AAERG CO-CHAIRS LATONJA WRIGHT AND KELLY JOHNSON

Can you imagine a future where the employees at Berkeley Lab reflect the surrounding communities in age, race and gender? We can. Imagine a rainbow of leadership, cultural diversity, and fresh ideas that advance our scientific mission. For the next 90 years, imagine inclusion, diversity, equity, and accountability. The African American Employee Resource Group, or AAERG, is imagining and creating the future.

The AAERG is co-chaired by two Lab employees, LaTonja Wright, Staff HR Division Partner Computing Sciences & IT, and Kelly Johnson, Talent Outreach Program Manager. Recently these two powerhouse women answered some questions on the future they envision.

What is the AAERG’s mission?

The mission of the AAERG is to advance a diverse and inclusive work environment with a particular focus on African American current and future employees. Working through a network of dedicated professionals, the AAERG undertakes internal and external activities to attract, retain, empower and inspire African American employees to achieve their fullest potential across the spectrum of employment opportunities at Berkeley Lab, including scientists, engineers, technologists, and operations staff.

What big challenges are you hoping the AAERG can solve in the next 20 years?

LaTonja Wright: We want to uncover barriers in Lab culture that may prevent African Americans and other underrepresented individuals from full career growth and development. We also want to continue to create an inclusive and welcoming environment at the Lab.

Kelly Johnson: By 2041, we aim to contribute to the Lab's overall development and advancement of the African American employee community to include a balanced and equitable percentage of Blacks in leadership roles. Current data shows that there is less than 1% of Blacks in leadership at an institution that has been around for 90 years. Inclusion at Berkeley Lab is another challenge that I hope to see evolve over the next decade. Diversity and Inclusion are not synonymous, so while we embrace diversity wholeheartedly, we fail at inclusion when you do not see people of color at the "table" in leadership roles. It will be critical for the Lab community to demonstrate a culture of respect for all people of color, not just the African American community.

What steps are you taking today to accomplish this vision?

LaTonja Wright: The first step was taken five years ago when I collaborated with another colleague to found the AAERG as a platform to accomplish the vision.

Kelly Johnson: We are continuing ongoing efforts with our AAERG executive sponsor, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office, and Human Resources to identify and correct ingrained biases for Blacks in our hiring practices and in the promotion rates. We want to evaluate the factors that will help improve retention of African American employees. We want to continue supporting outreach efforts to help attract and recruit qualified job seekers, and to continue to empower current employees to advocate for themselves in the workplace.

Who would you like to partner with at the Lab to bring this vision to life?

LaTonja Wright: To accomplish the changes I would like to see, the key partnership relationships involve Lab Leadership, specifically the IDEA Senior Leadership Committee.

Kelly Johnson: In my view, everyone at the Lab has a role to play in bringing our vision to life. It boils down to actually walking the talk, which means partnership, support, and investment in Black employees with IDEA and Lab senior leaders.

Who from the past, present, or future would you like to collaborate with? And on what?

LaTonja Wright: Women like Oprah Winfrey, Kamala Harris, and Mary Sidney inspire me. I would hope to gain an understanding of how they have handled obstacles and continued to succeed and thrive.