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博亚国际娱乐城 uses its core values 鈥� including Putting People First 鈥� to guide everything that we do. And one of the ways we make sure we鈥檙e putting people first is by ensuring our employees 鈥� particularly members of underrepresented or marginalized groups 鈥� feel valued, welcome, and safe. And we feel that introducing the concept of Allyship in tandem with our formal Allyship training program is one of the ways we do so.
What is Allyship?
Allyship isn鈥檛 a new concept, but has emerged as an integral part of companies鈥� diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
"In terms of Allyship, an ally is someone who continuously learns, shows empathy, and takes action on someone else鈥檚 behalf,鈥� says Jason Myers, senior manager of DEI at 博亚国际娱乐城. 鈥淎nd at some point in your life, no matter who you are and how you identify, you will need an ally. Although marginalized groups may be top of mind when you think about who may need an ally, there are also, for example, employees who are new to 博亚国际娱乐城 who need an ally, or an individual who鈥檚 lost a loved one or received a tough medical diagnosis. Everyone needs an ally.鈥�
The different stages of the Allyship journey
We鈥檙e not born an ally; it鈥檚 something that we need to learn and actively cultivate. Myers explains that there are four phases of the Allyship journey 鈥� the unaware phase, the observer phase, the learner phase, and the Allyship phase.
鈥淚n the training, we take our employees through the journey, we share some fictional and personal examples, and then we teach about common potholes that folks are going to face through the Allyship journey, mistakes they鈥檙e going to make,鈥� Myers explains. 鈥淲e talk a lot about how you鈥檙e going to make some mistakes and the key is how you respond to those mistakes.鈥�
Myers continues: 鈥淲e try to make it clear that this is a long journey; you have to put in the work. We also try to make it clear in the training that potential allies need to put in the work to support underrepresented populations.鈥�
MSS coordinator Emeline Adams, of Polynesian descent, agrees. 鈥淚t is so important to highlight marginalized communities by encouraging us to amplify our voices to elevate our culture and better our experiences for underrepresented coworkers. It has truly been a breath of fresh air to see the inclusivity here at 博亚国际娱乐城, and I鈥檓 proud to be an ally and to know that I have allies here at work.鈥�
Myers says that we鈥檙e all going to make mistakes along the way. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be uncomfortable, but if you lean into 博亚国际娱乐城鈥檚 core values, that鈥檚 going to make you a better ally.鈥�
But, he warns, when a self-proclaimed ally says or does nothing at all, that's the most harmful thing an ally can really do. 鈥淚f they never use the privilege that they have to step up and support someone, that鈥檚 very detrimental.鈥�
LEARN MORE: 5 ways 博亚国际娱乐城 is working to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion
The importance of personal stories in Allyship training
Allyship training at 博亚国际娱乐城 is full of stories 鈥� both personal and fictional 鈥� to illustrate how having an ally is invaluable for people in marginalized groups.
鈥淔or example, there are subtle acts of inclusion, like I share my pronouns or a visual descriptor of myself so that individuals with visual impairments may feel more included,鈥� Myers says. 鈥淎nd my co-trainers share their racial and ethnic backgrounds and talk about that. That鈥檚 how we start the training to help people feel more included and understood.鈥�
Many of our employees who鈥檝e taken the training told us that hearing others鈥� personal stories was very impactful. 鈥淚 appreciate the vulnerability of the hosts in sharing their stories. It鈥檚 not always easy I鈥檓 sure, but it helped make the topic real rather than aspirational,鈥� one trainee says. Another shares, 鈥淭hank you for sharing your personal stories with me. I heard touching stories of how allies have actually been heroes in many cases.鈥�
Allyship is not about you 鈥� it鈥檚 about those in need of support
Myers explains that at its essence, Allyship is using your voice or acting for an individual, but in the way they need. 鈥淲hen you鈥檙e an ally for an individual, you鈥檒l know how they want to be supported, like if they need you to speak up for them or just sit back and support their voice. When you鈥檙e an ally for an individual, it鈥檚 getting to know them on an individual basis and learning how they want you to show up for them.鈥�
The key to Allyship is that this is not about you. It's about the person you're supporting. 鈥淵ou're taking yourself out of the equation,鈥� Myers explains. 鈥淧eople want to be supported by and trust their allies, giving them support, or confidence, or mentorship; how an ally shows up is key.鈥�
鈥淚 now realize how I can influence and stand up for others, specifically how I can create a space for others to talk when they wouldn鈥檛 normally have a voice,鈥� says Scott Rasmussen, VP of operational services. 鈥淎llyship is a journey for everyone and is something I will always need to focus on as I continue to learn about others.鈥�
博亚国际娱乐城鈥檚 Allyship training is making a difference
博亚国际娱乐城 is proud of the Allyship training program we鈥檝e created, and we look forward to having even more of our employees take the training. To date, we鈥檝e had nearly 500 employees participate in our Allyship training.
鈥淚 think for me, it鈥檚 as simple as knowing that I work for a company that supports me in supporting other people,鈥� says Keith Michaud, manager, IT services. 鈥淲orking for a company that not only supports this type of behavior but actually has dedicated resources to promoting it makes a world of difference and truly shows where the company鈥檚 heart is.鈥�
Want to work for a company that values diversity and wants everyone to feel safe and included? Apply today!
