As we close out the second quarter of the year, it’s important to pause and reflect on the intentional moments we create to celebrate, honor, and learn from one another. That’s what MERG (our Minority Employee Resource Group) set out to do with their Q2 takeover of Beyond the Book Club in honor of both Pride Month and Juneteenth.
For Pride, MERG curated a list of three book options, and our employees voted to read They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera. It was a heartfelt and emotional story about two teens who find out they only have one day left to live, so they set out to make the most of that day together, forming a deep bond in the process.
Dan Anslow-O'Rourke, our Lead Video Producer and a MERG leader, facilitated a powerful discussion on the themes of identity, mortality, and meaningful connection. It was a reminder that stories, especially those that highlight LGBTQ+ experiences, can open the door to empathy and awareness.
In honor of Juneteenth, MERG hosted a communal reflection led by Miylie Roan, Senior HR Generalist and MERG leader, by watching two short but impactful clips together:
We then reflected as a group on a few meaningful prompts:
These questions led to an open, thoughtful conversation about history, freedom, and how food, tradition, and celebration can serve as a form of resistance and remembrance. Stay tuned for our next MERG event, and until then, Happy Pride Month and Happy Juneteenth!