VOICES:
Highlights from our key events in 2023 and our goals for 2024
Key Highlights & Events
2024: Pride Celebrations around the Nation
Offices across Vaco Holdings and its collective of brands will be hosting celebrations across the United States to celebrate Pride Month 2024.
- Nashville: networking event and happy hour
- New Jersey/New York: Pride parade and internal office happy hour
- Los Angeles: Networking event and happy hour
- Denver: Pride parade and internal office happy hour
- Atlanta: Internal office happy hour
2024: Pride - Allyship in Action
VOICES will host an event in June for a virtual Pride Month celebration, Allyship in Action. Attendees will participate in Pride trivia and enjoy a panel discussion on allyship in the workplace and beyond.
2024: Let’s Talk About Gender
VOICES hosted an event to dive into the diverse spectrum of gender identities and the importance of using correct pronouns. Discussions explored how gender impacts individuals in the workplace and the nuanced experiences and expressions of gender within the queer community.
2023: Pride Month
During Pride Month in 2023, VOICES hosted a series of events for employees of Vaco Holdings and its collective of brands. The kick-off event was a Pride Happy Hour held at the headquarters in Nashville, with a virtual celebration afterwards that allowed everyone across the Enterprise to join in on the fun. The week’s celebrations ended with a team outing to the Nashville Pride Parade to end Pride Month alongside our colleagues while promoting inclusivity, acceptance, and love.
2023: LGBTQ+ History Month
During LGBTQ+ History Month in 2023, VOICES hosted an event to explore significant milestones within our community, such as the Stonewall Riots and the legalization of gay marriage in the United States. Event attendees reflected on our current status as a community and held a panel discussion on the importance of LGBTQ+ education, the intersectionality with other social movements, and the pressing issues we still face as a community.
2023: Level Up with Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) employee resource group
In collaboration with the AAPI employee resource group within Vaco Holdings, VOICES hosted a session focused on communication dynamics related to race, sexuality, and gender identity. Led by Megan Schuster, Vaco Holdings’ Chief Marketing Officer, and Fred Horn, VOICES Advisor, discussions were held around how one’s identity may alter how others hear your message and practical tips on navigating communication (including constructive criticism) in the workplace.
Key Initiatives for 2024
Provide queer employees (and allies) with a place to have conversations that they may not be able to have with other coworkers and friends who are not in the queer community
Create community and safe spaces to discuss topics and themes specific to the LGBTQ+ community (i.e. gender, labels, anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, pride, mental health, etc.)
Highlight intersectionality of LGBTQ+ community with other communities and employee resource groups
Members and allies of VOICES discuss:
“What does acceptance look and feel like to you in the workplace?”
Jordan Ferraresso
Acceptance in the workplace, to me, means more than just a nod of acknowledgment or even a seat at the table—it's about intentional, deeply rooted practices that celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion in every facet of the organizational culture. Working somewhere that intentionally prioritizes DEI means I can show up as my full self, embracing my queerness and all the differences that make me, me.
Thomas Evansen
To me, the true feeling of acceptance in the workplace comes from the "I" in DEI, inclusion. Diversity and Equality are incredibly important, but do not necessarily require conviction to provide. Inclusion has to come from within our co-workers, and it requires caring and empathy. If it is present we don't just see it, we feel it. And that is what true acceptance is all about.
Caroline Snowden
Acceptance is showing respect, learning from our differences, creating an environment that breaks down barriers that keep folks from feeling safe to be themselves and connecting on a human level. I'm proud to work for a holdings company that prioritizes DEI and recognizes that as a key to success.
Fred Horn
Acceptance in the workplace for me looks like an inclusive and culturally competent resource strategy that recruits persons of all identities and creates spaces, policies, and processes for those persons to thrive. This starts with a leadership model that prioritizes empathy and belonging as a core pillar of success. In my opinion, in the absence of holistic acceptance respect and accountability are my markers of a successful inclusive environment. Respect and accountability can be achieved through mandatory intentional inclusivity trainings, consistent human resource accountability, and positive reinforcement.
Vaco understands the significance of drawing the circle wider to broaden our perspective, to connect on a deeper level, and to be a force for positive change in our world. With thousands of Vaconians and clients around the globe, our vision is creating a company – and a world – that places diversity and inclusion at the heart of its culture.