Month: June 2022

Yesterday, our National YU Proud Staff Resource Group (SRG) hosted our first annual Pride Celebration and they gave a wonderful overview of the historical context for Pride month. I was grateful to hear the personal experiences and stories shared openly and with courage by our colleagues – thank you. I’d also like to thank the planning committee – Lauren Peachy, Senior Marketing Manager, PR and Events; Luis Cabrales-Vasquez, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Manager; Kim Amyouny, Director, Enterprise Operations; Aric Townes, Operations Specialist; Lee Roberts, Staff Learning & Development Specialist; Dr. Onllwyn Dixon, Director of DEIB; Drew Jacobsen, Senior Operations Manager; and Adam Esmaeel, Site Director; along with many others – that did an outstanding job orchestrating this event from the personal reflections, to the trivia, to the discussion groups, and to the music which created a joyful atmosphere throughout our time together. I’m truly grateful that our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning+ (LGBTQ+) staff members are more able to be their authentic selves. I appreciate we still have a long way to go, and I am thankful that we are moving in the right direction.

I also want to wish you a Happy Pride Month. June marks the observance of Pride Month – an opportunity to celebrate, learn, and commemorate the accomplishments of our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer+ (LGBTQ+) staff, students, and community members. I hope you’ll take the time to do some digging to raise your awareness about their stories of oppression and overcoming discrimination and hate. Some of our core values are to strive to learn, engage and embrace diversity, and respect and value others. Those values speak to who we aim to be as an organization and I encourage each of you, as individuals, to do so as well. To continue your knowledge journey, check out the Library of Congress site