Guides and Tools

How DBP Member Organizations Are Honoring Black History Month 2022

February 2022

Black History Month began in 1915, almost half a century after the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery in the United States. Historian Carter G. Woodson and minister Jesse E. Moorland founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH), which was dedicated to researching and promoting the successes of Black Americans and those of African descent. Now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), the organization sponsored the first national Negro History week in 1926, marking the second week of February to align with the birthdays of President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month in 1976. Every subsequent U.S. president has designated February as Black History Month and endorsed a specific theme.

 

The Black History Month 2022 theme, “Black Health and Wellness,” intends to celebrate Black scholars and medical professionals in Western medicine as well as raise awareness of more traditional ways of staying healthy throughout the African diaspora, such as via the contributions of doulas, herbalists, and naturopaths.

 

This Best Practices resource provides recommendations on how organizations and individuals can honor the day and insight into what Diversity Best Practices organizations have planned.

Recommendations

There are many virtual offerings this year to celebrate Black History Month. People can take virtual tours of historically significant sites, such as these:

Making charitable donations to organizations promoting and advancing Black excellence is another way to show support throughout the month. Examples of organizations include:

AAA – The Auto Club Group

AAA – The Auto Club Group’s African American ERG is a supportive environment in which Black and African American employees can celebrate and showcase their diverse talents, develop professionally, and contribute to growing ACG through DEI. The African American ERG acts as an inclusive mechanism for disseminating career-related information, promoting targeted organizational growth, and showcasing success of African American employees and other diverse employees at ACG. The African American ERG will host the third annual Food, Soul & Conversation Virtual Forum to discuss ways to unite, lead, and continue to progress with an ACG Executive Leader Guest Panel.

Check out AAA – The Auto Club Group’s LinkedIn profile throughout the month for more updates!

Advance Auto Parts

In celebration of Black History Month, Advance Auto Parts is hosting a series of events throughout February. In partnership with the African American Leading Inclusion and Growth Network (ALIGN), the following events will be offered to team members:

  • Advancing the Board Room with our Board Member Sherice Torres
  • Advance the Talk, Lunch & Learn DEI Session
  • Advancing Our Story main stage event
  • Programming with our Women in Motion Network

Follow Advance Auto Parts on their social media pages with these hashtags: #AAP #LifeatAAP #DEI #BlackHistoryMonth.

Alight Solutions

Alight Solutions will be offering the following events to employees to celebrate and honor Black History Month 2022:

  • Black History Month Keynote: Dr. Stacey Pearson-Wharton – For nearly 20 years, Dr. Stacey Pearson-Wharton has dedicated herself to helping people maximize their learning, health and wellness, and personal growth. She offers expertise and a positive approach for issues surrounding diversity, social justice, inclusion, and mental health to provide hope and healing in challenging times.
  • Create Your Vision for 2022 with Pam Reaves – During both sessions, Pam will discuss the importance of vision boards and how to create one. Session 1 focuses on how to craft a vision manifesto, and Session 2 will walk employees through the process of putting their vision manifesto on a board. Expect to walk away with a guiding statement that will determine where employees need to grow and to help them achieve their goals this year.
  • West African Dance Class with Stacy Letrice (dancer, choreographer, movement therapist). Come join Stacy as she teaches different traditional West African dances such as Goombey, a harvest dance; Lambaan, a dance of celebration; and Sunu, a wedding dance, along with many more! Participants are encouraged to wear their #BUILD shirts or anything representative of the African diaspora. Be prepared to have fun and break a sweat!
  • Chef Series: In the Kitchen with Chef Zita – Join Chef Zita Smith as she reinvents some soul food family favorites with a healthy twist! In this hands-on class, employees will learn how to put the soul into soul food as employees work their way through the preparation of a classic Southern menu.

American Institute for Research (AIR)

American Institutes for Research’s (AIR) BLAAC Diaspora Network (BDN) Employee Resource Group (ERG) is hosting “Financial Freedom in the BLAAC Community: Past, Present, and Future.” Guest speakers will be focusing on financial literacy and the historical aspects of wealth and wealth building among the African American community, from racial economic disparities to the law, policies, and education. There will also be an expert in finances who will provide attendees with tips on how to build wealth in the family and community.

Bitly

Bit.ly is excited to bring employees, or Bitizens, together during Black History Month to honor, recognize, and most of all celebrate Black achievement in the world and within local communities. By doing so, Bit.ly hopes to engage on a variety of important topics that

will provide us with a stronger understanding and awareness of Black history and achievement in the United States as well as globally.

To celebrate, the company will be hosting the following events:

  • Bit.ly will welcome guest speaker Adrian Miller, an American culinary historian, lawyer, and public policy advisor. Miller is the author of Soul Food, winner of the 2014 James Beard Foundation Book Award for Reference and Scholarship, as well as The President’s Kitchen Cabinet, which was nominated for a 2018 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction. He also served as a White House advisor to U.S. President Bill Clinton.
  • The Employee Resource Group, Bitizens Against Racism and Discrimination (B.A.R.D.), will be hosting an internal discussion on Black History Month to provide an opportunity for Bitizens to participate and share with one another.
  • A “Movie Night & Discussion” will be hosted on Jewison’s In the Heat of the Night, a 1967 film about a Black police detective from Philadelphia who is arrested under suspicion of murder in a small town in Mississippi.
  • All month long, Bit.ly will be sending out “Daily Insights” that will feature facts, influential people, and events from the Black community that have helped to shape U.S. and global history to the present day.

In addition to the internal events, Bit.ly will  join Seramount’s Black History Month webinar on February 24.

Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific’s BRIDGE (Developing a Community of Black Leaders) ERG is hosting four events covering the following topics:

  • Storytelling
  • Financial Literacy
  • Carnival
  • Lunch-n-Learn with a BSC Board Member

BRIDGE will also be sending weekly newsletters to BSC employees.

BRIDGE will be using the hashtags #blackhistorymonth and #bridgeerg throughout the month. They have encouraged their chapter leads to leverage BSC’s Yammer social platform to promote global and local events and start other dialogue around Black history. BSC has encouraged donations to the MLK Memorial Foundation and the National Urban League.

Capgemini

Capgemini, to celebrate and honor Black History Month 2022, will be hosting a volunteer campaign to teach digital literacy and tech skills to Black and African American youth in local communities. The company will also be posting updates on their events throughout the month to their social media platforms.

Capital Group

Capital’s BRG, Capital Associates of African Descent (CAAD), has planned a number of virtual events for associates to celebrate Black History Month around the theme “Cultivating Wellness: Mind, Body, Spirit.” The theme focuses on the importance of health and wellness and considers the activities, rituals, and initiatives that Black/African American communities have utilized for centuries. Virtual events include:

  • Financial Planning for the Black Community – curated for CAAD with partner AYCO
  • Same Storm, Different Boats: Mental Health in Communities of Color in partnership with Capital Women
  • From the NBA to PWA, Health at Every Stage, featuring associate Koko Archibong
  • Revolutionary Healing: Yoga & Mindfulness
  • Sickle Cell Disease Learning Session
  • Black History Month Living Museum
  • The Evolution of Black Music and Its Impact on Your Life
  • Virtual Documentary Screening: High on the Hog
  • Black History Month Adventures in Africa Wellness Challenge

CCC Intelligent Solutions (CCCIS)

CCCIS is planning four weeks of communications and activities on the origins of Black History Month and trailblazers and spotlights of Black people who have shaped the United States. The company is planning interactive activities such as a crossword puzzle and a cooking class on foods with Black origins.

Colgate-Palmolive

February is Black Heritage Month in the United States, a time to reflect on the incredible history, culture, and contributions of Black and African Americans in our country. This year’s theme, Black Health and Wellness, pays homage to medical scholars and health care providers. To support this initiative, Colgate has focused our efforts on programs that create positive social impact in Black and African American communities. Our programs include scholarships to promote diversity in the dental, skincare, and veterinary fields. They include mentoring for high-potential students of color and oral care outreach for underrepresented children and families.

Below are a few examples of our recent efforts:

Advancing Education: Inspire Our Future scholarships

One key to unlocking a brighter future is to provide opportunities in education for Black and African Americans as well as other underserved and underrepresented communities. One way we do that is through scholarships. Just last week, our North America Division announced the new Inspire Our Future scholarship, which will award ten $10,000 scholarships to selected recipients pursuing degrees related to manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, sales, and marketing. This month we also added four scholarships to our existing offerings in partnership with UNCF, which the Company has supported since 1944.

Reimagining a Healthier Future

This year’s theme of health and well-being focuses on areas where we know Colgate-Palmolive can make a difference. We recently launched KnowYourOQ to educate and raise awareness about oral disease, which disproportionately affects Blacks and African Americans and other underrepresented communities, and to emphasize the importance of oral health to physical health and well-being.

We’re also thrilled that the Colgate Women’s Games are back on track for their 27th season. The games, featured recently in the Netflix film Sisters on Track, have provided an opportunity for girls in underrepresented minority groups to compete in track and field events to earn grants-in-aid to further their educational dreams. In a recent interview, Olympic athlete and meet director Cheryl Toussaint talked about her experiences and how the Colgate Women’s Games helped her to realize her own healthier future.

Celebrating Black and African American Leaders at Colgate-Palmolive

Our three Black Leadership Networks have shown great leadership throughout the month in creating robust programming for Colgate People on a wide range of topics. This includes events like the Piscataway BLN’s Virtual Networking Across Borders series, with more than 70 Colgate leaders hosting small, engaging networking sessions.

All three BLNs collaborated on a special edition of The Word (a BLN internal publication) to commemorate the month.

And on LinkedIn, we recognized the contributions of Black and African American Colgate People in the Building the F.I.R.E. series. We’re grateful for the leadership of the BLN Employee Resource Groups as well as the individual contributions of so many Black and African American leaders at Colgate.  

Element Fleet Management

Element Fleet Management will be celebrating and honoring Black History Month with their employees by featuring a new topic each week:

  • Week 1: The Ethnic Structure of Black Well-Being, featuring a poet
  • Week 2: Mental Health and the Black Community, featuring a documentary
  • Week 3: Black Firsts, a fireside chat with a leading doctor
  • Week 4: Black woman-owned small business panel

Check out their social media platforms throughout the month for more updates.

Eli Lilly and Company

The Black Employees at Lilly (BE@Lilly) employee resource group aims for Lilly to become the premier destination in pharma and biotech for Black employees to work, through both attraction and retention of industry talent, by 2023. With this mind, a comprehensive slate of external videos, imagery, and compelling stories was created with the goal of providing Lilly employees and external audiences with information, resources, and action items that they may use to positively impact their respective environments and communities. Throughout February, Lilly will publish on its website, LinkedIn, and Facebook channels several posts celebrating the stories of three of Lilly’s Black history pioneers and their lasting impact throughout the organization. Additionally, the company has continued the Powered by Purpose campaign, which shares the stories and contributions of current employees. In honor of Black History Month, the company is focused on the lives and work of Black employees as they help advance Lilly’s work to make life better for people around the world.

The 2022 BHM celebration, “Celebrating Black History – Understanding the Legacy, Flourishing in the Moment, and Committing to the Future,” will highlight the importance of health equity in the Black community and Lilly’s commitment to racial justice. During the monthlong celebration, Lilly will host external and internal health equity experts to discuss the complexities of health inequities and actions the company and community can take to ensure all people have access to quality healthcare.

  • The first event, “Health Disparities and Health Equity Practices,” is a moderated session with Dr. Daniel Dawes, executive director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine. The session will define health inequity, common assumptions about inequities, and actions that can be implemented to help eliminate inequities within the Black community.
  • The second event, “Raising the Bar on Health Inequity: Moving from Intention to Action,” will discuss best practices and ideas to close health inequity gaps and create lasting social impact in Black communities. Between the two sessions, an interactive virtual Lilly Black Heritage Hall is available for employees to learn more about Black history and specifically, Black history at Lilly. Virtual attendees will have access to videos, articles, and links to internal Lilly DEI resources and external DEI resources.

Celebrating Black history helps give visibility to Black employees and enables inclusion. The focus of this year is on health equity, and Black History Month will be the first ERG event to spotlight this important enterprise-wide priority. Health equity is a complex, multifactorial issue that requires leadership, long-term strategies across multiple dimensions, and external partnerships to solve. So why is Lilly focusing on health equity during Black History Month? The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the significant health inequities that have existed in American society for Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, and immigrants. Statistics on COVID-19 report disproportionately higher mortality rates in Black communities. Obesity, diabetes, cancer, and Alzheimer’s healthcare disparities are pervasive across race, gender, age, and income. For example, Black women have slightly lower incidence rates of breast cancer compared to White women, but Black women have a 40 percent higher mortality rate.

Emergent BioSolutions

Throughout Black History Month, Emergent’s BOLD (Black Originators Leaders and Doers) ERG will collaborate with the Global Communications and Public Affairs team to share both internally and externally information that highlights the contributions of the Black community. One example of this is the creation of a Spotify playlist to recognize the contributions of Black people in the music industry.

The company will also feature a series of weekly spotlights of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), highlighting their history and contributions in the advancement of science, technology, and mathematics. Each of the universities or colleges selected has programs dedicated to increase the number of Black doctors and public health professionals. The four schools spotlighted will be Howard University School of Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, and Morehouse School of Medicine.

Equinix

For Black History Month, Equinix is hosting a variety of events and publications. Leading these initiatives is BlackConnect, an Equinix Employee Connection Network (EECN) founded on the pillars of empowering and elevating Black employees and allies. Internally, there will be several events, articles, and campaigns happening throughout the company to celebrate Black History Month. In addition to the community sharing both personal and #HiddenInPlainSight stories, BlackConnect is hosting some special events. Some of these events are in partnership with other Equinix Employee Connection Networks, such as a BlackConnect and interASIANconnect Lunar New Year social. BlackConnect is also promoting a Transcribe-a-Thon of the Colored Conventions on February 14 for Douglass Day, Frederick Douglass’s birthday. In their yearly signature event later this month, BlackConnect will host guest speakers Nicole Smith and Dr. Deena Buford for a learning opportunity and dialogue.

On February 4, Equinix published an article by Rosalyn Ford, Founding Member and Co-Lead for BlackConnect. This article describes this year’s theme of Black History Month, “Hidden in Plain Sight.” This theme is a way to honor the many contributions and innovations created by the members of the Black community by bringing pieces of Black history into the light. Please find the article here on the Equinix Interconnections company blog site. More details, initiatives, and achievements can be found within this publication. The article was highlighted on Instagram and LinkedIn as well. Throughout the month, the company’s Instagram page will continue to share stories to highlight BlackConnect leaders and members, as well as clips and Instagram “reels” to feature some internal events.

Experian

Experian’s Karibu Employee Resource Group (ERG) is hosting virtual events for employees to participate in! The events stem from the ”Black Health and Wellness” theme this year. The weekly programming will feature a variety of professionals from various disciplines who will share insights and information relevant not only to the Black community but beneficial for all communities.

For this year’s theme, each week of February has its own topic:

  • Week 1: Mental Health in the Black Community
  • Week 2: White Coats – Black Health
  • Week 3: Healthy Habits 101
  • Week 4: Fireside Chat with U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams and panelists who are licensed professionals in their respective fields, including psychologists, physicians, OBGYNs, cardiologists, nutritionists, social workers, and many others. Employees will have a chance to learn from some of the best and have the opportunity to ask the questions they want to ask.

Experian’s culture of inclusion internally extends to how communities are served externally. Experian is committed to financial inclusion for all and is proud to partner with organizations who share a similar mission, such as Operation HOPE, Black Girl Ventures, the National Urban League, AfroTech, and the National Black MBA Association.

Experian’s social teams are going to share posts that highlight Black History Month and some of the initiatives the company is taking to support the Black community. The initiative includes this blog post, which highlights how the Black community is honored at Experian.

Please visit Experian’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion website to learn more about the company’s work and see that work in action.

FactSet

Throughout the month, FactSet employees will have the opportunity to engage in a robust array of events, activities, and virtual engagements sponsored by the Black Business Resource Group (BBRG).

Below is a list of virtual programs planned in celebration and recognition of Black History Month:

  • February 3: Signature Speaker Dr. Natalie N. Watson-Singleton will discuss socioeconomin factors affecting Blck health and tips/exercises to be healthy.
  • February 9: Cafecito Session titled “Remedies & Wellness Practices Around the World,” which is a roundtable discussion in collaboration with FactSet’s Latinx BRG to practice the wellness, emphasizing intersectionality of Black and Latinx cultures/ancestors.
  • February 24: Careers workshop with P-TECH in Norwalk, CT, as part of the philosophy and values of Corporate Social Responsibilities, FactSet’s BBRG members are volunteering to be part of a virtual panel discussion with local high school students.
  • February 25: Kahoot Trivia, a bit of fun to look after social well-being and connect with others even for a bit. This entertaining virtual event will include prizes and the FactSet DJ.

To learn more about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at FactSet, please visit FactSet’s DEI page.

FINRA

Let’s Eat: The African Culinary Influence – The FINRA African American Network (FAAN) will kick off BHM with a virtual celebration of Black and African American cuisines and the cultural influences of Africa. During the event, held on February 2, members will share and reflect on the influence of African culinary heritage on food in the Americas, specifically the United States, the Caribbean, and South America, while also discussing the food’s societal impact.

Let’s Learn: Educational Event – The FINRA African American Network (FAAN) will host an educational event on February 10.

Let’s Listen: FAAN Talks 2.0 – Spoken Word – On February 17, the FINRA African American Network (FAAN) will host a Spoken Word event, which will include various elements of storytelling, theater, jazz, and blues music presented by FAAN members.

Let’s Discuss: Black History Is American History – The FINRA African American Network (FAAN) Flagship event on February 23 will feature a moderated Fireside Chat discussion featuring a 30-year veteran of the financial services industry and community advocate. He will share his journey and his opinions on the rise of financial technology and its impact, the importance of allyship, and how to attract and retain diverse talent.

Let’s Give: Funding the Education of Future Minds – The FINRA African American Network (FAAN) will partnership with United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to support its Black History Month Workplace Giving Campaign: Elements of Education. UNCF has been at the forefront of providing financial support to underserved students for 77 years. It has held onto the core belief that providing a college education to the underserved and underrepresented is vital to socioeconomic stability as well as the continued strengthening of the American adventure. The campaign begins February 1 and will end March 4.

Freddie Mac

In recognition of Black History Month, Freddie Mac’s ARISE (African Diaspora, Resources and Information Sharing for Everyone) business resource group (BRG) will engage employees through a series of events that celebrate Black contributions, culture, and presence. Here is a list of some of the planned inclusive engagement activities:

  • Black Executives Panel – This moderated discussion features Freddie Mac senior leaders sharing insights about their career journeys and ways in which others can grow their career.
  • Breaking the Stigma: Mental Health Awareness – Mental health experts share the importance of mental wellness to our personal and professional resilience and the importance of seeking help and support when needed.
  • Equitable Housing Panel Discussion – Freddie Mac equitable housing experts will discuss the current state of equity and accessibility to home ownership within underserved and underrepresented populations and how Freddie Mac is helping to make home possible for these communities. This intersectional event is cosponsored with the Hispanic Organization for Leadership and Achievement BRG along with Freddie Mac’s Single-Family and Multifamily divisions.
  • Black Women’s Symposium – This cosponsored event with Freddie Mac’s Women’s Involvement Network BRG features Black women leaders sharing their stories of career development, unique challenges, and practical tips on improving support and engagement for Black women in the workforce.

Gallagher

During the month of February, in celebration of Black Heritage Month (BHM), the corporate I&D team at Gallagher plans to engage colleagues globally in the following ways:

  • An all-employee message from their Global CHRO sharing an overview of their Black Heritage Month (BHM) celebration on the first day of the month
  • A virtual BHM Kickoff performance and dance lesson with Drum Tribe – South Africa
  • Diversity Resources posted on their intranet I&D site focusing on Black heritage and history, including a virtual tour of a gallery within The National Museum of African American History and Culture
  • Virtual panel event titled Black Communities & Culture: A Global Perspective focusing on the lived experience of Black people around the world featuring employees from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and Jamaica
  • Invite colleagues to share about any influential Black person who has contributed to history and share how they have inspired them (e.g., politician, author, actor) on their intranet blog page.
  • Highlight Black pioneers in the insurance industry once a week externally on all social media outlets as well as internally on the intranet site. 
  • A LinkedIn banner for employees to use on their personal profiles as well as a social post celebrating Black Heritage Month through the LinkedIn My Company Tab feature for employees to share through their personal profiles

Hancock Whitney

In celebration of BHM, Hancock Whitney is proud to increase and celebrate the Black Masking Indians, also known as Mardi Gras Indians, who aim to preserve history and build community by combining the African tradition of masking and the influences of Native Americans with the spirit and beauty of carnival. There is now a Black Masking Indian Exhibit at Hancock Whitney’s headquarters in Gulfport, Mississippi, and in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Howmet Aerospace

For Black History Month, Howmet Aerospace started celebrations by sharing President Biden’s Proclamation on Black History Month, alongside a brief history lesson on BHM. The company will follow up each week by recognizing Black Women CEOs. Details on how the City of Pittsburgh will celebrate BHM will also be shared. The city is showcasing the life and works of photographer Charles “Teenie” Harris, a Pittsburgh native whose four-decade career with The Pittsburgh Courier—one of the nation’s most influential Black newspapers—created an unparalleled chronicle of Black American life, culture, and history during the mid-twentieth century.

Finally, Howmet Aerospace’s manufacturing sites will be celebrating and recognizing Black History Month with team talks and lunch-and-learn sessions.

International Monetary Fund

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will kick off this year’s Black History Month by distributing a blog featuring suggested activities for the Diversity Reference Groups (DRGs, equivalent to ERGs). These activities will span the month of February and highlight what Black History Month means, why it matters to everyone, and reasons to celebrate. In mid-February, the Diversity and Inclusion Office will host two events:

  • A virtual town hall with facilitation led by Spencer Barros, the co-head of the Equity and Inclusion Program for Film Forward at Seed & Spark, after the screening of the film Ailey. The facilitation will explore the theme of intersectionality (cultural identity, racial justice, mental health, LGBTQ+ identity, and fitness).
  • The Diversity and Inclusion Office in collaboration with the DRGs will host a volunteer donation of school supplies to a local school to continue the spirit of Martin Luther King Day of service to community and social justice for all.

JetBlue

To celebrate Black Heritage Month, JetBlue is doing the following:

  • This month will open with a social post that recognizes Black History Month and links to the JetBlue Blog for customers to reach more on what we are doing this month and beyond. Later in the month there will be a destination spotlight series that will highlight Blue Cities with Black cultural connections.
  • “Minding My Black-Owned Business” Newsletter – J.A.D.E. will be releasing a weekly newsletter highlighting the member’s favorite Black-Owned Businesses.
  • Phyllis Iller Brings Black Joy to T5 – In Late February, JetBlue will be working with Phyllis Iller, an Atlanta-based photographer, to bring her Pull-Up Sessions to T5.
  • Black Joy Music Playlist – J.A.D.E. has curated a hand-selected Black History Month playlist for rotation in T5, including artists such as Beres Hammond, Frank Ocean, Ella Fitzgerald, and many others.
  • Celebrating Black Voices with In Flight Entertainment – A Black History Month curated list of movies featuring films such as The Pursuit of Happyness, Green Book, Sylvie’s Love, and many more.

Merck & Co.

February 1 will be the official launch of Merck’s Black History Month programming with a virtual event called “Bridge, Balance, Build: A Focus on Black Health, Wellness & Wealth,” where a panel of LEADers will talk about the health equity work the company is performing, from oncology to diversity in clinical trials. A fireside chat will occur between the Global D&I CoE leader, Celeste Warren, and Mr. Ervin “Magic” Johnson. On February 22, there will be an hour-long session about healthy cooking, and on February 28, a Mental Health (“Same Storm, Different Boats: Mental Health in Communities of Color”) speech will be given, in partnership with the internal asset on health and wellness called Live It!

Also in partnership with Live It! Merck will have newsletters going out every week during the month. The themes are:

  • Prevent it – Health insurance disparities
  • Fuel it – Food desserts
  • Move it – Obesity
  • Balance it – Weathering (impact of discrimination and systematic racism)

Merck plans to also offer the following events to employees:

  • February 24: Durham – Lunch & Learn “Black Wall Street” Joint with Wilson. MWN (gender affinity group) joint event. Tour of Stageville.
  • February 24: Elkton panel discussion, “Beyond Representation, I Matter” Weekly email series titled “to be seen, to be heard”.
  • February 24: LATAM – Spotlight on important Black personalities from the region to increase awareness about Blacks, educational effort.
  • NJ chapter has three planned activities during the month, including virtual trivia.
  • February 24: PA chapter will be hosting a student activity at N. Penn High School.
  • February 25: PA chapter has a book club event.
  • South San Francisco – Coffee chats, fireside chats
  • UK – Sponsor and share U.S activities
  • Virtual – Virtual month of service. Asking members to support or to donate hours to community service. All volunteer services to be captured in Merck Gives Back.

MIT Lincoln Laboratory

The Lincoln Employees’ African American Network (LEAN) plans to host four events for Black History Month:

  • A fireside chat during the second week in February on the hiring and retention of African American employees at the Laboratory
  • The 9th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Event on February 17. The theme of this virtual event, “Persevering with Unity and Compassion,” highlights the significance of MLK’s legacy advocating for voting rights, civil rights, and unity and inspires action to achieve these ideals in the Laboratory community. The event will feature a video of staff members sharing their thoughts on unity at the Laboratory and on civil rights. The keynote speaker is Lieutenant General Richard M. Clark, Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy.
  • A technical talk by a member of the Laboratory’s Black community in mid-February.
  • A virtual concert and conversation with musician Jake Blount during the last week in February. Mr. Blount specializes in the music of Black and indigenous communities in the Southeastern United States. Attendees will explore the roots of Black Americans through music and historical musical appropriation within the larger context of cultural appropriation.

Moody’s

To commemorate Black History Month, Moody’s employees will participate in a weekly speaker series, the 4th Annual Black Inclusion Group Trivia Afternoon, a panel around Black representation in product innovation, and documentary film screenings. The Black Inclusion Group, an ERG at Moody’s, has shared weekly newsletters, Zoom and desktop background designs, and employee spotlights.

Examples of the documentary screenings include a viewing of The Long Shadow by Frances Causey, which will be followed by a live Q&A session with the director and producer. Moody’s is also partnering with Echoing Green to screen the documentary The Power of Black Innovation, which explores chronic under-funding of Black-led organizations and celebrates the perseverance of Black innovators.

Nasdaq

Nasdaq will kick off Black History Month with an informative article on the month’s significance, including information on important civil rights leaders, such as MLK Jr. and Rosa Parks. This will be promoted on the intranet platform and circulated amongst employees. In partnership with the Global Link of Black Employees (GLOBE) ERG, Nasdaq is offering Black History Month Zoom backgrounds to all employees to bring awareness of the celebration and encourage our employees to participate in dialogue.

The GLOBE ERG is hosting several events, each with the theme of expanding financial literacy across racial demographics.

Further, Nasdaq will be spotlighting members of the GLOBE employee network on Nasdaq.com. These spotlights feature thoughts and ideas from prominent GLOBE members about the work they are doing to create a more inclusive and diverse culture at our company. Nasdaq also has a webpage that is dedicated to the celebration of Black History Month. The company will be amplifying messages across social media platforms, including a resurfacing of the incredible “Amplifying Black Voices” art exhibit. Amplifying Black Voices is a multimedia retrospective featuring works of art and photography documenting Black life across the world. To close out the month, the social media platforms will recap our Black History Month financial literacy seminars.

In addition, Nasdaq will be hosting a bell ringing ceremony in partnership with Blacks at Microsoft (BAM). Following this event, Nasdaq will also be hosting a behind-the-bell interview with BAM members, which will be featured on social media platforms.

New York Life

New York Life will be celebrating Black History Month in the following ways:

  • A BOLD Town Hall featuring the Head of the DEI Center and VP of DEI Agency – Both leaders will touch on upcoming key initiatives and events. The conversation will be moderated by Black employees who are ERG chairs.
  • A BOLD conversation with Renee Montgomery – Renee will share her personal story as a co-owner and VP of the Atlanta Dream, former WNBA star, philanthropist, and activist.
  • BOLD Presents, Planning BOLD-ly: A Wealth Building Series featuring NYLIM – This session will discuss concepts to grow net worth while protecting it from threats and erosion.
  • Virtual volunteering opportunities and walk-a-thons for employees to support Heart Health Month will also be offered to employees.

Keep an eye on the company’s social media platforms for more information on how New York Life is promoting Black History Month and ERG Leadership.

New York Power Authority

To celebrate Black History Month, New York Power Authority (NYPA) will be doing the following:

  • February 24 – The company’s Multicultural ERG in collaboration with Hakeem Oluseyi, astrophysicist and former space science education lead for NASA, will host a free, virtual event where Hakeem will address NYPA staff and share his powerful story of overcoming class and race barriers to become a leading astrophysicist, educator, and advocate. Hakeem is a renowned scientist who has worked on Nobel Prize-winning teams and created 12 patents globally on manufacturing computer chips. He is also the author of the new, groundbreaking memoir A Quantum Life: My Unlikely Journey from the Streets to the Stars. Prior to the event date, 100 copies of Hakeem’s memoir will be provided to event attendees.

NYPA Communications is using FYI Newsletter space and social media platforms to highlight and celebrate diversity and the company’s Black employees.

Northern Trust

The Northern Trust Black Business Resource Council (BBRC) will take time this month to share external stories as well as highlight the stories of Black employees and their important contributions. Additionally, keeping in mind the mental health and well-being of employees, they will host a program aligned to the official Black History Month theme of “Black Health and Wellness.” To complement the programs, the BBRC will send weekly emails in February containing inspirational messages from Black senior leaders, historical facts, links to various resources or activities, and topics for discussion on their Yammer Community page, as well as the Black History Month event details.

Planned activities include:

  • Discussion with Northern Trust’s Chief Financial Officer (and BBRC’s Executive Sponsor) and the Managing Executive and Head of Asia Pacific—Asset Management focused on the parts of their personal and professional journeys that prepared them for, and catapulted, their careers today
  • Co-hosted with the Women of Color Alliance (part of the Women in Leadership Business Resource Council), a conversation on “Living and Leaving Your Legacy.”
  • A conversation between the Northern Trust Head of Corporate Sustainability, Inclusion, and Social Impact and former Northern Trust Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion will focus on the importance of uniting others and being true to yourself.

The BBRC has also compiled a number of educational resources ranging from podcasts, including Code Switch, to family-friendly resources to support the employee learning around this key month. Partners across North America will be invited to participate in the programs and to access all compiled resources. The Head of Corporate Sustainability, Inclusion, and Social Impact will post a message on the Northern Trust LinkedIn page to mark the start of the month. To learn more about DEI at Northern Trust, please visit the Northern Trust website.

Realogy

The theme for Black History Month at Realogy this year will be “The Future of Black History is at Realogy.” One of the goals this year for all of the company’s ERGs is to elevate the conversation on topics and issues that are important to all. With this in mind, the African American and Caribbean (ACE) ERG will be hosting a series of activities and a live, virtual, company-wide event designed to educate and create awareness on the true purpose, significance, and meaning of Black History Month. A key theme that Realogy’s ACE ERG will be exploring throughout the month is the importance of understanding the events of the past, how it has impacted the present, while recognizing the contributions of Black leaders and the importance of investing in the Black youth of today. The ACE ERG activities throughout the month will include:

  • Kicking off with an impactful article on the significance of BHM, followed by a series of mini-videos featuring some of Realogy’s ACE members and Black leaders who will discuss the significance of Black History Month.
  • A podcast featuring an interview about the impactful community work that ACE is doing with Exalt, a Black youth-focused organization.
  • An event titled “The Future of Black History is at Realogy,” featuring an insightful panel conversation with Realogy Leaders about the Griffin Bridges Program and the work ACE is doing to invest in the education and growth of our Black youth to build a better future for all.
  • On the final week of Black History Month, ACE will launch a new mentoring initiative.

Robert Half

Robert Half’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) team is partnering with the company’s Black Employee Network to celebrate Black History Month. A dynamic group of speakers will be joining the company throughout the month as a means of education and celebration. The groups have chosen to focus on the ways that Black people have made a lasting impact with all of their creativity and innovation. During the month, employees will explore the themes of Black innovation, music, dance, food, health, wealth, and wellness, culminating in a Black leadership conference that the Black Employee Network will host for their members.

There are three speaker events, of which two will be for the entire company and one will be for the ERG’s members only. The topics will include Black Innovation, African Music and Dance, and The Impacts of Hip-Hop. A conference for Black leadership will also be held during the last week of February. A partnership with the Smithsonian is also hopefully on the horizon for 2022 as the company partnered with them in 2021.

There will be a campaign on the company’s LinkedIn and Instagram profiles speaking directly to each of the month’s themes.

Sesame Workshop

For Black History Month this year, Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum will join Sesame Workshop for a conversation about the current state of race relations and social progress in the United States. Dr. Tatum is the President Emerita of Spelman College, a clinical psychologist, and author of the best-selling classic, Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations About Race. She is also a Sesame Workshop board member.

Each heritage month, the organization holds a Sesame Shares: DEI Speaker Series events. Sesame Workshop welcomes a guest speaker, and a Sesame employee has a conversation with them about topics related to culture, identity, lived experiences, equity, and allyship.

There will be posts related to Black History Month on Sesame Street’s Instagram.

Sodexo

Last year at Sodexo, the African American Leadership Forum (AALF) encouraged everyone with the theme “Knowing Your Purpose.” They’re building on that momentum this year with the Black History Month theme “Dig Deeper: Black History and Future.” Digging deeper reflects the self-awareness, current state, and future of the AALF community. This is particularly poignant as they celebrate the 20th Anniversary of AALF’s founding. The group will feature stories of AALF’s origin, highlight current activities within the regions, share pertinent information as it relates to voting rights, and discuss the employee business resource group (EBRG) with DEI Leadership.

Featured events and activities during the month include:

  • A movie club cosponsored by AALF and the Sodexo Organization for Latinos (SOL)
  • A book club Fireside Chat
  • A spotlight conversation with the team members who founded the AALF employee business resource group 20 years ago
  • Straight Talk conversations that emphasize real conversations about challenging subjects
  • A focus on community health and wellness
  • Features for Black-owned businesses
  • Keeping the voting rights conversation front of mind through information and resource sharing

Sony Music Group

As the 2020 decade ushers in a new era of creativity, Sony Music Group (SMG) looks to entrepreneurs, creatives, and entertainers to drive society’s modern-day cultural renaissance. This February, in recognition and celebration of Black History Month, organizations across the Sony enterprise will embrace a collaborative Black History Month theme: “The Roaring 20s: Black Creativity & Innovation Across the Globe.” With several company-sponsored events and activities, Sony is proud to pay homage to the Black creators, innovators, and changemakers who foster community and shape culture across industries and around the world. From Hip Hop to K-Pop, rom coms to thrillers, to virtual reality and E-sports, Sony is proud to recognize, support, and advance Black creativity and innovation at Sony Music, Sony Pictures, Sony Interactive, and beyond.

To celebrate Black History Month this year, SMG’s Office of DEI and Helping Unite Everyone (HUE), SMG’s ERG for employees of color, is putting on a series of internal events (Note: At SMG, ERGs are referred to as TAGS, or Talent Advisory Groups):

  • February 9: The Power of the Black Dollar: HUE’s Black Business Expo – HUE welcomes several Black-owned businesses to present their stories and products to their communities. Employees who RSVP will automatically be entered into a raffle of several products from these businesses.
  • February 15: Sony Group Collaborative: Black Creativity & Innovation with Valeisha Butterfield – Sony Corporation, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Electronics, and Sony Music Group come together as Sony Group Collaborative for their BHM Event, featuring a fireside chat with Valeisha Butterfield Jones of The Recording Academy with EVP and CDIO, Tiffany R. Warren. Their discussion will touch on the influence Black creators and innovators have across all Sony Industries.
  • February 17: Black Genius: A Discussion on Power, Influence, & Beauty of Black Creativity – This discussion focuses onthe vital influence that Black Artists have contributed to society throughout history from the Harlem Renaissance to modern-day culture, while highlighting how Black people naturally create and disrupt trends and the necessity in giving consistent credit to Black Artists and their culture.
  • February 22: The Orchard Presents: Culture, Creativity and Commerce – Join the Orchard for a panel highlighting Black entrepreneurs and their impact on the music industry and the opportunities and challenges faced on their career journeys and the importance of economic empowerment. This is an international TAG event.
  • February 24: …to be Young, Gifted, and Black: A HUE x Office of DEI Celebration on Black Artistry – This celebration will allow employees to take a quick break from work and enjoy the music of some signed artists.
  • German Black History – Each week in February, HUE Germany will highlight notable Black innovators who have made a lasting impact on German history. In partnership with Black content creators, they will create fact flyers that will be posted internally on their Microsoft Teams channel.
  • Colorism Research – HUE Germany’s Education Committee will share poignant research on colorism and its impact globally in the entertainment industry.
  • Panel Event: The Black Experience in the German Music Industry – HUE Germany will host a panel featuring 5-6 panelists from different walks of the German entertainment industry to discuss their experiences and also shed light into their challenges while navigating the industry in German.

Externally, employees can engage in SMG’s YourCause CSR Connect platform to make commitments to any of our partners in our Global Social Justice Fund or tune in to podcasts made by some of Sony Music’s very own:

  • YourCause CSR Connect – Employees can access our new employee engagement platform for new events and resources from Sony Music Group’s Global Social Justice Fund partners in celebration of Black History Month. Employees can also make the commitment to volunteer or donate to any of our Global Social Justice Fund partners.
  • Sony Music Podcasts – Every Tuesday throughout February, tune in for new podcast episodes of Power: Don King, Eclipsed, Cheat! And Good Words with Kirk Franklin hosted by Sony Music’s Black podcast creators.
    • Power: Don King

People can also tune in to various Sony Music channels to hear what’s going on in the office, at SMGs labels, and more!

  • Sony Music News Recognizes Black History Month – Sony Music will recognize Black History Month in a series of posts related to this year’s theme. Follow on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates!
  • Legacy and Certified – Tune in to Legacy’s This is Certified Black History Campaign, “The Music that Made Us” with Certified for special playlists and takeovers with Kandi and RZA throughout the entire month on @thisiscertified on Instagram and YouTube! See also, RZA’s Playlist and Kandi’s Playlist.
  • RCA Records – Synonymous with Records, Culture, Art, this year RCA Records’ campaign, “Black History Happens Everyday,” will highlight recent Black history-making moments that impact and define the world today – from H.E.R.’s first-ever Academy Award win to the individuals on the continuous quest for social justice. Follow @rcarecords on Instagram throughout the month to learn more.

Sysco Corporation

Catalyst, Sysco’s Black Associate Resource Group, will host a global town hall for all associates featuring Dr. Jessica B. Harris. Dr. Harris authored the book that inspired the Netflix series titled High on the Hog, which examines the influence Black food has had on America and the ways that food unites us all. Catalyst will also publish (both internally and externally) features spotlighting some of Sysco’s Black customers and suppliers, as well as African Americans who have made significant contributions to the food industry. Sysco’s purpose is to connect the world to share food and care for one another, so the company is endeavoring to tie Black History Month programming to this fundamental principle.

TDIndustries, Inc.

TDIndustries will be celebrating Black History Month in the following ways:

  • Encourage Partners to join the Partner Resource Groups (also known as ERGs).
  • Publish four articles featuring TD Partners, the history of TD’s founder Jack Lowe Sr. and his involvement with the desegregation of the Dallas Independent School District, and a highlight on industry-related African American inventors scheduled for Inventor’s Day, February 11.
  • Promoting cultural recommendations such as books and movies to educate our Partners. Suggestions include Best of Enemies, Hidden Figures, and Caste: The Origins of Our Discontent.
  • Encouraging the company’s Partners to join an industry peer’s webinar.

TD Bank

Over the past 14 years in Canada and the past 4 years in the United States, TD Bank has celebrated Black History Month through colleague receptions/summits and events. TD’s commitment to Black communities is amplified through a series of artistic, cultural, and thought leadership events funded through the TD Ready Commitment (TDRC). Launched in 2018, the TDRC was developed to support the conditions necessary for a more equitable tomorrow. Last year’s theme, “Not Just Another Black History Month,” highlighted conversations that Black communities and allies around the globe were having to confront the ongoing realities of anti-Black racism in all aspects of society. TD Bank’s Black History Month theme this year is “Let’s Walk the Walk,” which is broken into four categories throughout the month of February (Black Thought, Black Health, Black Wealth, and Black Joy).

How TD Bank is celebrating BHM with colleagues:

  • Lunch and Learns Centered Around Financial Literacy (Prosperity Program), Career Development and Goal Setting (Vision Board Event), Business Acumen Session (Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival)
  • Black History Month programs and initiatives:
    • BHM Colleague Spotlight
    • External Community Engagement Conversations
    • Mind, Money, and Movement: How to Fortify Your Mental, Financial, and Physical Well-Being (a panel discussion addressing mental, physical, and financial wellness in the Black community) and Historically Speaking: A Great Moral and Social Force—Conversation with Timothy Todd (a discussion around social and historic contexts for the establishment of Black bank ownership in various urban areas)
    • BHM Speed Mentoring Program
  • February 2: Fireside Chat with Bharat Masrani, Group President and Chief Executive Officer, TD Bank Group, and Keynote Speakers Minda Harts and Hadiya Roderique
  • February 9: A conversation about how environmental factors impact health disparities in Black communities
  • February 11: Divine 9 Lunch and Learn—A look into the history and significance of the Divine 9 Black Sororities and Fraternities in the United States featuring several Divine 9 colleagues
  • February 15: Building on last year’s conversation about generational wealth, Black leaders in the tech industry and small business owners share how they’ve built success and how they pay it forward for the next generation of business leaders and entrepreneurs with a special guest—Wole Coaxum, CEO of MoCaFi.
  • February 17: Virtual lunch with a Historical Black Colleague or University (HBCU) President
  • February 23: The closing event of Black History Month will be a celebration of “Beauty, Love, and Culture.” Discover the ways these dimensions impact everyday culture across North America. Hear from the children of TD colleagues on what Black History Month means to them and what brings them joy.

How TD Bank is celebrating BHM with customers and communities:

  • Highlighting customer and community stories through marketing and branding communications and social and digital platform
  • The Black History Month communications will include advertising in community publications and broadcasts, advertorial sponsorships in community publications, and newsroom storytelling and public relations.
  • “Let’s Walk the Walk” social media marketing campaign—On a national communication scale, leveraging marketing assets across various media and digital platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn

Tractor Supply

To celebrate Black History Month, African American employees in R.I.S.E., a Team Member Engagement Group (TMEG), has planned several exciting events and activities for all team members. Below are a few of the highlights:

  • For the entire month of February, Black History Month banners will be hung on the flagpoles in front of the company’s corporate office to show support for Black History.
  • Throughout the month of February, the R.I.S.E. TMEG will sponsor their 2nd Annual virtual auction to raise money for African American communities. Team members will have a chance to bid on autographed books, sports memorabilia, and artwork. Items up for bidding are from Black-owned businesses.
  • February 1: Tractor Supply will start Black History Month with social media posts and communication to all team members.
  • February 7 to 11: Black History Virtual Scavenger Hunt – team members will be given clues to find national Black history landmarks around the United States by searching the web.
  • February 8: Tractor Supply will launch a landing page featuring highlights from the company’s community engagement events within local African American communities and spotlighting several African American team members from the company.
  • February 12 to 15: Documentary Movie Trivia – team members can win prizes by watching the documentary Teach Us All and answering a few questions about the movie. Teach Us All is about the Little Rock Nine. The Little Rock Nine was a group of nine Black students who enrolled in an all-White Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. The goal of the Little Rock Nine was to integrate schools.  
  • February 16: African American employee members from R.I.S.E will host the 2nd Annual Black History Month Celebration featuring guest speaker Dr. Terrance Roberts from the Little Rock Nine.
  • Week of February 21st: Tractor Supply will create a “sizzle reel” showcasing what Black History means to team members.
  • Black History Month themed graphics will be posted in stores, distribution centers, and at the store support center. Team members can use the virtual graphics for email signatures and virtual backgrounds in celebration of Black History Month.

United Health Group

The United Health Group will be hosting the following events to celebrate and honor Black History Month in 2022:

  • Two distinct webinars on diabetes and financial literacy
  • Two virtual fitness classes with Q&A on fitness and nutrition
  • Mini fireside chat with ERG Leaders and UHG Leaders about “Understanding the Importance of Employee Resource Groups and the Impact on the United Health Group African American Experience.”
  • The Right to Healing and Healthiness Series – A three-part series on African Americans and Internalized Trauma presented by Optum Behavioral Health Women of Color Employee Resource Group
  • Behavioral Health & Wellness Blog with two sessions that provide an informative, educational, and conversational space in which to talk about African Americans and mental health
  • Coffee Talk Podcast – Hear from African American colleagues and experience inspiration, express experiences, and alleviate stress/tension through like-minded conversations to promote mental and emotional wellness.
  • Mental Health & Wellness Resource Library – Resources for African American mental health and wellness, including books, articles, video, and more
  • Prerecorded event including UHG’s Chief Diversity Officer, Joy Fitzgerald, and other leaders who will be a re-play for employees called “Our Journey: Being Black in Corporate America Panel”
  • PowertoFly: Elevating Black Leaders Summit – Participating with a speaking session and followed by recruiting portion
  • Newsroom story with two-minute “What does Black History Month mean to you?” video and social media cuts of the video throughout the month

ViacomCBS

ViacomCBS’s ERG, Black Employees Achieving Together (BEAT+), is celebrating and recognizing the continued achievements of Black Americans with their theme “Still Making Black History.” Throughout the month they are offering robust virtual programming that will highlight the contributions of many—from leaders in the Civil Rights Movement to millennial change agents making their mark in the cultural advancement of Blacks in America.

The company is also partnering with the Smithsonian to have a fireside virtual chat to discuss the Smithsonian’s One Thousand Years of Slavery docuseries, as well as the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History to have a discussion between two historians of American history, David Blight and Peniel Joseph, who will examine the lives and legacies of Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King Jr.

Follow for more information on ViacomCBS’s Instagram: viacomcbs_ogi and with the tag #StillMakingBlackHistory.

Wayfair

WayBlack is an Employee Resource Group focused on cultivating a strong sense of community and connectedness within Wayfair through networking, mentorship, and professional development among employees identifying as members of the African diaspora. WayBlack will be hosting multiple events each week focusing on Black joy, games, fellowship, learning, and fitness. Some of the community events are:

  • #CultureTags Trivia
  • TV Screening of Abbott Elementary
  • The Beauty of Hair session
  • Social Media & Black Twitter lunch event
  • BPCC Panel Discussion: The Changing Role of ERGs in Corporate America
  • Yoga & Mindful Meditation
  • Dating While Black
  • Black Mental Health Discussion: Dealing with the Stress, Anxiety, and Trauma of the Pandemic

Wayfair is partnering with external organization Kunik for a session on “How to Speak to Your Family About Race & Racism” as well.

Weill Cornell Medicine

To celebrate and honor Black History Month 2022, Weill Cornell Medicine will be hosting a virtual panel Discussion on Black Hair at Work led by staff members and virtual story time reading for children of employees to learn about the Lunar New Year.

Topics

Black History Month , Diversity Holiday Calendar & Heritage Month

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