Mercy Health Partners
Muskegon, Mich.

> View the full listing of programs

The Diversity and Inclusion Council was developed shortly after the merger of Mercy General and Hackley Hospital in 2008. Director of employment/diversity & inclusion, Cynthia Hines leads the group. The purpose of the Diversity & Inclusion Council is to create and sustain an organizational culture that includes a unified workforce through training, education, recruitment, retention and development that respects individuals of different backgrounds. Culturally competent associates are able to recognize the cultural beliefs, values, traditions, language preferences and health practices of the community we serve. We can then apply that knowledge to produce positive health outcomes.

The Committee's activities include:

• Annual health career fairs for area high school students.
• Annual Hispanic heritage and Black history programs that educate, inform and entertain our associates and the community.
• "Annual Holidays Around the World Celebration" on all MHP campuses, which celebrates the diverse cultures represented at MHP.
• Support of the annual MLK Unity Breakfast.
• Partnering with the Black Nurses Association to give nursing scholarships to minority students.
• Developing the Associate Resource Groups — People of Color and Aspiring Professionals to engage, develop, educate and advance the hiring and promoting of talented associates.

The Committee will use a mini-grant from the Michigan Department of Community Health to present two community education events on health disparities reduction and minority health to commemorate Minority Health Month in April 2011.