During Black History Month, Inspire celebrates the stories of our corporate and franchise team members, as well as franchisees as we reflect on the significant roles that African-Americans have played in shaping U.S. history. Today, we spoke with Toni Brown, who is a Senior Director of Supply Chain and International at Inspire and a member of our Black Voices Business Resource Group. The Black Voices @ Inspire BRG is dedicated to advocating for diversity at all levels of our organization and cultivating an inclusive culture.

What drew you to joining the Black Voices @ Inspire BRG?

I joined Black Voices because 2020 was an extremely difficult year. Working in the midst of a global pandemic brought an array of challenges, but many black employees, myself included, had the added burden of dealing with the psychological and emotional distress caused by the spotlight on the racial inequities that we continue to tackle as a country. Many days it was hard to push the pain aside to get through the many Zoom calls on my schedule, and it was easy to feel overwhelmed by the negativity in the world around me. Being involved in the formation of the Black Voices BRG helped me to direct my frustration into something positive that will hopefully be a source of support for members for years to come.

Why is being a member of this BRG important to you? 

Being a member of Black Voices is important because inclusion is important to me and I want to be a part of anything that helps to promote and foster a more diverse and inclusive environment at Inspire Brands.

What are your aspirations as a member of this BRG?

As a member and a part of the leadership group of Black Voices, I am committed to working towards achieving the BRG’s mission of providing development opportunities, peer and mentoring initiatives and encouraging the recruitment and retention of diverse and qualified talent at Inspire Brands.

What excites you about the future of the Black Voices @ Inspire BRG?

It’s very exciting to be a part of the creation of a new BRG with such great potential. The goal of Black Voices is to provide an experience that inspires, uplifts and builds a community of strong leaders to drive the purpose, vision and behaviors of Inspire Brands, and I can’t wait to see how it will grow and work to achieve that goal in the future.

What does Black History Month mean to you?

To me, Black History Month is a time to reflect on all of the achievements of the Black community. It’s about honoring strength in the face of oppression; celebrating resilience in the face of obstacles; and embracing love in the face of hate. Black History Month is about remembering all the positive and innovative contributions of Black culture and the way in which it has become an essential element of the fabric of American society.

How are you celebrating Black History Month? 

My husband and I celebrate Black History year-round by educating our children on the courageous men and women that paved the way for racial equality and the people of all nationalities and backgrounds that are continuing the fight today. We strive to instill in our children a sense of pride in their culture and confidence in their self-worth, so that they can draw strength from that when they are faced with some of the harsh realities of the world.

To learn more about the Black Voices @ Inspire BRG or to join the group, contact Daija Griffin.

This story is part of an ongoing series that celebrates the stories of our corporate and franchise team members, as well as franchisees as we reflect on the significant roles that African-Americans have played in shaping U.S. history. Click here to read other stories like this.