Here at Kobie, we are fiercely committed to fostering a workplace where teammates draw upon their own diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives so that they feel welcomed to bring their authentic selves to work every day. For that reason, Pride Month is a time when we go all-out with our support for the LGBTQ+ community. Through our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) group, we organized several opportunities for teammates to get involved with Pride.
Internally, there was no shortage of Pride celebrations. We created an open line of communication where Kobians could share what Pride meant to them, including any anecdotes, past struggles, or general comments they wanted to volunteer to amplify our teammates’ stories. We also hosted an Out, Open and Empowered Virtual Discussion Panel which included panelists from Kobie and a representative from METRO Inclusive Health in Tampa Bay. In the session, they each shared Pride-related stories and discussed what it means to support Pride. A key takeaway for LGBTQ+ community members and allies alike was to “forget what you think you know” and commit to listening to others’ experiences.
After the lockdown changed several plans for Pride last year, we were ecstatic to jump back into the St. Pete Pride festivities as well. We participated in the Pride Run 5K in St. Petersburg with our team, the “Kobie Pride Tribe.” Kobie also hosted a booth at the We Are Family festival event, where we got to meet eventgoers and hand out free swag to help celebrate Pride.
While we celebrate diversity and acceptance year-round, we’re always excited to participate in Pride Month and promote meaningful ways for our teammates to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community. We can’t wait to continue this momentum next June! Happy Pride!
