<p>By: Cynthia Brazzel, Director, Member Relations and Advocacy for the Western Region, FMI</p> <div class="mg-image--circular" style="float: right; margin: 10px;"><img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/books.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=546d77c6_1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="books" title="books" /></div> <p>Our essential industry has a responsibility to ensure that our practices foster economic opportunity and racial equity. We need equitable programs that catalyze a stronger, more sustainable future for everyone. One program that meets this criteria is the FMI-endorsed <a href="http://www.retailmanagementcertificate.com/">Retail Management Certificate</a> (RMC), led by the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC).</p> <p>FMI has a long-standing partnership with WAFC to expand the reach of this program nationwide to the retail food industry. We recognize that the food industry&rsquo;s most vital and sustainable resource is people.</p> <p>The RMC&rsquo;s <a href="https://retailmanagementcertificate.com/home/participating-employers/">engaged employer-partners</a> nationwide recognize the critical importance of integrating workforce development into business strategy, and they strategically use the Retail Management Certificate program as a long-term approach to employee education and leadership development, as they pre-pay tuition and sponsor their employees in the program.</p> <p>The Retail Management Certificate can be a powerful tool to foster social justice:</p> <ul> <li>First, the highly <a href="https://retailmanagementcertificate.com/for-students/approved-certificate-courses/">relevant 8-course curriculum</a> empowers workers to <strong>acquire critical skills and competencies</strong> that enhance career opportunities, and simultaneously provides college credit that leads to affordable, <a href="https://retailmanagementcertificate.com/for-graduates/continue-your-education/">in-demand degrees</a>. <p>&nbsp;</p> </li> <li>Second, the program is intentionally delivered through our nation&rsquo;s <a href="https://retailmanagementcertificate.com/for-students/what-is-an-approved-college/">community colleges</a> to significantly <strong>increase access</strong> to all workers in our industry. A high school diploma or GED is not required for adults to enroll in the RMC classes, thereby removing a barrier to higher education. The curriculum can be accessed 100% online asynchronously, enabling workers to manage family commitments and remove transportation issues. <p>&nbsp;</p> </li> <li>Finally, community colleges are among the most <strong>affordable higher education</strong> options, thus mitigating the cost barrier that so often is linked to social justice.</li> </ul> <p>To create a more inclusive and equitable future for our industry&rsquo;s workforce, every employer should integrate &ndash; and pre-pay &ndash;&nbsp;the <a href="http://www.retailmanagementcertificate.com/">Retail Management Certificate Program</a>&nbsp;help transform their organization into one that strives for economic viability and allows all people to thrive. </p> <p><a href="http://www.retailmanagementcertificate.com/" class="button">Learn More</a></p>