Brock Solutions’ Post

Pride Month is a time to stand together, celebrate diversity, and show that love is love. 🏳️🌈 Why Showing Support Matters: Visibility Equals Empowerment: Your support empowers those who see it, knowing they are accepted and celebrated. Fostering Inclusion: Promoting an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected. Starting Conversations: Simple gestures can spark meaningful conversations about equality, acceptance, and the importance of being an ally. Building Community: Being part of a global movement, standing in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community. Supporting Change: Contributing to support LGBTQIA+ causes and organizations, driving real, positive change. The Power of Pride Merch: Wearing Pride merch shows your support in a visible way, helping to increase awareness and spread the message of love and acceptance. Get Involved: Show your true colours this Pride Month. Together, we can create a world where everyone feels seen, heard, and loved. 🌈✨

I was absolutely honored to be able to contribute to Eptura's most recent blog about the importance of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging in the workplace. This is such an important topic to consider, especially during 🌈 Pride Month 🌈 . Thrilled to get to work for a company that prioritizes inclusion and diversity--check out the article below!

A meaningful Pride month at your organization: Recognizing the importance of equity and inclusion and matching that recognition with action to improve and address gaps. An opportunity to reflect on how your organization interacts with, engages and empowers the LGBTQIA+ community. A moment to take stock and consider updating your diversity statement. A real and measurable effort towards reaching this often marginalized community through focused programming and targeted campaigns.

As we celebrate this vibrant and empowering month, it’s important to remember the significance of pride and the impact it has on so many. Visibility & Representation: Pride Month provides a platform for LGBTQIA+ individuals to be seen and heard. Representation matters, and seeing diverse identities celebrated helps to normalize and validate the experiences of LGBTQIA+ people. Community & Support: Pride events and activities foster a sense of community and belonging. They offer a safe space for people to connect, share their stories, and support one another. Advocacy & Education: Pride month is an opportunity to educate others and advocate for equal rights. It highlights the ongoing struggles and achievements of the LGBTQIA+ community, paving the way for a more inclusive and accepting society. Self-Expression & Authenticity: Being able to be yourself without fear of judgement or discrimination is crucial for mental and emotional well-being. Inspiration & Empowerment: Seeing others live authentically and proud can inspire and empower individuals to embrace their own identities. Continue to support and uplift one another. Not just during Pride month, but all year round. Together, we can create a world where everyone feels safe and free to be themselves 🌈🏳️⚧️

As we celebrate #PrideMonth, it's essential to remember that being an ally doesn't end when June does. True allyship means standing with the LGBTQIA+ community year-round, advocating for equality, and fostering inclusive environments where everyone feels valued and respected. Here are a few ways to practice allyship all year long: +Listen and Learn: Hear the stories and experiences of LGBTQIA+ individuals. Understanding their perspectives can help us become better allies. +Speak Up: Challenge discriminatory remarks or actions, whether in the workplace or elsewhere. Silence can be interpreted as acceptance. +Support LGBTQIA+ Organizations: Volunteer your time or donate to causes that advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights and well-being. +Create Inclusive Spaces: Whether at work, home, or in social settings, strive to create environments where everyone feels safe and included. Let's make allyship more than just a moment—let's make it a movement! #Allyship #Pride2024 #EqualityForAll #InclusionMatters #LGBTQ #LGBT #LGBTQIA2+

Although I am in the early years of my professional career, I cannot express enough gratitude to work at such an amazing, inclusive, and open-minded place like About Fresh. I cannot imagine working at a more inclusive workplace, filled with allies and big colorful hearts. I am feeling extra filled with pride during this pride month, as my partner Steph and I celebrate another year out & proud in our personal and professional lives. While many people are not as fortunate as I am in this area, I hope people take moments this month to reflect and think about how they can be more inclusive or more of an active ally to all people in the LGBTQIA+ (and beyond!) community. Here are some ways to become a stronger ally:  1. Educate yourself - find out the history and current struggles of people in this community  2. Don’t assume you know what someone needs - you know what they say about assuming! 3. Practice active listening - try to digest the information before creating a response  4. Ditch putting people into boxes - boxes are out, and spectrums are in! 5. Recognize your privilege - use that power for GOOD!

This Pride Month, we want to take the opportunity to celebrate the individuality of everyone, whether they're a UKFCU member, UKFCU employee or anybody else. We are built on community, and that's why we're proud to recognize the LGBTQIA+ community! Check out this article to learn more about how LGBTQIA+ Americans can overcome barriers to building credit: https://ow.ly/u9hy50S7gre

🗓️ June is one of my favourite months of the year 6️⃣ 🌈 While I read posts celebrating Pride Month, I realize is also the 13th anniversary of the Ruggie’s “Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. “🔖 The intersection of both occasions is clear: business have a vital role towards the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people. And businesses are built by the people! As I reflect on my journey towards an LGBTQIA+ ally, here are some steps I have taken: ➡️ I took time to educate myself on language use or historical events such as the Stonewall riots. ➡️ I tried to ask and listen before stating. Because only members of the community can say what feels right - or wrong. ➡️ I worked to challenge and unlearn the biases ingrained in my upbringing. ➡️ I started to speak out against exclusive statements or microagressions. Today beyond my corporate role, I continue on my learning journey. 🏳️🌈🏳️🌈Because the basics are in the Human Rights Declaration: all human beings are equal. #pridemonth #humanrights

It is Pride month again! One thing I learnt this year was that the Q in LGBTQIA+ could as well be Questioning for an Ally. The journey from a bystander to an ally is not an Immediate transition. There are questions, debates, self doubt and survival instincts that kick in especially when it is time to take a stand or voice an opinion. Standing up for someone else is not easy! It takes practice. You may be at one of these many places: 1. From the LGBTQIA+ community dreading what this month is going to bring in the name of allyship 2. An active ally, walking on a thin line between fake pandering corporates and the real deal 3. A seasonal Ally who remembers having pledged to do more than add a rainbow to your display pic every Pride month 4. A new Ally, highly inspired to start a new journey. 5. A bystander wondering what the fuss is all about Wherever you are, you have my empathy. Because everyone is trying! Take one empathetic action this month that moves you closer to being an Active Ally and closer to creating an inclusive environment! Chandra Duraiswamy thanks for getting the ball rolling! #ArchesInTheRainbow

This month, in Connect, Moving Ahead faculty member and DE&I expert, Holiday Phillips guides us through how to become an ally and educate ourselves about LGBTQIA+ issues. Here is what she recommends: 1. Fill in the blanks of your history, as in formal education, sometimes the lives and experiences of marginalised individuals are left out. 2. Open up conversations. Often, the fear of being intrusive stops us from learning about issues we don't know enough about. 3. Read books and watch films about LGBTQIA+ lives as they are an excellent window into people's lived experiences. 4. Consume media from LGBTQIA+ creators on other topics as this will allow you to see them as whole people with varied lives and develop empathy. 5. Go to a pride event and take the opportunity to immerse yourself in the community and celebration and while you are there, to share yourself.