February was Black History Month in Canada and the U.S., and our ERG (Employee Resource Group) Black@BT was thrilled to share several ways employees could learn, engage, and celebrate with the entire BeyondTrust family all month long!
BeyondTrust Black History Month – Programming and Events
Here are a few of the highlights from this past month’s programming and events.
Black History: IYKYK (If You Know, You Know)
Our goal this month was to illuminate and celebrate lesser-known leaders and history-makers who have not received the recognition they deserve for their accomplishments. Each week in February, we highlighted a different influential leader in STEM. On February 8, we hosted a session with a presentation highlighting leaders in STEM, Arts, Literature, and Civil Rights.
Visit to the National Civil and Human Rights Museum, downtown Atlanta
On February 19, our Atlanta Office invited any interested employees to take a trip to the National Civil and Human Rights Museum in downtown Atlanta. This was an incredible opportunity to learn together, at the birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement, then to reflect and engage after our visit.
Harlem Renaissance Happy Hour
What better way to close out the celebration than with a party? For our final event, we hosted a Harlem Renaissance Happy Hour on February 25 to celebrate and appreciate the incredibly influential artists of this movement. Employees joined in by sharing their favorite artist, poet, musician, or author from this era, and why their work speaks to them! Some of the top noted artists included Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Langston Hughes, and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
BeyondGiving
The BeyondTrust Culture Committee leads the BeyondGiving program, providing volunteer opportunities and other ways to give back. As a part of BeyondGiving, we would like to bring attention to some wonderful organizations around the globe that help support black populations in pursuing an education or career in STEM. Please visit the websites below to see how you can partner with these organizations to help support underrepresented communities in STEM:
- United States: Black Girls Code builds pathways for young women of color to embrace the current tech marketplace, both as builders and creators, by introducing them to skills in computer programming and technology. You can help by providing donations or volunteers.
- United Kingdom: Black British Professionals in STEM work in areas where the youth are predominantly from Black backgrounds. They offer guidance, support, and advice through a mentorship program called Bridge, where professional members can help to inspire and energize the youth to pursue and succeed in a STEM career. You can help by providing donations toward the establishment of their school outreach program.
- Canada: The Canadian Black Scientists Network is helping Black-identifying individuals to pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine (STEMM), whether living in Canada or abroad, through a mentorship program. You can help by becoming a mentor. The Black Boys Code helps Black youth take control of their future and become tomorrow’s technical innovators by helping them develop digital literacy and computer competence. You can help by providing donations or by volunteering.
- Global: Blacks In Technology provides training, education, networking, and mentorship to officially “stomp the divide” and change an industry that has historically not sought parity with respect to Black workers. You can help by making a donation.
Our goal for Black History Month was to continue educating each other, have open and honest conversations, and overall enhance our employee experience in support of our Diversity & Inclusion initiatives. This month, in celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, we will be hosting various events and activities to highlight and celebrate the women of BeyondTrust and beyond. We will hear and learn from internal and external women leaders about their career journeys, life lessons, and how they are creating an impact.
To participate in our Women in Security event with renowned cybersecurity expert and speaker, Paula Januszkiewicz, register here.
Nancy Compean, Manager, Marketing Programs
As the Manager, Marketing Programs at BeyondTrust, Nancy supports BeyondTrust’s highly effective world-wide webinar program to continue advancing its success. At the beginning of 2021, Nancy has launched digitals events to help bring people together, give them an opportunity to network, and help create a path toward a more inclusive and diversified industry. Nancy’s passion, creativity and understanding comes after helping lead the launch BeyondTrust’s Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) initiatives in 2019.
