Regardless of how engaging and fulfilling your career is, everyone needs another outlet to focus on every now and then. With that in mind, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan regularly encourages employees to take the time to do something in addition to their daily workloads that will make a difference both at Blue Cross and in the community. They do this through nine, designated Employee Resource Networks. Through these nine groups, Blue Cross gives employees the opportunity to focus on areas they’re passionate about while also advancing their own professional development. Each network has a different goal, from “Active Blue,” which focuses on health and wellness, to “POWER,” which sets its sights on building interest and education around women’s issues. Currently, 2,635 employees participate in these networks, teaming up to make a real difference. See below for a breakdown of each unique community:
- Active Blue: Blue Cross’ health and wellness network is committed to educating employees about health-related issues as well as encouraging them to participate in walks, runs and other volunteer efforts in the community.
- AzulHLPN: Blue Cross’ Hispanic Latino Professionals’ Network has recently expanded its outreach by supporting Blue Cross’ Let’s Talk Health Latino Detroit. First held in October 2015, the event provides health information and free screenings to attendees.
- BlueACTS (African Ancestry Committed to Success): BlueACTS is a long-time supporter of ARISE Detroit, a local coalition of community groups that focus on encouraging volunteerism.
- Blue SAN (South Asian Network): Launched in March 2015, Blue SAN focuses its efforts internally at Blue Cross and plans to support upcoming volunteer opportunities in the future.
- Equally Blue: Formed in 2010, Equally Blue educates, supports and connects LGBTQ individuals and their allies. The group's goal is to foster a more open work environment and enhance Blue Cross’ ability to address the health care needs of the LGBTQ community. They support Pride events throughout the month of June in Downtown Detroit, Ferndale and Grand Rapids, and have helped make positive changes to human resources policies within Blue Cross.
- Multicultural Network: This group is focused on partnering with Blue Cross' Community Responsibility team to support at least three community events or organizations. They are looking to identify groups of people who are not currently represented by the other resource networks.
- POWER (Professional Optimistic Women Exploring Resources): The largest of the nine Employee Resource Networks, this group's goal is to build interest and education around women's issues at home and in the workplace, to create a strong network of employees who support each other. Events include member mixers, networking opportunities with women executives at Blue Cross, Lunch and Learns with personal stories, breakfast clubs and more. In the community, POWER has built partnerships with other groups across Detroit through the Empowerment Series.
- Veterans Network: Blue Cross’ newest Employee Resource Network, this group is focused on helping veteran employees as well as supporting community organizations such as Wounded Warriors. They also helped facilitate a laptop donation to the Fallen and Wounded Warriors Fund last February.
- YPN (Young Professionals Network): This resource network began as a summer intern program and has transformed into a full-fledged network. Recently, the group had Ernst and Young in the office for a panel on generational differences, with the goal of connecting different generations within Blue Cross. They’ve also started a mentor program to give interns a more well-rounded experience.
For more blogs on employee happenings at Blue Cross, check out these other posts:
