Employee Resource Groups
Columbus State Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) have been busy building employee connections, engaging the campus in critical conversations, and addressing student and community needs. Check out these snap shots of recent ERG activities.
Columbus State’s ERG Program is a critical part of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Attend an ERG-Sponsored Event
Parent and Caregiver Spring Luncheon and Item Swap
Thursday, March 21 | 12 - 2 PM | Center for Workforce Development and Online
Join the Caring for Those Who Care ERG for our spring luncheon with breakout sessions and a gently-used item swap!
The Caring for Those Who Care ERG invites the college community – including employees and students – to its spring luncheon, which will include breakout sessions and a gently-used item swap. Breakout sessions will include:
- Accessing resources for elders
- Navigating our children’s relationships with technology
- How we experience and grieve different kinds of losses
Please bring gently-used parenting/caregiving items (baby clothes, adult walker, etc.) that you would like to make available to other parents and/or caregivers in the Columbus State community.
Prepare to express your culture at Culture Fest!
Wednesday, March 27 | 2 - 5 PM | Library Multimedia Studio
The World of Experience ERG invites employees and students to stop by the Library Multimedia Studio any time between 2 PM and 5 PM for an exciting poster creation event! Dive into your creative side as you design posters celebrating the diverse cultures of our school community. With art supplies provided, let your imagination run wild to showcase the beauty of our global unity. Your posters will be displayed proudly at Culture Fest on April 25!
No art experience required – just bring your enthusiasm and creativity!
Join the ERG Unity Cougar 5K Team!
Saturday, May 4 | 9 AM | Delaware Campus
The ERGs are joining together again with our Cougar 5K team: ERG Unity! As a member of team ERG Unity, you'll help raise funds for student book scholarships while building connections across affinities and identities. We all share a goal of equity in student success rates, and raising money for scholarships is one way to achieve that goal. You can participate by registering as a member of our team, making a donation through our team, and/or encouraging friends and family members to participate or donate.
Safe Zone Trainings
Learn how to create affirming workplace and learning environments for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual students and employees at an upcoming Safe Zone training. Columbus State's Safe Zone programming is administered by the Prism ERG.
You can register for an open Safe Zone workshop on Cougar Connect at the following
links:
March 19 | Columbus Campus (in person)
April 24 | Delaware Campus (in person)
May 17 | Remote
Get Involved
Want to get involved? Attend one of these ERG sponsored events.
March 2024 Membership Gatherings
- A World of Experience ERG | Tuesday, March 5, 12:30 AM – 2:00 PM | Lead Fearlessly. Permission Optional. with Ukeme Awakassien Jeter. (WD Ballroom)
- Women’s ERG | Tuesday, March 5, 12:30 AM – 2:00 PM | Lead Fearlessly. Permission Optional. with Ukeme Awakassien Jeter. (WD Ballroom)
- Prism ERG | Monday, March 18, 5-7 PM | Get to know yourself and others through a fund and interactive workshop using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. (Mitchell Hall 202)
- African/African American ERG | Tuesday, March 19, 12-1 PM | Monthly member gathering. (Columbus Campus and online.)
- Caring for Those Who Care ERG | Thursday, March 21, 12-2 PM | Spring Luncheon (see above)
Join an ERG or contact the ERG Leads listed below to attend one (or more!) of these ERG membership meetings.
Join an ERG!
Joining an ERG is easy! You can either use the "Join an ERG!" button below and select the ERG's you'd like to join, or you can contact the ERG leads listed below and let them know you want to join.
African / African American ERG
The African/African-American Employee Resource Group exists to build an awareness of the diverse cultures and distinction of Africans and African-Americans while advancing a diverse and inclusive work environment highlighting the experiences of African/African-American employees. The ERG is for individuals who belong to an ethnic group with total or partial ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa and/or people of all nationalities that identify as Black and their allies. Meets on the second Tuesday of the month at 12 PM. Contact Michelle Baker, Dr. Terrence Brooks, or Dr. Royce Carpenter for more information.
Caring for Those Who Care ERG
We exist to lift up the Columbus State community we serve by empowering and encouraging employees who are caregivers and parents to live life to the fullest. For more information contact Melissa Lamar or Debbie Strain. Are you or do you know an employee who is a parent or caregiver experiencing a time of increased need?
Refer yourself or a colleague for help from our support network
Get alerts about opportunities to help employees who are parents or caregivers
Prism ERG
The Prism ERG strives to create and foster a community where lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, non-binary, queer, intersex, and asexual employees feel they belong, are affirmed, and are empowered to engage. This ERG provides networking, educational, and social opportunities for the CSCC LGBTQIA+ community and allies. Meets on the second Monday of the month; times alternate between 12PM and 5:30PM. Contact George Johnson-Gamm for more information. Read the Prism ERG Charter.
Would you like Prism to facilitate a Safe Zone training for your class or department? please contact us at SafeZoneScheduling@cscc.edu.
Women's ERG
The Women's ERG exists to connect, empower, and advance women personally and professionally. We welcome employees who identify as women and their allies to become members. Meets on the second Thursday of the month,11:30AM - 12:30PM. Contact Dr. Crystal Clark or Dr. Kelly Hogan for more information.
A World of Experience ERG
The purpose of A World of Experience ERG is to empower employees who identify as immigrants and/or children of immigrants by elevating our voices and experiences and contributing to a campus culture that nurtures our growth and development as new and rising leaders and advocates at Columbus State Community College. Contact Kathy Lopez, Dr. Raquel Pina, or Luz Salinas for more information.