When the first GPJ Employee Resource Group (ERG) was launched in 2018, no one knew just how vital a role they would play in the evolution of our agency culture, and how these groups would grow to include perspectives and deepen relationships with each other, with clients and also our communities at large.
The groups have led discussions and participated in agency growth around diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. They’ve guided our footsteps on the path of understanding and growth, and have been a deep well of knowledge and sharing in relation to the Black Lives Matter movement and change for our BIPOC employees and the community.
They’ve offered channels for change, places to connect and bring our whole selves to our work, even while socially distanced.
In this blog series, we’ll take a look at each of our ERGs; some of the work that they’ve done, content they’ve shared, where they’re headed, and some perspectives from group members.
We started with one but now have four ERGs, and as an introduction, let’s take a look at what they’re all about.
EPIC (Empowered People, Inclusive Cultures) amplifies the BIPOC experience at GPJ with a focus on building safe spaces, community and cultural intelligence the GPJ way— by sharing our journey through content, activations and authenticity.
OPEN (Original Perspectives, Excluding None) celebrates inclusivity and visibility for the LGBTQ+ community, their allies and beyond. Our mission is to use our experiential expertise to make our colleagues and clients feel completely empowered to be themselves regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.
GPJ Women An employee resource group focused on women’s opportunities and challenges, featuring stories and strategies—illustrating a path for all GPJers to personal and professional wellness, success and leadership.
PACT (Parents and Caregivers Together) provides an open forum to share challenges, milestones and advice about how to balance work and family. We are focused on advocating on behalf of all working parents and caregivers at GPJ to provide a support system through networking and information sharing.
Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we take a look at each ERG separately, exploring recent initiatives, sharing resources and personal stories of impact that they’re creating. Thanks for joining us!