MELANIN MOMENTS

In her first professional leadership role outside of college, Donielle Abbott, who is African American, was the only woman and the only woman of color on her team. She felt she had no voice and eventually left.

She’s been with IGS Energy since 2012 and says she’s found her support network at the company.

“I have been supported not just by people of color but by people that do not look like me,” says Abbott, who works in operations leading a remote team that supports departments across the company. “They stand up for me, speak up for me in rooms where I’ve not been able to speak up.”

Now, Abbott is helping a group of 50 people of color across the IGS footprint feel supported and encouraged as part of Melanin Moments, IGS Energy’s new Community for employees of color.

Melanin Moments has become a force for good within the company, holding monthly meetings, planning activities for Black History Month and Juneteenth, and creating T-shirts. For example, they delighted people by bringing in celebrated chef and writer Michael W. Twitty for Juneteenth 2022 to speak about the history of food and slavery (see sidebar).

There’s a leadership structure within the Community that offers roles for event