This Pride Month, all of us at Mastercam remember the past while planning for the future. We honor the activists of the Stonewall Uprising in June 1969, while we celebrate the exceptional members of the LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and more) community we work with. Additionally, we reflect on our own policies, processes, and procedures with a lens focused on ensuring continued support of, and commitment to, diversity and inclusion at Mastercam.
Historically, members of the LGBTQIA+ community were expected to fit in, to make way, and to stay quiet. Pride Month, while very much a celebration, is also a call to action. The burden is no longer – nor should it ever have been – solely on members of the LGBTQIA+ to foster understanding and acceptance. That’s why we are championing for our loved ones and coworkers this month.
Creating an Inclusive Culture
Inclusivity isn’t just hanging a Pride flag during June. At Mastercam, we have recently established three distinct support tools for our team.
Our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are designed to bring together people with similar backgrounds, life experiences, or interests. These voluntary groups are led by employees and allow members to share what’s most important to them. ERGs create communities centered around common identities.
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) page on our corporate SharePoint page allows employees to provide feedback at any time.
This Pride month, we are also rolling out a variety of tools to help employees celebrate. Our Pride Month Events calendar is available to all so that team members can quickly and easily find events near them. Our company portal promotes Pride Month reading, movie recommendations, as well as Pride Month History articles.
Inside Mastercam
Team members Jacquelyn Landry and Pamela Santaolaya recently shared their thoughts on inclusivity at Mastercam:
What does Pride Month mean to you personally, and how do you like to celebrate?
PS: Pride is both a celebration and a protest. I celebrate by participating in events that bring the community together, where I can freely express myself authentically and without fear. During Pride Month I also like to reflect and honor the people who fought for the rights that allow me to live as my authentic self. I also celebrate for those who can’t both in the US and around the world because our fight for equality and acceptance is not done.
What impact does representation have on your sense of belonging at work?
JL: Pride Month is important because representation matters, and there are people out there, maybe even here at Mastercam, who are struggling to be their authentic self in their own world. It is so important now more than ever for marginalized communities to see and hear that they are supported.
PS: I feel like I belong as an individual and within my team, and because of that I get to show up as myself every day.
How can Mastercam engage more with the LGBTQIA+ community?
PS: Mastercam could host educational workshops for allyship and support local organizations that work to help LGBTQ+ youth. Celebrating the T in LGBTQ+ is also a very impactful way that Mastercam can increase engagement with the community and offer meaningful support.
How do you engage with Mastercam’s resources for the LGBTQIA+ community?
PS: Mastercam offers Employee Resource Groups which help foster community and provide support. Celebrating pride as a company offers visibility and that stands out to me as making sure that the LGBTQ folks at the company feel seen and celebrated.
Looking Forward
There will always be work to do and ways to improve, and Pride Month gives us the perfect reason to try that much harder. We invite our team members and friends to join us in the following acts of allyship:
- Support local LGBTQIA+ businesses
- Educate yourself on LGBTQIA+ history and current struggles
- Share your support – fly the Pride flag, attend a Pride event, or even just wear rainbow apparel
Follow along with us as we learn and grow in our journey for diversity and inclusion.
