Reviewed by: Pat Byington
Exploring 8 local parks got these employees out of the office
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Not every large corporation invests the time for their employees to get out and explore local parks and greenspaces, but that’s exactly what Protective Life Corporation did in Birmingham. Participants said it was one of the most meaningful experiences they’ve had with the company. Keep reading to learn all about it.
Exploring local parks + greenspaces: the big why
We spoke to Eva Robertson, Director of the Protective Life Foundation, about some of the driving forces behind Protective’s greenspace initiative:
“The Hoover Institution’s Innovative Alabama report came out in October 2021. It inventoried the beautiful and rich outdoor assets that Alabama has, while noting the vast potential we have to make a bigger impact by focusing on them.”
Another reason was the desire to illustrate the company’s culture:
“We have a culture about the way we care for our customers, the way we care for our employees and each other, the way we respect and care about our work. We have a culture that defines and distinguishes us, so we want to show it in ways that people see and experience it firsthand.”
Eva Robertson, Executive Director, Protective Life Foundation
So, with those two driving forces in mind, Protective embarked on an effort to build company culture while getting to know local greenspaces.
Curious about what roles are open at Protective? Check out their careers page.
Who got involved + what was their role?
Robertson explained that Protective’s leadership intentionally sought out ways to involve outdoor-loving employees in a project that would help connect them with the natural world and with each other. At the same time, these employees would help shape Protective’s future strategy for environmentally-focused funding by its philanthropic foundation.
Employees were invited to an information session and shared that there would be four distinctly different half-day outings to visit eight greenspaces over the next four months. Participants were required to go to at least two spaces, where they would learn to conduct the type of in-depth evaluation the Foundation typically does before funding a nonprofit.
Key questions included:
- Who does this space serve? Who actually uses it and for what purpose?
- Does it foster community for a diverse population? Without barriers?
- How is the space funded? How does the organization use its funding?
- What do leaders say is needed? And how are they addressing those needs?
The 8 greenspaces
Protective arranged four trips to different types of parks and greenspaces:
- Independent nonprofits: Ruffner Mountain
- One of the state parks: Oak Mountain State Park
- Urban greenspaces:
- A critical waterway: Cahaba River
What employees said
Across the board, participants felt like being part of the greenspace initiative was a wonderful experience.
“I signed up not knowing what this would entail, but it was the best experience that I’ve had thus far. Learning about how we can do more to help preserve greenspace has encouraged me to get my family involved more…since our field trips, I have gone back to visit a couple of the parks and plan to do a couple more this year.”
Felicia Brown, Protective
They loved being part of a company that shares their love of the outdoors and enjoyed thinking through funding priorities with teammates.
“What a great experience it was to be a participant in the Foundation’s work to evaluate and assess local greenspace opportunities. Not only did we get to hear about all of these great outdoor spaces, but we also developed feedback about where Protective should focus their resources to support those places.
Tom Bratina, Protective
For myself, I felt not only excited to be part of listening and reviewing the various initiatives, but also to be part of a small team of employees who share a passion for outdoor space and activities. It was a great opportunity to be part of the team!”
What’s next?
While participants in Protective’s greenspace initiative had their personal favorites, a consensus emerged among the group about what was most important for the Foundation to consider moving forward:
“One of the areas that strongly resonated with participants was urban trails and how they can be more than outdoor recreation—they can also be pathways to work opportunities. The group was enthusiastic about updates to the Norwood Greenway, which happens to be near Protective Stadium—it’s part of the Red Rock Trail System, and within the five neighborhoods of Protective’s Protecting Good program footprint.”
Eva Robertson, Executive Director, Protective Life Foundation
While the Protective team wasn’t tasked with a full plan development, several of their priorities are now being supported, and their viewpoints will impact the plan moving forward, according to Robertson.
Work for a company that invests in its people + the environment. Protective is hiring.
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Protective refers to Protective Life Corporation and insurance company subsidiaries, including Protective Life Insurance Company (Nashville, TN) and Protective Life and Annuity Insurance Company (Birmingham, AL). Protective is a registered trademark of Protective Life Insurance Company. All trademarks, logos, and service marks are property of Protective Life Insurance Company and are protected by copyright, trademark, and/or other proprietary rights and laws.
