OUR PURPOSE PIONEERING SCIENCE ENVIRONMENT COMMUNITY REPORTING 74 PROMOTING DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION BIOGEN 2021 YEAR IN REVIEW PATIENTS OUR PEOPLE multiple languages and geographies, drew nearly 2,500 employees to explore some of the most critical issues of our time. As an example, Rosalyn Chan, Kaiser Enterprise Account Manager for Northern California, produced and moderated an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) program. The program featured employee panelists and recognized the long history of exclusionary practices in the U.S. and the steep rise in hate crimes targeting the AAPI community. “Dismantling systemic racism is not an overnight task. Work to support DE&I must be an ongoing commitment and journey,” said Rosalyn. “I’m thankful for the space Biogen and MOSAIC [a Biogen ERN] have created to support understanding – and understanding begins with conversation.” Listening sessions following external events After a jury found former police officer Derek Chauvin guilty on three counts of murder, our MOSAIC ERN hosted a listening session. The group recognized that while the verdict might bring a sense of closure for some, the discussion about racial justice must continue if we are to reckon with the long history of racial injustice to forge a different future together. The global participants at this listening session – and sessions held after other external events, like the Atlanta spa shootings – shared that it is hard to compartmentalize profound feelings about this kind of highly visible event, and that Biogen’s recognition of their lived experiences makes a difference in how seen, valued and engaged they feel at work. As our CEO Michel Vounatsos has stated many times, “Prejudice, racism and intolerance are unacceptable and continue to have no place at Biogen.” By engaging in an open and inclusive dialogue, and by supporting and learning from those whose experiences are different from our own, we can help advance meaningful change. FEATURE Valencia Foster: A champion for the LGBTQ+ community When Valencia Foster, Senior Manager in Marketing and a Biogen employee of 18 years, first learned her teenage son Miles was bisexual, the family told him they loved and supported him and that they would face any challenges as a family. But on the inside, Valencia was scared for him. “I feared now he had two areas where he could be discriminated against: as a young Black man and as part of the LGBTQ+ community. I was also dealing with my own expectations as a mom and our expectations for his future and what this would mean,” Valencia explained. Wanting support and perspective, Valencia joined a private Facebook group of mothers who have a similar experience, many of whom are reconciling their faith with their children’s identity. Joining the growing group was transformational for Valencia. She learned about and eventually became the State Chapter Lead of Free Mom Hugs for Southern California, an advocacy group with volunteers who offer hugs during LGBTQ+ Pride events. “At Pride events, we hug people and it is rewarding and overwhelming at the same time. Some people are happy, but some are crying about the relationship they don’t have with their own parents,” explained Valencia. “Love your children, support, accept and affirm them. That’s our job as parents – to be our children’s champions.” Þ READ MORE ABOUT VALENCIA’S STORY Valencia with her son Miles.