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Pride Month: Embracing Your Career Journey and Your Authentic Self

Submitted by amanda.dumsch@… June 10, 2024
Image of someone standing in front of a rainbow.

June is Pride Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, honoring its history, and recognizing the progress made towards equality. It’s also an opportunity for LGBTQ+ professionals and allies to reflect on their careers and find ways to thrive in their professional lives. 

Finding Value Alignment at Work

One of the most empowering things you can do as an LGBTQ+ professional is to embrace your authentic self. This means bringing your true identity to the workplace, which can significantly enhance your job satisfaction and overall well-being. 

Companies are increasingly recognizing the value of diversity and inclusion, with many implementing policies to support LGBTQ+ employees. It is important as a job seeker to also seek out organizations that have values that align with your own. Websites like Out & Equal’s Workplace Equality Fact Sheets, Glassdoor’s Diversity & Inclusion page, and LinkedIn’s LGBTQ+ network can provide job search tips, company reviews, and insights into companies’ diversity policies. Check organizational charts for diversity, review non-discrimination or diversity statements from the company, and talk to current or former employees to get a sense of overall culture. 

An important reminder from Colorado State’s Pride Resource Center

You have agency to make decisions that affirm who you are, protect your boundaries and privacy, and contribute to your sense of safety. The two options of simply being out or being closeted is a false narrative - we make decisions every day for how we navigate living as our authentic selves and our right to privacy based on context, cues, safety, and our energy.  Sometimes we want the world to know we’re proud to be queer/trans, and sometimes we don’t want to have to explain ourselves    to others.

There is fluidity in your decisions and you have the agency to decide what you need – including in employment. 

Building a Support Network

Having a robust support network is crucial for career success. This includes mentors, colleagues, and friends who can offer guidance, advice, and support. Here are some ways to build and strengthen your network:

Pride Month is a celebration of identity, courage, and progress. It’s also a reminder of the importance of creating inclusive and supportive environments in all areas of life, including the workplace. By embracing your authentic self, finding value alignment, and building a strong support network, you can not only advance your career but also contribute to a more equitable world. 

Happy Pride!

Juneteenth – A Time for Personal Reflection and Wellness

Submitted by amanda.dumsch@… June 17, 2024
Calendar of wellness activities. Graphic of a red, white, and blue lotus flower. Logo for 8CRE, pronounced acre. Registration link for the 19 Days of Wellness.

As we approach Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States, it’s a fitting time to reflect not only on the U.S. history but also on how this pivotal moment can inform and inspire our modern lives.  Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th, marks the day in 1865 when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to enslaved people in Galveston, Texas—two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The delay in the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas symbolizes the broader challenges faced in the fight for freedom and equality. This day serves as a powerful reminder of resilience, hope, and the ongoing struggle for equality and justice.

Today, Juneteenth is more than a historical milestone; it’s a day of reflection and celebration, recognizing the progress made and the work that still needs to be done in creating equitable opportunities for all. As we honor this day, we can also commit to fostering environments where everyone, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to thrive.

NIH OITE is partnering with Supporters of the 8 Changes for Racial Equity (8CRE, pronounced acre) in a virtual observance of Juneteenth. Supporters of 8CRE encouraged NIH leadership to shift mindsets and push equitable change forward. As an official advisory group to NIH, Supporters of 8CRE continue to partner with NIH on a range of efforts to address equity, diversity, and inclusion.

You can join the celebration by focusing on wellness for yourself, your family and friends, and your community through June 19. Find inspiration in the calendar below to pursue activities for financial, physical, intellectual, spiritual, and emotional and psychological wellness. If you’d like to share your wellness activity, then post and mention @Support8CRE with #19DaysOfWellness to inspire others and promote racial and ethnic equity. Let's make a difference together!

Get updates on webinars and events by registering through Eventbrite at bit.ly/19DaysOfWellness

Juneteenth 19 Days of Wellness Calendar

June 1 - Say something nice about yourself

June 2 - Check your credit score

June 3 - Listen to your favorite music

June 4 - Discuss a household budget

June 5 - Wellness Webinar on Resilience; https://videocast.nih.gov/watch=54880 NIH-only

June 6 - Follow a tai chi video

June 7 - Learn about a civil rights hero

June 8 - Reflect on what you’re grateful for

June 9 - Enjoy time in nature

June 10 - Engage in deep breathing

June 11 - Enjoy a Juneteenth podcast

June 12 - Start a savings challenge

June 13 - Take a dance class

June 14 - Organize a game night

June 15 - Read spiritual texts

June 16 - Take a nap

June 17 - Pathways to Health for All Webinar; https://nih.zoomgov.com/j/1600974089?pwd=SnVEWWNIRFJNMnFGcTBFZHg0Zm84dz09 Open to all

June 18 - Building Belonging Hybrid Event; https://ors.od.nih.gov/sr/dohs/Events/Pages/Safety-Health-and-Wellness-Day.aspx Open to all

June 19 - Celebrate! Join the NIH Fitness Center virtual workout; https://www.facebook.com/NihRwFitness/ Open to all