MERG Is Evolving: Here’s What’s Changing and Why

By Miylie Roan

Over the past couple of years, Lawline’s Minority Employee Resource Group (MERG) has grown into something really meaningful here at Lawline. What started as a more structured cadence around diversity and inclusion has become a genuine connecting space through events, storytelling, and conversations that make people feel like they actually belong here.

And because it has grown, it is time to grow the model behind it! Effective Jan 1, 2027, this change is a new structure for 2027 that distributes ownership, brings more voices into the planning process, and gives each type of programming a dedicated home.

Four Pillars, Four Owners! Going forward, MERG will be organized around four pillars, each with its own lead:

Team Building

Owned by Miylie Roan, Senior HR Generalist, running quarterly. This covers company-wide events like retreats, the winter gift exchange, and our Q1 and Q3 virtual events. Team Building is the one series with 100% encouraged participation.

MERG

Owned by Dan Anslow-O’Rourke, Production Manager, running monthly. This is where heritage and awareness-month programming, culture spotlights, and storytelling live.

Lunch Table

Owned by Ariel Johnson-Pena, Attorney Compliance Lead, running monthly. Casual, lighthearted connection through games, icebreakers, and reflection lunches.

Wellness Collective

Owned by Gabby DiSilvio, Programs Manager, is ongoing. A dedicated home for wellbeing-focused programming.

What stays the same

The full group will still meet once a month to share feedback from recent events and plan what is coming up. Events will continue to be added to the calendar by me. Everything outside of Team Building remains optional so people can engage in the ways that make sense for them. There is a shared working calendar so all four pillars stay visible and we can build on each other’s ideas without overlap.

This is about making MERG stronger, more sustainable, and more representative of the community it is meant to serve. More details to come as we finalize the 2027 calendar. If you have thoughts or questions, reach out to me directly.