According to boldbusiness.com, roughly 90% of the Fortune 500 companies have Employee Resource Groups of some sort. The Credit Union is no exception. During our latest episode titled, “Connecting Voices: Employee Resource Groups,” the Wallet Watch hosts interview leaders from two of the Credit Union’s ERGs to understand how they support the Credit Union’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
During our interview with Prince Jerold Solace, co-president of the African American ERG, he clarifies that “ERGs are a way to connect people who have affinities that are similar to your own, and creates a space that allows people to network, to get to know each other, have fun, and also do that without the external judgment that we face in the everyday world.” He then takes it a step further and introduces us to the concept of brave spaces. He explains that ERGs create brave spaces to, “start dialogue that we feel is happening in the outside world, that affects us here, and we have that dialogue knowing that it’s ok to make mistakes… It’s okay to be transparent and to be vulnerable. I think that’s the first step to embracing inclusion. That’s the first step to embracing diverse perspectives.”
Taylor Moberg, communications lead of CU Pride, appreciates the impact the ERGs have had on her life, asserting that, “the more that we try to hide who we are, the more damaging it is to our mental health. And if we can’t show up and be ourselves at work, it really affects our work ethic too. And then from that, it could even affect employment. I think diversity, equality, and inclusion is vital so that everyone can show up to work forty hours a week and enjoy who they are and their job.”
She explains that, “ERGs also seek to celebrate differences and improve the employee and the Credit Union’s member experience.” She then goes on to share some of CU Pride’s initiatives that have led to positive change, such as using “they” as opposed to “he or she” in all materials Credit Union-wide. Both Prince and Taylor hope that the ERGs continue to contribute to our DEI initiatives as well as the Credit Union’s culture of empathy, belonging and empowerment.
To learn more about the AAERG and CU Pride’s mission, impact, and initiatives, check out the full episode by going to Spotify, Podbean, or Apple Podcast.
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