- Racial Equity is a key pillar of Nissan
- A balance of the path made with ERG volunteers (Employee Resource Group) dedicated to the topic
South America – Removing prejudices from the path to the future. Educate and train for empathy in everyday life, starting with the little things. Living under the principle that people’s dignity always comes first. We look at each other and recognize ourselves as equals.
“At Nissan, we always put people first. We learn from those who know, we listen to those who have a story to tell, our protagonists. We have a global mission to advance towards an organization that is increasingly egalitarian and we understand this path through exchange and exercise. The aim is to better understand what is meant when we talk regarding diversity, equity and inclusion to generate greater organizational awareness. Each of the actions and alliances carried out by our Employee Resource Group (ERG) builds our vision and our transformation process. We are moving towards an organization that lives diversity more consciously”, said Alejandra Fehrmann, supporter of ERG Racial Equity and Director of Communication for Nissan South America.
OH VERY (Employee Resource Group), or affinity group, Racial Equity of Nissan South America is working with the certainty that the awareness of racial equality is learned and transmitted and that a sustainable future must be built by putting people first. Therefore, in 2021, we started a series of training, partnerships, workshops and valuable content on the subject. Having volunteer employees as protagonists, we set out to continue building diversity and respect as a pillar of development in the company.
Alliances for inclusive education
One of the keys to growth and learning in any field is listening to those who know. Surround yourself with those who know how to convey. Therefore, Nissan South America is working in partnership with the Instituto Identidades do Brasil (ID_BR), through which it sought to accelerate the promotion of racial equality within the organization.
Along with ID_BR, online workshops and training were held throughout South America and in person at the Resende Industrial Complex, in Rio de Janeiro, totaling more than 2,000 employees in the region. In these workshops, a better understanding of what is meant when we talk regarding race, ethnicities and equality was worked on, seeking to generate greater awareness and inclusion.
In addition, through the partnership with ID_BR, Nissan joined the “Yes to Racial Equality” seal, a tool created by the institute to raise awareness and support companies in actions for racial equality.
What is racial equality?
With the objective of learning how to transform reality, Nissan presented the “Racial Booklet”, with fundamental contents for the racial literacy of the company’s employees. It is a tool that invites us to rethink and deepen the notions, situations and attitudes we face every day. With sections that include a glossary of racist expressions, the development of valuable concepts such as Structural Racism, a Classification of Racial Groups and a Calendar of Ethnic-Racial Diversity, this booklet seeks to build with a more inclusive vision of society.
Listen and see to innovate
Just as the Racial Booklet provided us with support to better understand what we are talking regarding when it comes to Racial Equality, our regional reality presents us with the challenge and the possibility of hearing firsthand the stories of those who have faced situations of racial injustice.
Among the actions carried out during Black Consciousness Month, Nissan do Brasil launched the project “Vozes Negras Nissan“. This audiovisual testimonial was an invitation made for its employees to tell their story and the difficulties faced as black people, both inside and outside the company.
Each account reveals the path taken by black people in the job market, highlighting anti-racist practices, inclusion and equal access to opportunities at Nissan. These testimonies, which give the issue a voice, a face, a body and a history, show us with a unique and direct force that behind the words diversity, equality and inclusion there are people with dreams, families, affections and illusions.
At Nissan, we seek to create an innovative environment also in the context of equity. Our commitment is that each person feels free, safe, respected and on an equal footing throughout the organization.