肉肉传媒

In honor of Black History Month, 肉肉传媒 is shining the spotlight on diverse employees who are making an impact every day. Evelyn Foster joined 肉肉传媒鈥檚 Louisiana Healthcare Connections in 2017 and is now Communications and Engagement Senior Specialist. She is also a member of 肉肉传媒鈥檚 Multicultural Employee Inclusion Group MOSAIC. Learn more about Evelyn, her role in engaging employees, her thoughts on the importance of allyship, and on celebrating the history and contributions of Black Americans.

Q.听听听听Tell us about your background and your current role at Louisiana Healthcare Connections.

础.听听听听My education is in mass communications. I once had a goal of becoming a news anchor, but instead of covering stories about what鈥檚 wrong in the world, I get to be part of a story that helps heal the world 鈥� and that鈥檚 through Louisiana Healthcare Connections.

My first job out of college was in New York, working for a Wall Street firm. But after falling in love with my fifth-grade sweetheart (that鈥檚 a different story), we moved to the south and started our lives as newlyweds. I continued to work in investments, but soon realized I was only there to show the doubters that a Black female was capable. I was putting the need to prove myself above what made me happy.听

I then changed course and re-engaged with my communications roots. I worked for Lowe鈥檚 Home Improvement鈥檚 corporate office as a member of their investor relations team. I wrote annual reports, worked shareholder meetings, and conducted analyst event coordination. The company was diverse, which was a first for me, and it felt right.

Fast forward a few years and two children later, I was the owner of a successful event planning business. After 12 years of what seemed like around-the-clock work, I wanted a change of pace and started looking for a part-time job in event planning.

Enter Louisiana Healthcare Connections. The first few interviews were all it took for me to see this company was special. The mission was for real, not just a well-crafted statement to hang a hat on. The hiring manager was kind (he still is), and we had an instant connection.

This year, I鈥檒l celebrate my fifth year with the company. In my current role as a Communications and Engagement Senior Specialist, I lead the planning and implementation of Louisiana Healthcare Connections鈥� Employee Town Halls, Managers鈥� Meetings, and Provider Education initiatives.

Q.听听听听What is the most meaningful part of your job?

础.听听听听The most meaningful part of my job (so far) has been helping build a positive culture at our plan, primarily by revamping our health plan Town Halls. I was able to come in with fresh eyes and see opportunities to shift the way the meetings were perceived. We went from a mandatory meeting to an employee engagement event that my colleagues look forward to attending.

It means a lot having a CEO start these meetings with a 鈥淩emember the Member鈥� story to keep us focused on the mission. These meetings make a difference in morale and help strengthen the Louisiana Healthcare Connections鈥� team. The more we feel connected to each other and our mission, the better equipped we are to provide life-changing services and support to members, providers, and the community.

Q.听听听听Who influenced you most during your career and why?

A.听听听听Jackie Wall, my high school art teacher, is the reason I have a career.听Despite being in the gifted and talented program most of my schooling and being surrounded by some insanely smart classmates, it didn鈥檛 click for me that college could be my next step.

After Mrs. Wall casually asked me which school I was leaning toward accepting, I confessed that I hadn鈥檛 applied anywhere. It was my senior year. The next day, she found me in a different class and escorted me into the hallway. Her hands were holding college applications, and without telling me, she told me to complete them. Mrs. Wall wasn鈥檛 using my excuse of not having the money to submit the applications because she would 鈥渇igure it out.鈥� And she did.

Her caring for me, one person, who wasn鈥檛 a relative or someone she was obligated to care for by any stretch, was my game changer. Without her, there may not have been college at all, no career at all.

That鈥檚 what transforming lives looks like, one person at a time. Remembering moments like that make me realize just how important one person at a time truly is.

Q.听听听听How do you feel about 肉肉传媒's approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion?

础.听听听听When it comes to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), companies have a choice to check the box or to think outside the box. 肉肉传媒 definitely thinks outside the box, with a real commitment to nurture and grow DEI.听Because of 肉肉传媒鈥檚 commitment, my awareness has grown, and at times, my beliefs have been uncomfortably challenged. In the end, I am more knowledgeable, more compassionate, and I look at everything differently. I鈥檓 a more well-rounded thinker and hungrier than ever to continue to learn so I can grow and be of better service.

Q.听听听听What is the importance of allyship to you, and how can employees be better allies?

A.听听听听As a Black American, I am aware of the discrimination people who look like me endure on a day-to-day basis. But allyship teaches us that despite our own struggles, the importance of standing with other minorities facing discrimination. Allyship teaches us to stand together and truly hear and see others, thereby creating relationships and trusting bonds with the people around us no matter what our differences.

Employees can be allies by creating welcoming environments and safe spaces within our teams and our communities. It鈥檚 also important that we continue to have courageous conversations with open hearts.

Q.听听听听Why was it important for you to become involved with the MOSAIC EIG?

础.听听听听I was really hurting after the death of George Floyd. I couldn鈥檛 shake the feeling that if we didn鈥檛 do something, my Black son, or my Black husband, could be next. I felt powerless in the moment. I remember crying what seemed to be gallons of tears as I tried to simply answer the question, 鈥淗ow are you?鈥� at the beginning of a meeting with my Vice President (VP) and a colleague. They listened 鈥� I mean really heard me and felt my pain.听

For my VP, I believe it was this that prompted him to step outside of what he acknowledged was privilege, to be a vocal ally for me and for the Black community. He oversaw efforts to offer a safe space for colleagues across the plan to offer words of love and support, and invited Erika McConduit, 肉肉传媒 Regional VP, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, to participate in our health plan employee Town Hall.听

肉肉传媒 also held a companywide Fireside Chat/Courageous Conversation that addressed racism, equality, and inclusion. I knew I needed community and allies 鈥� that鈥檚 what drew me to MOSAIC. But now that I am heavily involved, it鈥檚 so much more. It started as a place where I sought support, now it has become a place where I can give it.

Q.听听听听What are your thoughts on the significance of Black History Month?

A.听听听听I鈥檝e always appreciated February as Black History Month. I do, however, long for the contributions of Black Americans to be included in a more meaningful way in everyday history lessons across America.

As I grow older, I realize that Black History Month growing up was limited to a handful of Black people whose contributions were the focal point of every Black History Month. As evidence in my own life, it wasn鈥檛 until working for 肉肉传媒, in my 40s, that I learned about Juneteenth. The fact is, we have amazing pioneers and unsung Black heroes who have paved the way for people like me. I want to see their contributions celebrated too. I want their stories of perseverance to inspire my children.

I want the world to know that Black History Month is not just a time to mourn a painful past of slavery, burnings, lynches, and marches. I want it to celebrate pioneers like Dr. Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to travel into space; Ruby Bridges, the first African American child to desegregate the all-white William Frantz Elementary School in Louisiana; and Thomas Jennings, the first Black patent holder, to name a few.听