Throughout Black History Month, AVANGRID created safe space for employees of varying backgrounds and cultures to engage in conversations centered on race, empathy and ally-ship.  Interactive presentations were led by cultural institutions, experts and educators, giving insight and thought-provoking discussions about the African-American experience.

RG&E kicked off the Black History Month Speaker Series at its East Avenue facility. Professor Danielle Ponder, a professor in the Department of African-American Studies at the State University of Brockport, New York, discussed The Economic Cost of Discrimination. She’s also an attorney who formerly worked in the Monroe County Public Defender’s Office.

Employees learned about governmental and institutional discriminatory practices that have put African-Americans and other people of color at a disadvantage in building wealth through homeowner equity. While most of these practices have been abolished, Ponder said that some continue. Employees enjoyed an objective, informative and interactive session that included historic videos of discriminatory practices in the post-World War II housing explosion.

“You should be proud to work for a company that values this type of learning and believes that community connection is important,” said Ponder in her opening remarks.

Employees were asked a series of though-provoking questions on home-ownership, their ancestors’ home-ownership, and other issues centered around the African-American struggle to build wealth.

At Connecticut Natural Gas and AVANGRID Headquarters, presenters from the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center in Hartford, CT dedicated time to talk their presentation Empathy and Responsiveness – featuring workshops on building empathy, discussions about personal experiences and an action plan for building a responsive workplace for all. The workshop-style presentation allowed employees to participate in whatever way fit best — asking a question, sharing an experience or listening and reflecting.

Avangrid Renewables was pleased to welcome the Black History Month Speaker Series in Portland, OR on February 20, where educator Donna Maxie from Race Talks spoke about workplace diversity, focusing on personal behaviors and accountability. Maxey says Race Talks was inspired by her work helping to implement Courageous Conversations seven years ago at her school in North Portland, César Chávez K-8. It was one of PPS’ 11 schools to pilot the equity work. Since then, Courageous Conversations has been implemented at every school, to varying degrees.

As we close out Black History Month, we’re hopeful that all AVANGRID employees who participated in our BHM Speaker Series, left changed and enlightened. We also hope this Speaker Series will amplify ally-ship, empathy and responsiveness for all people of color, creating a clear pathway for not only equality, but more importantly, equity.

Avangrid is dedicated to support of related U.N. Sustainable Development Goals while stepping onto the national stage to take the important issue to our communities directly with the leading thought- partner in the area of housing opportunity.