SHELTON, CT — This Pride Month, Clarion Events North America supported LGBTQ+ youth through a partnership with The Trevor Project.
In this employee-led initiative, Clarion professionals wrote nearly 200 letters of encouragement, which had messages of support, affirmation and hope for young people.
We checked in with Amanda Cedeño, Head of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) for Clarion Events, NA, to discuss this project and the organization’s wider DEIB initiatives.
“At Clarion Events, we believe belonging grows when learning inspires action,” Cedeño said. “Over time, our Pride initiatives have evolved from awareness-focused programming into opportunities for employees to engage, support one another and actively practice allyship. By combining education, celebration and community impact, we create experiences that strengthen connections across our workforce as well as the communities we serve.”
Cedeño explained that this initiative provides a simple but meaningful way to turn empathy into action while living Clarion’s values of care, trust, passion and imagination.
This year, employees across North America participated both virtually and in person. Alongside letter writing, colleagues connected through shared conversations, supported LGBTQ+-owned businesses and took part in activities focused on community and allyship.
For Cedeño, the level of participation and enthusiasm continues to be inspiring.
“Our Pride initiatives reflect our broader commitment to belonging, learning and growth,’ Cedeño said. “We create opportunities for employees to broaden perspectives through shared experiences and conversations, while encouraging them to translate learning into action.”
According to Cedeño, the goal is to build a culture where people feel valued, connected and empowered to contribute.
Cedeño explained that as a business built on bringing people together, fostering belonging internally helps Clarion better understand and serve diverse audiences — When employees feel connected and valued, they are more engaged, collaborative and equipped to create meaningful experiences for their customers and communities.
“The more we understand diverse perspectives within our organization, the better equipped we are to create event experiences that resonate with and engage increasingly diverse attendee communities,” Cedeño said. “What continues to surprise me about our DEIB initiatives is how eagerly employees embrace opportunities to support one another. The enthusiasm, participation and shared sense of purpose consistently reinforce the power of connection in building culture.”
For organizers inspired by this work, Cedeño’s advice is simple: Start with purpose and focus on creating authentic opportunities for people to connect and contribute.
“The most meaningful initiatives are often shaped by listening to employees and empowering them to help lead the experience. When people feel ownership, engagement and impact naturally follow,” Cedeño said.
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