Cornell’s Colleague Network Groups (CNGs) were initially created so that staff and faculty from traditionally underrepresented minorities could find camaraderie and establish professional support systems. Each CNG advocates for a specific demographic: veterans; men or women of color; people with disabilities; persons identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgender; young professionals.

A new video, “Making Connections with Colleague Network Groups,” features spokespersons from each CNG and seeks to build awareness of CNG activities and to enhance the university’s recruitment and retention efforts. While people in each CNG may initially come together to share common experiences, all CNGs embrace a diverse range of experiences within their demographic group and allies, CNG leaders say.

“Being involved with the Women of Color CNG enables me to stay connected with colleagues across campus,” says Jennifer Majka, assistant dean at Alice Cook House. “While we all may identify as women of color, our lived experiences, cultural backgrounds and belief systems may be different from one another. Learning about these differences helps us grow and ultimately helps form more meaningful relationships across difference.”

Carcella

Majka

The Women of Color CNG meets monthly over lunch and comes together for dinners, desserts, spa days, movies, picnics and other activities, Majka says.

Members of the LGBT CNG also come from different places in their personal journeys, says the group’s chair, Matt Carcella, director of Diversity Alumni Programs and former director of the LGBT Resource Center. Some are new to the Ithaca area, some have recently come out or are seeking community, some are parents or have other dependent care responsibilities, some come to the group’s events alone and some bring their own social group with them, he says. The group does not hold regular meetings, but has an email list of about 350 and organizes around a variety of events in a range of venues and times.

The newest of the CNG’s, the Disability CNG, is focused on becoming better known across campus and on encouraging employees with disabilities to see the CNG as an opportunity to connect with and learn from others who have had similar experiences, says Erin Sember-Chase, technical assistance coordinator for the Employment and Disability Institute in the ILR School.

Connecting with CNGs

CNGs in addition to those above are the Men of Color CNG, the Veterans CNG and Tompkins Connect: Young Professionals CNG. More information about Cornell Colleague Network Groups can be found online or by contacting Cassandre Joseph, director of diversity engagement and career/life programs, Workforce Diversity Engagement & Career/Life Programs.

Monthly Disability CNG meetings (the second Thursday of each month at noon in B16 Day Hall) often feature speakers who address topics such as accessible parking on campus or workstation accommodations that are of interest to anyone promoting inclusion. Sember-Chase hopes that greater Disability CNG visibility will help build awareness. “I am hoping members of our community with significant connections to disability issues will feel comfortable sharing this part of their identity in the workplace.” Sember-Chase says. She also urges supervisors to support Cornell’s commitment to diversity and inclusion by encouraging their staff to attend CNG meetings and events. As with the other CNGs, the Disability CNG has a wide email list to help people stay connected even if they are unable to attend meetings or events.