5 Things / Caring for Community
I’m spending this Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday, at a queer bar with my family. Not my “chosen family” but my family of origin. My brother’s child, my godchild, is non-binary and manages a bar in Manhattan. They’re hosting all 20 or so of us this year. When I asked about their work, they told me, “I need to do work that is meaningful…I’m grateful to be caring directly for my community…I literally came out here and certainly came up here so it feels full circle.”
(It feels full circle to me as well. My late parents, immigrants from Ireland, owned an Irish pub and my siblings and I lived upstairs for years.)
Caring for community can take many forms. I’ve learned that the more I connect with my community, the happier I am. My wish for you this Thanksgiving week is community – in whatever form that takes. This is a reminder to you all as much as it is to me. I’m thankful to each of you for choosing to read 5 Things each week (but not next week), and for all you to build a more inclusive world. Keep going.
Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:
Letting People Work From Home Is Good for Companies’ Revenue Growth
Companies offering flexible or remote work options have seen their revenues grow four times faster than those with strict office attendance, a recent study reveals. The Boston Consulting Group found that firms with "fully flexible" policies experienced a 21% sales increase from 2020 to 2022, compared to just 5% for less flexible counterparts…great data to help you make the case! This suggests that flexibility can significantly boost business performance and employee retention. Remember that remote work also attracts a broader talent pool, in part, because women and BIPOC experience more microaggressions in person.
When Kim Kardashian's nipple bra dropped, some people laughed. Breast cancer patients rejoiced.
In a first for 5 Things, I present: Kim Kardashian's Skims has introduced a push-up bra with built-in nipples, offering an empowering option for breast cancer survivors and those seeking gender affirmation. This innovation is vital because it addresses a deep need within a community where aesthetic loss impacts intimacy and identity. With breast cancer being the most common cancer in U.S. women, accounting for 1 in 3 new female cancer cases annually, solutions that offer a sense of normalcy and confidence are not just fashion statements—they're acts of understanding and compassion.
Pink to Give Away 2,000 Banned Books About Race and Sexuality at Upcoming Florida Tour Stops
Pink is making waves in Florida, championing LGBTQ+ and free speech rights by partnering with PEN America to distribute thousands of banned books at her concerts. This bold move by one of my favorite allies is a response to Florida's increasing book bans and restrictive laws on discussing LGBTQ+ topics and systemic racism in schools. With the state leading in book bans, Pink’s initiative is crucial in promoting diversity and inclusion through literature. She’s taking a stand against censorship, and underlining the importance of accessible, diverse narratives in shaping open, inclusive societies.
Mayor Wu Launches Supplier Diversity Week and Announces Efforts to Promote Equity in City Contracting
Mayor Michelle Wu proclaims Supplier Diversity Week in Boston, spotlighting progress toward the City's goal of 25% discretionary spending with diverse firms, a jump from 6% to 14% in one year. Check out the article for some warm fuzzies. When done right, supplier diversity really matters because it's a significant push to level the playing field for historically excluded businesses, fostering fair competition and aiming to build generational wealth in local communities. By investing in and empowering these businesses, Boston is not just acknowledging and championing diversity, it's stimulating economic growth and innovation that benefit the entire city.
Workday is reskilling employees by letting them take gig work in different parts of the company. Internal mobility and promotions have skyrocketed
Workday's "gigs" program is a trailblazer in career development, offering short-term assignments to employees for skill enhancement and exposure to different internal business areas. Over 3,500 employees have engaged in this initiative, using a platform that matches their skill interests and time capacity with suitable gigs around the company. The program has led to a 50% increase in internal mobility, with a third of participants getting promoted. They created this flexible, skill-based program in response to feedback about unmet career growth needs (which Gen Z craves). The opportunity is huge here for women and BIPOC who are more likely to experience “imposter syndrome,” thanks, in part, to the patriarchy.
This Week’s Call to Action:
This is Transgender Awareness Week, culminating in Transgender Day of Remembrance, where there are vigils all over commemorating those lost in anti-transgender violence. This is an epidemic everywhere. Patti Flynn, our Senior Consultant, shared her thoughts on why we remember and what we can do to create a brighter future for trans folks.