UCOP staff leaders and executive sponsors gather for a group photo in the courtyard of the Oakland City Center Conference Center during the fourth annual UCOP Employee Resource Group Summit.

On Wednesday, Apr. 29, UCOP Employee Resource Group (ERG) leaders gathered with their executive sponsors in Oakland for the fourth annual UCOP ERG Summit. Centered on the theme “Rooted and Rising,” this year’s event comes at a pivotal moment as the Office of Culture and Inclusive Excellence (OCIE), in consultation with the ERGs and other stakeholders, is working to clarify the purpose, scope and impact of ERGs while reaffirming UCOP’s commitment to their continued growth and success.

OCIE Director Lalitha Sankaran opened the day by acknowledging the ERG members’ efforts over the past year and their resilience, agility and continued commitment to ensuring that every voice is valued and heard at UCOP. “Inclusive excellence is not an abstract idea,” she said. “Everyone must take ownership, and it requires a daily commitment reflected in our actions. Coming together each year grounds us in our shared values, reinforces the impact of our work and builds on the strength we draw from each other and the UCOP community.”

Event highlights

Staff leaders, executive sponsors, guest speakers and OCIE team members participated in interactive sessions designed to help ERG leaders better understand and apply their individual strengths. A key theme throughout the sessions was leveraging individual and collective strengths and broader UCOP partnerships to advance individual group goals and enhance shared impact.

• Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Program Manager Dennis McIver, who has extensive experience as a staff leader, shared the power of discovering one’s strengths and leveraging them as a leader. He briefly shared his leadership philosophy — “I trust you, and I’m here to help” — and encouraged attendees to magnify their impact through collaboration.
• Business Resource Center Director Amy Vrizuela guided participants in reflecting on how their lived experiences and abilities shape their leadership approach, and how they might use these strengths to increase their impact. Emily Breed, UCOP Pride; Marlin Rodarte, Latinx Staff Association; and Brandon Smith-Hagans, Black Staff and Faculty Organization (BSFO), provided compelling personal testimony on the importance of remaining grounded in one’s values and strengths.
• Christina Saint Martin, interim director of business process optimization at UCPath and UCPath’s ERG Liaison, and UCOP BSFO Chair Joyce Price helped participants identify skills, resources and support from others (e.g., managers, supervisors and colleagues) that would make their groups more successful. As a key takeaway, Joyce urged attendees to create pathways for more voices to lead, contribute and shape what comes next.
• Interdisciplinary artist and cultural strategist Favianna Rodriguez encouraged participants to use art and storytelling as tools for grounded, values-driven leadership and systemic change. Participants engaged in a hands-on activity to create individual portraits, which, when combined, symbolized their shared strength as an ERG community.
• In closing remarks, Barbara Hui, Asian Pacific Islander Staff Association, George Zamora, UCOP Pride; and Sofia Sanchez Pillot Saavedra, Sustainability Employee Resource Group, emphasized the need to continue partnering across ERGs to amplify momentum and shared ownership.

Participants pose with the portraits they created during the session led by interdisciplinary artist and cultural strategist Favianna Rodriguez.

A special note of acknowledgment to Senior Event Planner Jamie Frick, who provided event planning support throughout the day.

Learn more about culture and inclusive excellence at UCOP, explore UCOP ERGs and complete a form to get in touch with ERGs. For questions, contact the Office of Culture and Inclusive Excellence.

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