What is The B.L.E.N.D.?
The Black and Latino Employee Networking and Development (The B.L.E.N.D.) is an Employee Resource Group (ERG) working to create a space for knowledge sharing and capacity building around the development of Black and Latino employees across the NYC Department of Education.
We welcome DOE employees and supporters from all identities, affinities, and walks of life who are interested in engaging and promoting learning and development for these underrepresented minority groups. The B.L.E.N.D. was created based on the interests of existing DOE employees in tangible ways to improve representation and professional development for black and Latino candidates, employees, and leaders across all DOE contexts. The B.L.E.N.D. purpose is to serve as a catalyst by strengthening members’ networks, developing their skill sets, celebrating their heritages, and enabling them to give back to the communities where they live and work.
To learn more and to sign up for updates, sign up here:
For questions, email BLEND@schools.nyc.gov or our co-leaders (see contact information in leadership section below).
The B.L.E.N.D.’s key strategic goals include:
- Create an Inclusive Space
- Build a space and a network of DOE employees where all are able to discuss and surface solutions around the particular Black and Latino experiences in our schools and offices.
- Amplify Existing and Future Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Work at the DOE
- Ensure that a greater share of DOE employees are aware of diversity and inclusion efforts and programming at the DOE, as well as provide new venues for Black and Latino employees to talk about their own experiences.
- Meaningfully Engage with Black and Latino Communities Within and Without
- Encourage employees to participate in professional and volunteer opportunities that promote civic engagement and EDI within and without of the DOE. Networking and community collaboration enhances access to a larger pool of diverse community initiatives and employment candidates, and strengthens the relationships of employees with their local communities.
Helpful Links
- Help us build this community together: Download our one page summary and send to your DOE network, and encourage them to sign up at TheBLEND.nyc
- Bookmark or subscribe to our NYC Equity Events Calendar
- Share events for this calendar using the calendar submissions form
- To partner with us to promote or organize your event ideas, reach out to BLEND@schools.nyc.gov or to our co-leaders directly (see leadership section above)
- To find out more about Professional Development courses offered by the DOE, click here
- Learn more about Employee Resource Groups within the Department of Education, visit the DOE’s ERG intranet page and read more about the DOE’s Diversity and Inclusion Policy