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A Celebration and Reflection on Growth: Black History Month 2023 Recap

HUE, the Publicis Sapient Black Affinity and Ally Business Resource Group (BRG) sponsored a thoughtful and engaging slate of activities for Black History Month, anchored around the theme of Growth. Learn more about the volunteer-led effort to bring programming to PS that encourages collaboration, awareness and celebration of Black culture and the Black experience.

 

This year for Black History Month, HUE—our Business Resource Group (BRG) that celebrates Black Talent and Allyship—coordinated weekly virtual and in-person events across North America. The events encouraged both learning and awareness of Black culture as well and celebrated the achievements and contributions of the global Black diaspora, navigating a history of racism and systemic oppression that has spanned generations. 

HUE National Co-Lead and Canada Chapter Member Tamara Raymond shared the reasoning behind this year’s chosen theme of Growth: “As we make moves that help shape our future, it is important to look back at where we came from. Learning about Black history—the challenges, victories, and change agents—helps us aspire to become the change we want to see in the future.”

The month’s events kicked off with a lunch-hour Black History Month Radio Show, featuring Black musicians and composers who helped shape and grow the music industry through the introduction of new sounds, beats and lyrics.

Next up was a virtual fireside chat with renowned Canadian media CEO Brandon Gonez, host of several engaging news and talk shows that have featured the likes of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as well as musical icons like R&B sensation Jully Black.

Both the Atlanta and Toronto HUE Chapters hosted an in-person Black History Month showcase after-hours, an opportunity for colleagues to get together after work and explore a content lineup featuring Black authors, athletes, creators and changemakers with the goal of educating and inspiring the audience on the impact of Black people throughout history. This event was also hosted virtually to be inclusive of our many community members who couldn’t make it into the office.

Oftentimes the role of our BRGs involves the sharing and elevating of our people’s experiences and perspectives as a way to foster our culture of inclusion and intersectionality at Publicis Sapient. In creating a brave space to share their triumphs, challenges and hard-earned wisdom, several of our members participated in Empowerment as a Launch Pad to Growth, a Black Men’s experience panel.

 

"I appreciated the opportunity to share both the trials and triumphs of being Black in corporate America and the nuances that have shaped the men who we have become. The conversation also sounded the call to lean in to mentorship (and sponsorship) to ensure that we all recognize and appreciate the importance of bringing others along with us.”

Ryan Bates , Senior Product Manager and panelist

 

Finally, closing out a full slate of educational and social activities for Black History Month was the launch of HUE’s first North America-wide book club, with the inaugural read featuring Take My Hand by Dolen Perkins-Valdez, winner of the 2023 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work-Fiction.

The month-long celebration of Black achievements, history and experiences is just one way in which HUE has influenced our company culture.  As Bates noted, joining HUE was a way for him to integrate further into life at PS. “I joined PS during the height of COVID and did not have the luxury of meeting my co-workers and project colleagues in the office or at the client site. HUE (and ultimately its steering committee) offered me an opportunity to connect with a group of talented and driven individuals who happen to look like me.”

 

Ryan Bates
Ryan Bates
Senior Product Manager
Ryan works in strategy and product management at Publicis Sapient out of the Arlington, VA office. He has over 15 years’ experience spanning management consulting, product management, strategy, and was previously an attorney. Ryan is a member of the steering committee for HUE.
Tamara Raymond
Tamara Raymond
Senior Account Director
Tamara is a senior client partner out of the Toronto. She is passionate about digital innovation and brings over 10 years’ experience driving digital transformation for an array of clients in the telecommunications, technology, travel and hospitality industries.

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