Throughout 2022, our Sherwin-Williams PrideWorks and African American Network (AAN) ERGs continued to share their missions across the organization through collaborative events, professional development opportunities and letting their colors show throughout the community.

Summer of Pride Focuses on Employee Engagement and Company Wins

Our many PrideWorks chapters were busy in June celebrating Pride Month in myriad ways. Employees participated in multiple Pride parade events across the country and distributed nearly 3,000 Sherwin-Williams coupons at several of these parades including Chicago, Cleveland and Charlotte, North Carolina. With Pride celebrations ranging in attendance from 30,000+ in Cleveland to more than 1 million in Chicago, our PrideWorks members capitalized on an opportunity to engage employees while leaving a positive impression of our Company on participants and spectators.

AAN ‘Leading with Your Authentic Self’ Panel Inspires and Motivates

AAN planned a variety of programs for Black History Month, including a virtual panel titled “Leading with Your Authentic Self.” The one-hour panel was designed to showcase diversity within our leadership team and featured Company Vice Presidents, who provided career guidance and inspiration on how to lead and show up as your authentic self in the workplace.

“The goal was to empower employees by having them hear from members of our leadership team who look like them,” said Yentil Rawlinson, Sherwin-Williams Vice President of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity. “This event allowed panelists to showcase vulnerability. One of the main themes was centered on how to utilize feedback in order to grow – yet not allowing it to change who you are at your core,” Rawlinson added. Participant feedback across all levels of the organization was positive, and the session continues to garner views through a recording hosted on our internal ID&E resource page.

Sherwin-Williams PrideWorks and AAN Collaborate to Cultivate Inclusion in Covington

Also in June 2022, Sherwin-Williams PrideWorks and AAN members at our Covington, Georgia, plant hosted a joint event for Pride Month and Juneteenth. Trenae Leonard, Sherwin-Williams Human Resources Generalist, and her team planned an engaging event that sparked thoughtful conversation and education. The collaboration included educational games and an open-floor discussion. The team also provided informational flyers as a takeaway for attendees to continue their learning. “Just hearing the discussion on the floor and in the breakroom afterward was proof this event was an opportunity for employees to work.

This story is featured in the Sherwin-Williams 2022 Sustainability Report.