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A collection of leads from Queen’s University’s Employee Resource Groups gathered this month to recap recent accomplishments and set their sights on future intentions.

This is the third consecutive year the Office of the Vice-Principal (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion) (VPCEI) held the Employee Resource Groups (ERG) Leads Gathering, which took place on June 11 inside Mackintosh-Corry Hall. During the event, messages of unity and belonging were reiterated by Stephanie Simpson, Vice-Principal (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion), and others.

“Of all of the values and commitments that are associated with a thriving and equitable community, a sense of belonging is what I find the most difficult to define and something that comes up a lot in conversations about how to advance the work of equity on our campus,” said Simpson. “And yet, belonging is both a fundamental human need, as we know, and an important part of the employee experience.”

The Office of the Vice-Principal (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion) has served as the administrative home for the university’s ERGs since the Employee Resource Groups Needs Assessment was conducted during the 2023-24 academic school year. Through that placement, ERGs receive coordinated and centralized VPCEI support including assisting with financial management, event scheduling, website development and revisions, and liaising with University Relations’ Marketing and Brand and Integrated Communications teams to coordinate new, accessible logos, among other commitments.

Since the release of the ERG Needs Assessment Report by the ERG Recommendations Working Group, progress has made on many of the recommendations. This includes the university’s Time Release Policy for recognized ERG leads as well as the creation of the ERG Toolkit, designed to support ERGs by providing clear, practical guidance for starting, running, and sustaining ERGs.

The current roster of Queen’s Employee Resource Groups includes Indigenous Staff and Faculty Network, Queen’s University Association for Queer Employees (QUAQE), Queen’s Global Connect, Queen’s Military and Veterans Network, Queen’s University Muslim Inclusion Network, Queen’s Parents and Caregivers Village, Queen’s Women’s Network, and Women in Science at Queen’s.

One portion of the daylong event was a mentorship panel organized by Human Resources and the Queen’s Women’s Network, which included insight into leadership and professional growth. Panelists included Katharine Newstead (Manager, Operations, Events and Hospitality Services), Michelle Pruefer (Associate Director Principal Gifts), and Heather Woermke (Finance and Administration Associate Vice-Principal), and was moderated by Shannon Hill (Learning and Development Specialist, Human Resources, Organizational Development and Learning).

“We've all been vulnerable at some point in our lives and our careers – and it’s important we share that because nobody's perfect,” says Woermke. “Being able to do that, I think is powerful. The advice I have if you're thinking about being a mentor: just go ahead and do it. There's not going to be a perfect time. Everyone's always going to be busy. It's hard to carve out time, but once you do that outreach and you make the commitment, then if you stick with it, it's really, really valuable.”

Throughout the day, all ERG leads provided highlights on key initiatives undertaken over the past year. This provided an excellent opportunity to share achievements and insights with one another.

Leads from Global Connect shared that their membership surpassed 100 and provided an update on development of a speaker series. Representatives from QUAQE, which began as a social group 20 years ago, described their own membership gains. They also shared details of an upcoming event, Queer Song Circle, which the ERG will host in partnership with Thrive 365. The Song Circle will take place June 30 from 12 pm-1pm and will close out Pride Month with a focus on joy, connection, and wellbeing. The entire Queen’s community, including allies, are invited and can register in the .

“Sense of belonging is difficult to define, but we all know it when we see it, right? Or maybe more accurately, when we feel it,” observed Simpson. “You know what a sense of belonging feels like. Sense of belonging also involves work. Belonging doesn't happen by accident. It is the result of the work of building relationships, building community. It's a result of intentional effort.”

For additional information on Employee Resource Groups, visit the VPCEI website.