6 Ways to Engage Your Organization During June DEI Observances
Posted on Jun. 3, 2024 / Subscribe 0
There are many diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) holidays in June to acknowledge this month. As PR professionals we are responsible for prioritizing DEI in our communications in an ethical and unbiased fashion. Here’s a recap of these observances and some ideas on how to acknowledge them at your organizations.
Pride Month
June celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and highlights how their contributions have strengthened the country. Celebrations include Pride parades, gatherings, workshops, concerts and more. Here are some ideas to honor this observance at your organization:
- Invite local resources to speak to your company who support the LGBTQ+ community such as Affirmations in Ferndale, MI. These important nonprofits, community centers and more can speak to allyship, what the local community is facing, etc.
- Set up a fundraiser to contribute to a charity supporting the LGBTQ+ community and consider having leadership match funds raised by employees.
Loving Day
This unofficial holiday honors the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Loving v. Virginia that laws prohibiting interracial marriage were unconstitutional. Read our blog post to learn more.
- Facilitate a book club featuring interracial couples and host an open discussion about the story.
- Organize a volunteer event at a nonprofit that supports racial equity such as New Detroit and The Skillman Foundation.
Juneteenth
Freedom was finally granted to remaining enslaved people in Texas when some 2,000 Union troops arrived to share the executive decree on June 19, 1865, now known as Freedom Day or Juneteenth. This observance is a chance to recognize how far racial equality has come and the improvements needed now and in the future. The National Museum of African History & Culture shares more of the history of the celebration.
- Sponsor a trip to a local museum to learn more about this holiday and Black history such as The Charles H. Wright Museum.
- Survey employees on the ways they would like to support local Black artists, restaurants, stores, educational resources, etc. Empower them to dictate how and what that support looks like.
What is your organization doing to honor these observances?
Megan Bonelli is a senior communications strategist with DTE Energy and is the 2024 Detroit PRSA Incoming President/VP. This post is written on behalf of the PRSA Detroit Diversity Committee.
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