February is Black History month in the United States. Every year, we ask our member companies what they are doing to celebrate and acknowledge Black History at their organizations. This is what some of them shared with us this year.
Zurich
Zurich North America is celebrating Black History Month during February to honor the history and contributions of people of African ancestry to our society and our business. Valuing the diversity and potential of every individual is embedded in our Values and plays a significant role in how we are able to deliver on our strategy.
Having employees with diverse perspectives united with a single purpose helps us win in the marketplace. That’s why this year’s Black History Month theme is “Being Stronger Together,” and events throughout the month, are open to all employees and focus on the incredible journeys of employees in the insurance industry and brings to life various topics related to financial wellbeing, health, faith and personal growth.
Zurich is proud of our ERG community that continues to support our employees by bringing in rich content that helps educate and inspire, while providing a space for colleagues to connect and grow. The Zurich African Ancestry Alliance (ZAAA) ERG has planned a full month of rich programming that will help accomplish this task. These events include:
- Overcoming Career Challenges – Three of Zurich’s managers will speak on overcoming career challenges and the benefits of building strong alliances.
- Benefits of a Diverse Network featuring Pastor Jeremy Tuck – A collaborative effort with Zurich’s Christian faith-based ERG Good NewZ to focus on the benefits of having a diverse network of mentors and sponsors.
- Financial Fitness: A Foundation for Strengthening Our Community – ZAAA invites employees to hear from Gwen Cohen, a Wealth advisor of Morgan Stanley, as she shares her personal journey and the importance of building strong networks and communities.
- Guest Speaker: Charles Maxell from AON – Former Zurich Underwriter, Charles Maxell, returns as the Managing Director at AON to speak on the importance of diversity from the broker prospective.
- Our Wellbeing Is Stronger Together – Dr Mark Gomez – Dr. Gomez will discuss health issues and wellness practices for African Americans.
- Taste of Diversity: Employees will host panels of industry and community leaders discuss industry insights and local business/community collaborations. Discussions will be followed by networking.
- DuPage AME Gospel Choir – In collaboration with the Good NewZ ERG, employees are welcomed to come learn about the African American experience through Gospel music.
- Additionally, there will be a series of Lunch and Learns: focusing on the importance of mentorship, navigating change, and realizing your dreams with insight from Zurich’s Commercial Insurance regional leadership team and brokers.
Walmart
Walmart’s AABRG’s Black History Month: #ReignOn for Generations
Soul Kitchen + BLUNCH
Soul Kitchen special menu every Wednesday in February at all cafes. BLUNCH gathering will be 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Feb. 6 at Sam’s Club, Feb. 13 at the Home Office, Feb. 20 at David Glass and Feb. 27 at the MLK building.
Black History Trivia Night 6:30 – 9 p.m. on Feb. 5 Joe’s Italian Grill Bentonville, AR
Sound On: Black Influence on Pop Culture 2 – 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 11
Racial Equity Institute Groundwater Session 9 a.m. – noon on Feb. 13 Sam Walton Auditorium in the Home Office.
The Hate U Give Town Hall 3 – 4 p.m. on Feb. 22 Sam Walton Auditorium Screenings 8 – 11 a.m. Feb. 21 at HO, Sam’s, and DGTC auditoriums
Black Leaders Matter: Leadership Power Hour 3:30 – 5 p.m. on Feb. 28 Grit Studios, 25 W Central Ave #200, Bentonville, AR
Dr. Alveda King: Living a Legacy 10:30 on Feb. 20 Marketing Open Table Space, Home Office
Viacom
- February 5 Black History Month Kick-off
- February 6 and 7 Teaching Kitchen. Cooking class with Sydney Wilcox
- February 12 Escapism to Activism with MTV president Chris McCarthy and Reverend Robert Wright Lee IV
- February 12 Black Stories Live here with BET President Scott Mills
- February 13 Fireside chat with Jeanine Liburd and Elaine Welteroth, Former Editor-in-Chief, Teen Vogue
- February 14 Black Men Revealed
- February 19 Dissecting Black II; Promoting understanding and encouraging inclusivity
- February 20 NAACP Youth and College Division Career Showcase
- February 25 Change Makers X Women Empowerment with Tamika Mallory, Co-president, Women’s March
- February 26 Teaching Kitching with Chef JJ
- Legacy of Laughter with Nore Davis and Ken Boyd. Comedic Happy Hour
Month long suit drive for That Suits You
Verizon
Verizon is celebrating Black History Month this year with the theme: “All Of Us – Building Connections.” We want to encourage and motivate our employees to continue to:
- Connect with our whole self / our heritage
- Connect with colleagues including ERG members
- Connect with and contribute to the business with our unique perspective
- Connect with the community, give back, and create economic inclusion
It’s a month-long program and below are some highlights of the activities planned.
MAKERS documentary series. Employees of all backgrounds will get together on our Basking Ridge, NJ campus and watch inspirational MAKERS videos showcasing prominent Black leaders in society and their personal stories. After watching the videos, employees will have a live discussion and share their own experiences. It is through these intentional conversations that we build connections and strengthen our sense of belonging.
“Intimate Conversation” session hosted by our employee resource group, Black Resource Association of Verizon Employees (BRAVE). Leaders and employees on our Irving, TX campus will get together and have ongoing conversations about their Verizon journey and share advice and practical strategies that will help people of color grow and thrive.
Connecting with sales employees through social media. With sales employees out in the field, the most effective way to connect with them is through social media. Black History Month content is packaged into short videos and posted on social media channels for access anytime, anywhere.
Global webcast for all employees. This live event will feature external and internal speakers, including some of our most senior leaders, who will have dialogues around important topics such as embracing and leveraging differences at work, discussing what an inclusive culture means to the Black employee community, and bringing positive change to the business and society as Black men and women.
Community outreach event. Our employee resource group will invite middle school students from Harlem to come to our Basking Ridge, NJ headquarters and immerse them in an exciting half-day program. Through our tech demos (5G!), interactive exercises, and a campus tour, plus the many other student outreach activities we have throughout the year, we will get students excited about technology and lay the groundwork for a diverse tech talent pipeline
Economic inclusion. We will be featuring the story of a diverse supplier in our company intranet and help employees see the opportunities Verizon has created for the diverse supplier community, the training and mentorship we provide, and the many doors we have opened for them to grow their business. Employees will also learn the tremendous value diverse suppliers bring to Verizon and appreciate impact of economic inclusion.
Unilever
Harlem Renaissance Mixer/ Mixture of Jazz and art
Mix and mingle with Be-U members and friends to kick off BHM
Movie Screening- Hidden Figures
Highlight of influential African American women
The Schaumberg + HH event
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is a research library of the New York Public Library and an archive repository for information on people of African descent worldwide. The idea would be that we do a tour of the area, which would be followed by HH for attendees.
Lunch Time Jazz Performance
Johnson Brothers jazz trio to come play during lunchtime (3 musicians) come in for 1 hour to play. Also, the Jazz Foundation of America (the company that is booking the Johnson Brothers for us) is also willing to come set up a booth to talk to people about their organization. They provide housing, economic relief and employment opportunities for Jazz artists all over the US. Their mission is to help keep jazz and blues alive in America – one musician at a time, with their support network.
Influential Black Women Panel
To have a panel that highlights black women who are influential in the black community across different channels.
Activity/Competition
Employees will be able to guess “that book” each week for a chance to win an African American book. Book excerpt will be posted in kitchens and employees will be able to submit answers online.
Wellness and Wellbeing Through African Dance.
Partnership with Cigna. Opportunity for employees to earn their premium incentives.
Black History Month Trivia (“Who made this” – Products/Invention made by African Americans – posted on monitors 2 per week / raffle prize (Gift Basket)
Request products from Procurement, if available to create raffle prize
Love the Skin You’re In Part 2 – Partner with R&D to talk about skin regimens. Professional Headshot
Food Vendors cafeteria
Confirm vendors for BHM weekly
T-Mobile
About T-Mobile and Black History Month – Black History Month represents an important time for all of us at T-Mobile to hold important conversations about race that will inspire us to learn from each other, practice empathy, and build an inclusive company that represents the diversity of our customers and America.
Multicultural Network Employee Group (MCN) – This employee group with over 13,000 employees, is leading the charge in setting up events and opportunities to have conversations about race that will inspire us to learn from each other, practice empathy, and build an inclusive company that represents the diversity of our customers and America.
Weekly guest blog posts from black T-Mobile employees – As a part of our effort to uplift black voices at T-Mobile and share their stories, each week throughout February T-Mobile’s intranet site will feature a story of a black T-Mobile employee, spanning all levels from leadership on down!
Invitation to employees to share learnings via Kudoboard – We’ll invite employees to share their learnings, “a-ha” moments, what Black History means to you and other stories and reflections around Black History through an online digital message board.
MLK Events – This year, our local Diversity & Inclusion chapters organized and volunteered in 43 events across the nation in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. These chapters participated in a variety of events including parades, day of service volunteer activities, and educating people on Dr. King’s life and significance.
Sodexo
In recognition and celebration of Black History Month, Sodexo, in partnership with its Employee Business Resource Group AALF (African American Leadership Forum), has planned several workplace activities. As always, their Black History Month celebrations kicked off on January 21st, Martin Luther King Day.
Internal celebrations are being communicated and promoted across Sodexo locations using various channels including posters, internal websites and social media. AALF will also host its 12th Biennial National African-American Leadership Forum in Dallas, TX, where employees will have the opportunity to explore this year’s theme: CommUNITY Connections:
Ready…Set…GROW! The agenda features Dr. Anton J. Gunn, chief diversity officer of Medical University of South Carolina, a well-known expert on diversity and inclusion, former senior advisor of President Barack Obama and bestselling author of The Presidential Principles. He has been featured on TIME magazine, the Wall Street Journal, BBC, NPR and Good Morning America. Other topics featured in the agenda include an AALF leadership session, how to grow your career and connect with your community as well as three parallel learning and development sessions. External companies have been invited to attend.
Prudential
This year our Black Leadership Forum is hosting our annual 2019 Black History Month Celebration event. We’ve invited special guest, Dr. Atira Charles, CEO of Think Actuality, LLC and an Assistant Professor of Management at Florida A&M University, to lead several sessions at three company locations throughout February. Each session will focus on “the art of unmasking” to create an inclusive culture where everyone can be their most authentic selves.
Creating this inclusive culture that we all desire starts with us as individuals – being more inclusive ourselves in learning and creating necessary change and demonstrating inclusive behaviors in everyday experiences.
OppenheimerFunds
Kick-off memo from our Head of HR acknowledging the month and also a shout out on our social media platforms
Weekly events scheduled during the entire month of February
Large key note event with a few influential guest speakers
Mobile Museum of African American History & Culture
Professional Development Opportunities & More
We close out the month with a blog post from Diversity & Inclusion
nVent
Sent out an all employee communication on the background of Black History Month
We also celebrated Black History Month on our intranet site – interviewing a few of our employees; as well as highlighting a few of the patents of one of our engineers
We will be doing some social media on our new VP of HR to talk about Black History Month and what it means to her personally
Lastly, we leveraged the good info on DBP website and linked our employees to learn more
Northern Trust
In our Chicago office, the following is planned:
A four-part series of panel discussions focused on generational trends in the workplace from the perspectives of baby boomers, Generation X, Generation Y, and Millennials. Panelists will engage in conversations related to perceptions and cultural influences that molded their generation and how these different dynamics impact Northern Trust and the financial services industry.
February 5 – Millennial Panel
February 11 – Gen X/Y Panel
February 21 – Baby Boomer Panel
February 25 – Multi-Generational Panel
In our Tempe office, the following is planned:
Throughout the entire month of February, our Black Business Resource Council (BBRC) Tempe chapter is running a donation drive to benefit Arizona’s Children Association (flyer attached). This is in alignment with the Community pillar for our Business Resource Councils.
February 13 – hosting a networking event called “Breaking Boundaries”. Senior leaders in the Tempe office will engage in a discussion with the BBRC to provide networking strategies.
February 15 – Multi-cultural Social: Meet & Greet. At this event, our partners (aka employees) will be provided the opportunity to experience the various cultures at our organization as well as sample cultural dishes.
February 28 – Taste of the BBRC event. At this outdoor event, our BBRC will celebrate Black History Month through food, music, and games.
New York Power Authority (NYPA)
NYPA will mark the observance each weekday of the month with information on those achievements. The did-you-know facts will be posted to the Powernet, digital-scrolling monitors and other platforms, with the information later leading to a crossword puzzle that employees will have an opportunity to take a crack at.
“This is all about raising awareness at NYPA of the vital contributions of African Americans to this country’s history and culture,” said Victoria Daniels, manager, Supplier Diversity, and co-chair of our Multicultural Employee Resource Group. The Multicultural ERG is also planning to hold a few events during the month of February in the White Plains Office centered on Black History themes. Further details will be made available in the coming weeks.
For Black History month last year, we showed a documentary about a black Wall Street attorney and financier, Reginald Lewis, who put together a nearly $1 billion deal in 1987 to purchase Beatrice International, a global food company. Geraldine Moriba, an award-winning journalist and filmmaker who produced the PBS documentary, was on hand to discuss the film and answer questions.
In 2017, a group of NYPA employees marked Black History Month with a trip to Manhattan’s New York Historical Society to see a special exhibit honoring Muhammad Ali and his accomplishments in and out of the ring. Another trip is planned for Friday, February 22nd to see a special exhibit on Black Citizenship in the Age of Jim Crow.
New Jersey Resources
February 20, 2019
11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
Theme: Navigating Barriers to Success
Black History Month recognizes the accomplishments and contributions of Black Americans who, throughout history, have inspired others to persevere in times of challenge. In celebration of Black History Month, we welcome inspiration speaker and powerful public advocate Michellene Davis to talk about navigating the barriers to success as an African American woman. She and many others before her are leading the way for future generations to reach new heights.
Guest Speaker
Michellene Davis
Executive Vice President; Chief Corporate Affairs Officer — RWJBarnabas Health
Recognized as one of the most influential African American’s in Healthcare, Michelle serves as the first woman and person of color in the senior-most level of New Jersey’s largest healthcare system RWJBarnabas Health. Michelle was the first African American to serve as chief policy counsel to a New Jersey Governor, the youngest CEO for the New Jersey Lottery and the first African American woman State Treasurer.
Moody’s
In recognition of Black History Month, Moody’s will host a Leadership panel with Tameka Alsop, MD-Head of Relationship Management/US FIG, Sandra Altiné, MD-Human Resources, Leonard Jones, MD-Public Finance, and Kendra Smith, MD-Public Finance. During the event, each panelist will share aspects of their leadership journey including their career highlights, the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace, strategies for success, as well as highlighting the presence and importance of Black leadership at Moody’s. The event will be moderated and introduced by Mark Rutledge, VP-Project Manager at Moody’s Investors Service, and conclude with a networking reception.
This event also marks the launch of Moody’s Black Inclusion Group (B.I.G.), a subcommittee to the New York Multicultural ERG. B.I.G.’s mission is to develop and empower Black employees through networking, educational and leadership opportunities in an effort to support their career advancement while fostering an inclusive and collaborative culture at Moody’s.
Lastly, Moody’s will display posters featuring impactful and thought-provoking quotes from Black leaders in America and a weekly Spotlight Series commemorating achievements within the African Diaspora. This year’s spotlights will highlight the accomplishments of four great individuals who exemplify Black Excellence in America: Freddie Figgers, Marsai Martin, Emmanuel Lazare, and Thasunda Duckett.
McDonald’s
The McDonald’s African American Council (MA²C) has planned a number of events for Black History Month. MA²C is one of the eight Employee Business Networks we have here at McDonald’s.
To help educate and raise awareness, the Officer and National Chair of MA²C sent a communication to his peers and US leadership on the history of Black History.
A communication template was also provided to the Officer in each of our 10 field offices for them to customize their own Black History Month message to their staff.
Each week in February, we are spotlighting an African American within the McDonald’s system. The four individuals include: one African American owned McDonald’s supplier, one African American McDonald’s Owner/Operator, one McDonald’s field office employee, and one McDonald’s employee from our corporate headquarters in Chicago. The weekly spotlights are comprised of these individual success stories being broadcast via email to employees across the U.S. and corporate, shared as featured stories on our internal website (@McD), and displayed on other internal communication vehicles.
We will also be hosting a Black History Month Celebration on February 25th. The event will leverage WebEx technology to stream the event live to remote employees and those in our field offices across the U.S. After an opening message from our the MA²C National Chair and a short panel discussion from our Bethesda Field Office, we will switch the broadcast to our McDonald’s Headquarters in Chicago where our keynote speech will be delivered.
The Chicago Sinfonietta will be in attendance for the celebration on the 25th at our corporate office. They are an African American orchestra based in Chicago and founded in 1987.
Each of the 10 field offices are encouraged to host their own local events in support of Black History Month, such as a viewing party to drive participation on the Feb 25 webcast or a networking reception immediately following.
ManpowerGroup
ManpowerGroup MERGE (Multicultural Employee Resource Group for Excellent) members will attend the Black Lens Milwaukee showing of Vel Phillips: Dream Big Dreams – Screening and Conversation. Velvalea (Vel) Phillips was an American attorney, politician civil rights activist, alterperson and Judge in Milwaukee WI as well as Secretary of State of Wisconsin (1978-82) She was often the first woman and/or African-American in her position. She was the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin Law School. Originally aired on PBS, “Vel Phillips: Dream Big Dreams” tells the story of a remarkable woman and the struggles she undertook to build a better community, and the parallel story of one American community and its struggles and responses to the national civil rights movement of the 1960s.
Using archival footage, contemporary interviews and a lively and reflective soundtrack of the times, the film shares Vel Phillips’ rise to prominence as one of Wisconsin’s great civil rights activists, achieving an impressive list of “firsts” as part of her legacy, including the first African American judge in Wisconsin and the first woman, and African American, in the nation elected to executive office in state government. Her life’s work, captured in the documentary, has positively impacted generations of Americans, though her story was relatively unknown outside of Milwaukee.
“To commemorate what would have been Vel Phillip’s 96th birthday, we are honored to bring to the big screen VEL PHILLIPS: DREAM BIG DREAMS and host a community discussion about the issues near and dear to her heart.”
MERGE is hosting a Lunch & Learn with the Founding Director of the Wisconsin Black History Society and Museum, Clayborn Benson III. After producing the three part documentary called Black Communities (USA, Wisconsin and Milwaukee) Mr. Benson was inspired to open the Society/Museum in 1987 based on the premise that a people who know their history will grow to love and appreciate themselves more, the society is striving to create a bright future out of a heart-breaking past.
The Nefertari African Dance Company , will be performing over the lunch hour in the Point. Nefertari is a local Milwaukee company who recently celebrated 50 years of providing young people of African descent an avenue of expression and pride in the culture of their ancestors. In 1996, Nefertari broadened it’s horizon and became community wide. The group currently involves participants as young as 3 years old through the age of adult and represent many different schools throughout the city of Milwaukee.
ManpowerGroup Corporate HQ Cafeteria will feature ‘Soul Food Fridays’.
MERGE will be offering a photo challenge – where company employees can share photos that either celebrate Black History Month or show them or their family learning about black history. People who submit photos will be entered into a drawing to win a gift certificate to a local restaurant.
M&T Bank
We have highlighted Black History Month on our main intranet page for the organization to view. Here we list quotes about what Black History Month means to colleagues from across the organization. Members of our African American Resource Groups shared why this month is so important.
Our African American Resource Groups in Central Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York City/New Jersey, Mid-Atlantic, and Western New York also plan to host celebrations throughout the month of February; open to all employees and some cases members of our communities.
JLL
JLL is hosting a national call: An interview with Marty Nesbitt, Chair of the Obama Foundation and a JLL Board Member. In addition, they are launching social media campaigns throughout the month.
JetBlue
This Black History Month, through a three-part Black Traveler Series, the JetBlue Equals (Diversity & Inclusion) Team and JetBlue African Diaspora Experience (JADE) Crewmember Resource Group will celebrate and explore the Black Traveler.
Fueled by the growing influence of social media and their demonstrated spending power, today’s Black Traveler phenomenon has garnered much attention. However, leisure travel among Blacks extends further back in history. Oftentimes, however, the Black Travel experience has been fraught with danger and a lack of hospitality. During this month, we will trace and give voice to the diverse perspectives that make up Black Travel – past and present.
A Motorist’s Journey – A discussion by playwright and author Calvin A. Ramsey kicks off our series, detailing the difficulties faced by African-Americans while traveling during the Jim Crow era. Ramsey’s research highlights the work of Victor Hugo Green, a Harlem mail carriers and creator of the “Negro Motorist Green Book,” which guided Blacks to “safe” restaurants, hotels, and gas stations as they navigated the United States.
Wanderlust focuses on modern Black Travel. Featuring a panel that includes Black Traveler influencers and bloggers, we explore how social media is leveraged to amplify Black Travel experiences, consider the current trends among Black Travelers, and learn how millennials span the globe on a budget.
Our series concludes with Destination Spotlight-Haiti. Through a fireside conversation with JetBlue leaders and featured artists, we explore the history, culture and people of Haiti. JetBlue leaders will offer an understanding of the company’s operations in Haiti and partnership with the country over the past five year as well as its future role within JetBlue’s Caribbean footprint. This interactive program will also provide insights on Haiti’s historical significance within the diaspora and take a deep dive into the rich culture of its people, including a cultural immersion through Haitian art, music and food.
Intel
At Intel, we believe diversity and inclusion are critical to innovation. Intel is proud to commemorate Black History Month and our African American employees who make Intel a great place to work. Intel acknowledges the critical contributions of African Americans, specifically in technology. Throughout February, Intel is highlighting stories from our amazing employees and recognizing blacks in technology.
Below are some of our Black History Month (BHM) highlights at Intel.
- Intel is acknowledging the significance of BHM with an opportunity for an employee and a guest to win a trip to visit the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
- 28 Days of BHM: Digital signs at Intel U.S. sites that change each day to recognize an African American in tech history.
- Social microblog on LaKesha Small, an Intel employee and HBCU alumna, who was recruited via an Intel HBCU partnership more than 15 years ago.
- Social photo video on Dr. Oluwaseyi “Shay” Ogebule, an Intel employee and HBCU alumna, who co-founded a nonprofit – an idea she and her friends started in graduate school – to encourage black girls in Africa to study STEM.
- Social post recognizing Dr. Felix Njeh, an Intel employee and HBCU alumnus, winner of a 2019 National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Golden Torch Award as the Distinguished Engineer of the Year.
- Internal Q&A article with four employees who are HBCU alumni discussing their experiences at Intel; what Black History Month means to them; and their thoughts on our Intel HBCU program.
- BHM Kickoff: In-person and U.S. webcast to all Intel sites of speaker Dr. Lily McNair. In 2018, Dr. Lily McNair became the first woman and 8th president at Tuskegee University – 137 years after the private historically black college opened in Alabama. Home to 3,000 students, Tuskegee is one of six universities in the Intel HBCU Program.
- BHM Closing: In-person and U.S. webcast to all Intel sites of speaker Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour. She will talk about how she went from working as a beat cop to becoming a combat pilot in three years. She eventually became the U.S. Marine Corps’ first African American female combat pilot and was later recognized as America’s First African American Female Combat Pilot.
Several events are organized at U.S. sites. Some events include:
- Service projects, such as Habitat for Humanity and Feed My Starving Children
- Professional development sessions
- Workshops, such as a quilt making and greeting card making session. (Quilts were used as a way to communicate with runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad.)
- Social activities, such as Black Jeopardy game night and spoken word and arts event
HP
HP moves into Black History Month after recently wrapping up their 2nd Annual HP HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Business Challenge. The challenge was announced June 1st at the ringing of the NYSE Closing Bell® with the HBCU Business Dean’s Summit. It was a business case competition open to 80+ HBCU institutions, where teams propose solutions to a real-world HP business challenge. 22 schools participated and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place teams were awarded HP hardware prizes. It is was a great event and serves to strengthen relationships with HBCUs, increase awareness of students about career and intern opportunities at HP, and increase HP’s diverse hiring pipeline.
Following the HBCU Business Challenge wrap up, HP kicked off Black History Month with an email to employees from Chief Diversity Officer, Lesley Slaton Brown, challenging all employees to learn and to strive for a broader world view. As HP continues to embed D&I in all that we do, Lesley’s email was followed by personal messages from many senior leaders to their organizations to inspire action.
HP’s goal for Black History Month and beyond is to really challenge people to seek out new learning opportunities that help increase knowledge and strengthen HP’s culture of inclusion. This could be having coffee with someone different from one’s self to learn more about their experiences to listening to a podcast about great African American innovators to trying a new African American cuisine and learning its history to attending one of the many events offered inside or outside of HP for Black History Month.
In support of this, HP is offering wide variety of Black History Month events and activities planned to engage, educate and inspire our employees. These include:
Speaker and panel events to increase awareness and foster impactful conversations on inclusion. Topics include:
Diversifying our Talent Pipeline, featuring Dr Joe Ricks, Dean of Xavier University of Louisiana – Actions we can make to effectively partner with historically black colleges and universities (HBCU).
Explorations of African American culture and arts.
Video viewing parties on relevant topics followed by conversations about application and impact at HP
Poster and video interviews to bring awareness to Black History Month and recognize African Americans, past and present, who have helped shape the American identity and technology today.
Articles on the internal daily news feed – With HP’s focus on reinventing mindsets and mitigating unconscious bias in the workplace, HP will feature articles:
Educating employees about Black History Month and it’s origin and significance
Informing employees about HP’s programs and initiatives supporting African Americans
Sharing real, impactful short stories and recommendations from employees to help open eyes and increase understanding of experiences
Community service events that align to Black History Month and HP’s February Giving Month.
Contests, quizzes and prizes to encourage employee engagement in events.
Health Care Service Corporation
Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company (HCSC), and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is the largest customer-owned health insurer in the United States and fourth largest overall, operating through our Blue Cross and Blue Shield® Plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
To celebrate Black History Month, HCSC has activities taking place at various locations in our five plan states. Our African Americans In Motion (AAIM) BRG, who empowers members to develop skills and leadership capabilities in support of business efforts and community involvement, will be hosting many of these events. Additionally, HCSC will send out company-wide communications and leverage technology to engage employees in the activities taking place throughout the month. Below is a list of activities planned in celebration of Black History Month.
- Celebrating African Americans in the Workplace: In celebration of African American / Black History Month, a video will be released featuring HCSC employees. The video offers viewpoints from African-American employees on their roles in the workplace, the unique healthcare needs of their community and the sharing of their cultures and traditions at home and in the office.
- A Conversation on Black Mental Health: A discussion featuring HCSC leaders from across the enterprise.
- African American Physical Health Awareness: A discussion on the impact of diabetes in the African American community.
- Financial Awareness: A focus on estate planning, life insurance and retirement planning.
- Dallas Black Dance Theatre will perform on site at the Richardson TX location
- Chicago HCSC employees will present “Matter of Pride.” This production will focus on the global contributions of African Americans in the areas of: journalism and media, civil rights and activism, finance and entrepreneurship, arts and entertainment, science and medicine and sports.
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities College Fair: The college fair is designed to offer HCSC employees information on HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) undergraduate and graduate programs in and around the Dallas area.
- AAIM BRG members will volunteer with HCSC community partner organizations and attend community events and celebrations.
GSK
At GSK, several chapters of Mosaic, our ERG that focuses on members of the African Diaspora and friends, are actively celebrating Black History Month. At our Warren, NJ site,slides will be on plasma screens through-out the site featuring people of African descent with significant historical impact in the areas of Science, Politics, Arts and Literature and Sports. The site will also hold a BHM Celebration event featuring Band, Art and Cultural Food, and have Dr Anya Harry, M.D., Ph.D , GSK Global Lead for Clinical Trial Diversity, speak alongside 23andMe, on the topic “IF YOUR DNA COULD TALK”. Lastly, the site will share its BHM Celebration in the community by featuring a chef at the site’s cafeteria who will be working with the students and culinary team of a school sponsored by the ERG to develop a cultural lunch entrée in February, and holding a BHM essay competition at another local school.
At our RTP, NC campus, GSK is sponsoring local artist spotlight events throughout the month; including artistry from Jason Franklin , the first African American to own a cultural art gallery in Raleigh. Additionally, local playwright, Yvette Holder will perform an interactive skit, and local artist, Jamonica Faison Holmes will perform spoken word. Lastly, a few GSK employees have formed choir specifically for the celebration and plan to make a joyful noise through singing a few songs including: Lift Every Voice & Sing, created by James Weldon Johnson and A Change is Gonna Come, by Aretha Franklin.
Our Oak Hill, NY site will be celebrating BHM with an all-shifts, kick-off celebration to highlight the rebranding of our African American Alliance ERG to a more inclusively named Mosaic ERG. The site will also share information each week of BHM on African American pioneers and explore Hudson Valley New York’s ties to Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad journey to freedom.
FINRA
To celebrate Black History Month, FINRA’s African American Network (FAAN) will host a series of professional development, networking and educational events throughout the month of February.
FINRA’s celebration of Black History Month will kick-off on February 5th with an employee spotlight, honoring outstanding FAAN members, and an informative newsletter to communicate Black History Month information to the organization. The celebration will also include an annual professional development program and this year’s keynote speaker is Ms. Camille Busette, a member of the FINRA Investor Education Foundation Board of Directors. Ms. Busette is also the Director of Brookings Institute’s Race, Prosperity, and Inclusion Initiative [brookings.edu]. Additionally, the keynote event will also include a panelist discussion of the Harvard Business Review Case, “How to Bounce Back from Adversity”. Arlene Sha, FINRA’s Director of HR Training and Development, will lead the discussion.
Below is the full list of FINRA’s planned programs, sponsored by the FINRA African American Network:
February 20th “Overcoming Adversity” Black History Month Program: On February 20th, FAAN will be host a fireside chat with Camille Busette and facilitate the discussion of an MBA Case on Adversity with the Director of HR Training and Development.
Trivia Contest: FAAN will be hosting its yearly Black History Month trivia contest, posing trivia question weekly and awarding a prize for the first to correctly answer.
Black History Month Newsletter: Our weekly newsletter for the month will include the below initiatives:
Celebrating Black Literature and Cinematography: Throughout the month of February, FAAN will be releasing weekly recommendations of African American authors and directors in celebration of their accomplishments.
Employee Spotlights: FAAN will again be spotlighting its members throughout the month of February, to acknowledge their contributions to the FINRA community.
Photo Share: Throughout the month of February, FAAN will be accepting photos from its members that celebrate the spirit of Black History Month. A winning photo will be selected at month’s end and awarded a prize.
Fifth Third Bank
Fifth Third Bank, headquartered in Cincinnati, actively promotes diversity and inclusion, particularly through its business resource groups. The groups, overseen by a regional inclusion council, are focused on improving our employees, our reputation and our business by fostering engagement and inclusion in the Bank’s culture. The BRGs are open to all Fifth Third employees, whether they’re members or allies of the demographic. There are over 2,000 members in 69 regional BRG chapters across Fifth Third’s 10-state footprint. In addition, eight Enterprise BRGs, led by Enterprise Committee executives, allow employees anywhere to participate virtually through web-based meetings.
During February, Black History Month, the Cincinnati African American BRG will host a breakfast for approximately 200 participants with the theme “Staying Connected.” The event will feature the acting president and CEO of the Urban League of Southwestern Ohio as the keynote speaker.
Also in honor of Black History Month, the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber created a campaign to recognize African American leaders who are “quietly achieving great success while living and working in Greater Cincinnati.” Fifth Third’s Brian Lamb, head of Wealth & Asset Management, was among seven professionals honored by this year’s “We Are Making Black History” campaign.
DropBox
SAN FRANCISCO
The Black Renaissance Gala
When: February 2nd
Where: Kala Art Gallery & Community Classroom
What: Win For The Culture will be hosting the Gala to usher in Black History Month with a celebration of cultural contributions from generations’ past and present. The affair will be an opportunity to highlight Black excellence and acknowledge the impactful work we are doing — across a myriad of sectors — to pave smoother paths for those coming behind us. Network with other Black professionals in tech, while enjoying fancy food and delightful drinks. The evening will be hosted by Nwaka Onwusa.
African American Read-In w/Bret Harte
When: February 4th
Where:Bret Harte Elementary School – 1035 Gilman Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124
What: As one of our Dropbox for Good partners, Bret Harte Middle School would like for us to partner with them during BHM on February 4th, 8:30am for their African-American Read-in. We’re looking for volunteers read a book to a classroom, and donate afterward. The time commitment is only from 8:30am to 9:30am plus transportation.
Diversity in Design Panel
When: February 7th
Where: Little R
What: Join us for an evening to celebrate diversity in design and the launch of Blacks Who Design, a new directory of black designers. Wes O’Haire of Blacks Who Design, Pablo Stanley of Latinx Who Design, and Jules Forrest of Women Who Design will be talking about building diverse communities in a panel moderated by TechCrunch Senior Reporter Megan Rose Dickey. Volunteers Needed – Email
Recess at Bret Harte
When: February 8th
Where: 1035 Gilman Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124
What: Volunteer to work with kids at recess time! You’ll interact with students from kindergarten to 5th grade. Be sure to wear clothes and shoes you can run around in.
Vanguard Revisited: Poetic Politics & Black Futures
When: February 12th; We will meet in the lobby at 5:30 and head over to the Gallery.
Where: 800 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94133
What: On February 12, we will take an afterwork field trip to the Walter and McBean Galleries to check out the Black Panthers photographic essay exhibit.
CBE Volunteer Day
When: February 18th
Where: TBD
What:
CBE Code Black Gala
When: February 23rd
Where: Hyatt Regency Embarcadero
What: Join us for fun filled night packed with live music, dancing, great community, and amazing food designed by Chef Chauncy, the winning chef from the Black Food & Wine Experience cook off.
Attire: Formal
Brunch and Black Joy Parade
When: February 24th
Where: Brunch at The Terrace Room – 1800 Madison St, Oakland, CA 94612/ Parade begins on 14th St. and Harrison St., Oakland, CA, at 12:30 PM.
What: Black Joy Parade is a hyper-positive, family-friendly turn up that celebrates the Black experience and our community’s contribution to cultures past, present and future. We invite you to come be present, be creative, be open and be free.
Skyline High School Field Trip
Where: Dropbox
What: In December we kicked off our partnership with Skyline High School during their Computer Science Education Week. We are excited to continue the momentum, by bringing ~30 Students to Dropbox, for a tour, career show and tell activity and of course lunch!
Volunteers: Were looking for ~15 Dropboxers to participate, either part of the day or all day! We’ll need tour guides, activity participants and lunch friends!
All Your Favorite Music is (Probably) Black with Mark Montgomery French
When: February 20th
Where: MoAD
What: Join us for All Your Favorite Music is (Probably) Black, a humorous, highly immersive, and historically accurate hour that uncovers the African-American roots of popular music genres that appear to be free of African-Americans. Utilizing a rich audiovisual presentation, Mark Montgomery French reveals the sonic secrets behind African-Americans’ cultural invisibility within the musical categories they helped define.
Key Lewis: Half Black, Half White, Looks Mexican! With Special Guests
When: February 27th, 8pm
Where: Cobb’s Comedy Club 915 Columbus Ave. San Francisco, CA 94133
What: A free comedy show; Key Lewis has appeared on Marlon Wayans’ Funniest Wins (TBS), StaannDup (Starz Networks), Kevin Hart’s One Mic Stand, as well as Bill Bellamy’s Who’s Got Jokes! Key says, “chase your dream, always know your audience; don’t act funny, be funny.
Whiskey Fridays
Every Friday | 4:30PM | TUCK SHOP
Week 2 – African Drum Performance
Week 3 – ERG Social w/Facebook Black@
Week 4 – Black Business Showcase
CoHort Dinners
2/5 & 2/19 | 5:00PM – 7:00PM | Tuck Shop
The goal of this dinner is to give BlackDropboxers access to connect with senior leaders at the company. At Dropbox building one’s network is extremely important and this dinner would be one way members of the ERG could start to build their network by becoming more acquainted with the organization’s leadership.
AUSTIN
Black Book Club
When: Every Tuesday 5-6pm
Where: Angry Flannel
What: For the Month of February, Dropboxers across the Austin office will be reading Michelle Obama’s Becoming and discussing it together as a team.
Community Dinner
When: February 7th
Where: Ruth Chris
What: An ERG Dinner for Black History Month. All the community members get together to fellowship with each other.
Hip Hop Dance Class (workout)
When: February 5th
Where: Basement Gym
What: All Dropboxers are invited to participate in a total body dance workout. Body Bloom ATX is a group workout concept that aims to provide safe spaces for people of all backgrounds, races, sizes and orientations to enjoy themselves and each other while doing something good for their bodies and having fun.
Student Startup Crawl
When: Thursday, February 21st
Where: Lonestar
What: The Student Startup Crawl is an experiential field trip for middle and high school students to help them visualize their futures and introduce them to what careers are available in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Students will have the unique opportunity to explore Dropbox during working hours where they will have a chance to discover a variety of roles and backgrounds
Community Empowerment Mixer
When: Thursday, February 28th
Where: Tuck Shop
What: Every year, BlackDropboxers host one of the biggest events in Austin Texas. The annual community empowerment mixer is design to connect the Austin community provide food for thought as guest experience our Tuck Shop. This year’s panel discussion will be “Using Your Platform To Create Change” and will again feature amazing guests. Guest Speaker – Gold Medalist Sanya Richards Ross
Family Night, Melanated Marketplace
When: March 1
Where: Tuck Shop
What: All Dropboxers are invited to come and celebrate the end of Black History Month and kick off Women’s History Month! There will be live music, food, drinks and activities for the entire family. We will also be showcasing black entrepreneurs feature some of Austin’s most prominent Black female business owners as well! All businesses will have goods available for purchase.
SEATTLE
Unapologetically Black: True Stories
When: February 8th
Where: Center Theatre – Seattle
What: Unapologetically Black is a collection of true stories as told by those who lived through them. Each story is a profound display of humanity and triumph amid racial and ethnic division across a variety of topics including mental health, law enforcement, education, relationships, identity and more.
Soulfood Day
When: February 4th
Where: Seattle Lunch Space
What: Black History Inspired Lunch Cuisine
Northwest African American Museum
When: February 28th
Where: Northwest African American Museum
What: Enjoy a private Group tour of the museum, featuring the following exhibits: “Jeremy Bell: Utopian Blackness “BoldAs Love: Jimi Hendrix at Home“, “Legacies of Love in Leadership: Community Educators and Activists”, “Two Seattle Icons: Bertha Pitts Campbell and Mona Humphries Bailey”
NEW YORK
Black Book Club
When: Every Wednesday 4:30pm
What: For the Month of February, Dropboxers across the New York office will be reading Michelle Obama’s Becoming and discussing it together as a team.
Lion King on Broadway
When: Tue, February 12, 2019 7:00pm
Where: Minskoff Theatre New York, NY
What: Come enjoy a broadway show with fellow Dropboxers. In honor of Black History Month, we’ll be going to see The Lion King, which stars a majority Black cast. Based on the 1994 Disney animated feature, The Lion King is the story of Simba, an adventurous and energetic lion cub who is next in line to be king of the Pride Lands, a thriving and beautiful region in the African savanna.
A Taste of Africa
When: Tuesday, February 19th 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM EST
Where: Harlem Wine Gallery
What: Come enjoy an evening with friends as you taste the best of South African wine paired with food from across the Diaspora. Come taste wine from some of the top producers from across Africa.
Dell
Round Rock (Central TX)
February 18 Luncheon: Celebrating African Americans in Technology: Guest Speaker: Huston-Tillotson University President Colette Pierce Burnette
George Washington Carver Museum, cultural and Genealogy Center will provide items to display for the Luncheon, exhibits are focused around African Americans in technology. In addition, four vendors have been selected and will serve appetizer portions of a diverse array of African Diaspora foods
Hopkinton
February 21 Soul Food Served at Lunch
February 21 Dynamic Speaker—Ivan Gaskin: Ivan will be our keynote speaker for our BHM event. This the chapter’s second time bringing him back. Given that he delivers a speech around “The Great Migration – African American financial progress.”
Oklahoma City
February 19 Networking Dinner with OKC Site Leadership Team (SLT+) and Executive Leadership guests: Brian Reaves, Patrick Felder, and Jim Ganthier.
February 20 OKC BHM/BNA Chapter – Annual Kick-off Executive Leadership guests: Brian Reaves, Patrick Felder, and Jim Ganthier. Site Leadership Team meet/greet; presentation on the OKC site ‘state of the org;’ lunch & learn, fireside chat, and brown bags.
Nashville
February 2 Hot Chocolate/Trivia Kickoff: The theme for Black History Month his year is, BETTER TOGETHER, and in the spirit of collaboration we are starting our month with a Parade of ERGs!
February 6 Keynote Speaker: Jackie McKinley will deliver a phenomenal presentation around our theme “Better Together”.
February 13 Hip-Hop Zumba & Boot Camp
February 22 We know most people are very busy during the start of a new fiscal Year but, celebrating the African America experience is not complete without serving the community. Please join us in Serving lunch to Women and Children of the Nashville Rescue Mission.
February 27 BNA Jeopardy Tournament: We are Better Together, so we have invited Nashville’s ERG’s to participate in a Jeopardy Tournament Black History style
February 28 QR Code Scavenger Hunt Join us as we learn unique Black History Facts! through QR Codes located throughout the building / per weekly updates
North Carolina
February 6 Lunch and Learn: Garion Bunn – What Moves You. Motivational speaker to talk about professionalism in the work place and life.
Santa Clara
January 21 MLK Jr. Day Annual March in San Francisco. We partnered with 30 other local companies including Dell Technologies SABs- Pivotal and VMWare.
Atlanta
February 6 VP Fireside Chat: Another installment of our BNA Atlanta Chapter Professional Development Series. We have 2 Dell Technologies African American Vice Presidents sharing the stage. Jackie McKinley (VP, Dell EMC – Southeast) and Michael Robinson (VP , VMware – Healthcare North America) will be giving honest feedback and best practices on how we can better position ourselves to advance our careers. This is SAB Collaboration with our BNA VMware teammates.
February 6 Men as Mentors Panel Discussion: BNA Atlanta is part of a panel discussion at Clark Atlanta University providing guidance and mentorship to Atlanta University Center students.
February 12. Project Immersion Part 1: BNA Atlanta members (Secureworks) will facilitate Cybersecurity workshops to Morehouse/Spelman/Clark Atlanta students in support of Brian Reaves and his D&I Project Immersion initiative. Working with Nitcelle Emanuels from the Dell D&I team.
February 15 Professional Clothing Drive for Women In Need: BNA Atlanta Community Outreach in partnership with Dell Technologies ERGs…Women In Action and Dell Mosaic and SAB Collaboration with VMware. Collecting Professional Clothing for Women to prepare for interviews or wear to work.
February 19 Project Immersion: BNA Atlanta members (Secureworks) will facilitate Cybersecurity workshops to Morehouse/Spelman/Clark Atlanta students in support of Brian Reaves and his D&I Project Immersion initiative.
February 21 Supper Club: BNA Atlanta Monthly Networking Event. In celebration of BHM we will host our Monthly Networking Event at a Black Owned Restaurant. This is SAB Collaboration with our BNA VMware teammates
Cox Automotive
Looking Back, Moving Forward.
In celebration of Black History Month, the Cox Communications Black/African-American Employee Resource Group created impactful programming for the entire enterprise. This year’s theme is “Looking Back, Moving Forward.” Our events will reflect the history of African-American greats and inspire the next generation to continue the rich legacy.
Feb.1
Collegiate Step Show (Atlanta)
To celebrate the rich history of African-American Greek letter organizations, we will host a step show featuring metro Atlanta college students. The event will be followed by a private luncheon where students can network with members of our Cox LEAD co-op and enterprise University Relations teams.
All Cox employees who are members are Greek-letter organizations are encouraged to wear their letters and take selfies for our Cox Enterprises Instagram account (#lifeatCox).
“First Friday: Happy Hour” (Atlanta)
Network with members of the Black/African-American ERG at Three Sheets restaurant.
Location: Three Sheets Restaurant in Sandy Springs.
Feb. 6
Cox Executive Panel
African-American executives from three Cox business units will share their Cox stories, along with tips on creating successful career paths. The event will be streamed for all employees.
Feb. 19
Meet the Tuskegee Airmen
Meet members of the Tuskegee Airmen, African-American veterans who bravely served our country. This event will be held in partnership with the Salute (Veterans) ERG and will be streamed for all employees to view.
Additional Features
Black History Month signage: Our stores will feature signage celebrating Black History Month.
Reading list: Our Black/African-American ERG has created a list of must-read books on the company portal.
OnDemand programming: Cox will debut Video on Demand content that features movies, music, TV shows and other content that celebrates African-American culture. This will be a standing feature available to our customers.
Cintas
Partner Spotlights- Learn about influential African American Cintas partners with our “Partner Spotlights” throughout the month.
Each week we’ll spotlight African American partners who exemplify the spirit of Cintas. Learn more about their individual career paths, leadership advice and more!
Trivia Contests- Brush up on your history knowledge and win prizes by participating in Black History Month Trivia.
We will send out a series of questions each Monday of the month via SurveyMonkey regarding Black History with a chance to win weekly gift card prizes! Each week, the names of the partners who correctly answered all of the questions will be entered into a drawing for one of three gift cards. The winners will be announced with the following week’s trivia questions so make sure you stay tuned and keep participating!
Special Café Menu- Take a mini-vacation (or at least pretend to) as you enjoy delicious food from different regions and learn the history of these meals each Wednesday from 11:30am-1:00pm in the Café.
February 6: Southern Cuisine (Pulled Pork, Sweet Potatoes, Collard Greens, Corn Muffins and Peach Cobbler)
February 13: Caribbean Cuisine (Jerk Chicken, Green Beans, Rice and Sweet Potato Pie)
February 20: Creole Cuisine (Jambalaya, Macaroni & Cheese, Cabbage and Chocolate Cake)
February 27: Caribbean Cuisine (Stewed Chicken, Rice & Beans, Grilled Vegetables and Banana Pudding)
Cigna
This February, Cigna’s African American/Black Colleague Resource Group (CRG) is excited to sponsor a series of events celebrating Black Future Month,where we will honor our past and shape our future. We’re changing the concept of this month – and its name – to emphasize the opportunity we all have to change our tomorrow by investing in our communities today. While we continue to honor the contributions of past generations of African Americans, we’re focused on addressing present issues so we can positively impact the future – especially for our children.
The African American/Black Colleague CRG’s guiding principle is that our community is our legacy and we must actively invest in the places where we live and work. Bringing this principle to life, the local events planned for this month focus on active community engagement.
In addition to guest speakers, David Cordani (CEO, Cigna) and Holly Robinson Peete (Actress and Singer), we will have a poetry slam contest and we’ll have “boots on the ground” in our local communities, including developing local food systems to help people eat and live better. Employee teams will also work with the schools throughout the year to provide basic necessities, school supplies, mentorship and needed support to at-risk youth in minority neighborhoods. These events mark the beginning of commitments that will go beyond the 28 days in February; the schools will be supported the rest of the year and beyond.
“The point of Black Future Month is to shape our future by focusing on our present and remembering our past. Our efforts this month are not about a ‘tent, a table or a check’ – we’re looking to leave an ongoing footprint in our communities. And every single one of us can contribute.” (Patika Berkley, AA/B CRG, Black Future Month co-lead)
Cultural Connection, an Express Scripts Employee Resource Group, is planning the following activities for employees.
Friday, Feb. 8 – we will have a presentation by Jeremiah Lockett Jr., titled “Looking at the Past to Educate the Future”, focused on educating our youth without bias or stereotypes.
Tuesday, Feb. 26 and Wednesday. Feb. 27 – we will have two Black History Locations tours in St. Louis for employees (55 employees/day). These 3+ hour bus tours will take employees to numerous locations throughout St. Louis that put a spotlight on African-American history and contributions.
Diversity & Inclusion ran a companywide Diversity Connection article on Jan. 31 providing awareness and education on Black History Month. We have also secured the “Missouri’s African American History” pop-up banners from the Grand Center Arts District in St. Louis and they will be on display for the full month at one of our St. Louis buildings. In addition, our veterans employee resource group will be sending a communication to their members in February highlighting the history of African Americans in the Armed Forces.
Chico’s FAS
In honor of Black History Month, Chico’s FAS invited our Associates to share what Black History Month meant to them, why they believe celebrating cultural diversity is important, and who inspires them. A month-long #FASBlackHistory social media campaign was activated on Friday, February 1st with an internal communication through the entire company. This communication included a video featuring our Associates and emphasized 3 ways Associates can participate throughout the month: 1) By engaging with #FASBlackHistory on social media, 2) by attending a special event or museum display dedicated to Black History Month, and 3) volunteering in their community.
This link leads to our #FASBlackHistory LinkedIn post with a preview of our video: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6498203053093634048
Booz Allen Hamilton
The African-American Forum, one of Booz Allen Hamilton’s thirteen employee resource groups, is the proud sponsor of the firm’s Black History Month activities. Events we would like to highlight are:
- Our firm is kicking off its celebration of Black History Month with a reception recognizing our Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) winners. The reception is being held tonight, February 6, 2019 at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts. We are proud to share that 10 of our employees are winning Modern Day Technology Leader awards and Executive Vice President Tony Mitchell is receiving THE Black Engineer of the Year Award
- A financial literacy event at Ketcham Elementary School in Washington, D.C. where volunteers would create quarterly financial literacy programming that takes a holistic look at how to build individual businesses and preserve community wealth;
- The African-American Forum Sunday Supper where participants meet to complete a service project, then partake in a meal/supper at a specific location and engage in open dialogue about diversity and inclusion; and
- The African-American Forum Night at the Theater is an opportunity for Forum members to convene to see a movie or play with a majority African American cast or focus on black heritage.
AIR
Panel Session – Injustice for Many, Equity for All:
A Call for Deeper Understanding and Collective Action.
Our invited panelists discuss historical injustices and the inequities that resonate today, with a focus on education and justice systems. The panelists also will outline strategies to address inequities on personal and professional levels, and how these strategies can effectively inform our work.
Featured Panelists
Tammie Causey-Konaté, Ph.D., Deputy Director, Southeast Comprehensive Center at
American Institutes for Research (AIR)
Dr. Tammie Causey-Konaté supports state departments of education in the design and implementation of technical assistance for Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. She has nearly 30 years of experience in teacher and leader preparation for
urban and rural educational contexts. Dr. Causey-Konaté is a co-editor of the recently released book Called to Sankofa: Leading in, Through, and Beyond Disaster: A Narrative Account of African Americans Leading Education in Post-Katrina New Orleans (2018).
Brian McGowan, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Higher Education, Affiliated Faculty, African
American and African Diaspora Studies, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Dr. Brian McGowan has worked in higher education for nearly 15 years. His research seeks
to illuminate the lived realities of underrepresented populations across multiple
postsecondary contexts. His research primarily focuses on Black men’s achievements,
identity development, and interpersonal relationships. Dr. McGowan has published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and is co-editor of Black Men in the Academy: Narratives of Resiliency, Achievement, and Success (2016).
Randolph N. Stone, J.D., Retired Clinical Professor of Law, University of Chicago Law School
Randolph Stone is the former director of the Mandel Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School, where he created the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Project. This program provides law students and social work students with the opportunity to engage in policy reform while defending children and young adults accused of criminal behavior. Mr. Stone was the first African American public defender of Cook County and the first African American to chair the American Bar Association’s Criminal Justice Section. He is a Vietnam veteran and was awarded the 2018 University of Chicago Diversity & Inclusion Leadership Award.
American Airlines
American Airlines is committed to celebrating and recognizing inclusion, diversity and equality during Black History month — and throughout the year. Other outreach efforts include:
For nearly 20 years, American has sponsored the American Black Film Festival (ABFF). ABFF is the nation’s largest gathering of black film and television professionals and enthusiasts. We’re proud to partner with ABFF as it celebrates black culture and continues to create opportunities for people of color to achieve success in the entertainment industry.
This month, American will feature African-American film and TV shows on board as we pay tribute to the efforts of African-American actors, directors and producers.
The airline’s African American Diversity Network (AADN) will host a series of team member events in February, including a panel discussion on the significance of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and black Greek-Letter organizations (BGLOs) in our workplace and community.
Through sponsorships and mile donations, American supports the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, National Urban League, Black Enterprise TechConneXt and others.
Abbvie
The Black Business Network is hosting the following events.
- February 6 Chicago Sinfonietta Black History Celebration
- February 13 All ERG Volunteer event. Junior Achievement of Chicago
- February 20 Hill Harper, Author and Actor, BHM Featured Celebration
- February 28 Black History Month Closing Ceremony
Leidos
- Leidos will participate in the 33rd Annual Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) STEM Conference, at which 10 Leidos Employees will be recognized for their outstanding work in science and technology.
- The African American Leidos Network (ALLN…pronounced “All In”) ERG will support the Leidos Career Fair booth (Friday & Saturday) and the Leidos Hospitality Suite (Friday evening) during the conference. In addition, AALN will host a “Lunch & Learn” for conference attendees, focusing on a “Design Thinking” project.
- AALN is also sponsoring two wellness events for employees: a run/walk of 2.2 miles and a 1-hour fitness boot camp.
