LGBTQ+ Allyship in the Workplace

WATCH BELOW: OUR JUNE 2022 EVENT

We acknowledged and celebrated Pride Month 2022 by taking a purposeful virtual break to learn more about allyship in the workplace. Our Chief Health Equity Officer Valerie Rochester shared the importance of being an LGBTQ+ ally, the role of language, how to review and assess your current organizational practices, and how you can establish and reinforce a safer workspace.

Ben Schorr: Senior Manager Philanthropy and Social Impact , Kellogg Company

Ben Schorr from Kellogg Company shared news about Kellogg’s employee resource group K-Pride & Allies. CHC’s Chief Health Equity Officer Valerie Rochester discussed the importance of being an LGBTQ+ ally, the role of language, how to review and assess your current organizational practices, and how you can establish and reinforce a safer workspace.

Valerie L. Rochester
Chief Health Equity Officer, CHC: Creating Healthier Communities

Rochester has 30 years’ experience as a public health activist and nonprofit strategist, focused on improving delivery of community-driven programs and services, using a combined health equity, social equity, and racial justice approach.  Throughout her career, she has focused her energies on work to improve social and health service outcomes by developing responsive programmatic initiatives that work to fight racial, social and gender-based health inequities. At CHC, Rochester is responsible for establishing the overarching organizational vision and building out the Health Equity Strategy to help bring about needed changes in communities, including culturally humble, intentional and inclusive program initiatives and models.

Before coming to CHC, Rochester served as Vice President for Program Strategy and Chief Program Officer at AIDS United, and as Director of Programs & Training for Black Women’s Health Imperative. Rochester has served on the boards of several national and community-based organizations aligned with her commitment to improving life outcomes in communities, including as current Treasurer for the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) and board member of May Is All About Trans. Rochester was awarded the Congressional Black Caucus Healthcare Hero Award in 2002, presented by former Congresswoman Donna Christensen. Originally from Indianapolis, she currently resides in the Washington, DC area.