WP Engine powers the liberty to create on-line, and our dedication to this goes far past our instruments and platform.
We present our dedication to the builders answerable for creating distinctive digital experiences by internet hosting thought management occasions, producing informative webinars, and creating showcases like Crafted With Code, which highlights spectacular tasks constructed on the world’s favourite CMS.
Nevertheless it’s inside WP Engine places of work across the globe the place you’ll discover the true supply of our energy: our folks. They make it attainable for us to help our neighborhood in artistic and significant methods.
Lately, a frontrunner of certainly one of WP Engine’s worker useful resource teams (ERGs) took that artistic spirit to new heights, organizing a stay artwork occasion at our Omaha hub that makes use of paintings to attach, educate, and help a charitable trigger. After a brief exhibition within the WP Engine Omaha workplace, their completed piece might be auctioned for charity.
Learn on for the story behind this significant occasion, and the way WP Engine is powering the liberty to create, each on-line and in the true world!
Rise and WP Engine’s ERGs
ERGs are voluntary, employee-led teams devoted to fostering office inclusivity. These teams empower workers to deliver their distinctive views to work and contribute to a supportive, high-trust setting.
“All of us wish to be seen, heard, revered, understood—to really feel snug being our genuine selves within the office,” says Tarsha McCormick, VP of DEI, Tradition, & Growth at WP Engine.
“So the significance of our DEI applications and ERGs is to create and foster environments the place everybody can thrive and do their greatest work.”
Rise is certainly one of WP Engine’s longest-standing ERGs. Its mission is to supply a protected, inclusive setting for the development, advocacy, and training of BIPOC and allies. Members use their distinctive skills and pursuits to advance this mission, internet hosting occasions, bringing in audio system, and conducting impactful initiatives all year long.
“I grew to become a frontrunner with the Rise ERG as a result of I noticed it as a possibility to do one thing larger than my day-to-day,” says Jason “Geo” Geolingo, a product supervisor and Rise chief primarily based in our Omaha workplace. “I noticed it as a platform I can use to influence my neighborhood whereas persevering with to coach myself on social points.”
WP Engine’s continued dedication to investing in our ERGs has helped construct tighter neighborhood bonds throughout our world hubs, bringing teammates collectively to collaborate on tasks that have an effect on lives each inside and outdoors the workplace.
The artwork occasion in Omaha
Throughout a dialogue with Rise management, Geo first considered utilizing artwork to attach, educate, and do some good in the neighborhood, all within the context of Rise’s mission.
“By way of this specific occasion, I actually wish to show the stance that WP Engine has on variety, fairness, and inclusion,” says Geo.
“I really feel that is the time for us to make a press release about the place we stand and what we consider: that work must be an area the place workers really feel protected to debate troublesome matters.”
Geo shared this concept together with his tattoo artist, Russ Oberg, throughout certainly one of their classes. Oberg, who would go on to create the commissioned paintings, was drawn in by the concept artwork gives a novel perspective.
“I really feel like artwork is usually used because the voice of a neighborhood,” says Oberg.
“Whether or not it’s a city-funded mural or graffiti on the streets, artwork has an influence, from the person stage all the way in which as much as a communal stage.”
Geo’s unique idea was to fee the creation of a bit that asks viewers to consider the variations between fairness and equality—how every time period is outlined, and the way the variations between the 2 can play out in the true world.
As a expertise firm and since Rise’s mission extends throughout the globe, Geo additionally wished to stay stream the creation of the paintings in order that any WP Engine worker might log in and watch the method. In additional methods than one, this paintings was geared toward creating neighborhood, connection, and understanding.
On August 8, 2024, a small crew arrange house within the WP Engine Omaha workplace the place Oberg might paint and produce his imaginative and prescient to life.
The completed piece is a fable set to canvas. It exhibits a scene of two rabbits, every wanting to supply for its household. A dragon items every rabbit with a mountain, however the mountains are unequal in sources. Whereas every has been given the identical answer for his or her downside, a disparity nonetheless exists of their outcomes as a result of distinctive circumstances of every rabbit’s setting.
“I wouldn’t say that I hope the viewers learns any particular lesson,” says Oberg.
“Moreso, I hope it invokes a deeper thought that may be translated into different sides of life. I hope viewers make connections to their very own experiences and apply these reflections of their every day lives.”
After a couple of last touch-ups, the artwork now hangs within the WP Engine Omaha hub. Leaders are at present discussing plans to create and promote prints of the work to lift further funds in addition to future plans to public sale the unique piece. All proceeds from each the prints and the public sale will go to a Rise accomplice charity group in Omaha.
Powering the liberty to create, in Omaha and past
From our merchandise and platform to our neighborhood outreach and occasions, WP Engine powers the liberty to create in a myriad of the way.
The chance to energy the creation of impactful paintings in Omaha wouldn’t have been attainable with out the assistance of many individuals, together with many WP Engine crew members. We’re grateful to everybody concerned, together with our artist Russ Oberg, for his or her dedication to this impactful undertaking, and we’re excited to see the influence this undertaking continues to make as soon as it’s auctioned for charity.
To study extra about WP Engine’s worker useful resource teams, go to this web page.
To study extra about Russ Oberg and his artwork, go to his Instagram.
