Views From the Seat: Celebrating Black History Month

In February, Instacart’s Nightshades — our Black Employee Resource Group (ERG) — honored Black History Month with a full program of company-wide celebrations. The programming aimed to amplify and elevate the voices of the community while also creating opportunities to connect and educate allies.

This year’s theme, Views from the Seat, explored what it means to have a “Seat at the Table” and what that seat represents for each person in the room.

“The inspiration for this year’s theme came from the discussions around what someone brings to the table. This table that everyone speaks of generally symbolizes power and influence,” said Nightshades Co-Lead Ayodele Akingbade. “Each event focused on securing a seat at that table, discussing the responsibilities that come with it and sharing different experiences from each individual’s vantage point.”

Programming included a virtual speaker series covering a wide range of topics, such as building generational wealth with award-winning podcaster and finance expert Chris Browning, as well as a meaningful conversation with self-published author Terrance “Munch” Williams on the power of creating strong connections.  

We also were joined by Google Product Executive, Erin Teague, for a special fireside chat. Teague sat down with Instacart’s VP of Product, Jeanette Barlow, to share more about her personal career journey, as well as building tech products and services that serve a diverse user base.

Author and social media expert Minda Harts wrapped up the series by sharing her expertise in workplace equality and devotion to helping women of color take control over their careers. Harts brought the conversation back to what it means to secure a seat at the table and how to navigate inequality in the workplace.

Nightshades also hosted a happy hour at Instacart’s Atlanta office, giving community members the opportunity to meet in person. And because we believe food has the power to bring people together, we ended the evening by sharing a culturally inspired meal. 

“In-person events (like the Nightshades Happy Hour) provide ERG members an opportunity to interact and bond in a way that isn’t possible during meetings,” said Nightshades Co-Lead LaQuanta Mack. “In the Black community, we find enjoyment in bonding and laughing over food, so it’s fitting for us to sponsor a happy hour that fosters connection in the workplace and company culture.”

As Nightshades wrap up another impactful Black History Month, they hope the community and allies continue to feel a sense of belonging, growth, and visibility—and that they experience the progress of the movement this month and beyond. 

Nightshades’ co-leads left us with this thought: “Maya Angelou, a Black author, poet, and civil rights activist, once said that ‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ That’s exactly what Nightshades is focusing on this month and all year— how we make members of our community feel.”

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