WP Engine Powers the Freedom to Create With a Purpose

WP Engine powers the freedom to create online, and our commitment to this goes far beyond our tools and platform.

We show our commitment to the builders responsible for creating exceptional digital experiences by hosting thought leadership events, producing informative webinars, and creating showcases like Crafted With Code, which highlights impressive projects built on the world’s favorite CMS.

But it’s within WP Engine offices around the globe where you’ll find the true source of our power: our people. They make it possible for us to support our community in creative and meaningful ways.

Recently, a leader of one of WP Engine’s employee resource groups (ERGs) took that creative spirit to new heights, organizing a live art event at our Omaha hub that uses artwork to connect, educate, and support a charitable cause. After a short exhibition in the WP Engine Omaha office, their finished piece will be auctioned for charity.

Read on for the story behind this meaningful event, and how WP Engine is powering the freedom to create, both online and in the real world!

Rise and WP Engine’s ERGs

ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups dedicated to fostering workplace inclusivity. These groups empower employees to bring their unique perspectives to work and contribute to a supportive, high-trust environment. 

“We all want to be seen, heard, respected, understood—to feel comfortable being our authentic selves in the workplace,” says Tarsha McCormick, VP of DEI, Culture, & Development at WP Engine. 

“So the importance of our DEI programs and ERGs is to create and foster environments where everyone can thrive and do their best work.”

Rise is one of WP Engine’s longest-standing ERGs. Its mission is to provide a safe, inclusive environment for the advancement, advocacy, and education of BIPOC and allies. Members use their unique talents and interests to advance this mission, hosting events, bringing in speakers, and conducting impactful initiatives throughout the year.

“I became a leader with the Rise ERG because I saw it as an opportunity to do something bigger than my day-to-day,” says Jason “Geo” Geolingo, a product manager and Rise leader based in our Omaha office. “I saw it as a platform I can use to impact my community while continuing to educate myself on social issues.”

WP Engine’s continued commitment to investing in our ERGs has helped build tighter community bonds across our global hubs, bringing teammates together to collaborate on projects that affect lives both inside and outside the office.

The art event in Omaha

During a discussion with Rise leadership, Geo first thought about using art to connect, educate, and do some good in the community, all in the context of Rise’s mission. 

“Through this particular event, I really want to demonstrate the stance that WP Engine has on diversity, equity, and inclusion,” says Geo. 

“I feel this is the time for us to make a statement about where we stand and what we believe: that work should be a space where employees feel safe to discuss difficult topics.”

Geo shared this idea with his tattoo artist, Russ Oberg, during one of their sessions. Oberg, who would go on to create the commissioned artwork, was drawn in by the idea that art provides a unique perspective.

“I feel like art is often used as the voice of a community,” says Oberg.

“Whether it’s a city-funded mural or graffiti on the streets, art has an impact, from the individual level all the way up to a communal level.”

Geo’s original concept was to commission the creation of a piece that asks viewers to think about the differences between equity and equality—how each term is defined, and how the differences between the two can play out in the real world. 

As a technology company and because Rise’s mission extends across the globe, Geo also wanted to live stream the creation of the artwork so that any WP Engine employee could log in and watch the process. In more ways than one, this artwork was aimed at creating community, connection, and understanding.

On August 8, 2024, a small crew set up space in the WP Engine Omaha office where Oberg could paint and bring his vision to life. 

The finished piece is a fable set to canvas. It shows a scene of two rabbits, each wanting to provide for its family. A dragon gifts each rabbit with a mountain, but the mountains are unequal in resources. While each has been given the same solution for their problem, a disparity still exists in their outcomes due to the unique circumstances of each rabbit’s environment.

“I wouldn’t say that I hope the audience learns any specific lesson,” says Oberg. 

“Moreso, I hope it invokes a deeper thought that can be translated into other facets of life. I hope viewers make connections to their own experiences and apply those reflections in their daily lives.”

After a few final touch-ups, the art now hangs in the WP Engine Omaha hub. Leaders are currently discussing plans to create and sell prints of the work to raise additional funds as well as future plans to auction the original piece. All proceeds from both the prints and the auction will go to a Rise partner charity organization in Omaha.

Powering the freedom to create, in Omaha and beyond

From our products and platform to our community outreach and events, WP Engine powers the freedom to create in a myriad of ways.

The opportunity to power the creation of impactful artwork in Omaha would not have been possible without the help of many people, including many WP Engine team members. We’re grateful to everyone involved, including our artist Russ Oberg, for their dedication to this impactful project, and we’re excited to see the impact this project continues to make once it’s auctioned for charity. 

To learn more about WP Engine’s employee resource groups, visit this page. 

To learn more about Russ Oberg and his art, visit his Instagram.