Zahra Hamdani works at a mental health nonprofit in Sacramento and earned her MBA from California Southern University. She enjoys reading news stories and mystery novels and is also a freelance writer.
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![St. Paul Baptist Church in Sacramento is one of several local Black churches that hosts Sacramento State recruiters during “Super Sunday,” an annual event in which California State University representatives visit Black churches statewide. Outreach efforts like this are a central part of the DEI approach. (Photo by Sacramento State/Letrice "Nicole" Fowler, licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/32279291937_be0cb4c3dd_k.png?1685478109)
Case Studies in DEI
How Capital Region organizations are investing in diversity, equity and inclusion
Across the Capital Region, companies and nonprofits are investing in diversity, equity and inclusion and seeing returns. Comstock’s spoke to DEI leaders at some of these organizations to learn about their methods and future initiatives.
![Gayle Guest-Brown, owner of executive leadership and coaching firm Guest Brown Impact, says interest in DEI consulting has increased in the past three years. (Photos by Fred Greaves)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/gayle_guest_brown_2023_05_16fg_r5a5963.png?1686329968)
Investing in Inclusion
How consultants help businesses incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion into how they do business
DEI generally has three components that work jointly. “Diversity is looking at the makeup of the organization. Equity is giving people what they need to be successful. Inclusion comes after getting diversity and equity, and that ensures people are contributing to that environment,” says Dr. Colette Harris-Mathews, principal consultant at Harris Mathews Consulting in Sacramento.
![Youth sort books in the warehouse of Foster Youth in Transition Rise Above Hope, a Sacramento-based nonprofit that provides foster youth paid work experience in its book-reselling business and in its secondhand store. (Photo courtesy of FITRAH)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0521_blog_fosteryouth1.jpg?1620854387)
Fostering the Future
Nonprofits, businesses and volunteers step up to help foster youth during the pandemic
May is National Foster Care Month, and the Capital Region has several nonprofits and businesses that work to improve the lives of foster youth.
![The combined region of Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado and Yolo counties lost 800 professional and business services jobs between February and March. (Shutterstock photo)](https://www.comstocksmag.com/sites/main/files/imagecache/tile/main-images/0520_blog_employment_shutterstock.jpg?1590001043)
Waiting for Workers
Staffing agencies are ready to fill jobs as soon as companies begin rehiring
The combined region of Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado and Yolo counties lost 800 professional and business services jobs between February and March. Those job losses have affected local staffing agencies.