EMBRACE – it’s time to talk
Conversations about race can sometimes feel uncomfortable – but that’s no reason not to speak out. Newsline recently spoke with Bhonae Tayali, EMIT digital support advisor, of the EMBRACE Network about its latest activities, which seek to show why we must actively listen, learn and talk about the experiences of our colleagues from ethnic minority backgrounds, in order to live out the ExxonMobil value of being inclusive.
“We recognise that talking about race, however awkward or challenging, is necessary,” says Bhonae. “For this reason, the EMBRACE team has been working to provide some guidance that empowers everyone to join the conversation. Only by helping colleagues to start and participate in these conversations, can we truly work towards racial equality,” she adds. “And how better to get people talking than by providing them with the tools to do so. That’s where we hope our new EMBRACE Ally Guide and EMBRACE 101 training will help.”
EMBRACE 101 is designed to support conversations about race within ExxonMobil. It aims to discuss the problem at hand and show how conversations can be used in the context of specific discussions about race and racism to help connect colleagues. It also explains how talking openly about race can overcome the obstacles that prevent real progress.
Bhonae explains that one of the aims of the EMBRACE network is to raise awareness of the issues and help people overcome them. She says: “We want people working across all levels and business units in ExxonMobil to be part of the solution. This material will be an introduction to racial diversity issues. It will challenge colleagues to question their own views and give tips on how they too can become an Ally.
So, what is an Ally? Within this context, an Ally is someone who actively promotes a culture of inclusion through intentional, positive and conscious efforts that benefit people as a whole. It is something that has worked successfully to help the LGBTQ+ community, and Roland Parrott, EAME technology operations manager, who was instrumental in developing the ExxonMobil PRIDE 101 Guide, has also been leading the creation of this material for EMBRACE.
“People worry they will say the wrong thing or put their foot in it,” Bhonae adds. “We need everyone to overcome these fears by providing some light touch education, so they feel comfortable and empowered to have a conversation.
“It is exciting to see this coming to fruition. So far, we've created pages for Black and South Asian history, as well as resources that people can go to for further information – taking them from curious to courageous as part of their allyship journey.”
The new EMBRACE Ally Guide is available for download and will be accompanied by interactive online EMBRACE 101 webinars over the summer. To book your place on the first of these taking place on Monday, 21 June at 12 noon, please register online at goto/EMBRACE101 where you can also download the Ally Guide.
Also in this issue
Travis takes the helm as RRT Coordinator
Travis Hansen, regional EP&R adviser has been appointed to lead the Regional Response Team (RRT) following the retirement of Mark Wentworth (see Newsline April 2021). “I’ve been involved with the RRT since 2013 and when Mark retired, I felt I could do something to build on the amazing job he’s done and bring my own energies to the role,” he says.
Fawley helps in COVID-19 fight
As the battle against COVID-19 continues, ExxonMobil Fawley has become a key player in the global vaccine supply chain. The site’s Chemicals units are responsible for supplying a range of products including halobutyl rubber, a component of the vaccine vials.
PIGs in the pipeline at FEP
This is not your usual PIG – this is a Pipeline Inspection Gauge, a specialist robot that checks and cleans oil and gas pipelines from the inside to keep them running safely, using a process known as ‘pigging’. As part of the £140m plant investment programme now underway at our Fife Ethylene Plant, we are pigging the 7km of pipes that link the plant to our Braefoot Bay Marine Terminal on the Forth.
Helping Hampshire’s Search & Rescue Heroes
Hampshire Search and Rescue is one of the latest voluntary organisations to receive a donation from the ExxonMobil VIP scheme. £500 was awarded to the charity, which works alongside Hampshire police in searching for vulnerable high risk missing persons in the county. The team has been called out 30 times so far this year and the donation will go towards new lifejackets for river bank searching.
Remediation works are set to begin at Bowling
Preparation and construction works are due to start this month (May) at a significant former industrial site in Bowling near Glasgow after a year-long delay due to COVID-19. As part of the land sale agreement, ExxonMobil will remediate the site, which was previously home to an Esso oil terminal. The land is now part of the Glasgow City Region Deal project and will be transformed by the buyer into a major industrial and commercial development and bypass.
