Story submitted by Richard Webster, International Education Manager, Community Development
This past December, Richard Webster, SLC’s International Education Manager of Community Development was invited to deliver several virtual information sessions on the use of pronouns for Cornwall Community Hospital (CCH) employees. Richard was the first guest speaker in CCH’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Speaker Series focused on listening and learning about various EDI-related topics.
Sessions were offered for CCH’s 70+ member leadership team and to all CCH employees and employee partners during the day and evening for greater access. Each session offered participants with insight into the use of pronouns, why they are used and how to use them, along with the opportunity to openly discuss their significance and application in a healthcare setting. Richard will continue this offering in the spring to the CCH Patient & Family Advisory Committee, aligning with the release of their next strategic plan.
The Cornwall Community Hospital is one of Cornwall’s biggest employers with over 1,000 employees. “This opportunity has been an important entry point into deepening relationships with this employer in relation to my role’s focus on international student/alumni retention in the Cornwall community,” Richard said. This experience has already led to conversations with hiring managers regarding employment connections of SLC’s international students/graduates, particularly for areas in high demand.
“We’re a community college and I see this as an extension of my role as so much of our work as SLC employees connects to the importance of community building and belonging for all of our students in our campus communities, and, by extension our alumni working within the region.”