Embracing Diversity and Inclusion: Celebrating the Power of Employee Resource Groups

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at Healthfirst unite different employee cultures, ethnicities, backgrounds, experiences, and generations across the organization to build and foster a diverse, inclusive employee community that values the richness of all individuals and perspectives. These voluntary, employee-led groups create safe spaces for colleagues to connect, support one another, promote cultural awareness, and cultivate a sense of belonging within the organization.

The recent activities celebrated during this past Hispanic Heritage Month are a great example of how Healthfirst’s ERGs drive cultural competency. The ‘Latinos Unidos’ ERG at Healthfirst spearheaded this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month programming with a series of dynamic and engaging events aimed at educating employees, fostering cultural appreciation, and creating spaces for reflection. Healthfirst celebrated the vibrancy of Hispanic culture while inspiring employees across the company to deepen their understanding of the Hispanic and Latinx experience.

Healthfirst approached Hispanic Heritage Month not just as a time for celebration, but as an opportunity for learning, engagement, and growth. This year’s events were some of the most impactful yet. Here are just a few highlights that made this year’s Hispanic Heritage Month special at Healthfirst:

1. Spanish-Language Immersion:

Latinos Unidos started the month with workshops designed to help employees learn basic, conversational Spanish. Moreover, there was a special emphasis on cultural competency—how to interact and work effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds.?

2. Guest Speaker Series with Hispanic Leaders:

One of the most inspiring aspects of Hispanic Heritage Month was our series of fireside chats with prominent Hispanic leaders, both from within our company and from the broader community, such as Councilmember Fransico Moya and Rosita Romero , founder and Executive Director of the Dominican Women’s Development Center (DWDC). Their stories of challenges overcome and successful careers built was a powerful reminder of the importance of representation and offered invaluable advice to those striving to make an impact in our own careers.

3. Celebrating Hispanic Culture Through Food:

As part of the celebration, Healthfirst hosted several events that brought together the best of Hispanic culture—food, music, art, and storytelling. Participants learned how to make traditional dishes such as Coquito and Pastelillos and were treated to the tunes of traditional music. The experience was not only fun but also helped to foster a deeper appreciation of the diversity within the Hispanic community.

4. Volunteering and Giving Back:

Community engagement is an important part of what Healthfirst commits to, and Hispanic Heritage Month was no exception. The Latinos Unidos organized volunteer initiatives in partnership with local Hispanic organizations, including civic engagement volunteering to promote the Latino Vote. The DWDC honored Pat Wang, President and CEO of Healthfirst, with the Healthcare Leadership award at their annual gala. More than 10 members of Latinos Unidos volunteered their time at this event, resulting in a successful celebration that honored the contributions of notable female leaders.?

These events helped strengthen our connection to the community and gave us all an opportunity to contribute in meaningful ways.

Looking ahead, we’re excited about what’s next for Latinos Unidos and for all of our ERGs across the company. Whether it’s through cultural events, networking opportunities, or volunteer initiatives, we’re committed to building a workplace where everyone feels empowered to bring their full selves to work.