational for GCF, Queen City Certified helped the organization refine and reframe its values.

As a result of partnering with Queen City Certified, GCF introduced parental and caregiver leave that provides 16 weeks of paid leave for parents of all genders and includes adoption, foster care, and surrogacy. They also adjusted their pay practices and hiring processes, and hosted multiple listening sessions that invited employees to co-create new approaches to workplace policies. 

Our team loves what we do because we are witnesses for what's possible. Our clients come to us with a desire to implement transformative change. We know this work isn’t easy or fast— we don't shy away from complexity. Our goal is to provide employers with a systems-level approach and a structured process. In all honesty, the hard work is done by them. The data we provide uncovers opportunities to improve employee experience and promote economic justice. We accompany employers on their journey, acting as a sounding board and a partner. We challenge assumptions and push employers to set and achieve lofty goals so that as industry leaders, they can set new standards for workplace equity.  

2021 has helped Queen City Certified become a driver of change. It would not have been possible without the resources provided by People's Liberty, Flywheel, Miami University’s Social Impact Fund, and Main Street Ventures. I am incredibly grateful for the guidance and support provided by my family, our Advisory Board, the QCC team, our facilitators and researchers, our mentors at Pinnacle Action Coach and HCDC, and all of the people and community partners that have contributed to our work and success. The past two years have been challenging for us all, but we are inspired by the possibilities and opportunities that lie ahead. We’re grateful to be on this journey with you. 

—Nicole

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