When Jenny Dempewolf hears Comcast leaders talk about the company’s commitment to diversity, she knows their testimony is backed by real stories of employees working to make the company stronger through inclusion.
As a manager for Comcast’s enterprise solutions team, Dempewolf sees how diversity not only contributes to a positive culture and employee retention rates, but actively promotes business growth and innovation as well.
Inspired by Comcast’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, Dempewolf agreed to co-chair the Colorado chapter of the Comcast Black Employee Network (BEN) two years ago.
“For me, it was an opportunity to help our staff recognize individual differences and celebrate them. Once people are aware of it, they jump on board,” said Dempewolf.“We’re able to be more effective as a team when we embrace different ideas, cultures and values within the organization.”
Engaging through Employee Resource Groups
BEN exists in chapters across Comcast nationwide to support and empower Comcast employees in four areas: career, culture, community, and commerce.
In Colorado, members converge for mentoring opportunities, professional development and cultural awareness activities year-round. Dempewolf says their activities are not intended to segment or single out groups of people, but to provide common ground for employees to connect with diverse peers.
“The network allows you to get out of your comfort zone and exchange stories and experiences with all kinds of people,” said Tanya Darden, a manager for Comcast’s business repair team and an active BEN member in Colorado. “If you ever have a challenge or want to gain a new skill, that network can help in leaps and bounds.”
Prioritizing Diverse Recruitment and Hiring
In working with the Comcast BEN, Darden had the opportunity to attend an inclusion and diversity session with a group of Comcast vice presidents last fall, and she said she was encouraged by the diverse cross section of attendees.
“We don’t just talk about this stuff — you could see it in the room,” said Darden of the event. “We had employees of every race, ethnicity and background. Comcast makes it a priority to recruit and hire that way.”
Darden, Dempewolf and hundreds of other employees participated in a program in 2018 that engaged over 500 Comcast leaders in mentoring relationships with employees looking to gain experience.
Dempewolf said that she sees members gaining value from the internal camaraderie, and a heightened awareness of diversity initiatives happening across Colorado.
“From a call center agent to a V.P., everyone is encouraged to get involved,” Darden said. “When we have engagement from employees of all levels and departments, it is powerful to see how we work together.”
Tanya Darden (top right) and Jenny Dempewolf (bottom right) along with other BEN members
Be a Part of A Growing Mosaic
To celebrate our current diverse teams and commemorate leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr., Comcast has curated an online, interactive digital mosaic at VisionsofKing.com. The experience is composed of pictures and videos of people sharing their vision of Dr. King’s dream and why they are “still marching” for inclusion in their communities.
And our celebration of the African American community doesn’t end there.
Earlier this month, we partnered with the Smithsonian Channel and History Colorado Center to screen “The Green Book: Guide to Freedom.” The film tells the story of a travel guide that allowed African Americans to safely tour the country during a time of institutionalized racism. The film is built on the stories of real people and their experiences.
Finally, all month long we are celebrating black excellence in media with curated Xfinity content like the movies The Hate U Give, Get Out, Black Panther, and more.
Diversity and inclusion enables us to create and support original programming that reflects real people and their experiences. Learn more about how you can celebrate Black History Month through the great movies available for you to stream at home.
