Care More Spotlight: Creating Spaces for Connection, Learning, and Joy

Facebook icon Instagram icon Twitter icon LinkedIn icon

Compassionate, quality healthcare isn’t just about what happens at the bedside. The culture among colleagues and how space is created for all voices to be heard also matters. At Supplemental Health Care, we believe in creating a sense of belonging with our employees. We also know how important it is to continue giving back to our communities. 

That’s why, after celebrating the success of our Pride Month fundraiser, it’s fitting to recognize the people at the heart of it all: Ed Lopez-Wolfe and McKenzie Williamson.

These individuals are two leaders of our employee resource group (ERG), The Crayons. We believe they represent what it means to care more, and they are a part of our team that helps us do everything from creating meaningful spaces for learning and connection to running events that engage our employees. 

Celebrating SHC’s LGBTQ+ Community

The Crayons, is SHC’s employee resource group (ERG) that supports LGBTQ+ employees, allies, and the larger LGBTQ+ community. This group is focused on blending education with advocacy, holding book clubs, cultural events, and fundraisers to make an impact where it matters most. The Crayons represent SHC’s belief that all people can thrive when they are supported and celebrated for exactly who they are. 

Four adults pose for a selfie outdoors in front of a colorful mural featuring a large sea turtle and fish.

Ed Lopez-Wolfe is one of the leaders of The Crayons and his vison has taken the ERG from a small initiative to one of SHC’s most spirited and engaged employee groups. 

From organizing Pride trivia events that brought together more than 200 participants to launching a book club that celebrates queer literature and fosters open dialogue, Ed continues to create meaningful spaces for connection, learning, and joy. 

His contributions don’t stop there. In a shoutout from SHC’s Impact leader, Adrienne Nakamura, Ed is celebrated for his influence on SHC’s employee resources groups.

“He’s a mentor to other ERG leaders, generously shares his ideas for inclusive engagement, and leads with humility and humor every step of the way,” she said.

Collaborating for Better Impact

In past years, Ed carried the Pride trivia event solo, handling everything from building questions, running the show, and managing the chaos in real-time on his own. But this year, a new Crayons co-leader, McKenzie Williamson, stepped up in a big way.

A woman with straight brown hair wearing a yellow top and gold necklace smiles at the camera outdoors, with blurred greenery in the background.

She jumped in to co-host, help craft the questions, and manage the scoring live, making it possible to announce winners and hand out prizes on the spot. As Ed put it, the spirit of collaboration and care made it a “significantly easier (and more fun) experience thanks to McKenzie’s help. And, considering it was her first time attending the trivia event, that’s especially impressive.”

At SHC, we would like to congratulate Ed and McKenzie for their dedication to the LGBTQ+ community and for connecting their colleagues during Pride Month. It is because of team members like them that SHC has such a fun and vibrant work environment.