What if the people you work with could become something more than coworkers? What if employees who share an identity, experience, or interest had a way to find one another, build relationships, support each other professionally, and strengthen their connection to Modesto City Schools? That’s the idea behind Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), voluntary, employee-led groups that create opportunities for connection, belonging and professional growth within an organization.
After an infancy period in which small groups of MCS employees began building the District’s first ERGs and exploring what they could become, the groups are now ready for their official districtwide rollout. So far, ERGs include LIDER, which stands for Lead, Inspire, Develop, Empower, Rise, and was started by a group of Hispanic and Latino leaders at MCS who wanted to find a way to connect with each other; Black Leaders United (BLU); and BAM!, a women’s group. The name, BAM!, stands for Believe, Aspire, and Magnify, and was initially inspired by a visit to Modesto’s Be Anything Museum.
And while these first ERGs are organized around shared identities, future groups could just as easily bring together employees around common experiences or interests, from working parents to outdoor enthusiasts, book lovers, or employees passionate about community service.
For the employees who helped launch the effort, the idea began less with organizational terminology than with something fundamentally human: finding people and building relationships.
BLU President Antony Little said that the group initially came together because employees working in different roles throughout MCS didn't necessarily know one another.
“It was just having a sense of belonging and building relationships with staff members,” said Little, who serves as Director III of Alternative Education. “And we're all in various roles. [We asked], how can we support other people throughout the district?”
Only later did members realize there was a name for what they had begun creating: an Employee Resource Group. And the relationships that followed became more meaningful than they initially imagined.
That sense of belonging is at the heart of all three groups, and members bring years of life experiences to their interactions with each other.
“When I became a principal,… I said, ‘You know what? It's my turn now,’” said John Muir Elementary School Principal Armando Medina. “Now I'm in a position of leadership. What is it that I can do to help others feel like they belong, feel that this is an inclusive place, feel that this is an environment where they can relate with other people?”
Medina helps lead LIDER.
ERGs can provide mentorship, professional networking, and a place for employees with aspirations to connect with colleagues who may be able to help them navigate the next step in their careers. They can also become a springboard for service and shared projects benefiting students, families and the larger community. And although an ERG may form around a particular identity or interest, participation isn't about shutting others out.
ERG leaders have compared them to the clubs students join at school: a student who joins music, art or debate isn't separating from the student body, but finding another reason to feel connected to it.
The same principle can apply to employees. In an organization as large and varied as MCS, people may work in different schools, departments and job classifications for years without ever having a reason to meet. ERGs can create that reason, crossing organizational lines that might otherwise remain invisible.
Until now, that work has happened largely on a small scale. The founding groups have been developing leadership structures and exploring how ERGs can best serve MCS employees. Now comes the next chapter: opening the doors more widely and inviting employees throughout the District to participate.
“I think given that it's a new year, I only see more people maybe wanting to join,” said Director I of Benefits Programs Maria Mariscal. In addition to her involvement with LIDER, Mariscal is also developing a group that will focus on employee wellness. The aim is to invite interested employees to participate in conversations about supporting physical, social, mental, emotional, and overall well-being.
Staff may refer to the flyers below for more information, or reach out via either of the email addresses linked here: LIDER and BLU. Questions about BAM! or the wellness group can be sent to publicinfo@monet.k12.ca.us
Click the links below for more information:
26/27 LIDER Calendar of Events