Join the Celebration With Drexel’s Colleague Resource Groups

All year long, Drexel’s five active Colleague Resource Groups (CRGs) have provided a space for University faculty and professional staff to make connections in solidarity and raise awareness and understanding of issues that are important to traditionally underrepresented groups and their allies. These groups — Bienvenidos, Black Faculty & Professional Staff Association, LGBTQA+ Faculty & Professional Staff Network, Veterans Colleague Resource Group and Women’s Finance Colleague Resource Group — all work in their own ways to connect, share experiences and expertise, and advise the University and uphold its mission.

Next week, the Drexel Dragons involved in the CRGs — and those that are thinking about joining or want to make connections and learn more about how they can be involved — will come together for “Summer Celebration of Diversity, Inclusion and Activism,” a night of wine and hors d’oeuvres to celebrate everything that has been accomplished this year.

“This event is an opportunity for people to connect with individuals who might have shared experiences or shared values in order to network and find connections and support,” said Jesse Krohn, associate director of education and prevention in the Office of Equality and Diversity.

The event, which will be held in Behrakis Grand Hall on June 14 from 4–6 p.m., is open to current and prospective CRG members and allies. Anyone who is interested in becoming involved, or would want to show their support for these groups and their members, is invited to attend. No RSVP is needed.

“It’s a casual event because we really want people to come and build community,” said Krohn.

The summer celebration was chosen after a popular fall mixer was held at the start of the academic year with great success. During that event, Dragons of all ages, genders, backgrounds and departments came together and bonded over food and drinks, which made holding a summer event a no-brainer.

“We wanted to have a capstone for the year and give people the opportunity to reflect and connect,” said Krohn. “It’s been a difficult year in a lot of ways. So we wanted to create an opportunity for people to kick back and feel like they were with other people who were part of a larger network.”

The event will also introduce and explain what each group has accomplished this year. Their contributions are far too many to list here, but collegiality and networking were common themes. The Drexel Veterans CRG, for example, hosted two meet-and-greets at which Drexel military and veteran students and employees met on campus to enjoy conversation over lunch at Drexel Pizza. Bienvenidos hosted a well-attended Cafecito coffee get-together, and co-hosted an End of Year Celebration with the Black Faculty & Professional Staff Association. Also in the spirit of collaboration, the Drexel LGBTQA+ CRG hosted a social get-together with the University of Pennsylvania’s LGBT affinity group.

Community advocacy was another theme. The Drexel LGBTQA+ CRG launched the first Drexel LGBT Alumni group in partnership with the Alumni Relations office, and co-sponsored both the LGBT Spring Speakers Series, which focused on global civil liberties and was organized by Phillip Ayoub, PhD, an assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Drexel Reader’s Theater Alliance performance of “Better to Light a Single Candle than to Curse the Darkness.”

The Black Faculty & Professional Staff Association hosted a pop-up conversation about the American cultural climate, and raised awareness with its popular annual Black History Month Luncheon, for which the theme this year was “Celebrating the Greatness Within.” And, Women’s Finance continued its tradition of holding monthly meetings to empower members to pursue financial independence through guest speakers, book discussions, and even such creative topics as saving money with DIY.

"Summer Celebration of Diversity, Inclusion and Activism" will be held in Behrakis Grand Hall on June 14 from 4–6 p.m. For more information, contact Jesse Krohn at jkrohn@drexel.edu.