Honoring Black History Month at Instacart
At Instacart, we believe in celebrating cultural heritage months right alongside company milestones. This February, we proudly partnered with Instacart’s Nightshades — our Black employee resource group — to celebrate Black History Month and honor the contributions of the Black community throughout history.
The Instacart Nightshades ERG has been active since 2018, with a mission dedicated to encouraging growth and community amongst Instacart’s Black employees. The community is dedicated to building an inclusive environment that reflects the communities we serve, by increasing the ratio of Black employees at Instacart, as well as supporting and developing those who are already here.
From a “Buy Black” internal speaker series and virtual marketplace highlighting Black-owned businesses, companies, creators and entrepreneurs, to meditations and unity days designed to connect members and allies, this year’s Black History Month programming offered ways for the community to stay connected while working apart.
Here are some highlights from the month:
Detox Chat Series with Chef Nelson German
As part of Nightshades’ monthly “Detox Chat Series,” executive chef and Top Chef Portland (season 18) contestant Chef Nelson German joined our Nightshades co-lead for a special fireside chat. During the chat, Chef Nelson talked about his culinary journey and building his Oakland-based eatery, alaMar Kitchen & Bar, and his second venture, Sobre Mesa as well as the obstacles of being a restaurant owner during COVID.
Fairygodboss Instagram Takeover
The Nightshades partnered with Fairygodboss, the largest career community for women, for an Instagram takeover. Watch the highlight on our Taste of Instacart Instagram as we spotlight Instacart’s Black women employees and shine a light on their incredible work and experience working at Instacart.
BHM Meditation
Regina from Wolf Medicine Magic and our very own Bhava J. came together for meditation and conversation to close out Black History Month. Regina and Bhava led the Nightshades community through a 20-minute meditation followed by a discussion on how we call on our ancestry as Black people to help guide us through these trying times.
Sage Advice from our Nightshades
We tapped members of the Nightshades community to share their best career and life advice as part of our ongoing Sage Advice series.
Supporting Our Communities
Additionally, in honor of Black History Month, Instacart proudly donated to the following organizations:
- The Hidden Genius Project
- Essential2Life (Atlanta)
- Women’s Health in Women’s Hands (Toronto)
Black History Month may be set for February each year, but the recognition and celebration of the Black community, culture, and history is a year-round event. Follow Instacart on LinkedIn to stay up to date on Nightshades community updates and more!
