Team Resource Groups (TRGs) are a functional, strategic tool for advancing diversity initiatives, including recruitment and retention. The objective is to celebrate, bring together and highlight employees from all different backgrounds and enable allies along the way.
TRGs play a vital role in our strategy to support underrepresented groups in our organization, creating an avenue for allies to join in the journey. And, they demonstrate that the organization is serious about diversity and that we are action oriented to that end. Team Resource Groups are also important in branding of our organization in terms of recruitment and retention. They support our focus on awards that improve our organizational brand in the community, making us competitive around the world.
TRGs typically focus on women, people of color, LGBTQ community, disabled team members, and neurodiverse people as well as different religious communities.
We will start with the formation of four TRGs in 2023: Black, Latino, Multicultural, and LGBTQ.
We are RECRUITING for four (4) TRG leadership teams: a team of eight leaders for each of the 4 TRGs (Black, Latino, Multicultural, LGTBQ).
Cooper TRG Roles and Approved Time Commitment is up to 8 hours monthly for each role
- Two Co-Leaders: Shared leadership responsibility for the TRG – up to 8 hours monthly.
- Historian: Keep copious documentation of TRG journey, accomplishments and history – up to 8 hours monthly.
- Internal Communications: Note taker and communication within TRG for membership only – up to 8 hours monthly.
- Treasurer: Responsible for budgetary planning and spend related specifically to TRG activities – up to 8 hours monthly.
- External Communications: Communications to the Cooper community working with Cooper communications, marketing, and social media – up to 8 hours monthly.
- Event Coordinator: As needed and determined by TRG leadership – up to 8 hours monthly.
- Project manager: Support the planning and collaboration of events and activities sponsored by the TRG with other TRGs and the organization – up to 8 hours monthly.
- Committees and members – There can be several committees within a TRG, with each committee having a membership.
Note: it is not necessary for a TRG leader to be in an existing leadership role at Cooper. Listed below are some skills that you can possess:
- Relationship Builder
- Team Player
- Good Communicator
- Influencer
- Collaborator
- Community Builder
The leadership team will need to be:
- Committed to promoting a diverse workplace environment.
- Committed to the growth and development of their TRG for at least one year. This must be discussed with the current supervisor for approval.
- Able to promote diversity initiatives that establish and foster a more inclusive and equitable work/learning environment.
- Prepared to engage with DEI leaders, TRG coordinator, and others to complete fulfillment of the role.
- Prepared to meet with DEI leaders and TRG coordinator monthly.
- Prepared to engage and reflect on a learning process during TRG formation with feedback from TRG members.
- Committed to meeting regularly (approximately four times per year) with the executive sponsor.
- Focused on and advocate for an action-oriented TRG.
- Willing to provide information, feedback, and ideas as needed for the TRG program.