This year, Intuit Mailchimp employees took to the streets to affirm that “We see you.”
I’m Sam Vaughn, a senior program manager at Intuit Mailchimp. I work on employee programs and events, producing activations for Mailchimp and our Atlanta HQ. Most of our employee events happen onsite, so the Atlanta Pride Parade is especially exciting being able to bring the Intuit culture to the community.
Intuit Mailchimp is one of the festival’s biggest sponsors, and the parade is one of our largest employee events—we’ve participated for 9 years! In 2022, we partnered with artist and therapist Roza Nozari, and took home first place in the corporate category! And last year we partnered with illustrator Shanee Benjamin and had a riding float for the first time. (Go way back and take a peek at how we did it in 2018 and 2019.)
Atlanta’s first Pride celebration was in 1970, following the Stonewall Riots of the previous year, as well as our own “Stonewall of the South.” Due to the heat in June, drought regulations, and the effect it had on the park, Atlanta moved its Pride festival to October. We’re now the largest National Coming Out Day celebration in the country.
“One of my favorite things about participating in the parade is hearing people in the crowd say they look forward to seeing what we’re going to do every year,” says Ashley Wilson, senior manager of Employee Experience. “I can’t count how many times I’ve seen stickers out in the wild on people’s water bottles!”
This year we partnered with Brooklyn-based illustrator and creative, Meg Lewis, to help us bring our 2024 concept to life. As a queer nonbinary artist, Meg shapes the world they would like to see—one where humanity, love, curiosity, and play take center stage. This vision truly comes to life in this year’s concept, “We See You!” It’s a celebration of our community’s vibrant energy that embraces our world’s chaotic joy.
In June, Meg met with members of the Atlanta chapter of the Intuit Pride Network to learn about what queerness, community, and representation means to them, and what message they want portrayed in the parade.
“Being in the parade is important to us and the ERG to show how dedicated Intuit Mailchimp is to the Atlanta community. Coming together with colleagues, friends, and family, helps people feel a greater sense of belonging at Intuit,” says Rigel Cable, co-leader of the Atlanta chapter of the Pride ERG (Employee Resource Group). “The theme, ‘We See You’ was inspired by one of our members, and connects to how we aim to ensure everyone in our community feels represented and supported.”
We’ve had ERG members tell us they applied to work at Intuit Mailchimp based on seeing us walk in the parade, since they couldn’t be out at other jobs. Seeing us show up how we do demonstrates to people that we care about people bringing their whole selves to work.
Collaborating with Mailchimp’s Wink creative team, we took Meg’s art and imagined how we would bring it to life in the parade. In addition to our float, our walkers—made up of almost 200 employees, friends, and family members—passed out stickers, koozies, and enamel pins to parade attendees.
Since we’re in the business of small businesses, we love working with local Mailchimp and QuickBooks customers. Danger Press, a print shop on the westside, printed our shirts and tote bags. Tulipcake, who embroidered our hats, is a queer-owned embroidery operation in Hapeville. And our amazing paper mache chattering teeth heads were commissioned from queer artist Gabi Madrid.
We also featured local favorite DJ Zaida Zane, a longtime Mailchimp employee. She definitely did not disappoint. As our float made its way along the parade route, you could see people perk up as they heard her music.
Above all, our message was and is clear: We see you! We love you! It’s an invitation to join in creating the world we want to live in, starting right here. As we march together, we’re creating a space where everyone can feel appreciated and free to express their most playful selves! Most of all, we’re pushing to the forefront the joyful celebration of humanity that shines through every year at Atlanta Pride.
Check out more ways we’re Stronger Together by visiting our DEI homepage.
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Photographer: Dessa Lohrey