Designer Island said diverse Oncor has no ‘bad energy’

For Summer Island, Black History Month means remembering the more famous figures like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but also those who are personally close to her.

Like Island’s 74-year-old grandmother, who at 18 moved on her own from Mississippi to Chicago. “I think her braveness and fearlessness were instilled in me without me even knowing,” Island said.

“She’s one of the people who inspired me, because when I was 18, I went to college,” Island said. “I packed up, left Chicago and moved to Dallas.”

Eric Guadarrama, Transmission District Manager, Temple, Texas, said that growing up in Snyder, Texas, he was inspired by his grandmother and mother. His grandmother lost her husband and she raised four children by herself.

“My mother raised me by herself and I hope that my actions and my life have shown that she raised a good person,” Guadarrama said. “And I try to be that person she raised to make her proud.”​​​

“Both of them went to work every day,” he said. “They didn’t complain about life. They got on with it, even through the tough times.”

Darryl Curtis, Non-Metro Customer Engagement Manager, said his father is a Black American who always inspired him.

“My dad was born in the Depression,” Curtis said. “And when he grew up, times were very difficult. And he served in the Vietnam War. In fact, three tours.”

“But with all the things he went through, he has the greatest love for all people,” Curtis said. “It really didn’t matter the color of the skin of the guy next to you. It was really his character. I think he passed that on to me.”

Guadarrama said he just recently started working in Temple, having spent the last few years in Sulphur Springs, Texas. He said he feels welcome in Temple, but believes that’s just part of Oncor’s culture.

“I do believe that Oncor values diversity and inclusion,” he said. “Going on 16 years, I’ve seen a lot of opportunities have been given to people of color to show that they are capable and they can do the job.”

With nearly 40 years at Oncor, Curtis said he’s seen “difficulties” because of race. “But I would say we have overcome those,” he said. “And we’ve overcome them because of the quality of the people in this company.”

Island said she has always felt included at Oncor. She believes that Oncor is truly committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.

“I never feel awkward or any kind of bad energy,” she said. “I feel like it all comes from a good place of love.”

“That was one of the first things I learned when I started working at Oncor. Oncor is a family.”