Equifax Organization Empowers Black, African American Employees and Communities

At Equifax, we believe people bring their best when they live their best. That’s why we strive to foster a culture where people feel a sense of belonging – and where they feel connected to their work, to each other and to wide-ranging learning and development opportunities. Our Black Organization for Leveraging Differences (BOLD) is imperative in helping us do just that, working to ensure employees feel supported, empowered and celebrated for their unique heritage. With around 700 members across multiple business units, BOLD brings our employees together as allies, supporting Equifax in becoming an employer of choice for all. 

BOLD helps activate our commitment to financial inclusion, driving meaningful community initiatives that help members of the Black and African American community live their financial best. Here’s a look at just a few of the impactful initiatives BOLD has driven thus far.

 

Spotlight on mental health 

Each year, BOLD unites Equifax employees under a common theme to celebrate Black History Month in February – through employee spotlights, programming, special events and more. In 2022, BOLD focused on mental health. 

Although mental health conditions are reported in Black and African American (B/AA) people in the United States at about the same rate, or less, than with White Americans, historical oppression and modern-day discrimination against B/AA people has been said to take a unique toll on the community collectively [Mental Health America]. Unfortunately, this can lead to inadequate access to healthcare, including mental health services. Mental wellness is especially important as B/AA people work to process and deal with layers of individual trauma and mass traumas, such as police brutality or the impact of COVID-19. 

BOLD wants to bring greater awareness to these inequities, which is why they’ve dedicated this Black History Month to mental health issues and the disproportionate effects it can have on the B/AA community. By fostering open dialogue, allyship and prioritization of mental health among employees – through everything from speaking engagements, to chair massages and yoga classes – BOLD is working to ensure the mental health of our employees is not overlooked.

 

Helping our employees – and communities – live their financial best 

In our overarching commitment at Equifax in helping people live their financial best, advancing financial inclusion is a key area of focus for BOLD – and one of its strategic pillars – year-round. 

In this commitment, Equifax was a sponsor of the Black Wealth Summit in October 2021, enabled by BOLD’s partnership to support the first-of-its-kind conference dedicated to educating, encouraging and exposing B/AA people to wealth building information, resources and techniques. The summit included a panel discussion with some of Equifax’s strategic partners, highlighting the Black wealth building lifecycle and how we are working together to support wealth building from adolescence through adulthood. 

Looking ahead, fostering financial health and inclusion continues to be at the forefront of BOLD’s efforts to empower employees and support our local Black and African American communities to live their financial best. In fact, BOLD is currently working on piloting a credit education initiative, in partnership with other employee networks and the Equifax Foundation, to bring much-needed credit education to our Black and African American community.

 

Giving back to the communities we serve 

BOLD’s work to support our communities doesn’t stop there. This past summer, the BOLD Network’s Marketing Committee held its Back to School Supply Drive in partnership with local nonprofits in both Atlanta and St. Louis to provide essential school supplies to children in need. Working with Beyond Housing, a comprehensive community development organization that provides holistic resources and support to the St. Louis community, and the Westside Future Fund, a partner of the Equifax Foundation and an advocate for affordable housing for residents in Atlanta’s Westside through the On The Rise Financial Center, BOLD’s efforts supported more than 3,700 students in preparation for the then-upcoming school year. 

Thanks to the ongoing work and dedication of its leadership team – and the hundreds of Equifax employees involved – BOLD is continuing to foster a culture of inclusion and support at Equifax, while empowering employees to bring meaningful impact in the communities in which we serve. 

Read more about Equifax’s Diversity and Inclusion initiatives here.