A business dedicated to diversity

Cleveland's CHARP EDucation Consulting a recipient of $15K Citizens Minority-Owned Small Business Grant

Diversity matters. Diversity of culture, race, background, faith, class, gender, and thought. It all matters, and it is often missing in the places it should matter most.

Charesha Barrett, president of CHARP EDucation Consulting LLC in Cleveland, offers diversity and inclusion (D&I) consulting and training to community and business leaders. Her goal is to provide them with the tools they’ll need to build a culture of belonging. Barrett is quick to note that her nationally recognized diversity training isn’t just a blueprint for social change — it’s also a smart business strategy.

By 2050, the United States is expected to be a 'majority-minority' country, as reported by Barrett, and echoed in this 2019 Chicago Reporter article. By educating business owners on how to create a more welcoming and inclusive workplace environment, Barrett is preparing them to not only survive, but thrive during this cultural shift. Her training sessions include topics like how to facilitate tough conversations, understanding equity and how it differs from equality, and even how to avoid potential discrimination lawsuits.

By doing the work now, she insists that her clients will be better positioned to attract the best-of-the-best from a much larger pool of talented candidates in the future. It’s Barrett’s mission to instill this competitive advantage in her native Cleveland and around the country.

“Every nation has its own culture, but in America, we get to have a collection of them,” Barrett notes with both optimism and pride in her voice. “It’s important for the next generation of leaders to recognize and celebrate the diversity of color and culture that we have here, so that everyone has a fair shot at making it in this wonderful country.”

More and more companies are starting to invest in diversity and inclusion because the growing benefits are becoming increasingly evident. In fact, research has shown that executive teams with a top 25 percent ranking for racial and ethnic diversity were 33 percent more likely to see financial returns above the national median in their respective industries.

CHARP’s clientele includes a variety of institutions, organizations and businesses, such as Notre Dame College, The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Ohio’s Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, and the Cleveland Public Library.

According to CHARP EDucation’s website, Barrett’s work aims to, “assist businesses in gaining competitive advantages by utilizing evidence-based practices to recruit, retain, and promote diverse top talent.”

While the popularity of Diversity and Inclusion programs has gained momentum recently, Barrett is not new to the effort. She’s about to celebrate her sixth year in business as a D&I consultant.

Barrett started out as a middle school teacher, but knew she wanted to reach people beyond the classroom. “I wanted to help the people in my local neighborhoods understand how to get ahead, while also educating larger businesses on why diversity matters,” she says.

Education as the foundation

So, what sets Barrett apart from other the D&I agencies that are popping up around the country? Her social studies background.

“I teach everything through a historical lens,” she notes. “Especially throughout inner-city neighborhoods, I want to remove barriers and advance opportunities for historically marginalized individuals.”

Perhaps the best way to illustrate the true meaning behind this effort is to share this perfectly put Shirley Chisholm quote that is highlighted on The CHARP EDucation website: “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”

Right now, Barrett is committed to educating her Cleveland community on the power of voting and the historical implication of why it is so important for their underserved communities to take action.

“I’m passionate about family and community engagement,” says Barrett. “I want every person in this country to be more civically minded and better prepared to make educated decisions.”

Education seems to be the common thread of Barrett’s professional life. On top of her teaching experience, she has also been dedicated to furthering her own education in order to better serve her mission. She is an alumna of The Institute for Educational Leadership's Education Policy Fellowship Program, and she holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from The University of Akron. Even more, she holds two graduate degrees from Cleveland State University, with specializations in Supervision and Adult Learning & Development.

Like many small businesses right now, CHARP EDucation Consulting, LLC has been affected by the COVID-19 crisis. For a consulting firm that relies heavily on face-to-face and heart-to-heart discussions, this time of social distancing has been particularly tough for business. However, Barrett is more than motivated to move forward. She is planning a summit in April of 2021, which will focus on helping educators to be on the right side of history – a diversity, equity and inclusion project.

CHARP EDucation receives $15K grant

In honor of Barrett’s hard work and dedication, Citizens has awarded CHARP EDucation with $15,000 through the Citizens Minority-Owned Small Business Grant program. CHARP EDucation is one of 100 recipients of a $15,000 grant, part of a $1.5 million commitment to minority-owned businesses regardless if they’re a customer or not.

“I’m so grateful to have been selected for this grant,” Barrett exclaimed. “Everything I do is centered around empowerment through education, and this money is going to help me stay focused on that mission.”

“It’s important for the next generation of leaders to recognize and celebrate the diversity of color and culture that we have here, so that everyone has a fair shot at making it in this wonderful country.”

Charesha Barrett, president of CHARP EDucation Consulting.

As a busy small business owner, Barrett wears many hats, which is why she plans to use part of the grant money to hire marketing and office support. By bringing in help, she can put more time into growing CHARP EDucation and furthering her credentials as a D&I expert.

“I plan to use some of the money to get a certification as a diversity professional through Cornell University,” says Barrett. “I took one of the required courses this past summer, and would love the opportunity to complete the program.”

As a self-starter and community-driven business owner, Barrett is looking ahead with clear goals and an unwavering mission to bring diversity to places it matters most.

Everywhere.

Small business advice that works

It takes a lot of courage and determination to start a business, and perhaps even more to keep one going.

We asked Barrett to share a few pieces of advice on how to turn a fledgling start-up into a sustainable success:

1. Never give up. Keep on pushing forward, even when you get frustrated. You will undoubtedly encounter trials along the way, but if you keep a growth mindset, you will eventually break through.
2. Educate yourself. Utilize free resources, like local and even virtual small business workshops. Every training and workshop you attend is going to give you additional tools that will make you a stronger and better-connected business owner.
3. Surround yourself with positive people. Even the most independent person is going to need people in their life to cheer them on when things get hard. Dreams are much easier to achieve, when you have a supportive community of friends, family, and business associates.

Looking forward to 2021

The rules have changed and the world of business is looking very different these days, but that doesn’t mean the work stops. Here are some ways Barrett plans to continue her mission with a new sense of focus and fire in the new year:

1. Do the work. If you are committed to your goals, then never stop working toward them. Especially when times are hard, you can’t put off doing the work. It can be tough to meet financial needs every month, but if you stay diligent and focused, you can pull through.
2. Develop goals. Every week check in with yourself and make sure you’re creating realistic goals for yourself and your business. Outline daily, weekly and quarterly goals that will keep you on track. Some goal examples could be developing a website, creating a marketing plan, or figuring out a budget strategy. Keep checking in and updating your goals accordingly.
3. Plan ahead, even (especially!) when it’s hard. While it may seem impossible to look too far ahead right now, it’s OK to keep working toward a project, meeting, or event. Plans can change, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the time to prepare to the best of your ability. Things may never go “back to normal,” but that shouldn’t stop you from prioritizing your business and its growth.

Citizens: Our journey for social equity

At Citizens, we live every day by a credo that calls for us to embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion and to operate with understanding, empathy, and care.

The Citizens Minority-Owned Small Business Grant program is a central part of our multimillion-dollar commitment to creating a culture of inclusion within our company and throughout our greater communities. We encourage you read more about our plans at the link below.

Learn more