T.D. Jakes creates STEAM education & training nonprofit

Globally renowned entrepreneur and faith leader Bishop T.D. Jakes has announced the launch of his new nonprofit organisation, the T.D. Jakes Foundation, to focus on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) education and training. Its goal is to increase diversity and inclusion and gender equity to help connect corporations to new, highly skilled pools of talent amidst increasing global competition.

The Foundation’s focus on STEAM education and training is designed to level the playing field where women and people of colour have been historically underrepresented. According to the Pew Research Center, women in computer occupations have declined since 1990, from 32% to 25%. African American and Latino workers represent approximately 29% of the working population, but comprise only 16% of the advanced manufacturing and 12% of the engineering workforces.

LEVELLING THE PLAYING FIELD

“Throughout my life, I’ve had the great fortune to work closely with so many different communities,” stated Jakes, who will serve as Chairman of the Board. “I hope that, through this Foundation, I can build bonds and create connections between businesses and people from different backgrounds, so that every person – regardless of age, race, gender or ethnicity – can achieve their full potential. This isn’t just about creating opportunity for tomorrow, next week or next month. This is about creating generational change – work that will continue for decades to come.”

The launch of the Foundation builds on Jakes work where he has spent several decades serving the Dallas community through programmes like the Texas Offenders Reentry Initiative (TORI), which prepares former inmates convicted of non-violent crimes for the workforce, and a leadership conference focused on female empowerment. For this initiative he says he plans to tap into his many connections in the business world to help level the playing field for women and people of colour who have traditionally been underrepresented in high-paying, in-demand STEAM fields.

BUSINESS IMPERATIVE

“Increasing diversity and inclusion, and gender equity, in the workforce isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s a business imperative,” commented Hattie Hill, President and Chief Executive Officer of the T.D. Jakes Foundation. “For companies to win the war for talent, they must bring in people with new and different perspectives. In 30-plus years of global experience, I’ve seen that a business’ competitiveness is directly linked to its culture and people.”

To serve people of all ages and provide businesses with a trusted voice within new communities, the T.D. Jakes Foundation says it will focus on three core areas: 

• Business Partnerships  – To connect global businesses with the talent and resources to succeed in a highly competitive environment. 
• Workforce Readiness – To provide people with the skills to compete in a rapidly changing workforce both by reskilling the existing workforce and developing the future workforce though programmes like STEAMLife, a summer camp that exposes students, ages 5 to 16, to hands-on projects. 
• Community Building – To create ‘Dream Centers’ to bring people together to provide a wealth of services, education and life skills, including financial literacy, apprenticeships and more.