A recap of our Multi-ethnic Employee Resource Groupโs recent discussion panel featuring African American team members.
Members of Penn Community Bankโs Multi-Ethnic Employee Resource Group (ERG) wrapped up Black History Month with a virtual panel discussion on the African American experience with the goal of fostering dialogue, understanding, and allyship. Organized by Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer Falesha Grasty and Multi-Ethnic ERG leader Sannia Naz, the panel featured prominent Black voices within the organization who shared their unique stories and perspectives, while fostering dialogue, understanding, and allyship within the organization. Speakers included:
- Aโshea Morris, Relationship Banker – Bristol Financial Center
- Candace Noble, Relationship Banker – The Fairway Financial Center
- Devon Laidler, Sales and Service Manager โ Bristol Financial Center
- Frances Riley, Wire Processing Specialist
What Does Black History Month Mean to You?
Aโshea: โGrowing up, Black History Month wasnโt celebrated or even talked about in school, so now itโs important to me that I celebrate it each year. For me, itโs really about having self-respect and seeking it from others, too. Itโs so important to know your value in society as an African American. Itโs important to always stay on the โbandwagonโ and not just hop on and support the Black community for a few weeks after a tragedy happens.โ
Candace: โBlack History Month tells the story of resilience. When it comes to African American history, thereโs always a lot of focus on slavery and how it got to that point. I choose to focus on how we overcame it instead and continue to overcome every obstacle that comes our way. Black History Month has taken a back seat in recent years โ especially since the Black Lives Matter Movement slowed down โ and I hope this changes.โ
Devon: โResearch and educate yourself on African American History โ everything from Black inventors to change makers โ and share what you know with others. ย I want my daughter to know who she is and the history of where she came from because itโs inspiring. Itโs important to openly talk about the Black experience because every single day we have to think about things that other people donโt have to think about.โ
Frances: โMy high school has a Black history class โ but it wasnโt taught by a Black person. It was an extremely White school and I was the only African American in my neighborhood, which means I ran into conflicts sometimes. Today, I choose to celebrate Black History Month by focusing on the incredible contributions my ancestors have made to society. Itโs a celebration and you canโt be quiet during a celebration. I enjoy seeing commercials and even merchandise recognizing Black History Month, but sometimes it can feel like the real meaning is overlooked and just being monetized.โ
For more information about Penn Community Bankโs DEI efforts, visit www.PennCommunityBank.com.
Related content:
Celebrating Black History Month: Building Generational Wealth – Penn Community Bank
Reflections During Black History Month – Penn Community Bank
Reflections During Black History Month with Falesha Grasty – Penn Community Bank
