February is Black History Month in the U.S., and at Levi Strauss & Co., we’re spending the month honoring the incredible contributions Black Americans have made to the arts, our culture and our society.
“Recognizing and honoring Black history is an opportunity to promote understanding, unity and equity,” said Elizabeth Morrison, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer for LS&Co. “Taking this time allows us to amplify voices, acknowledge achievements and integrate a more inclusive narrative into our shared history.”
Celebrating LS&Co.’s Black Creators
We kicked off the month with “Tell Us Your Story,” an employee listening and learning session organized by Project Onyx, our Black employee resource group (ERG). During the session, the ERG highlighted Black fashion and shared insights into their experiences as Black creators, both personally and professionally.
Centered around cultivating, strengthening and sustaining positive relationships between LS&Co.’s Black employees and the company as a whole, Project Onyx focuses on recruiting, professional development, networking, cultural events and social gatherings to create an engaging and empowering organization.
Project Onyx members also recognized the month by sharing insights into their multifaceted creative worlds — where professional roles intersect with personal passions.
Our Ongoing Commitment
As a company, we embrace diversity in all its dimensions, recognizing its power in fostering diverse perspectives.
For example, to identify and nurture our next-generation leaders, we analyzed engagement survey data and conducted True Blue, our annual listening tour. This led to the creation of Elevate: Accelerate Your Career, a development program for Black and Hispanic/Latinx talent — one of our broader initiatives to support and develop employees from all backgrounds.
This four-month career efficacy program specifically addresses the unique challenges faced by Black and Hispanic/Latinx talent. Participants focus on personal empowerment, career goal setting and relationship building. Simultaneously, managers attend workshops to enhance cultural competence and inclusive leadership.
Looking ahead, we remain dedicated to continually improving LS&Co. as a workplace of choice for the Black history makers of tomorrow.
“While the calendar designates a specific month for Black History, it’s important we continually celebrate the richness of Black heritage throughout the year,” said Elizabeth. “It’s a commitment woven into the fabric of our company culture, driving us to honor and uplift the voices, experiences and achievements of Black individuals every day.”
Stay tuned for updates on our progress later this year when we release our DE&I Impact Report. In the meantime, visit our website to learn more about DE&I at LS&Co.
