Shipt’s Pride+ Employee Resource Group spearheaded allyship and empowerment activations throughout June in celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community
Pride Month is more than a celebration - it's a testament to the resilience, strength and diversity that make up the fabric of the LGBTQIA+ community. Every June and throughout the year, we make space to honor progress and learn more about the individual and collective roles that help continuously foster an environment of belonging where everyone can be their authentic selves.
"Pride Month always comes just in time to refill my tank and this year, it was extra important to me," said Austin C., Partner Success Manager. "I'm very thankful for the Shipt organizers and participants of this year's Pride Month activities because oftentimes, the support of others can keep us engaged, focused and energized!"
Pride+ — Shipt’s employee resource group (ERG) for the LGBTQIA+ community and allies — landed on the theme of “Serving Pride Together.” With this spirit in mind, team members came together in a series of activities and events to learn about community history, hear from external speakers and spend time together in honor of Pride Month.
Community Events
The outpouring of support and love from the Shipt family and allies throughout the month reinforced the power of simple acts of kindness that are rooted in personal connections. The Shipt team showed up and even sponsored a number of community-based events throughout the month of June.
Shipt sponsored the Birmingham AIDS Outreach (BAO) Pride Month Bingo, where team and community members came together to support one another and the work BAO does through its outreach, prevention, education and supportive services.
Shipt also returned as a sponsor of the Central Alabama Pride Parade and Fest, where Shipt team members “floated” through the streets of Birmingham, walked the parade route and showed up at Linn Park for Pride Fest to foster belonging and allyship. And on top of that, Shipt held a Volunteer Week for team members in partnership with Point of Pride, where an outpouring of support from our Shipt family created hand-written, affirming notes and messages to the community, which were gifted.
Shipt Team Member Engagement Events
Throughout the month, Shipt team members came together to learn and talk about meaningful topics within the community, as well as spend time encouraging and supporting one another.
In a Pride+ hosted panel discussion inspired by this year’s theme, guest panelists Celia Daniels of Rebekon Consulting and Aydian Dowling of Trace offered a glimpse into their personal and professional journeys, how their identities impact their day-to-day lives and useful tips and resources empowering allies to effectively support their queer colleagues, friends and community members.
"The 'Serving Pride Together' panel was my favorite part of Pride Month celebrations this year," said Jessica H., Experiential Operations Specialist. "It was meaningful to have a role not only as an organizer but also as a participant and listener. I hope that we can continue conversations like these to build an even stronger Pride+ community."
Pride+ co-sponsored a couple of events with other ERGs at Shipt to dig deeper into intersectionality and show up for one another. In partnership with Sankofa - Shipt’s ERG for Black and African American team members and allies - Shipt team members explored the beauty and complexity of intersectional identities and highlighted the accomplishments and challenges faced by this community through guest speakers Jordan Medina of LinkedIn, Carmarion D Anderson of the Human Rights Campaign and Adah-Duval Pittman-Delancey of redefineED Atlanta. In collaboration with empoWered - Shipt’s ERG for women and allies - team members hosted a painting party centered around self-expression. The creative artwork created during this event served as a stunning display of individuality and a reminder of the importance of owning and celebrating unique identities.
To our Pride+ community, allies, team members, and other ERGs who helped celebrate, support, honor and participate in Pride Month, thank you! Your involvement is continuously fostering a culture of belonging here at Shipt, and we’re better for it.