Diverse Perspectives, One Team: How BIC Promotes Unity
June is Pride Month, a time of celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and promoting self-affirmation, support, and equality. The month of June was chosen for celebration in honor of the Stonewall uprising, a series of protests that took place in New York City in 1969 when members of the LGBTQIA+ community stood up against police harassment and discrimination. This month is a chance for people to come together to raise awareness, educate, and empower LGBTQIA+ community members and allies.
BIC is proud to fulfill its mission of empowering inclusivity through its DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) Allyship program, an initiative that began with 56 members and has now grown to include over 250 BIC team members supporting diversity initiatives in BIC offices and working sites around the globe.
According to NAM DEI Allyship leader Sam Martin, with this program we are working to ensure that, “everyone at BIC feels comfortable bringing their full selves to work and can be confident they have a seat at the table and a voice that is heard.” Through their efforts, the allies are creating an inclusive environment that helps to eradicate systematic and unconscious barriers to ensure impartiality and equal opportunities for all.
To honor this value and celebrate Pride Month, BIC team members around the globe came together to reflect on the importance of allyship and support meaningful causes.
Bringing Communities Together
In a virtual event, Dr. Cecilia Sun presented a session in honor of both Asian, Asian American, Pacific Islander (AAPI) and Pride months, which displayed the intersecting issues and complexities that the two communities face. Through this session BIC team members gained valuable skill sets to further foster inclusion and belonging in the workplace.
Creating Safe Spaces for All
Similarly in Brazil teams gathered for a discussion with DEI consultant Leticia Santana who presented "Pride Month: Psychological Safety" which focused on psychological safety within the LGBTQIA+ community. As a result of the discussion, team members learned ways to cultivate an environment that encourages open dialogue, respect, and understanding for everyone regardless of their background or identity.
Showing Up and Showing Support
Several BIC team members participated in local Pride community walks and parades to showcase their support for LGBTQ+ community members, including team members in Shelton, Connecticut and Mexico City, Mexico.
Adriana Pascarella, who helped organize and host the walk in Shelton stated, “I was honored to work with other North America DEI team members to host our Shelton Pride Walk in honor of Pride Month. This was such a special experience for me to see so many people come together to support our LGBTQIA+ colleagues and use the opportunity to meet new faces as well!”
“Being a part of the Pride parade was very emotional. I felt so much gratitude to know that BIC not only recognizes my heart but embraces and celebrates it,” shared Yamil Romero, an Engineer who is based in Mexico.
In both locations, these activities reinforced BIC's pledge of providing an inclusive, safe, and respectful workplace where all team members can thrive.
Giving Back to the Community
Team members gathered for a bake sale with Baked by Melissa's rainbow-colored cupcakes and acted on their commitment to doing good by donating 10% of all net proceeds to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center—a nonprofit that offers health and wellness programs to the LGBTQIA+ community in New York City.
Allyship in Action
Teams in Toronto demonstrated their commitment to building safe workplaces and showing up for their coworkers by participating in a community lunch event where they celebrated Pride, educated one another, and displayed the importance of inclusivity.
Are you interested in being part of a workplace that promotes inclusion and belonging? Learn more about how BIC supports the power of community here: careers.bic.com.