February is Black History Month (BHM) – a time to commemorate and reflect on African American life, history and culture. To fully embrace the impact Black people have had on U.S. history, Carter G. Woodson, one of the founders of BHM, decided to incorporate different themes every year. Child and Family Services’ (C+FS) DEI Committee organizes events based on these themes to provide employees with a new-found perspective and understanding of how to engage, support and celebrate Black culture.
“Our staff and clients deserve to feel the value of being recognized and celebrated,” stated Yvonne DuBois, Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer. “By diving into the themes of BHM, we are actively doing the work to fulfill our Agency’s vision of creating a thriving community where all people live in safety with dignity.”
In previous years, the DEI committee has celebrated past BHM themes of “Resistance” (2023) and “The Arts” (2024) by hosting webinar series and a Paint and Snack Night with a local Black-owned business. Staff members expressed how healing and informative the experiences were and requested more cultural-specific events involving self-care practices.
“By staying connected to different cultures, we can learn from the history, themes and lessons they have to offer to help us carry our work forward and continue growing as a collective group,” emphasized Yvonne.
This year’s BHM theme is “African Americans and Labor,” which highlights the collective work experiences of Black people and how labor is at the center of Black history and culture. “The White House and other historical monuments wouldn’t exist without the free labor of Black people,” explained Yvonne. “However, it’s important to recognize Black History extends beyond the experiences of those who were enslaved. We are greater than the sum of our collective trauma. Black history is American history.”
Stay tuned to see how the C+FS DEI Committee honors African American culture next month!