Every June, we at Dataminr celebrate Pride Month and our LGBTQIA+ colleagues for all the extraordinary contributions they have made to the company’s culture, growth and success. We also take this opportunity to recognize both their resilience and the myriad of struggles they continue to face.
It has been 53 years since the historic Stonewall Uprising, and we hold a fervent belief that it is vital for all organizations and individuals to continue to raise awareness of the issues facing the LGBTQIA+ community and advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) and justice.
As part of our DEI efforts, I sat down with Wilfredo Coriano, Dataminr’s Talent Acquisition Associate and New York chapter lead of our Pride@Dataminr employee resource group (ERG), to hear how he will celebrate Pride Month this year and what we all can do to support our LGBTQIA+ employees and their communities.
Check out what Wilfredo has to say.
Pride Month has always been a time of celebration, remembrance and appreciation for all the milestones we've achieved through the Gay Rights Movement—as well as the pursuit of equal rights for the LGBTQIA+ community. It's full of joy, colors, music, parties, creative self-expression and comradery.
Having been virtual these last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s New York Pride Parade will be one of the most vibrant celebrations yet, and our community and allies will be back in full force. It’s a homecoming of sorts, and I expect the streets of New York City to be buzzing with pageantry and fanfare.
I'm hoping to celebrate Pride by participating in New York City's LGBTQIA+ Pride Run. It's a 5K race held in Central Park and has been around since 1982 in support of our community and equality for all. Proceeds of the event will benefit Sylvia's Place, a homeless youth service organization for LGBTQIA+ youth in crisis.
I think this year's theme, Unapologetically Us, is perfect. It serves as a reminder of our fight for freedom to express and be our true, complete selves. It's no longer about being in the shadows and hiding who we are. We’re opening up to loving and living our truth by expressing our inner beauty and not having to apologize for it.
However, despite the tremendous progress that has been made, barriers still exist. We’re still battling efforts to reverse the strides made in providing safe spaces for individuals to freely be themselves. Our communities stand to lose so much from the passing of legislation seeking to erase and silence the LGBTQIA+ community. Any anti-LGBTQIA+ laws will undoubtedly have severe consequences for our community.
This is particularly true for young people. Limiting or completely prohibiting education on sexual orientation and gender identity is a huge step backwards in our fight to create a safe and healthy world for them—those who are struggling with their identity and finding the courage and acceptance to be their authentic selves. It puts their health and wellbeing at risk.
If there ever was a time to get more active in supporting your friends, family and loved ones in the community, that time is now. I urge everyone to get involved, do your research, take a stand and bring this conversation to the forefront to promote human rights and cultural competency.
Being an LGBTQIA+ ally means believing all people, regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation, should be treated with dignity and respect. One great way to be an ally is to learn the history, the terminology and the hardships our community faces today. I also encourage everyone—employees and employers alike—to be open-minded, listen, be inclusive and never stop working to facilitate a safe and welcoming environment for all.
One of the best things about working at Dataminr is our commitment to DEI. We have access to numerous ERGs, events, as well as mental health wellness programs and benefits. I've never worked for a company that invests so heavily in the health and wellbeing of its employees. I’m incredibly proud of the ways Dataminr genuinely celebrates our differences and individuality.
The Dataminr community is celebrating Pride Month 2022 with the internal theme of Pride in Unity. Together we’ll amplify the voices of our colleagues in underrepresented groups, specifically the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities. We’re excited to be involved in several events throughout the month in different ways, including:
I’m thrilled to honor and celebrate my community this month through these Dataminr events. As we strive to foster and maintain a safe, inclusive environment for all, I hope our employees will find these programs meaningful and enjoy this special occasion to the fullest.
Interested in joining our team? Check out our open roles.
Robin Strup is Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Dataminr. She has over 25 years of experience in DEI strategies and communication across multiple organizations and industries. Robin is a graduate of Georgetown University’s Executive Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Management leadership program with a passion and expertise in leveraging behavioral science interventions to improve business outcomes.
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