5 Things / Sparks
This week I delivered a keynote for a client’s internal event and, afterward, joined them for dinner. I spent much of my time in a pleasantly long conversation with a managing partner who, at one point, exclaimed to me, “I mean, can you believe at one point, people held slaves in this country?”
I replied, “I know!… And it’s still going on…did you know the war on drugs locked up Black people for crack way more than white people for coke, and a lot of those people are still in prison?”
They were caught off guard and asked to change the subject to something more positive, and then asked if I had any dogs…so we showed pictures of our dogs.
It’s my job to spark these conversations, even when they get a little uncomfortable. We just move on…I’m happy to talk about my dog anytime, especially after I’ve first gently challenged someone. If you’ve ever heard me talk about the ARC Method, you know that I believe these conversations don’t have to be long, drawn out, or awkward. I believe it’s up to allies to gently challenge others – and it’s helpful to be prepared to quickly pivot without losing a beat.
Good Vibes:
Google's Reimagined "Work From Anywhere" Policy Gets Staff Back in the Office
Google now allows most employees to work from anywhere 4 weeks per year. This policy shows some flexibility, especially given all the pushback from employees reluctant to return to the office this year. This matters because, more than ever, employees value flexibility, which becomes a retention strategy, especially for underrepresented talent.
Why General Motors’ Diversity Chief Scrapped University Degree Requirements for Some Jobs
GM, one of my favorite companies to follow, has removed degree requirements from many of its positions, including some supervisory roles in the manufacturing plants. This matters because more than 80% of Black and Latine’ people in the U.S. don’t have college degrees.
Velma Is Officially a Lesbian in New ‘Scooby-Doo’ Film
Lesbians around the world, myself included, are rejoining at the news that Velma from Scooby-Doo will be out in the new movie. Trick or Treat Scooby-Doo will be released next week. I can only imagine what impact an out Velma would have had on my tween self.
Nicole Mann Becomes First Native Woman to Go to Space With Latest SpaceX Mission
This week Nicole Mann became the first Native woman in space. She’s a NASA astronaut who traveled with SpaceX for a six-month mission at the International Space Station. This matters because Nicole is a possible model for young people, especially Native women, who earn $.60 on the dollar to a white man.
Slovenia Becomes First Post-communist Country to Legalise Same-Sex Marriage and Adoption
Cuba and Slovenia both made news recently for passing laws allowing same-sex couples to legally marry. Slovenia is the first post-Communist country to do so and the 33rd in the world to have this right (out of 195). Cuba’s law is notable in that voters approved the right by ⅔ majority in a referendum. This matters because love is love.