Diversity Focus, Four Oaks and General Mills partner to launch Project Thrive

We Create Here was an initiative within the Gazette Company to develop evolving narratives and authentic conversations throughout Iowa's Creative Corridor. read more

As part of a new effort called Project Thrive, Diversity Focus, Four Oaks and General Mills are partnering to give Corridor residents a chance to learn more about careers at General Mills.

Kicking off with General Mills, Project Thrive will feature major Corridor employers who want to reach a diverse segment of the population who may be unaware of job opportunities at their companies. From 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 22, General Mills employees will host a community event at the Paul Engle Center in Cedar Rapids designed to help Wellington Heights residents and others learn more about job opportunities.

"We're targeting the diverse populations we interact with," said Gabe Erickson, director of communications and media affairs at Diversity Focus.

Erickson said the goal is to speak to people who may not have access to job information while helping local corporations increase diversity in the workforce.

"For us, it's seeing people come here, not just try to get by but actually find these jobs at great companies and succeed and thrive," he said.

For Jenifer Vick, development director at Four Oaks, Project Thrive was an ideal opportunity to collaborate with other organizations to further fulfill Four Oaks' mission.

"Four Oaks is dedicated to helping children reach stability," Vick said. "So when parents have access to quality employment, children have a greater chance of having their basic needs met, which contributes to their success.

"It's about children ... by uplifting and providing resources to parents, it directly impacts the children that we serve."

Vick believes Project Thrive will give people who are looking for information about employment the opportunity to become more familiar with prominent companies.

"That's where the real value lies, with families who are receiving services from Four Oaks for their children," she said.

During the event, attendees will have the opportunity to ask recruiters questions about job opportunities and learn more about working at General Mills.

"Four Oaks puts a lot of emphasis on employment being a contributor to helping children reach stability for their parents to be employed," Vick said. "We know how critical quality employment is to helping families become stable."

Participants do not need to register prior to the event. Community members from across the Corridor can attend. Visit the following

site for more information.