When the American Red Cross conducted a Team Member Resource Group (TMRG) Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C., last month, Oklahoma-based Service to the Armed Forces and communications volunteer Judy Madden was in attendance. Here’s Judy’s recap of the event.

Resource Groups connect employees and volunteers. They are forums for all Red Crossers to have an opportunity to express themselves, gain professional development experience and contribute to and support organization goals. 

The highlight of the Summit was the fireside chat with Red Cross CEO Gail McGovern and COO Cliff Holtz, who answered questions from the gallery and discussed the updated, current budget of the organization.  

The Summit featured guest speakers, Brandon Foly of Mastercard, Michelle Katz of Wildlife Conservation Society, and Monique Lanaux of Albertsons Companies. There were breakout discussions, strategic planning sessions, and networking opportunities designed to inspire and engage team members who voluntarily serve as TMRG leaders.  

Red Cross Resource Groups are:

Latino Resource Group — The purpose of the Latino Resource Group (LRG), is to better serve the Red Cross Latino community and those who want to learn more about Latinos. The group serves as a resource for the Red Cross and offer members opportunities to learn about and understand the Latino Community and will present programs that benefit Latinos across the country.

Umoja Resource Group — Umoja is Swahili for “unity” and is also the first of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, an annual Pan-African holiday celebrated December 26-January 1. Our is to cultivate a community where Black and African-American employees and volunteers are empowered to prioritize wellness, create pathways to opportunities, and embrace their authentic identities as we partner with key stakeholders to fulfill the equitable delivery of the American Red Cross mission.

PRIDE — The vision of the American Red Cross Pride (LGBTQ+) Resource Group is to support an inclusive community of individuals, regardless of identity, that is free from discrimination. We strive to provide knowledge, foster understanding, and facilitate engagement to empower all Red Crossers in the pursuit of our shared humanitarian mission.

Ability Network — The Ability Network is an American Red Cross resource group that advocates for the inclusion of people with disabilities and other access and function needs in the Red Cross workforce, services and programs to empower individuals to fully participate in our lifesaving mission.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Resource Group — The mission of this Team Member Resource Group is to leverage the rich diversity of this community and to act as a resource of education, cultural awareness, mentorship and overall contribution and support to the success of the American Red Cross.

Veterans+ Resource Group — The American Red Cross Veterans+ Resource Group, open for membership to all Red Crossers, will become a globally-recognized cohort of veterans, military spouses, military caregivers and friends of veterans, who care about one another, exalting the U.S. Armed Forces overarching credo, WE HAVE YOUR BACK.

Women’s Resource Group — The Red Cross Women’s Resource Group supports women employees and volunteers of all diverse groups, by providing a safe place to discuss issues that impact women, provide awareness throughout the Red Cross community, and empower women through networking and professional development, positively impacting the Red Cross Mission.

Joining a Resource Group is a terrific way to get connected and help build a culture of belonging for all Red Crossers. Membership will automatically add you to the distribution list to get updates directly from Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and newsletters, communications, and event invites from the group. 

Persons interested in joining one or more resource groups should complete the Resource Group Membership Application Form. Once the form is completed, the applicant will be automatically enrolled as a member.