SPARC Group LLC

✨ This Pride Month, we’re celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, for who they are—and pledge to do so year-round. Our Pride Employee Resource Group is committed to being at the forefront of change, uniting LGBTQIA+ employees across all seven SPARC brands. Their mission extends beyond Pride Month; it's about embracing Pride daily to ensure everyone feels seen, heard, supported, and valued. 🏳🌈 All month, we’ll celebrate everyone for who they are and share stories of how our LGBTQIA+ employees celebrate pride each and every day. #SPARCsFly #SPARCinclusivity #PrideMonth #EverydayPride

Reflecting on this last day of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we're so proud of the unity and strength our AANHPI community has shared over the past few weeks. Our last post, from Lenna Martinek, Store Manager for Aéropostale, is a heartful perspective on the sense of family and belonging that transcends DNA. Here's to continuing to celebrate unity and the diversity that makes the AANHPI community so special all year! "It's amazing how the AANHPI community feels like an extended family. Growing up, I sometimes wondered why I didn't look like my parents, being adopted from South Korea, but it's not about DNA. It's how we're raised and the people we surround us that shape us. I am proud to embrace my Asian American culture and love to learn and teach others about it as well." #SPARCsFly #SPARCinclusivity #AANHPI #AANHPImonth

✡ During Jewish American Heritage Month, our Shalom Employee Resource Group encouraged all of us to embody "b’yachad," which means togetherness in Hebrew. Their main event was a "Come Together" friendship bracelet-making party, held across our offices in NYC, LA, Seattle, Boston, Enfield, CT, Lyndhurst, NJ, and Martinsville, VA. 🤝 It was a huge success and created a genuine sense of community away from our desks. We're very proud of our Shalom ERG's effort to make our Jewish American Heritage Month celebration meaningful, unifying, and just plain fun. We think Taylor Swift would be proud, too! 😉

Did you know that the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community represents more than 320 countries and ethnic groups? Our A.S.I.A. ERG co-chairs, Clare Schubert, Assistant Merchandiser for Nautica, and Jessica Kwok, Store Analyst for Lucky Brand, work hard to ensure that each of the group's unique members have a place to share and feel supported through unity. In Clare's words: "Unity in the AANHPI community looks and feels like supporting our peers through the good and bad times at work or in our personal lives. We create a sense of belonging when we can hear each other out and advocate for AANHPI issues. It's up to each of us to embrace our various cultures to foster an inclusive environment for everyone at SPARC." #SPARCsFly #SPARCinclusivity #AANHPI #AANHPImonth

Leave it to our Sr. Manager of Learning & Development, Joseph DeLuca-Farrugia, to stretch his commitment to learning both at work and in his personal life! Here's how Joe uses education, supporting others, and preserving culture to embody 'b'y'achad'—the essence of togetherness (and our theme for this month's celebration of Jewish American Heritage!). "As a member of the Jewish community, I embody 'b'y'achad' by engaging in ongoing education about my religion and seeking opportunities to support others in times of need. I am deeply committed to embracing and preserving the rich traditions, values, and beliefs of my culture. I find great fulfillment in bringing my family together to honor our heritage, celebrate important cultural occasions, and pass down the lessons of our ancestors, enriching our collective lives." #SPARCsFly #SPARCinclusivity #JewishAmericanHeritageMonth

In honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, we asked members of our A.S.I.A. ERG what unity in the AANHPI community looks or feels like to them. Julie Chan, Sr. Director, PD & Production for Lucky Brand and Nautica, reminds us of the strength found in embracing our traditions and shared experiences: “Unity in the AANHPI community feels like pride in our culture. It’s amazing to see how all of the groundwork the generations before us brought the opportunities and spotlight to the AANHPI community today. Because of their hard work, I see more people who look like me represented in mainstream media and positions of power. We hold our traditions and culture dear to our hearts, and we love that there is an interest in learning and understanding it. The more we share, the more we will see that we all have common interests. Although we may appear to be different on the surface, at the core, it all lies in family, love, and kindness.” #SPARCsFly #SPARCinclusitivy #AANHPIMonth

Kudos to Kelly MacDonell, Suzanne Laurence, and Cindy Sura from our store communications team for leading an insightful panel yesterday at YOOBIC's Retail Breakfast Club. They spoke about the challenges and triumphs of aligning processes, communications, and resources across our seven brands in one digital workplace. Our store teams across the country have not only embraced the platform but have made organic connections with each other, making SPARC Group LLC an employer of choice and helping us deliver the best in-store experience no matter which brand or location you're visiting! #SPARCsFly

For Jewish American Heritage Month, our Shalom ERG chose the theme בְּיַחַד (b'y'ach-ad), which means togetherness in Hebrew, to emphasize the shared humanity that unites us. Here's how b'y'ach-ad shows up through life's inevitable changes for Ally Switzgable, Manager, Business Planning at Reebok: "As a member of the Jewish community, I embody b'y'ach-ad by actively cultivating connections with Jewish women, especially as I navigate life in a new place with few family and friends. Change in itself is daunting, but knowing I can rely on fostering my community and connections within the Jewish community regardless of where I live exemplifies the essence of b'y'ach-ad and what it means to be a Jew." #SPARCsFly #SPARCinclusivity #JewishAmericanHeritageMonth

For Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, we asked members of our A.S.I.A. Employee Resource Group to share what unity in the AANHPI community looks or feels like to them. Roderick Corpuz, Sr. Director of Merchandise Planning for Aéropostale, shared his how family's journey from the Philippines embodies the resilience and unity of the AANHPI community. “My parents were brave enough to travel to this country from the Philippines, willing to face whatever challenges arose to pursue a dream of a better life for themselves and their future families. They also contributed to society as nurses/engineers in the workforce and served in the military for our country. I feel obligated to make the most of every opportunity, and I am determined to overcome adversity to perpetuate our families’ dreams. I am passionate about celebrating our families’ culture with my children while intertwining it with my experiences growing up as an Asian American.” #SPARCsFly #SPARCinclusivity #AANHPI #AANHPImonth

In honor of Jewish Heritage Month, we asked members of our Shalom ERG how they embody b’y’ach-ad (togetherness) in the Jewish community. We thought there was no one better to start with than one of its founding members and current executive sponsor, Robyn Katz, VP of Merchandising for Aéropostale: "As a member of the Jewish community, I embody b’y’ach-ad (togetherness) through the creation of the Shalom Employee Resource Group, which has given our members and me the ability to feel like part of a unique, supportive community within our larger, wonderful SPARC community. We started Shalom out of a need to find other people who were experiencing the same thoughts and feelings during a challenging time. Individually, we felt alone and potentially isolated in our feelings, but together, b’y’ach-ad, we were able to share our thoughts, experiences, and insights. Many of us had not known each other before and come from varied backgrounds, having experienced Judaism in different ways. But, ultimately, we all had the same goal and formed more than an ERG—we created a connection, which is invaluable and is something that will support us as we continue through these challenging times. I look forward to our shared experience throughout Jewish American Heritage Month and beyond." #SPARCsFly #SPARCinclusivity #JewishAmericanHeritageMonth