Writing the Story ARC for a New Workplace Community

As assistant general counsel at Interwell Health, Naureen Khan had never been part of an employee resource group (ERG) at previous workplaces. When Interwell first introduced ERGs, she immediately began looking for an Asian group to join. “Then we got an announcement on how to start an ERG, so I filled out the form,” she said. In that moment, ARC was born.

ARC stands for “Asians, Represented, Connected” and conveys a sense of upward momentum. During the process of setting up the ERG, the founding members were shocked to realize there are over 60 flags representing people of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage around the world. This realization was a turning point for Khan, who had always identified as South Asian and questioned what it meant to be Asian. “We truly are a diverse group,” she said. “It’s amazing being able to talk to others who have a shared history, even though it may be different in many ways.”

A community for sharing and connecting

ARC hosts several events throughout the year; for example, a company-wide presentation on behavioral health stigmas drew a large audience last May during Mental Health Awareness and AAPI Heritage Month. The ERG also has a designated Slack channel for members to share pictures, celebrations, and perspectives, and holds bimonthly group video calls, each spotlighting an AAPI topic such as Asian authors, Asian athletes (during the Olympics, of course!), and Asian beauty brands.

“The special events are great, but our routine calls are just as special,” said Chris Lim, general counsel at Interwell and ARC’s executive sponsor. “It’s rare for team members from across the organization to come together to have a conversation that is not directly related to our work.”

ARC co-chair Joanna Tong, who is senior manager of digital strategy at Interwell, says one of her favorite group discussions was hearing other members’ family immigration stories. “I shared how my father, who was one of eight kids, was supposed to stay in China with relatives when my grandparents moved to Hong Kong. He ended up coming at the last minute, met my mom, then immigrated to the U.S. and landed in Boston with $300 in his pocket. My parents got their American dream because they built it.”

Antara Ajjampur, manager of corporate strategy at Interwell and ARC’s communications chair, enjoyed sharing travel photos with her ARC colleagues following a recent family trip to India. “Both of my parents are from South India and it’s nice to be able to embrace that heritage and share a different side of myself at my place of work. It’s a great way to meet people who you don’t normally work with and foster connections, especially in a virtual world.”

Bonding over a shared love of food

At the end of the year, ARC members got together for a holiday celebration, including opening their group gifts—snack boxes with treats from South Korea. They also shared pictures and family traditions, many of which revolve around food.

“When I think about handing down my culture to my daughter, so much of that is the food,” said Tong. “Food is an easy language to teach. Plus, I love to cook.”

Khan learned to cook after she moved from New York City to San Diego 12 years ago and could no longer simply pick up the phone and order any food of her choice. “Something I’m currently craving is called a dosa,” she said. “It’s a South Indian dish my husband introduced me to. It’s like a flat, crispy crepe, but it’s savory, and it gets rolled up with potato and onions inside. You rip it apart with your hands and dip it in sauces and it’s just very satisfying on a cold day.”

“Masala dosa is a South Indian staple. Growing up, my mom only cooked Indian food and it’s her favorite dish, too,” said Ajjampur, “We had it multiple times when we recently visited India and my mom made it for us when we were all home for the holidays.”

For colleagues looking to try cooking an Asian dish at home, Lim recommends making dumplings or steamed buns. “It is great activity that gets participants involved…and they are delicious!”

ARC’s next chapter

As ARC continues to grow, Lim hopes it will remain an outlet for colleagues to come together and celebrate their heritage and culture. Khan echoes this sentiment, and hopes to see new members join, share ideas, and—if they’re interested—take on leadership roles. “Everyone is welcome,” she emphasized.

The group is also looking forward to delving into important topics such as how cultural experiences and external biases affect people who identify as AAPI, especially in the workplace. “I don’t know how many times my dad told me to keep my head down and work hard,” shared Tong. “In my adult life, I realize more and more how much that upbringing shapes who I am as a person. Now, I am much more mindful of how I show up.”

“A lot of us have similar interests, backgrounds, and experiences, and without ARC we might not know that,” added Tong. “For me, ARC feels like meeting up with friends and being able to chat and feel connected. Hopefully, other people can find that, too.”