This summer, the NECC gym was alive with laughter, music, and conversation as employees gathered around tables filled with cultural treasures and dishes that told a story. The Employee Resource Groups (ERG) Showcase and Multicultural Fair celebrated the many backgrounds, traditions, and experiences that make NECC special while creating new opportunities for employees to connect with one another. 

NECC’s six Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fatou Njie-Jallow organized the showcase around the theme “Stronger Through Connection.” The event highlighted the role ERGs play in creating spaces where employees can build relationships, celebrate one another’s experiences, and strengthen belonging across NECC. 

Employees explored each ERG table, learned more about the groups’ missions, and discovered the many cultures represented throughout the organization. Staff presenters shared traditions, memories, and cuisine from around the world, including the Philippines, Jamaica, Ghana, England, and many other places represented within our community. 

The Multicultural Fair brought those experiences to life through interactive displays, games, music, and authentic food and drinks. The Philippines table recreated a neighborhood bodega, while the Jamaica table featured traditional favorites such as jerk chicken, banana fritters, fried breadfruit, sorrel, and ginger beer. One of our students joined the celebration as well, singing karaoke alongside employees and filling the gym with even more smiles and energy. 

For NECC teacher, Tanika Williams, sharing her Jamaican heritage was an opportunity to create meaningful connections with colleagues through culture, conversation, and community. 

“Culture is more than what we read about; it’s something we experience. Being able to introduce my colleagues to Jamaica through our stories, traditions, national symbols, crafts, and authentic food created moments of connection that I hope they’ll remember long after the event,” shared Williams. “The genuine curiosity and enthusiasm of my colleagues as they explored Jamaican culture made the experience especially meaningful. Events like this remind us that our unique backgrounds are what make our workplace stronger; that our differences are not barriers, but opportunities to learn, grow, and celebrate together.” 

For Njie-Jallow, moments like the Multicultural Fair are an important part of creating a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to share their experiences. 

“Belonging is a core need for people to thrive at work. When staff feel they belong here, they stay. When they stay, we get to keep doing the work that matters most for our students, their families, and the communities that depend on the consistency and care our staff provide. Every connection the ERGs build ripples outward in ways that are hard to measure but impossible to miss,” shared Njie-Jallow. 

The first ERG Showcase and Multicultural Fair reminded us that NECC’s strength comes from the people who bring their experiences, perspectives, and passion each day. By celebrating what makes us unique and learning from one another, employees strengthened the connections that help us support each other and the students and families we serve.