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:

  1. Google's Reimagined "Work From Anywhere" Policy Gets Staff Back in the Office

  2. Why General Motors’ Diversity Chief Scrapped University Degree Requirements for Some Jobs

  3. Velma Is Officially a Lesbian in New ‘Scooby-Doo’ Film

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

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5 Things / Comparisonitis

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5 Things / National Hispanic Heritage Month