DBP Members Celebrate Black History Month 2020

February is Black History month in the United States.

Carter G. Woodson, along with the organization he founded, the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), first conceived and announced Negro History Week in 1925. The event was first celebrated during a week in February 1926 that encompassed the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.

The celebration was expanded to a month in 1976, the nation’s bicentennial.

In addition to our Black History Month Resource Hub, which highlights the ways you can acknowledge this special heritage month, every year we ask our member companies what they are doing to celebrate and acknowledge Black History Month within their organizations.

Below you will find many examples of how Diversity Best Practices member companies are celebrating Black History Month. These organizations exemplify their commitment to fostering inclusion and belonging with their planned activities.

AbbVie

Black History Month is a month-long celebration at AbbVie! From an Opening Reception sponsored by the Black Business Network Employee Resource Group on February 5, to Listening Tour sessions and a Diversity Panel Series each week, we have planned events for all employees to be able to enjoy, learn, and foster an environment where we are all valued. In addition, there will be a Closing Event sponsored by Black Business Network on February 27.

We also plan to do a social media feature each week, including employee features about what Black History Month means to them.

AEG

AEG Recognizes Black History Month 2020

This February, AEG’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Employee Engagement teams are proud to recognize and celebrate Black History Month with a series of events highlighting the work of acclaimed photographer Bruce Talamon. Bruce got his start professionally with a Los Angeles based Black-owned “SOUL Newspaper” which opened the door to freelancing for Jet, Ebony, Time, People, the Los Angeles Times, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone and the New York Times. He photographed James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Sly Stone, The Jackson 5, Bob Marley, Stevie Wonder, Donna Summer and much much more.

In celebration of this important period in black music and history, prints from Bruce’s 2018 book “Soul. R&B. Funk. 1972-1982” will be on display on the 6th floor of the Desmond Building in downtown LA throughout the month of February. The gallery features 30 pieces from Bruce’s collection including 7 pieces that feature audio of Bruce sharing the story behind the photo.

There will be a formal opening for the gallery with Bruce giving guided tours and talking about the photos on Thursday, February 6th from 12 PM – 2 PM.

Eso Won Books will also be in attendance selling signed copies of Bruce’s book. Eso Won is a black-owned business that has been a staple in the community since the 90’s and is currently located in Leimert Park.

Bruce will also be hosting a discussion with his editor Herb Powell at the Clive Davis Theater in the GRAMMY Museum on February 25th from 12:00 – 2:00 PM.

AIR

In Partnership with the AIR Diversity and Inclusion Office, presented by the AIR Black Latino African American Caribbean (BLAAC) Diaspora Network

Soul Food for the Mind, Body, and Spirit

Speaker Event:
Why the Hair Not: Exploring the Cultural Wealth of Black Hair Styles and Impacts on Behavioral Health
Feb. 27 at 4:00 p.m.

Presenters:
Dr. Bronwen Millet, Director of Clinical Services, Friendship PCS, Dr. Robert Mayo, National Center for Safe and Supportive Learning Environments, AIR, Dr. Bronwen Millet and Dr. Robert Mayo will explore the intersection between Black hair styles, behavioral health, and well-being. Through the sharing of personal “hair journeys,” we will unpack the ways that Black hair styles have been celebrated but also how they serve as a source for discriminatory practices.

During this session, the discussion will also focus on how culturally responsive policies, practices, and protocols can lead more equitable service systems and enhanced behavioral health outcomes.

Food for All: AIR BDN Food Drive
AIR BDN will be partnering with the Arlington Food Assistance Center, City of Frederick Food Bank, Chicago State University Food Pantry, San José State University Food Pantry, and Huston-Tillotson University to collect food donations. Collection boxes will be available in the DMV, Chicago, Austin, and San Mateo AIR offices. Do you work remotely? Please send your monetary donations to the AIR BLAAC Diaspora NetworkVirtual Food Drive site at https://afac.org/campaign/air-blaac/.

Knowledge is Power: AIR BLAAC Book 2.0
Due to the overwhelming response to last year’s inaugural AIR BDN BLAAC Book, our members have updated this resource for building cultural competency. The new version includes more categories (e.g., cultural literacy, technology) and additional resources under existing categories. The AIR BLAAC Book 2.0 will be available on February 27, following the speaker event.

Soul of Black Folks: AIR BDN Member Spotlights & Narratives
To promote and maintain a workplace climate in which AIR employees that identify as Black, Latino, African, African American, and/or Caribbean (BLAAC) are encouraged to use their skills, talents, and insights to contribute to the AIR mission, we will post Member Spotlights in all Tier I AIR offices and in AIR Weekly. The spotlight will shine on Beth Howard-Brown (Cayce), Jordan Carter (1000 TJ), Danielle Ferguson (CrystalCity), and Lisa Jones (Chicago/remote).

Andersen

We are hopeful that you’ll be able to capture some of the exciting events we’re hosting this month. Please see events below:

Black History Trivia Contest

The African Descent Network (ADN) is sponsoring a trivia contest on the intranet that will run throughout the month of February. Employees will have the opportunity to learn about the contributions of African Americans. The first three employees to answer the trivia questions correctly will win one of many prizes, including a book written by or about African American(s).

February 25 – Black History Month 2020 Celebration

The office of inclusion and the African Descent Network are celebrating Black History Month by hosting a special event on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at the Corporate Administrative Offices.

Noted international performer Darryl Van Leer will perform a one-man show, “The Norm of Greatness,” at 11 a.m. in the Earl C. Swanson Auditorium. The 45-minute show will be followed by a 15-minute question-and-answer session.

“The Norm of Greatness” is based on the essential writings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The show opens with a narration describing the tribulations of the Montgomery bus boycott. Next, the audience is transported to the year 1963 to witness King’s historical speech, “I Have A Dream.” The show also includes “The Drum Major Instinct,” “The Eulogy” and “I See the Promised Land.”

The event is free, and all employees are invited as their work schedule allows.

Van Leer has appeared in several TV shows and Hollywood movies, including “Deadline.”

He’s best known for his portrayals of famous African Americans such as Dr. King, Nelson Mandela and Frederick Douglass. He is a native of Madisonville, Ky., and a graduate of Western Kentucky University.

February 26 – Community Event

The African Descent Network will host a community event where network leaders will invite their direct Managers to experience and learn about African American Culture.

The event will be held at the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery on February 26th, 6:00-8:00pm. This will be a night of learning, food, music, and celebration.

Aramark

Here at Aramark, our Leaders and Employees of African Descent (LEAD) ERG are facilitating multiple activities. Here’s what we’re doing:

Panel discussion titled “LEADing While Black: Free to be me” – Black leaders from various business operations discuss the challenges they’ve overcome and how they have or have not managed to break through those barriers. Topics include code switching, intersectionality, working identities, and authenticity at work.
Cross-collaboration event between Aramark Pride ERG and LEAD titled “Unapologetically Me” – we are hosting two external speakers who will facilitate a discussion exploring intersectionality within LGBTQ+ and black communities.
HBCU spotlight distributed through LEAD’s membership newsletter and through our broader Aramark internal enterprise-wise newsletter. It educates our associates on what HBCU’s are, the history of these institutions, and their significant importance/impact to the education of generations. It then profiles five of our client locations that are HBCU’s and Aramark leaders from those schools.

Astellas

The African American Employee Impact Group is partnering with the Military Employee Impact Group in welcoming a Tuskegee Airman to Astellas on Feb. 26. Before that, the day will kick off with a concert from the Chicago Sinfonietta in the morning featuring a string quartet comprised of diverse musicians who will perform a one-hour concert of works created by black composers.

February is also Heart Month. To raise awareness about the disparities in both cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer, Astellas Pharma will be unveiling a new campaign at the NBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago Feb. 14. Former players will encourage fans to take control of their health, and make an appointment for a health screening.

Finally, we are proud to share that Astellas is the premier sponsor of the Delta Sigma Theta Illinois statewide Founder’s Day on Feb. 28-29, featuring our Executive Director, Head of Engagement, Diversity & Inclusion, Eloiza Domingo-Snyder.

Bayer

ARISE, Bayer’s Business Resource Group (BRG) for African descendants, is sponsoring several activities throughout February in recognition of Black History Month.

The events will connect and engage all Bayer employees within the United States as well as those who are located outside the country within the company’s global network.

The theme for Bayer’s month-long Black History Month celebration is “ARISE and Shine“ and will include events focused on:

African American heart health
Bayer’s innovation commitment to support small holder farmers
And a special stage production from the St. Louis Black Rep theater company featuring a historic look at the role music played during the civil rights and women’s liberation movements

Black History Month will conclude with the ARISE Annual Business Meeting which will feature several career focused sessions, an external speaker, networking opportunities with Bayer Senior Leaders, member recognitions and community service activities. ARISE members from across the US will participate in this event.

At Bayer, BRGs are built on a foundation of culture, community, commerce and career. The success of internal organizations such as ARISE are also a result of the company’s commitment to ensure that members of its executive leadership team serve as sponsors of each BRG. This not only guarantees executive support at the highest levels but also ensures members have access to mentoring and coaching opportunities.

Belk

At Belk, our Black Employee Resource Group named BRIGHT are hosting the events below at our office:

Pep Rally Kickoff in the Atrium: A live HBCU band to perform with a local radio personality
West African Dance Class led by top dance instructors
A Conversation with Kenyatta: A genealogy event hosted by “Genealogy Roadshow’s (PBS) Kenyatta D. Berry
The Real: A Candid Hair Conversation: A session with celebrity hair stylist, Shassity Styles
A Bright Marketplace: Our annual signature event showcasing African-American businesses through food, art, and services
Poetry in Motion: A fashion show/poetry mash-up event highlighting fashion influences in African American culture featuring Married at First Sight Season 9 – Iris Caldwell

Best Buy

Best Buy is hosting a lot of events for Black History Month at our Corporate HQ, as well as sharing stories throughout the month on our blog (corporate.bestbuy.com) and through external marketing campaigns.

This week, our Black Employee Resource Group hosted a culture and coffee to kick off Black History Month.

Later in the month we are hosting our internal Diversity & Inclusion speaker series called “Candid Conversations.” The topic is the physiological effects of slurs. This is a one-hour event on campus where we focus on having open conversations that don’t necessarily make everyone comfortable, but while in a safe space.

On Feb. 20 we have author Minda Harts coming to campus to speak at our Think Blue speakers series.

On Feb. 21 our disABILITIES ERG and Black ERG are partnering to host an event focusing on mental health in the black community. An employee will speak about her journey with mental illness.

Then the last week of February, our Black ERG is hosting a two-day internal event for the first year ever called “One Fest.” This event is aimed at cultivating meaningful relationships across cultures by celebrating the rich cultural diversity of the African, African American, Afro-Caribbean and Afro-Latin communities through food, fashion, music, and dance.

Finally the Black ERG is hosting an event specifically for Black employees to hear from four Black senior leaders of the company. The leaders will talk about their journey and be there to answer any questions employees have. We are calling it an “intimate conversation.”

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina

How Blue Cross NC is celebrating Black History Month:

In February we’re kicking off a large enterprise-wide program called the Inclusion Challenge 2020.

We will host a monthly challenge from Feb – Oct where we encourage employees to engage in 4 ‘core’ activities (and some ‘bonus’ ones for the over-achievers) that support inclusive behaviors.

The challenge is organized in a learning platform that is optimized for gamification so employees can earn points based on the number of activities they successfully complete (this is why some of the descriptions below call for specific action from employees).

Each month some of the activities align with nationally recognized diversity awareness months, like February being Black History month.

Some of those are captured below:

Video: P&G’s “The Look” — This video can teach us about identity, intersectionality, psychological safety, bias and more. We’re asking employees to watch this 2-minute commercial from P&G called ‘The Look’ and then to share their reflections in Yammer (our Facebook for business platform).

Video: “Who, Me, Biased?” — The video cites numerous studies that demonstrate bias in decision making and in other instances that perpetuate the types of behaviors we’re aiming to reduce. We’re asking employees to watch this six-clip video series from the New York Times talks which about bias, how to measure and reduce it.

Event: Behind the Mask with Rwenshaun Miller — Rwenshaun Miller, an award-winning psychotherapist, will share his insights on the behavioral health landscape, his personal journey, as well as how he’s making a difference as a mental health professional and Founder of a nonprofit focusing on mental health awareness.

Article: “No, I Won’t Stop Saying White Supremacy” — In this article, writer Robin DiAngelo makes the claim that white people (like her) should use the term ‘White Supremacy’ because it shifts racism to white people, where it belongs. We’re asking employees to read and then complete a multiple-choice assessment.

Here are other events taking place in February but that are not included in the Inclusion Challenge:

Feb. 24 | 1 to 2 p.m.
SVP and Chief Medical Officer Rahul Rajkumar will lead a discussion on the topic of health care disparities from the 1619 NYT Project.
Feb. 26 | 12 to 1 p.m.
Get moving! AABEN is celebrating Heart Health Month by hosting a group shuffle and slide.

Booz Allen Hamilton

Please see below for what Booz Allen Hamilton is planning:

First week of February: “Just Mercy” film screening (DC)
Feb. 12: BEYA Internal Celebratory Reception (DC)
Feb. 13-15: BEYA STEM Conference and Celebration
Feb. 16-24: African American Film Festival (Hawaii)
Feb. 19: In the Know Speed Networking: Resume Edition (DC)
Week of Feb. 24: All-Stars in Tech panel (DC)
TBD: African diaspora celebration

CareFirst

CareFirst will be hosting an African American ERG Symposium with other companies in the Baltimore area. The symposium will host the ERG leaders as they engage in networking, panels and more.
In addition, our Black Professionals Network will be hosting an African American artifacts walkthrough and African dance lessons open to all associates.

Cintas

Cintas’ Partner Resource Group, RISE2, along with Cintas locations across the country will celebrate Black History Month with several educational, yet fun events:

Celebrate the inventor of the ice cream scoop with an ice cream station during lunch hours.
Black History Facts will be sent the entire month of February
Labels with Black History Facts will be printed and added to beverage cups throughout the month of February at various Cintas locations.
Some Cintas locations will display information related to the Black History Month theme, “African-Americans and The Vote” through November 2020, as this is an election year.
Every Wednesday in February, Cintas’ Corporate Complex will offer a Special Café Menu. The foods on the menu are inspired by African-American culture from different regions, and will provide the history behind the cuisine.
Leaders within our African-American Partner Business Resource Group, RISE2, will be highlighted via weekly emails.
Weekly trivia questions will be issued, and winners will win opportunities to learn more about African-American History via cultural activities.

Coca-Cola

February 5 — A Book Reading with Grammy Winning Recording Artist & Author Anthony Hamilton
Cornbread Fish ‘N Collard Greens: Inside The Music
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

February 12 — “History Shakers” Conversations: A Discussion with Ms. Ingrid Saunders Jones, retired SVP of Global Community Affairs and former President, The Coca-Cola Foundation
A look back into Coca-Cola’s rich history of Diversity Marketing & Community Engagement
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

February 21 — “History Shakers” Conversations: A Discussion with Tristan Walker Founder & CEO of Walker & Co. Brands
Moderated by President & General Manager of Venturing & Emerging Brands Melanie Boulden
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

February 27 — The African American Business Resource Group’s 2nd Annual Vendor Fair
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Dow Jones

February is not only Black History Month in the U.S., but also the one year anniversary of BlackInsight@DJ, our employee resource group.

To celebrate, BlackInsight@DJ is sponsoring a series of community events and engaging spotlights throughout the month.

Check out the schedule below:

Walk Into Black History Month
Feb. 3, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at Princeton – CoLab
To kick off Black History Month, BlackInsight@DJ will host a 30-45 minute walk around the Princeton campus, followed by a light breakfast. All employees are welcome.

Talent ShowCase
Feb. 3, 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Open Jar Studios
Do you have a hidden talent and would like to show it off? Join BlackInsight@DJ (NYC) members as they kick off Black History Month with a Talent Showcase hosted by BlackInsight@DJ member & Business Manager Olanna Goudeau.

Interview with Will Packer Productions
Feb. 11, 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m., NYC and Livestream
BlackInsight@DJ member & News Editor Lee Hawkins will interview Co-Founder, President and COO Alix Baudin and President James Lopez of Will Packer Studios which produced box office hits such as Little, Girls Trip and soon to be released, The Photograph.

BlackInsight@DJ Anniversary Celebration
Feb. 20, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. NYC and Livestream
BlackInsight@DJ will be celebrating their one year anniversary with a Keynote address from Vice Chairman and Managing Director at Morgan Stanley Carla Harris, followed by a Q&A led by Chief People Officer Kamilah Mitchell-Thomas.

Following the Keynote will be the networking segment. Food and drinks will be served. Availability is first come first served, with limited seats.

Interview with Larry Jones
Feb. 27, 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Princeton and Livestream
Group CIO and Global VP, Medical Devices at Johnson & Johnson Larry Jones will join Chief D&I Officer Smita Pillai and BlackInsight@DJ for a Fireside chat.

Dropbox

This year’s Black History Month theme, Sankofa: Looking to our past to progress our future brings together two ideas—acknowledging one’s past and looking to the future to make progress. Though our stories have not always been represented in the past, our goal is to use our access and experiences to tell Black stories, create platforms for Black voices, and recognize spaces made for Black people.

Our offices across the U.S. are celebrating with a full calendar of events, including speaker events (Droptalks), community building and more.

Below are just some of the highlights from the full internal calendar:

San Francisco
African American Read-in with Bret Harte Elementary School
Droptalk with Stanford Professor Claude Steel
Mixers with other Black Tech ERGs in San Francisco

Austin
Black History Trivia Night
Book Club featuring Octavia E. Butler’s Kindred
Droptalk with Minda Hart

Seattle
Play outing to see ‘August Wilson’s Jitney’
Black History Movie Night

New York
Heal Haus Meditation
Panel & Mixer with Jopwell
Prep and Serve at the Food Bank of Harlem

Eaton Vance

This February, Eaton Vance celebrates Black History Month by reflecting on the achievements of African Americans in our society. During this month, we invite you to take a moment to consider the impact of African Americans on American history and culture and their contributions to the success of our organizations and communities.

This month, Mosaic will host Eaton Vance Board Member, Dr. Paula A. Johnson, President of Wellesley College and a modern day trailblazer, as our keynote speaker.

She will discuss her early influences, defining and pivotal moments, and the importance of diversity and inclusion in leadership. Mosaic will also host Alison Smith, a Brand Marketing Manager at Reebok. As we focus on emerging leaders, Alison will lead an interactive workshop providing the tools needed to develop and manage your brand for career success.

We will conclude Black History Month by learning what makes high achievers different by reading Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell.

Please join us at the following events:

A Conversation with Wellesley College President – Friday February 21st
Who: Dr. Paula A. Johnson, 14th President of Wellesley College
What: Everyone at the Table: Expanding Opportunities for Leadership and Success
When: 9:30 a.m. EST
Personal Branding Workshop – Monday February 10th (Mosaic members only)
Who: Alison Smith, Reebok Brand Marketing Manager
What: Managing Your Brand for Career Success
Mosaic Book Club – Friday February 28th
Who: Moderated by Kim Stokes
What: Discussion of Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers – The Story of Success
When: 12:00 p.m. EST (Skype meeting)

Fifth Third

Fifth Third’s African American Business Resource Groups Celebrate Black History Month

Fifth Third Bank actively promotes inclusion and diversity with eight virtual Enterprise Business Resource Groups led by Enterprise committee executives and nearly 70 regional business resource groups overseen by inclusion councils in each of the Bank’s 13 regions. More than 4,000 employees take part in the in-person regional BRGs.

All of Fifth Third’s BRGs are focused on fostering employees, the Bank’s reputation, and a work environment and culture that supports engagement and inclusion. BRGs are open to all Fifth Third
employees, whether they’re members of the group’s constituency or allies.

The African American BRGs across the Company have planned a variety of events and activities to celebrate Black History Month in February. Here is some of what’s coming up:

Cincinnati:
The Cincinnati African American BRG will host its annual Black History Month breakfast, “Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future.” Employees will be invited to celebrate the contributions of African Americans to American history through original experiences using the spoken word, art, engaging dialogue and education. The group also will share interesting and important facts during the month in the Bank’s weekly, online employee newsletter.

In addition, there will be a Black History Month display at the Fifth Third Museum highlighting the achievements of several African American women. The Inclusion and Diversity team will host some of
the Bank’s minority suppliers at the Flow Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s performance at the Aronoff Center.

In January, as a pre-Black History Month kick-off, the Bank sponsored the King Legacy Awards Breakfast at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. Former Freedom Rider Betty Daniels
Rosemond gave a keynote address.

Chicago:
The Chicago AABRG will host a reception in honor of Black History Month, at which members will have the opportunity to meet and network. The Bank also will host an art exhibit and reception to display the work of renowned, self-taught artist and award-winning attorney Brian Washington. Washington’s exhibit will focus on the civil rights movement and its impact on society.

Eastern Michigan:
The AABRG runs a Black History Month essay contest for students who participate in Fifth Third’s Young Banker’s Club program. Students who participated in the program, which teaches financial literacy to middle school students, were invited to write a short essay or poem that describes what Black History Month means to them. All submissions will be judged on creativity, neatness and grammar.

AABRG members also will host a Black History Month celebration and soul food luncheon. They will partner with The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History to feature a pop-up exhibit that will showcase stories and artifacts related to the Underground Railroad.

In January, the group participated in the 35th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Peace Walk and the annual MLK Day of Service. The activities were followed by a Fifth Third-led financial empowerment
seminar on budgeting and savings.

Florida:
Members of the Orlando AABRG will volunteer at the Africa-America Women’s Economic Forum and Trade Expo. The expo celebrates women and is part of the annual Zora! Festival in Eatonville, Florida. The BRG also will offer a weekly Black History Month quiz that will give employees a chance to win prizes as they learn about the accomplishments of African Americans in history.

In addition, the group plans to host a group of high school students for a financial education reception. The Tampa AABRG led the Black History Month luncheon for the United Negro College Fund, and they participated in the 2020 Black Heritage Expo by hosting a black history trivia night. The group also will launch its 2020 executive leadership series for all employees in Florida with a leadership chat that will feature the Bank’s African American executives.

Georgia
Members of the AABRG will host an after work networking event. During the event members will have a chance to connect and reflect on historical African American experiences.

In addition, the AABRG members will be bringing Fifth Third’s Financial Empowerment Mobile® (eBus) to Clark Atlanta University, a Historically Black College and University. The members will educate students regarding credit reports, learning how to avoid foreclosure, getting information about fraud awareness and prevention and more.

The AABRG leadership team will be attending United Way’s African American Partnership’s fifth annual leadership luncheon that will feature 11-time NBA All-Star Chris Bosh, and celebrated actor Kofi
Siriboe. At this luncheon, the group’s members, along with other business leaders will discuss what it means to be a person of color and to be a leader in the United States. They will also discuss some of the community issues that exist in Greater Atlanta.

Northeast Ohio:
AABRG members will host a youth resource and employment fair. They’ll teach financial literacy to young adults from the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. The fair will serve as a community service project for the group’s members as well as a Black History Month celebration activity.

Western Michigan:
The AABRG is planning several events and activities during February to share some of the “Hidden Treasures” that showcase African American history, culture, art and food in the Grand Rapids, Michigan, area.

The group will hold a “treasure hunt,” in which members will be encouraged to take photos of themselves at various places in the city with ties to black history. Other events include a movie night, food tastings, walking history tours, visits to the African American History Museum, art exhibits and dance classes. Individuals can submit entries for each event or location they attend for a chance to win a variety of prizes.

FINRA

In celebration of Black History Month, the FINRA African American Network (FAAN) Employee Resource Group is offering a series of events designed to engage, educate and inspire all employees.

The goal of this year’s Black History Month activities—and beyond—is to challenge employees to seek out new learning opportunities that help increase knowledge and strengthen FINRA’s culture of inclusion.

FAAN believes that all great companies should strive to have leaders at all levels of their organization; with that in mind, this year’s theme is “Leadership at All Levels.” Some of the programs and events include:

Black History Month Fireside Chat – This year’s flagship event will feature Ron Busby, President and CEO of the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., who will draw on his own life experiences and perspectives on innovation, collaboration and responsibility as they relate to “Leadership at All Levels.”
Lunch With a Leader “Courageous Conversations”– FAAN, in collaboration with FINRA’s Latino Affinity Network (FLAN) Employee Resource Group, will host a presentation featuring Audria Lee, FINRA’s Head of Inclusion, Recruiting and Workforce Compliance. This event will encourage employees to have open dialogue on topics that promote inclusion and positive awareness of people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.
Black History Month Panel Event – FAAN will host a panel discussion featuring various FINRA leaders and James Reynolds, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Loop Capital. The panel will speak on how to effect positive change and inspire trust, and the importance of management fostering an environment to encourage leadership.
HBCU and National Pan-Hellenic Council Member Employee Networking Event – In an effort to build a cadre of ambassadors to assist with external strategic outreach, employment recruiting and internal employee engagement efforts, FAAN is coordinating an in-person networking event to bring together FINRA employees who attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) or who are members of a National Pan-Hellenic Council “Divine Nine” organization. During the event, employees are encouraged to take selfies and capture photos with colleagues wearing their HBCU and/or fraternity/sorority paraphernalia.
Go Red for Women 2020 – To bring awareness to the Go Red for Women campaign, the American Heart Association’s national movement to end heart attacks and strokes in women, FAAN will serve heart-healthy food during in-person events for Black History Month and disseminate information on how heart health issues affect the African American community
Black History Month Weekly Newsletter – FAAN will distribute a weekly email newsletter during the month of February containing facts about African American history, black literature and cinema recommendations, and African American soul food family recipes—as well as content inspired by FINRA’s organizational values (Innovation, Expertise, Collaboration and Responsibility). In addition, this year’s newsletter content will be used to create questions for FAAN’s Black History Month trivia contest as a way to increase employee engagement.

GSK

Mosaic ERG Black History Month Activities:

Black History — Shared via email and workplace

Every week in February will be dedicated to sharing facts about contributions of African Americans in Science, Politics, Sports, Arts & Literature. (Enterprise)

Week of February 3rd we will share facts about African American contributions to Science.
Week of February 10th we will share facts about African American contributions to Politics.
Week of February 17th we will share facts about African American contributions to Sports.
Week of February 24th we will share facts about African American contributions to the Arts & Literature.

Speaker Events — Enterprise and Site Events via WebEx

February 13, 2020 @ 1pm EST: “Race: Are We So Different?” — Dr. Joseph Jones, Professor of Anthropology at the William & Mary College and The Human Race Project (Richmond site)
February 19, 2020 @ 3pm EST: 2020 Census Presentation by the National Census Bureau (Enterprise)
February 26, 2020 @ 12pm: Financial Wellness Workshop (Navy Yard Site)

Other Activities — Site events

Field Site: BHM activities during National Meetings (breakfast/general sessions)
RTP Site: Development Series (Talent Card, Resumes & Networking)
Warren Site: BHM Kickoff Celebration — panel discussion, trivia, light refreshments

Guidewell

A Jazzy Celebration of Black History Month to be held at the Guidewell/Florida Blue Retail Stores featuring health screenings, massages along with food, music and prizes.
Providing Black History facts through email once a week.
Hosting Black Known History Trivia every Friday.
Hosting a Poetry Jam were employees can sign up to recite poems or spoken word as it relates to black history. This will be held during lunch time.
Hosting a Lunch and Learn “Living while Black” (Understanding Cultural Bias in Healthcare) forum for the employees.
Hosting a “Desserts for the Soul” – Employees will sign up to bring their favorite soul food inspired desserts that will be judges.
Displaying of Black History Images on the Guidewell Campus in Jacksonville, FL.

HCSC

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.

Chicago, IL Events:

Rising in our Vision: Diana Watkins, a transformational leader in Organizational Leadership, will offer insights on planning and writing effective goals and provide useful tools on tracking and measuring goals.
Chicago HCSC employees will present “I RISE.” This production will examine the global contributions of African Americans from various historical periods.
Lighting of the HCSC Chicago headquarters building in celebration of Black History Month.
Rising in our Awareness of Cancer: A discussion on cancer in the African American community including a closer look at inequalities that contribute to high death and short survival rates.
AAIM BRG members will volunteer with HCSC community partner organizations and attend community events and celebrations.

Dallas, TX Events:

Speed Networking: An opportunity to meet new colleagues, establish new relationships and discuss valuable tips for career growth.
Panel Discussion: A conversation on how health disparities and social inequalities disproportionately impact African American Maternal Health.
An African American heritage banner will be displayed in the Dallas headquarters during the month of February.
Health Fair: This event will bring awareness to health disparities that affect the African
American community, highlight available resources and offer tips for leading a healthier lifestyle.
AAIM BRG members will volunteer with HCSC community partner organizations and attend community events and celebrations.

HP moves into Black History Month after recently wrapping up their 3rd Annual HP HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Business Challenge.

The challenge is a business case competition open to 80+ HBCU institutions, where teams propose solutions to a real-world HP business challenge. 30 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.

HP will kick off Black History Month with an email to employees from Chief Diversity Officer, Lesley Slaton Brown, challenging all employees to take bold action to enhance inclusion. HP’s goal for Black History Month and beyond is to challenge people to seek out new learning opportunities that help increase cultural competence and strengthen HP’s culture of inclusion.

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:

Career journey and value of diversity and inclusion to business success, featuring HP Board member Stacey Mobley
Explorations of African American culture and arts
Video viewing parties on relevant topics followed by conversations about application and impact at HP

Posters at major sites in US and Canada to bring awareness to Black History Month and recognize African Americans, past and present, who have helped shape 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 stories about HP employees making a difference at HP and in their communities

Insights survey to gather insights from HP’s Black/African American employees and use those insights to inform future programs and actions.

Community service events that align to Black History Month.

JLL

JLL Black History Month — How we celebrate:

JLL Major Media Campaign: JLL will provide an extensive media campaign for Black History Month (which will extend throughout the year) which includes:

Powerful, documentary style short videos showcasing employee discussions on diversity and inclusion, Black History Month and JLL’s culture. These videos will be promoted on all of JLL’s social media platforms for Black History Month including LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.
LinkedIn articles written by Black Professionals on Black History Month which will be published and promoted on LinkedIn, both on JLL’s company profile as well as the Elevate platform which allows employees to easily share content.
Weekly distribution via email of positive Black History Month messages to our Empower — Black Professionals Network Business Resource Group which includes roughly 2900 employees.
JLL Corporate Promotion of Black History Month messages through our internal intranet site, newsletter, Company homepage, and Digital Office Signage (30K reach).
Publishing and sharing of a new external JLL website showcasing Empower — Black Professionals Network Business Resource Group.

In addition to the National Corporate Media Campaign, various local in-person events will take place such as:

Houston — Houston employees will partner with the Houston Market to host a Lunch and Learn on February 25 at the Post Oak Auditorium in Houston, Texas. Art exhibits will be on display from the Gregory School, the first African American public school in Houston that is now a museum and library.
Charlotte — Charlotte employees supported the United Way Martin Luther King Call to Service event, which was held on Saturday, January 18, from noon until 2 p.m. at The Park Expo & Conference Center. JLL employees and families made flash cards, blankets, and bookmarks for those in need.
California — California employees will have an opportunity to volunteer during Black History Month on Friday, February 7 at 12:30 p.m. at the Annual African American Literature Read-In Week hosted by the Oakland Public Education Fund. We will read literature by and about African Americans to students ranging from kindergarten to 5th grade. This is our chapter’s second year volunteering for this event, last year was a great experience for the children!

*Justworks

All hands (Jan 30th, 11:30 am): Here we will introduce BLA, watch the an in-house video about Black History Month and let Justworks know of all the events that we have planned. Open to the entire company.
Kick-off happy hour/mixer (Jan 31st, 5:30 pm): A kickoff party to celebrate BHM. We will also be running a school drive initiative where Justworks employees can donate and drop off school supplies for an elementary school (PS197 John B Russwurm) Open to the entire company.
Movie Night (Feb 6th after work): Watching a movie of black significance. Open to the entire company. There will be candy and popcorn. Open to the entire company.
Catered Lunch/ Potluck (February 26th, 2pm): This will be a Caribbean theme(food-wise). We will also be running the school drive initiative. Open to the entire company.
Volunteer Event (Feb 13th, 12-3pm): Likely helping to sort of donations at Housing Works ( subject to change) Open to BLA members only.
All hands ( February 27, 11:30 am): Fireside chat with Jopwell. Open to the entire company.

Leidos

Leidos will serve as a Premier Sponsor at the 5th Annual Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) Conference. The conference is an annual opportunity for professional training and networking with some of the top engineering employers, as well as a career fair for students seeking professions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The BEYA Conference continues to get direct support and involvement from the Leidos Executive Leadership Team.

Conference Summary:

Two-Day Career Fair attended by approximately 8,000 students across the United States
15 Leidos honorees across business segments will be recognized for their contributions in STEM careers
Leidos will also co-sponsor the BEYA Stars & Stripes Dinner, which will be attended by our Executive Leadership Team. This year’s featured service is the U.S. Marine Corps
Leidos will host A Lunch & Learn providing an opportunity for students to learn about the enterprise and the work-breakdown structure in project management and systems engineering
Leidos will also host a Hospitality Suite to:

Provide undergraduates and potential new hires to ponder/leverage their transitions to the workforce
Give students one-on-one interactions with BEYA awardees
Provide students with insights into STEM opportunities at Leidos

Lenovo

BLAST From the Past is our kickoff event where we’ll have a showcase of unsung heroes in fields such as technology and literature in the African-American culture. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the influence these individuals had on our society as a whole and get excited about what’s coming for the rest of the month.

BLAST is very passionate about serving others and for Black History Month, we decided to do something that would have a long term impact. We are partnering with a local organization, Step Up Ministries, to provide one-on-one career counseling. We will be assisting with resume preparation and interview best practices. Our hope is that these discussions will lead to a solid job opportunity for the members of Step Up.

One of the ways we serve our BLAST community is through mentorship. This month, we also want our members to take time to craft their future as an African-American leader within Lenovo.

Navigating to Your Purpose is a speed mentoring event that will help our members identify where they are going in their career and connect with a mentor for assistance getting there. This event is an internal reflection opportunity which is important as we hope to be an extraordinary part of Black History as it evolves. We believe it’s important to find someone to help guide you to the heights you wish to reach.

As a grand finale, we will host a Black History Extravaganza! This event will be a celebration of our culture which will include games, soul food sampling, dancing, and much more! This gathering will be a celebration and experience of our culture and we hope participants will walk away with an understanding and pride for Black History. We are striving to promote peace and unity as we close out Black History Month 2020!

Levi Strauss & Co.

Levi Strauss & Co. Black History Month Events:

Presentation: “Using Our Voice: Impact of Black Consumers”
An education and celebration of the impact of Black consumers on driving social change and why we need them to win.
LS&Co.’s Marketplace Insights team and Project Onyx have partnered to educate employees on how to win with Black consumers through corporate responsibility and authentically standing up for the issues that impact them the most.
Speaker Panel: “Justice & Healing: Fighting for Our Future”
Panelists: Alicia Garza (#blacklivesmatter, Black Futures Lab, and Super Majority), Zach Norris (Executive Director for the Ella Baker Center, and author of We Keep Safe), and Pastor Mike McBride (national leader in gun violence prevention).
Levi.com and Off the Cuff
Project Onyx members will model for Levi.com for BHM in personalized tees promoting customization to consumers. Off the Cuff (the Levi’s brand’s external blog) will have a three-article series highlighting stories and insights from the same employees.
Levi Plaza Atrium takeover
LS&Co.’s Creative team and Project Onyx have partnered to create an interactive, immersive display in at our Headquarters Atrium with imagery of Project Onyx models and quotes from the Unzipped blog. There will also be a large screen showing Project Onyx models during their photo shoot.

As part of a year-long Charity Auction, truckers designed by Black LS&Co. designers will be displayed in the Headquarters Atrium for the month of February.

The Vault
The Vault (LS&Co. museum located at Levi’s Plaza) will host an exhibit focusing on BHM, including jackets and jeans owned by the East Bay Dragons Motorcycle Club. The club is based in Oakland, California since the 1950s. “While Rosa Parks took her historic bus ride, and as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Malcolm X and Huey P. Newton and the Black Panthers stood bravely for equal rights, the East Bay Dragons MC risked life and limb during days when a black man riding a Harley chopper was a revolutionary act.”
What’s the 411?
Project Onyx will publish list of resources listing things to read, listen, watch, support and attend to help employees learn more about Black culture directly from artists, activists, innovators, change makers, historians and other celebrated figures in the Black community.
Volunteer events
College Campus Census Activation: Participants will be trained on sharing information with students about the census Mailing Event @ Restore Oakland: Volunteers will be trained to perform a combination of responding to prisoner requests, sending out mailings, and data entry.
Cafeteria
Every Thursday in February, the cafeteria will highlight meals inspired by Black culture, including a sweet potato pie made using the recipe from the mother of a Project Onyx member.

M&T Bank

Mid-Atlantic AARG Black History Month Celebrations.

Please join us for one (or both) of our signature Black History Month Celebrations!

Thursday, February 27, 2020, Greater Baltimore

EVOLVE, ADAPT, INSPIRE!
The Tenets of Transformational Leadership
Featuring Leland Shelton

Thursday, February 20, 2020, Greater Baltimore

Black progress: How far we’ve come, how far we have to go!
Featuring Cathy Matthews & Will Jawando

AARG Delaware Chapter
On February 28, 2020 the M & T Bank DE AARG Resource group will be hosting our 4th Annual Black History Month Gala. This Year’s Gala theme “Be the Difference; Be the Change you want to see” will highlight our Resource group accomplishments based on 3 key values, Integrity, Ownership and Collaboration.

AARG WNY Chapter
Harriet Tubman, February 27, 2020 – A memorial tribute presented through oration and song about a courageous and strong woman, who was an American Abolitionist, Political Activist and Freedom Fighter on the “Underground Railroad”

Macy’s

This February, Macy’s will celebrate Black History Month by embracing and expressing the diversity of Black people and culture. Luminaries such as influencer Monica Veloz, Oscar® nominee Matthew Cherry, comedian Phoebe Robinson, activist Marley Dias, NFL Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, and celebrity hair stylist Kim Kimble will headline events throughout the month.

In addition to appearances by these notable innovators, Macy’s will showcase Black History Month-themed windows throughout February in Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. Macy’s locations. The windows were created in partnership with Maplewood, New Jersey artist, Lisa Hunt.

ONYX, Macy’s Black Employee Resource Group, was instrumental in developing this year’s campaign including the theme, display windows, and volunteer opportunities across the country. Throughout the campaign, Macy’s will contribute a total of $10,000 to charitable organizations such as Jerry Rice’s 127 Foundation and local Urban Leagues.

The month’s events kick off at Macy’s Baldwin Hills in Los Angeles with a make-up tutorial and discussion about diversity and inclusion in the beauty industry from influencer Monica Veloz.

At Macy’s State Street, Chicago native Matthew Cherry will screen his 2020 Oscar®-nominated short-film Hair Love and discuss how he used the power of family to tell a compelling story about real people.

Comedian and co-star of podcast 2 Dope Queens, Phoebe Robinson, and 14-year-old activist and creator of #1000blackgirlbooks, Marley Dias, will appear at Macy’s Herald Square in New York City for an evening of insightful dialogue.

Three-time Super Bowl® champion and Hall of Famer Jerry Rice will appear at Macy’s Union Square in San Francisco.

At Macy’s Lenox Square in Atlanta, customers can enjoy a demonstration and celebration of the diversity of Black hair from celebrity stylist Kim Kimble.

At Macy’s Aventura in Miami, representatives from Macy’s Diversity and Inclusion team and The Workshop at Macy’s will participate in a discussion on the diversity of Black people and Black culture as well as select a high potential Black-owned business to join The Workshop at Macy’s class of 2020.

Macy’s Black History Month events will be held at the following stores:

Macy’s Baldwin Hills (Los Angeles) – Saturday, Feb. 8 at 2 p.m. with Monica Veloz
Macy’s State Street (Chicago) – Thursday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. with Matthew Cherry
Macy’s Herald Square (New York City) – Thursday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. with Phoebe Robinson and Marley Dias
Macy’s Union Square (San Francisco) – Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. with Jerry Rice
Macy’s Lenox Square (Atlanta) – Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. with Kim Kimble
Macy’s Aventura (Miami) – Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2 p.m. with The Workshop at Macy’s

Merck

For 50 years, Merck has supported the voluntary collaboration of employees who share similar backgrounds or interests for business enhancement, networking and personal development purposes. Our ten Employee Business Resource Groups ( EBRGs ) act as external ambassadors and channels of communication for our Company by performing community outreach and branding activities in support of the global diversity and inclusion business objectives.

The League of Employees of African Descent (LEAD) EBRG, focuses on strategies to increase and strengthen the pipeline of Leaders of African descent and leverage the collective cultural insights from members to drive innovation and performance.

In recognition of Black History Month, LEAD will host several programs including a kickoff event titled “Fifty Forward: Reflecting on the past, impacting the present, and preparing for the future.”

This event will recognize what will be a milestone year as LEAD recognizes 50 years of since the inception of the first EBRG, Black Employees at Merck (BEAM).

The program will include a leadership dialogue with Frank Clyburn, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer, Global Human Heath and special guest Ricki Fairley, VP – Strategic Partnerships and National Programs, Sisters Network Inc. who will discuss the current state of the representation of African Americans in healthcare.

Attendees will learn of internal efforts to address African American health disparities as representatives from various business lines share best practices for ensuring inclusion in their organizations day to day work.

Connecting with the Community: Merck’s LEAD EBRG is committing to 5,000 hours of community service in 2020.

Chapters across the United States will also focus on service to the community with a variety of scheduled initiatives including activities with local schools in February. Chapters are hosting science fairs, and career days to expose students to careers in Pharma.

Connecting Culturally: The LEADers at the Upper Gwynedd site of Merck will invite the World Renowned Pine Forge Academy Choir to share songs of the black culture during lunch and will also expose the students to careers in the Pharmaceutical Industry.

LEAD Boston will be hosting an African-American Celebration, a presentation and performance by Linda Brown-San Martin, the gospel choir director at Wellesley College.

LEAD will host a cross EBRG and Industry EBRG networking event at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, PA. The event will feature Leadership Spotlights and a discussion on jazz and its roots in the black culture with Jazz Artist, Mike Phillips.

MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Lincoln Laboratory Noontime Concert Featuring: Mike Block & Balla Kouyaté
Time: February 18th, 2020, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Location: Main Lab
Description: Lincoln Laboratory Noontime Concert, featuring Mike Block & Balla Kouyaté

Join with your colleagues at a very special concert featuring Mike Block cellist with YoYo Ma’s Silkroad Ensemble and Director of the Silkroad Global Musician Workshop and Balla Kouyaté –an esteemed balafon player from Mali in an LL Concert Committee/LEAN co-sponsored musical celebration of African American History.

These internationally acclaimed musicians have had a long collaborative relationship over 10 years, bonding over their shared interest in musics from across the world, and their commitment to innovating with their instruments, bringing them into new musical environments.

Balla Kouyaté, coming out of the Djeli tradition of Mali, was awarded a National Heritage Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and Mike Block is a Grammy Award-winning musician with a Western Classical background. They have teamed up, with the support of Balla’s regular band of West African musicians, to create an exciting fusion of American and African musical styles. We are very privileged to have them bring this project to the Laboratory as we celebrate African American History Month.

Balla Kouyaté’s ancestral lineage goes back more than 800 years to Balla Faséké, the first of an unbroken line of djelisin the Kouyaté clan. The word “djeli” derives from the Mandinka language, meaning the oral historians, musicians, and performers who keep alive and celebrate the history of the Mandé people of Mali, Guinea, and other West African countries. Oral tradition holds that when the emperor Sundiata overthrew Soumaora Kante, he appointed the Kouyaté family to protect the balafon. Today, Balla Kouyaté is a virtuoso player of this instrument. Played with mallets, the balafon is made up of wooden slats and rows of calabash gourds, which serve as natural amplifiers. The Kouyaté family is regarded as the original praise-singers of the Malinké people, one of the ethnic groups found across much of West Africa. Balla Kouyaté learned to play the balafon as a child and was soon playing alongside his mother, motivating agricultural laborers during harvest season.

As a young adult, he emigrated to the U.S. in 2000 to pursue music as a profession. Please join us for what promises to be an extraordinary musical event!

Read more on Balla and a see a video here.

Read more on Mike and see a video here.

Moody’s

Please see our slate of initiatives below:

B.I.G. Trivia – The Black Inclusion Group will host an evening of black trivia.
Quotes of Empowerment: Poster quotes by famous African Americans are displayed in the building lobby (updated daily) in multiple offices across Canada and the U.S.
Black Women “Disruptors” – A conversation with African American women who have disrupted the status quo from a corporate, media, and generational perspective. Speakers: Constance Frazier, April Reign, and Africa Miranda.
“Art Talk” – Panel discussion and art show in conjunction with Hampton Art Lovers – Showcasing African American art
Weekly newsletters – highlighting contributions from influential African Americans
Cafeteria Featuring Recipes from Sweet Home Café Cookbook

Northern Trust

Northern Trust’s Black Business Resource Council (BBRC) will be hosting a number of activities in both its Chicago and Tempe offices to celebrate Black History Month.

Our programming is centered on exploring our history and to build our future through networking, professional development, and community service activities. As the oldest Business Resource Council at Northern Trust, the BBRC is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

We have a number of exciting events to commemorate Black History Month.

** Chicago**
Every Monday in February, the chapter will email a Black History Month Fact to its membership to highlight some lesser known facts about black figures in history. With a focus on Community Service, we will host two events:

February 8 — a day of mentoring with Ladies of Virtue where volunteers will participate in career mentoring and host a financial literacy workshop
February 19 — hosting a professional attire clothes drive to benefit students at a local university

Understanding the importance of hearing from our senior leaders, on February 13, we are hosting a panel discussion with three of our organization’s Black Executives. The event will be an opportunity for members to hear their different perspectives on what it’s like to lead while black.

The month’s activities culminate with an exciting interactive story telling experience in Chicago. We are hosting a Black History Month Tech Exhibit which will allow our employees to take a unique journey into the lives and experiences of key Black professionals at our organization.

Tempe

Our Tempe chapter kicks off their Black History Month programming on February 5 with a Black History Awareness event. The event will feature an interactive discussion with a Black Senior Leader at Northern Trust who will share his perspectives on what it means to be a Black professional at the organization.

Following the discussion, there will be an interactive game of Black History Month Jeopardy which will feature questions highlighting key Black historical figures as well as key Black employees at our organization.

As Community Involvement is a key pillar for all of our BRCs, it is also a focus at our Tempe office. Over the last five years, the BBRC has hosted a Community Involvement event during Black History Month. This year, the group is partnering with the Ronald McDonald House of Charities of Central and Northern Arizona to help with preparing rooms for guests, helping keep the kitchen and community areas organized, greeting families, and gardening.

On February 7, the BBRC has partnered with the Tempe NT Pride BRC to co-sponsor an event for National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. There will be a moderated session centering on HIV/AIDS statistics and local resources in the community.

Other key events to celebrate Black History Month include:

Professional Development Lunch & Learn Session: Career Planning and Partner Development (February 19)
Weekly Walk and Talks to encourage networking (Every Thursday in February)

The Black History Month celebration in Tempe culminates with a “Taste of BBRC” during which employees are invited to support African American vendors in the community during their lunch hour. There will be food trucks, music and a celebration on February 28.

Northern Trust is looking forward to all of the Black History Month programming we have planned across both offices.

Novartis

How Novartis is celebrating Black History Month:

Meet & Greet Lunch – February 13
Bring your lunch and meet your fellow AACE colleagues on campus.

Professional Networking Event – February 19
Interested to learn more about ‘Be Curious’ rotation opportunities? Wonder how to improve your LinkedIn Profile and more effectively search for new opportunities on Brass Ring? Join us for a an informative conversation with People & Organization, Talent Acquisition, BD&L, Marketing and Market Access.

Living in the Now with Sickle Cell – February 20
Sickle Cell Disease impacts the African-American community in many ways. Those living with the disease and their career’s experience devastating crisis episodes, financial burden, access to care and treatment hurdles and much more. Please join the AACE ERG for an enlightening program to hear from the founder of Sickle Cell Association of NJ, a patient and volunteer from the organization, and our very own global medical director of Hematology.

Annual art exhibition and reception will follow. Enjoy live music, lunch and art from featured local and national artists of color.

PayPal

At PayPal, the company is celebrating Black History Month all month through programming hosted by Amplify, PayPal’s Diversity and Inclusion community for black employees, to commemorate the achievements of the black community.

The theme this year is “Standing on the Shoulders of Greatness, Together we Rise” and is designed to recognize the accomplishments of those who have come before us and to carry forward their achievements, while elevating each other. Programming highlights include:

PayPal’s President and CEO, Dan Schulman, sat down with Lisa Poletti and Stephen Casesar – the Global Co-Chairs of Amplify, PayPal’s D&I community for black employees – to discuss how PayPal is celebrating Black History Month, and to recognize the incredible work Amplify has accomplished since it was founded two and a half years ago. Video interview can be viewed on Dan Schulman’s LinkedIn.
Dan Schulman will also be doing an interview with Alphonso B. David, an accomplished and nationally recognized LGBTQ civil rights lawyer and advocate, and is the president of the Human Rights Campaign. Alphonso is the first civil rights lawyer and the first person of color to serve as president of HRC in the organization’s nearly 40-year history.

Prudential

A month of powerful programming will mark February as Black History Month at Prudential Financial this year.

The company’s business resource group, the Black Leadership Forum, will host more than 10 events that invest in the development of its talent, while also giving its members the chance to give voice to and support causes that promote inclusion and financial empowerment within the black community.

Additionally, at the end of the month, the company will announce that we have officially hit our goal of $1billion AUM in impact investing. The announcement will be made during a full day of programming with the Aspen Institute, followed by a celebration at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in D.C.

With a $2 million investment, Prudential was a founding partner of NMAAHC when it opened in 2016.

Qualcomm

Global Inclusion & Diversity and QAAAD Presents Black History Month Celebration Black Innovation and Leadership in Technology
Tuesday, February 4, 2020

10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Celebrate Black leadership at Qualcomm
Featuring Bill McClelland, SVP Human Resources
Hear Perspectives on Black History, Culture, and Legacy in STEM
Reconnect with community and experience a cultural experience

12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Taste of the Diaspora
Enjoy cuisines from the Americas, east and west Africa

12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Afrobeat Fit
Get active during this 1 hour fitness session over Afrobeat music

Scotiabank

The Scotiabank Black Employee Network ERG will amplify the #BlackFutureMonth campaign leading up to and during Black History Month. The campaign will focus on partnerships, profiles of Black Scotiabank Leaders, in addition to sharing stories that demonstrates the Bank’s inclusive culture.

Executive Champion Kick Off Blog Post (posted on workplace and SBL)

Raise awareness of the critical importance of diversity and inclusion
Highlighting Black Future Month

Digital Campaign — Photo campaign; group photos with taglines (available on digital screens in the commons)

Black Future Month: The future is equal representation.
Black Future Month: The future is InclusiveLeadership.
Black Future Month: The future is elimination of unconscious biases.
Black Future Month: The future is Inclusive hiring practices.

Digital Assets — CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY MONTH! (SEBN’s Workplace and SBL Page)

Is there a prominent leader in the black community- past, current or future- that you admire?
Post photos and comments throughout the month of February to tell us about them and why they inspire you!
Use hashtags #BlackFutureMonth and/or #BlackHistoryMonth

Black Future Month Event
February 18 4:45-6:00pm

PANELISTS:

Prominent, Black Leaders

MODERATOR:

Senior Leader and Executive Champion of the Scotiabank Black Employee Network

WHAT

What should the future of Corporate Canada look like for Black professionals?

WHERE

Internal: Scotiabank Centre

Sodexo

“Performance Culture – Empowering our Minds, Changing the Future, Enriching the Spirit” is the theme coined by Sodexo’s African American Leadership Forum “AALF” Employee Business Resource Group for Black History Month celebrations.

During February and throughout the course of the year, AALF is offering mentoring, professional development and networking, as members explore race and intersectionality in the workplace.

Dr. Eric Griggs, Director of Community Medicine at Access Health Louisiana, Assistant Professor at the Louisiana State University School of Medicine and Executive Director of the Doc Griggs Foundation, a community-driven, student-activated and professionally-mentored organization, will join AALF for their signature event taking place in mid-February.

During this session, Dr. Griggs will present on how mental health awareness in the black community impacts workplace performance, as he promotes his ‘Get Checked. Get Fit. Get Moving!®’ program.

AALF is committed to maintaining visibility for the black community year round and will be showcasing internal and external leaders through their “AALF 365” initiative.

US Cellular

Last year, our Diversity & Inclusion team initiated a project to acknowledge cultural celebrations with physical standing banners in our high volume offices and Customer Care Centers. We also had a similar graphic featured in a prominent location on our company intranet site for all associates to see and we will be doing the same thing this year.

Here are some of the events/activities U.S. Cellular is holding in honor of Black History Month:

Annual Black History Month Art Contest –

U.S. Cellular in conjunction with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America are hosting their Annual Black History Month Art Contest. Our Network of Black Associates resource group organizes this effort nationally in the local communities where we do business. The contest honors the many contributions of black men and women and encourages young people to learn about these current and historic figures.

Participating U.S. Cellular stores display their creations in our store and celebrate our country’s diversity during Black History Month. The public is encouraged to visit our U.S. Cellular stores to vote on their favorite piece of artwork.

The Chicago Sinfonietta Black History Month Concert –

Inspired by a chance encounter with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Maestro Paul Freeman founded Chicago Sinfonietta, the nation’s most diverse orchestra, to unite all people through music. The Sinfonietta will honor Dr. King’s and Freeman’s legacies of equity with a special Black History Month presentation at U.S. Cellular’s Operations Service Center (corporate office) by members of the orchestra’s Project Inclusion program.

Panel Event Highlighting African American Executives/Leaders at U.S. Cellular (will be held at our corporate office in Chicago) –

Our Chicago Chapter of the Network of Black Associates resource group is hosting this panel featuring executives/leaders from across the company. The event will be recorded and shared with the entire organization.

Black History Month Celebrations –

A few of our Network of Black Associates resource group chapters are hosting celebrations with food and music specific to the culture in our local markets.

Verizon

Verizon’s theme for Black History Month this year is “Elevate and Empower.” With 2020 being an important election year, the theme is a fitting one. Our employee resource groups are planning meaningful and impactful opportunities tied to voting education, voter registration, and the 2020 census. Some of activation programs include:

Even before the month started, our employee resource groups engaged in volunteering programs across different campuses in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in January – as a day of services.
Diego Scotti – Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, and also our employee resource group executive sponsor – sent his kick-off message for Black History Month to all employees.
Our employee resource groups have exciting volunteering programs partnering with National Society of Black Engineers, NAF, Junior Achievement to elevate the next generation in STEM. In addition, they have also planned exciting robotic events in support of National Engineers Week.
Internally, they are doing an educational daily trivia to educate our employees on Black history. We will also feature Black leaders across business units throughout the month. They will share how they are elevating and empowering the next generation.
Feb 18: Verizon Media’s BUILD Studio will host an Elections 2020 session with viewing parties across many campuses.
Feb 20: Verizon will have a company-wide webcast featuring community leaders from NAACP and Urban League, inspiring and educating our employees on the very important issue of voting.

Overview of what VF Corporation is doing for Black History Month:

VF Denver
“Being Black in the Outdoors” Panel Discussion — February 18: 11:30am – 1:30pm MST
Unpack topics such as economic status, access, historical discrimination from National Park Services and perceived fear from the black community
Speakers: Kelli Williams (ACE Diversity, Host), Bianca Bess (ACE Diversity, Host), Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant (Wildlife ecologist, conservation scientist and National Geographic Fellow), Fred Campbell (The North Face Climber), Kim Bentley (National Brotherhood of Skiers Member)

Dickies HQ
Celebration of Buffalo Soldiers in Western Culture —February 20: 2-3pm CST
Gloria Austin, Co-founder of the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum and Hall of Fame, will share the story of how Buffalo Soldiers played an integral role in serving the western frontier following the American Civil War. Gloria will also talk about what VF’s guiding principle “Be Curious” and VF movement territory “Worthy Work” means to her and the museum

Black Makers Spotlight
Cadence: One Profile a week (2 video and 2 PPT slide)
Dickie’s will educate their campus on little known history facts about Blacks contribution to society through innovation as makers and shapers of our world. Two of the spotlights will be videos and two will be PowerPoints. Both will be published on Yammer and across screens throughout the Dickie’s campus.

Makers showcased are: David Crosthwait (Designed installation testing for HVAC), Sarah Boone (Granted patent for first portable ironing board in 1892), Jan Matzeliger (Granted patent for the shoe lasting machine in 1883), Dr. Mark Dean (Member of team who created the original IBM Computer).

Vans HQ

Sponsoring Orange County Heritage Council – Vans Youth Village
Orange County Heritage Council Art Contest of K-12 students with the theme “The black legacy cultivated by excellence in the arts, athletics, economics, education, service, health & community.”

Vans is sponsoring the art contest (gives prize money) and Cultural Faire in Anaheim on Feb 1. Vans representatives at Orange County Black History Parade and Cultural Faire (Anaheim – Feb 1) to support opening of museum and awarding the winners of the youth art contest Inviting the winners to come onsite for a tour, meet/greet with creative team and learn about career opportunities within creative services. Displaying the winning art work at Vans HQ.

Vans HQ Black History Month Commemoration Event (Tuesday, February 25)
Vans Black Athlete Panel Discussion (Moderator: Chris Pastras; Panelists: Ray Barbee, Beatrice Domond, Chima Ferguson and Michael February)

ViacomCBS

Black History Month Calendar of Events:

Wednesday, February 5: Smithsonian Channel Black in Space Documentary
CBS Interactive San Francisco – 12:45 PM (PT)
America’s experiences during the Civil Rights Movement and the Space Race are well documented. However, few know about the moment these two worlds collided, when the White House and NASA scrambled to put the first black astronaut into orbit. This is the untold story of the decades-long battle between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to be the first superpower to bring diversity to the skies, told by the black astronauts and their families, who were part of this little known chapter of the Cold War.

Thursday, February 6: A Conversation with Producer DeVon Franklin
Paramount, Los Angeles – 12:30 PM (PT)
The BEAT hosts a special conversation with acclaimed producer DeVon Franklin, who recently signed a deal with Paramount Pictures. Michael D. Armstrong (EVP, Worldwide Television Licensing and Operations, Paramount Pictures) will moderate the conversation.

Saturday, February 8: National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Volunteer Project
California African American Museum Los Angeles

Tuesday, February 11: A Conversation with Lena Waithe
The Whitebox New York– 2:30 PM (ET)
BET, ViacomCBS Office of Global Inclusion, and The BEAT will host A Conversation with Lena Waithe, following the advanced screening of her new BET show TWENTIES. The conversation, moderated by novelist, Jacqueline Woodson, will explore topics including creativity, black history, and the future of entertainment.

Thursday, February 13: Executive Breakfast Speaker Series with Scott Mills, President of BET Networks
Skyquare Amphitheater New York – 10 AM (ET)
Scott Mills, President of BET Networks discusses the 40th Anniversary of BET and what’s to come for the network in 2020 and beyond. Moderated by Marva Smalls, EVP, Global Head of Inclusion. Presented by ViacomCBS Office of Global Inclusion and The Black Employee Resource Group, The BEAT.

Thursday, February 13: 8th Annual Taste of Soul Lunch
Hollywood/Gower Los Angeles

Thursday, February 13: Coming to America Screening
Nickelodeon, Los Angeles

Friday, February 14: Kiwi & Kia Valentines Day Treat
Nashville Lounge, Tennessee 2 PM (CT)
Takeia Carney is an African-American, native Nashvillian and Entrepreneur who launched her own ice cream business in 2017 to break the cycle of poverty and secure a future for her four children. Her small business provides uniquely crafted fruit and veggie ice cream combos that offer a mind boggling, delicious experience.

Tuesday, February 18: Simon & Schuster E-Blast: Highlighting Black Authors

Employees have until March 13th to download
This can only go to U.S ViacomCBS Employees only

Tuesday, February 18: Music On the Roof with Chika
Hollywood/Gower Los Angeles
The BEAT and EMERGE partner with ViacomCBS Creative Music Integration and Hollywood Core Services for Music on the Roof featuring Chika. Chika is a Los Angeles based rapper and singer originally from Alabama, who made waves with her viral freestyles– even being called out by Cardi B as one of the brightest young stars in the game.

Wednesday, February 19: Black N Animated Networking Mixer
Nickelodeon, Los Angeles
The BEAT partners with Black N Animated for a Networking Mixer at Nickelodeon. This mixer will provide an opportunity to meet and mingle with Black creatives working in animation and highlight contributions of Black artists at Nickelodeon.

Wednesday, February 19: Smithsonian Channel Black in Space Documentary
CBS Interactive New York – 12:45 PM (ET)
America’s experiences during the Civil Rights Movement and the Space Race are well documented. However, few know about the moment these two worlds collided, when the White House and NASA scrambled to put the first black astronaut into orbit. This is the untold story of the decades-long battle between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to be the first superpower to bring diversity to the skies, told by the black astronauts and their families, who were part of this little known chapter of the Cold War.

Thursday, February 20: Smithsonian Channel Black in Space Documentary
SHOWTIME New York – 2 PM (ET)
America’s experiences during the Civil Rights Movement and the Space Race are well documented. However, few know about the moment these two worlds collided, when the White House and NASA scrambled to put the first black astronaut into orbit. This is the untold story of the decades-long battle between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to be the first superpower to bring diversity to the skies, told by the black astronauts and their families, who were part of this little known chapter of the Cold War.

Thursday, February 20: Smithsonian Channel Black in Space Documentary
African American Museum Los Angeles – 6:30 PM (PT)
America’s experiences during the Civil Rights Movement and the Space Race are well documented. However, few know about the moment these two worlds collided, when the White House and NASA scrambled to put the first black astronaut into orbit. This is the untold story of the decades-long battle between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to be the first superpower to bring diversity to the skies, told by the black astronauts and their families, who were part of this little known chapter of the Cold War.

Friday, February 21: TN’S Black History Field Trip
Tennessee State Museum – 12:30 PM (CT)
Take a guided tour through Tennessee’s history and learn more about some key figures and moments. The 45-minutes’ walk through time will showcase the numerous contributions and people who helped to shape Tennessee.

Tuesday, February 25: Smithsonian Channel Black in Space Documentary
Paramount Screening Room – 12 PM (ET)
America’s experiences during the Civil Rights Movement and the Space Race are well documented. However, few know about the moment these two worlds collided, when the White House and NASA scrambled to put the first black astronaut into orbit. This is the untold story of the decades-long battle between the U.S. and the Soviet Union to be the first superpower to bring diversity to the skies, told by the black astronauts and their families, who were part of this little known chapter of the Cold War.

Tuesday, February 25: Family Feud Game Night
Paramount, Los Angeles – 6 PM (PT)
Colleagues will compete in a Family Feud-style trivia game focused on Black culture at work, home and entertainment.

Wednesday, February 26: Black Women Diversifying Animation
Skysquare Amphitheater – 12 PM (ET)
As part of its “BEAT Studio” platform, The BEAT is set to host Taylor K. Shaw, JLove Calderon, and Grace Edwards to highlight representation of black women in animation and dive into their respective career journeys. This event is in partnership with MTV.

Thursday, February 27: Networking Happy Hour
The Whitebox – 4-6 PM (ET)
The Beat to host a Networking Happy Hour to close out Black History Month.

Thursday, February 27: ARMOR: Biracial in the Deep South
Duets – 12 PM (CT)
2016 in Alabama, integration has been the law of the land for over 50 years, but for one group of people, the “one drop rule”, still affects every aspect of their lives. People born to biracial parents are the fastest growing, yet most underrepresented demographic in the American South. In this acclaimed documentary, four women share their experiences of being born biracial in post segregationist American South.

Friday, February 28: Selma Screening
Nickelodeon – Los Angeles

Visa

Austin:

“B.A.G.” Black and Gifted: Showcase of Local Entrepreneurs (marketplace)

Bay Area:

Black Vendor Market, we’re bringing in local black-owned vendors
Participating in the Black Joy Parade on 2/23 and inviting employees and their family & friends

Denver:

Dare to Dream. This program is going to take you on a journey through the dreams of some of the greatest dreamers in this great nation and some of our very own colleagues. President Obama stated that “America has been the story of ordinary people who dare to dream. That’s how we win the future.”

Wells Fargo

The initial opportunity for 2020 is to amplify the Empowerful messaging in Wells Fargo owned channels through cultural celebratory moments. “History is in the Makers” has been selected as the creative concept for these initiatives, and this round of review takes a look at the Empowerful story of Patrick Juene, a customer originally featured in the Empowerful Exchange.

In celebrating Black History Month, Wells Fargo will share Patrick’s story through content that is appropriately contextual to the on-us digital, in-branch and social channels.

Core Message: Your determination creates positive change. Wells Fargo honors and respects where you’ve been and where you are going.

History is in the Makers

African Americans have inspired one another to rise, overcome, and make their voices heard for generations. That energy has been never ending; having come so far, this Black History Month we’ll celebrate the progress that’s been made with an extension of the Empowerful campaign. Wells Fargo will highlight those who are embodying what it means to be Empowerful.

Leveraging Patrick’s Empowerful story from the exchange, Wells Fargo will use its own ad space to amplify the voice of someone who is making a difference in his community. Our message will emphasize that supporting people like Patrick supports black history.

Zurich North America

Monday, February 24, 2020
Author Talk, 3:00 – 4:00 PM followed by Book-signing & Reception, 4:00 – 6:00 PM

In the Color of Law: A Forgotten History Of How Our Government Segregated America, Richard Rothstein, renown author and leader on education and housing policy, details how U.S. federal housing policies coupled with decades of passivity created systematic racial exclusion for African-Americans. Richard maintains that this legacy of racial discrimination contributes to persistent
racial unrest and a myriad of social problems plaguing the inner cities, even today.

The book has been heralded as a“masterful” (The Washington Post) and “essential” (Slate) history of the modern American metropolis. Rothstein’s invaluable examination shows that only by relearning this history of ill-effects of racial discrimination, can we pave the way forward.

The path forward is to boost a long-term commitment and belief that diversity and inclusion is mission critical and is the right thing to do. The extent to which we embrace diversity and inclusion is impacted by biases we have formed as a result of systematic discrimination.

Differences make us question our own biases and others’, rely on objective facts, and process decisions more rigorously. Diverse teams work smarter and innovate better because of the inherent discomfort and friction diversity creates. Zurich is committed to building a diverse and inclusive environment to drive better outcomes, including more engaged employees, better solutions for our customers, and an enhanced brand and reputation in our communities.