Black History Month is a time set aside to recognize the contributions and accomplishments African Americans have made in every aspect of society. It’s a time to focus on and honor the past, celebrate the present, and be inspired as we look to the future.

Diversity and inclusion programming is vital to fostering an inclusive and welcoming work environment. As we planned this month’s celebrations, we had several key goals in mind. We wanted to educate our team and provide them with valuable resources, foster an inclusive environment through a variety of programming, and make a tangible difference to the community.

Here is how Cognitiv celebrated Black History Month this year:

Spotlighting Black-Owned Businesses

We wanted to encourage our employees to celebrate Black History Month in intentional and impactful ways that can be applied year-round. Supporting local Black-owned businesses has a positive impact on our communities and the local economy. Most notably, it also aids efforts to eliminate the racial wealth gap by creating a path for establishing sustained, multi-generational wealth in the Black community. We provided our employees with a list of Black-owned businesses located near each of our offices, and for our remote employees, provided businesses that ship nationwide.

Celebratory Lunch

We also recognize that an important piece to celebrating this holiday, and the accomplishments of Black individuals throughout history, is education. We hosted a special lunch & learn session at each of our offices and provided our remote employees with virtual access to these special events. The food was catered from local Black-owned restaurants and the educational portion included historical information and facts along with an interactive quiz component. The interactive portion really gets team members involved and provides a fun and safe environment to learn.

Donating with Givsly

There are many incredible nonprofit organizations that work tirelessly to advance racial equality and provide resources for the Black community, which need monetary donations to continue to do their work. Not only did we want to do our part by making a donation, but we also wanted to enable our clients, partners and prospects to join us in making a difference. We partnered with Givsly once again to give our clients the opportunity to choose from one of three nonprofits for us to make a donation on their behalf. The organizations we will be supporting this year are  Black Mental Health Alliance for Education & Consultation, Inc., HBCU First and The Orchid Foundation.