HE&R Celebrates Juneteenth 2022

This email was sent to our team members in celebration of Juneteenth. 

Good afternoon, 

On Sunday, June 19, Americans will celebrate Juneteenth, the oldest celebration of the end of slavery in the United States. As described on Juneteenth.com, “Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement, and for planning the future.” Sometimes referred to as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, Juneteenth became the 11th federal holiday when President Biden signed a bill on June 17, 2021, and will be observed this year on Monday, June 20. To learn more about Juneteenth and why all Americans should honor it, we encourage you to watch this video. 

On Juneteenth 2020, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts (HE&R) confirmed its Commitment to Act to further its efforts for the inclusion and development of Black team members and our connection with the Black community. In the last two years, our organization has continued its focus on our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) efforts. Throughout the last several months, engagement sessions with our team members of color have been conducted to better understand concerns, questions, and suggestions they may have. In 2021, our company welcomed MERGE, our multi-ethnic resource group for everyone. MERGE has hosted connection events, and sponsored and participated in the 2021 and 2022 YWCA Race Against Racism. Most importantly, MERGE has created a safe space for team members to openly connect and have meaningful conversations. This employee resource group continues to make recommendations on our company’s inclusion strategy to HE&R Leadership and the DE&I Council. 

Earlier this week, HE&R announced that Embracing DE&I Classes are now available in MyLearning (internal platform). Team members are encouraged to register for this class. Just yesterday, members of the DE&I Council were honored to be invited to participate in a panel for the PA Chamber’s Equality & Diversity Summit to discuss HE&R’s DE&I strategy, best practices, and successes to date. 

HE&R continues to expand its strong connections to key organizations and community groups. As a sponsor of Hershey All Things Diversity, HE&R helps inform the group’s programming and focus topics. Additionally, members of the DE&I Council are working on a toolkit for use across the company. Stay tuned for more information on this valuable resource. 

Although there is more work to be done, we are proud of what has been accomplished. The HE&R Leadership team and DE&I Council look forward to continuing to ensure our organization is a welcoming place for all of you, and our guests.

Thank you for your continued support.

John Lawn, President & CEO