Affinity Groups

Greg Rex, chair of the LGBT affinity group "The Network," speaking at the Diversity Best Practices Forum.

Building personal and professional relationships is important.  Affinity Groups bring together employees with common backgrounds, interests or orientations. The following are examples of the types of activities that are common to Affinity Groups:

• Career development
• Employee education and training
• Employee recruitment and retention
• Community involvement
• Health disparities

Current Affinity Groups

• The Network – The Network of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Employees and Supporters seeks to create a welcoming and affirming environment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) employees, patients, families, and friends. Contact The Network grex1@jhmi.edu 
• HOLA – The Hopkins Organization for Latino Awareness seeks to improve the quality of and access to care for Latinos seeking healthcare at Johns Hopkins through scholarship, education, and policy leadership.
• Veterans For Hopkins – Veterans for Hopkins seeks to create a welcoming, affirming, and networking environment for veteran employees, patients, families and friends, and promoting the JHHS through mutually beneficial activities. Contact Veterans For Hopkins at veteransforhopkins@jhmi.edu
• SHAPE 2020 – Strengthening Hopkins Asian and Pacific Islanders Employees for 2020.

Contact the Office of Workforce Diversity for more information about creating or joining an Employee Resource Group.

Additional Resources

• Frequently Asked Questions & Answers
• Guidelines for Establishing an Affinity Group
• Affinity Group Application
• Sample By-Laws