Affinity is a diversity ERG for minorities – which we define as people of color, immigrants and first-generation Americans – and allies. We’ve been around since February 2019 and have about 100 members. Our goals are to promote awareness and education within the company, support career development, create a community both in and outside The Zebra and to foster allyship.
Our co-founders, Martina and Marivi, had both been thinking about a group like Affinity for quite a while – but it wasn’t until they decided to join forces that it became a reality. Understanding that conversations around minority representation in the workplace can be uncomfortable, they wanted to help to encourage and amplify those conversations, while making group members feel heard and supported. Using the development of The Shebras as a role model, we launched Affinity to provide support, inclusion and opportunities.
We kicked off Affinity’s first meeting with a world map to show all the places employees call home and highlight how diverse we as a company are. Thanks to thoughtful members and volunteers, we’ve been able to host many initiatives, from panel discussions to happy hours to cultural lunches – most recently, we launched a Minorities in Tech panel discussion series to internally spotlight some of our employees and members. We’ve also joined forces with other ERGs for workshops on effective communication and mentorship.
Today, our mission and work are more important than ever. We’re continuing to pursue our goals and are grateful for the support and space to drive impact.