University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business LGBTQ+ and Allies Club’s Post

As we celebrate Pride Month, it’s worth noting the significance of diversity and inclusion in the maritime industry. Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are focused on making sure everyone has the same opportunity to succeed. It’s not about disrespecting the contributions of others. It is about acknowledging and addressing systemic inequalities that have persisted over time. The goal is to create a more inclusive and fairer environment where everyone is valued and respected. Pride Month is a time to honor and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, recognizing the contributions and talents they bring to all sectors, including maritime. Diversity is essential for innovation and progress. By fostering an inclusive environment within Washington State Ferries and the maritime industry at large, we can better serve our communities and navigate towards a brighter future together. For more information on what's happening at WSF, check out our weekly update: https://lnkd.in/gn4WHptm

As we approach the end of Pride Month, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the importance of allyship. Pride Month is a beautiful celebration of love, acceptance, and visibility for the LGBTQ+ community. But let's remember that support shouldn't be limited to these 30 days. Being an ally means showing up consistently, even when the rainbow flags come down. We're all on a journey of self-discovery and growth. As allies, it's crucial to keep learning, unlearning, and challenging biases. Attend workshops, read books, listen to diverse voices, and engage in conversations that expand your understanding. Allyship isn't performative—it's about action. Reach out to LGBTQ+ friends, colleagues, and acquaintances. Ask how they're doing, celebrate their victories, and stand by them during challenges. Amplify their voices and advocate for equal rights. None of us have all the answers so it's important to approach allyship with humility. Seek feedback, acknowledge mistakes, and commit to doing better. The more we learn, the stronger our support becomes. #PrideMonth #Allyship #LoveIsLove #InclusionMatters

While browsing on Naukri.com, I noticed that more companies are supporting diversity by offering opportunities to LGBTQ+ individuals and people with disabilities. Inclusive hiring brings new perspectives, encourages innovation, and creates a stronger workplace culture, showing that diversity is essential for growth."

This week Houston BOMA’s DEI committee members attended the Greater Houston Partnership's Inclusion Solutions Session 3 on LGBTQ+ and explored actionable strategies for fostering inclusive workplaces. Speakers Tressa Consuegra, Business Banker and Co-Chair of the LGBTQ+ BRG at Amegy Bank, and Tammi Wallace, Co-Founder, President & CEO of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, emphasized the importance of genuine engagement, empowering diverse leaders, and integrating inclusivity into all aspects of a company's operations.

Happy June!   The month of June recognizes an important group in society with the celebration of Pride month.    Pride month is a time to bring forth advocacy and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. It is time to come together to raise awareness and champion love and inclusion for all.    With the acknowledgment of this month of special recognition, it creates an important discussion for our Via team on the importance of allyship.    Allyship is a lifelong commitment that refers to the actions, behaviors and practices that leaders take to both support and advocate for others.    Allyship is about progress, not perfection. It requires continuous learning, empathy and tangible actions. Our Via team is committed to growing and learning in order to actively support these marginalized communities.    Allyship in the workplace is crucial for inclusion and equality. Cisgender/straight Americans can engage in this allyship through self educating and ensuring you are up to date on relevant topics and issues. It is important that you are aware as an ally of using the right language when speaking to or about marginalized groups in order for maximum safety and comfort. Allyship is about standing with others so we can grow to work through a more inclusive world.

Inclusion matters for everyone. In our global research from 2021 to 2023, the inclusion scores for LGBTQ+ individuals improved by an average of six and a half percentage points between 2021 and 2023. These increases show that intentional investments in inclusion really work. Yet employers still have a long way to go to foster inclusion for all employees. Learn more on how to drive inclusion and a sense of belonging at scale: https://dy.si/KJEHRe

Inclusion matters for everyone. In our global research from 2021 to 2023, the inclusion scores for LGBTQ+ individuals improved by an average of six and a half percentage points between 2021 and 2023. These increases show that intentional investments in inclusion really work. Yet employers still have a long way to go to foster inclusion for all employees. Learn more on how to drive inclusion and a sense of belonging at scale: https://dy.si/jaeutW2

Great timing for the release of this article on supporting Queer folks in the career space, both as an individual and as an organization, from the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Today, Worcester Polytechnic Institute's Heebner Career Development Center held our Employer Advisory Counsel, where we discussed the impact of community on early career talent recruitment and retention What ideas would you add? How is your organization doing in this realm? "Being an ally of the LGBTQ+ community isn’t just one thing, according to Cody A. Rapp and Riky Hanlan, who lead the LGBTQ & Allies NACE Affinity Group and explain that allyship looks different, sounds different, and feels different to everyone in the LGBTQ+ community, and, therefore, is challenging to define." https://lnkd.in/eCxxMUCq

My recent podcast, where I discuss true inclusion in the workplace and how we can foster transformative allyship with Executive Director of workforce development board Rebecca Evans #linkedintopvoices #allies #allyship #RebekonConsultingLLC #changemakers #diversityequityinclusion #diversity #diversityequityandinclusion #hrconsulting #hr #mentalhealth #hrtech #Bathroom2Boardroom #diversityandinclusion #neurodiversity #hradvice #hrrecruiter #hrrecruitment #leadership #humanresources #deib #lgbtq #transgender #genderdiverse #gendernonbinary #humanrights #ceo #ceos #leadership #leaders #healthcare #healthequity #diversityinclinicaltrials #genderequity #racialequity #transgender #entrepreneurs

As we journey through June, we are proud to celebrate both Pride Month and Juneteenth, two significant observances that remind us of the power of love, equality, and freedom. Pride Month is a time to honor the LGBTQ+ community, their history, struggles, and the ongoing fight for equal rights. It's a celebration of love, identity, and the vibrant diversity that enriches our world. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans in 1865. It is a powerful reminder of the resilience and contributions of Black communities and the enduring quest for racial equality. At XponentL we have built an inclusive environment where everyone is celebrated for who they are. We believe that the individual voices of our employees meld into our collective strength, regardless of class, faith, gender, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation. We play positive sum games with positive sum people. We thus strongly reject discrimination…a zero-sum power play if there ever was one. Happy Pride Month and Juneteenth! Let’s all get better together. #PrideMonth #Juneteenth #UnityInDiversity #EqualityForAll