This Week’s Good Vibes:Walmart Scraps Degree Requirements for Some Corporate JobsLincoln Park Zoo Announces First-Ever Zoo-Based Memory Enrichment ProgramLaphonza Butler Sworn in as California’s Newest Senator and First Openly Black Lesbian to Join CongressUnited Airlines Looks To Improve Travel For Those With DisabilitiesSome Minnesota Hospitals Now Offer Culturally Appropriate Hair- And Skin-Care ProductsCall to Action:Subscribe to the Fortune raceAhead newsletter. It’s one of my sources of inspiration and news for 5 Things. Definitely a worthy read.Connect with Charlene on Linkedin or by visiting her website https://charlenewheeless.com/Read the full blog on the Equality Institute website. Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week’s Good Vibes:TD Bank Offering Doula Reimbursement BenefitVirgin Voyages Brings Fun AccessibilityNew York Adds Lunar New Year as Public School HolidayHaley Van Voorhis Becomes First Woman Non-kicker to Play in NCAA Football GameNew California Law Raises Minimum Wage for Fast Food Workers to $20 per Hour, Among Nation’s HighestConnect with Christian on Linkedin or by visiting www.kindredkeynotesandcoaching.comRead this week's full 5 Things blog here.This Week's Call to Action: Trying to keep up with the evolving language? We’re halfway through Latino Heritage Month – but is that the right term to use? Here’s a good primer…I personally use Latine’.  Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:City of Boston Announces Gender Equity Updates to Marriage LicensesBank of America to Raise Minimum Wage to $23 an Hour in OctoberNetflix, Bollywood, and India’s Biggest Companies Take a Stand for LGBTQ InclusionEmpowering Black-Owned Businesses: Wayfair's Supplier Diversity InitiativeLyric Opera’s Soundshirt — A New Way Deaf, Hearing-Impaired Patrons Can Experience MusicCall to Action:Tune in to Diversity: Beyond The Checkbox hosted by Jackie Ferguson. Explore a world of diverse insights and perspectives shared by influential figures in the realms of business, executive education, and diversity & inclusion on this compelling podcast. Subscribe and listen on all major podcast platforms.Read the full blog here: theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-who-asks-whoMake sure to connect with Rhodes Perry on Linkedin. Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week’s Good Vibes:Some U.S. Airports Strive to Make Flying More Inclusive for Those With DementiaMeet The Entrepreneur With A Plan To Create One Million Black-Owned Businesses By 2030Lyft Launches Women+ ConnectSmucker’s New Hybrid Work ModelPinterest’s New Algorithms Want You to See Every Body TypeCall to Action:A month full of Jewish holidays is upon us. Here are some inclusion tips from our friends at Seva Global. Shanah Tovah, to those who celebrate.Learn more about Jackie at thediversitymovement.comRead the full blog on the Equality Institute website. Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:Lego Is Launching Its Braille Bricks in English and French for the General PublicNebraska Cornhuskers Volleyball Breaks Women’s Sports World Attendance RecordTexas Waves Goodbye to Sales Tax on Menstrual and Gender-Based ProductsRetailers Help Generate $14 Billion for Black-Owned CompaniesLumen Field Was Awarded KultureCity’s Sports Venue of the Year Award 2023Call to Action:Have you checked out Living Corporate? It's a Black-owned digital media network that centers and amplifies Black and brown folks at work. Check it out for some great podcasts and articles. Connect with Karen Wilkins-Mickey on Linkedin.Read the full blog on our website. Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:The Trans Handy Ma’amInclusive Tours at the Peggy Guggenheim CollectionHiring Refugees Is Good for People, Good for Business, Says Stickley CEOCompanies Offering To Pay For Abortion Travel See Uptick In RecruitmentPopcorn Stand at Lincoln Financial Field to Be Staffed by People With AutismLearn more about Jennifer at jenniferbrownconsulting.comRead the full blog for Least Interesting at theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:1st Stadium Built for Professional Women’s Sports Team Going Up in Kansas City“Illustrate Change,” an Initiative to Drive Greater Diversity in Medical ImageryAmazon Expands Fertility Benefit to Workers in 50 CountriesA Musical Centering on a Group of Young Adults With Autism Is Heading to Broadway This FallCall to Action:Connect with Toby Mildon on LinkedIn for insightful and intelligent posts, particularly on the subject of accessibility. I find his content enriching and always look forward to learning from him.Read the full blog here.Connect with Karen on LinkedIn. Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:46 Million Americans Struggle With Substance-Use Disorder and Hypertherm Associates Is Paving the Way for “Recover-Friendly Workplaces”UPS Workers Reach a Tentative Contract Deal With Management Days Ahead of Strike DeadlineTech Company CHANI Is Proving Why Caring for Your Employees Pays OffSwift Stunned the Eras Tour’s Trucking Staff by Giving Each Trucker a Check in the Amount of $100,000Wisconsin’s First Universally Accessible Park Breaks Ground in WauwatosaCall to Action:Minette Norman’s book The Boldly Inclusive Leader, is here! You can order it for release on August 8 right here. Minette was a delightful 5 Things in 15 Minutes guest earlier this year.Read the full blog here. Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:Desantis Controversial Policies Spark Florida Convention Cancellations as Tourism Shows Signs of SlowingPie Shop on Chicago’s South Side Serves More Than DessertCVS Rolls Out Collection of Accessible ProductsArmless Pilot Gives Students a Look at First Foot-Controlled PlaneJags’ Maxen Is the First Male American Pro Sports Coach to Come Out as GayCall to Action:August is National Black Business Month, a time to recognize and support Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs across the country. Of course, you should do that every month, but add some extra intention this month. Here’s a great one: Tubby’s Taste, delicious, island-inspired cookies, available for corporate gifts or treats at home.Connect with Celia on Linkedin.Read the full blog here. Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:How DEI Led to a New Barbie and Outdoor Apparel for Every BodyThese Companies Are So Serious About Keeping Older Employees That They’re Offering ‘Grandparent Leave’Wesleyan University Joins Other Schools in Nixing Legacy Admissions After Supreme Court’s Affirmative Action RulingAlpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Opens First-Of-Its-Kind ‘For Members Only’ Credit UnionIndeed Is Introducing a New Benefit to Support Employees Affected by Legislation Limiting Access to Gender-Affirming ServicesCall to Action:Follow Mita Mallick on LinkedIn and check out her Brown Table Talk podcast for awesome career and workplace advice.Read the full blog here.Connect with Sheri on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/shericrosbywheeler Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Good Vibes:Cordillera Chocolates Launches New Sustainability Initiative for Female Cocoa Farmers in ColombiaMajority of Birmingham Logistics Company’s Workers Are Recovering Addicts Getting a Second ChanceWalmart Adds Sensory-Friendly Hours At Stores NationwideEsther Vergeer’s Induction Into the Hall Of Fame Puts Spotlight On Wheelchair TennisMiss Netherlands Crowns Its First Openly Trans Woman Rikkie Valerie KolléCall to Action:New podcast alert! My friend LaToyna Wilkins, who wrote Leading Below the Surface: How to Build Real (and Psychologically Safe) Relationships with People Who Are Different from You has a new podcast of the same name. You can check it out here, too. (yes, I realize I gave her a shout-out last week, too)Read the full 5 Things here.Connect with Allie here. Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:Duke University Offering Free Tuition For North And South Carolina Families Earning Below $150,000Estonia Becomes First Central European Country to Allow Same-Sex MarriageThe Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Is Now in EffectSephora Announces Newest Influencers To Support Diverse Voices In BeautyWimbledon Allows Dark Shorts to Ease Period Leakage WorriesCall to Action:My friend LaTonya Wilkins, author of Leading Below the Surface, has a new Leadership + Team Effectiveness Assessment™️, which you can preview here. LaTonya is one of the best people I know and this is a very cool new product.Read the full blog here: www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-affirmative-actionConnect with Anthony on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/anthonypapini Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:UMB Honors Service Dogs with ‘Dogtorate’ DegreesIllinois Becomes the First State in the U.S. To Ban Book BansCharacters With Disabilities At the Center Of New TV ShowNYC’s Food Delivery Workers Will Be the First in the Country to Get a Minimum WageThe U.S. Army Renames a Base in Honor of Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a Black WWI HeroCall to Action:Know someone whose child recently came out as trans? The Cut offers this fantastic Transgender Family Handbook, 144 specific suggestions, curated from trans young people and their loved ones. Read the full blog here.Connect with THERESA FLETCHER-BROWN here. Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week's Good Vibes:Walmart’s Live Better U Program Turns 5, Expands to CanadaAnnual Grace Hopper Celebration Conference to Leave Orlando Due to New Florida LawsBiden-⁠Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Protect LGBTQI+ CommunitiesDelta Is Developing a New First-Of-Its-Kind Airline Seat That Allows Wheelchair Users to Stay In Their ChairsPortugal Just Launched a ‘Government-Funded’ 4-Day Workweek TrialCall To Action:Learn about Geena Rocero, the Filipina transgender fashion model and activist, and consider her new book Horse Barbie, which I’ll plan to read after I finish Elliot Page’s new memoir, Pageboy.Read the full blog here.  Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week’s Good Vibes:The National Park Service (NPS) is working to incorporate more Black history into its storytelling about America. This includes considering the establishment of a Black Panther Party National Historical Park, and other new parks in locations related to civil rights, such as the 1964 murders of civil rights workers and the 1955 lynching of Emmett Till. The goal is to establish new national parks that facilitate conversations about race. I’m hopeful that all of these come to fruition so these stories continue to be heard and remembered. The North Face is fighting back against backlash from conservatives for partnering with drag queen Pattie Gonia to promote their "Summer of Pride" event. However, unlike other companies that have faced similar backlash, The North Face is standing by its brand partner and expressing support for LGBTQ+ equality. When other brands have backed down, this response is significant as it demonstrates a commitment to inclusion and sends a message to other businesses about the importance of embracing LGBTQ+ consumers and employees.Mexico has introduced a new policy allowing citizens to identify as nonbinary on their passports, with the option to select "X" as their gender marker. The U.S. and Canada already have this policy in place. This is significant as it demonstrates Mexico's progress in advancing LGBTQ+ rights and the acceptance of gender beyond the binary. The indigenous Muxe of Oaxaca live and are widely accepted in their “third gender.”Texas now has the CROWN Act. The CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) aims to protect individuals from discrimination based on their natural hair in workplaces, schools, and housing policies. This affects mostly Black and Brown folks who have dreadlocks, braids, twists, and other natural hair. These folks are often burdened with the white supremacy standard of "professional” hair. There are about 20 states with this protection.In a strange turnabout, another company which faced recent conservative backlash was Chik-Fil-A, when people realized the company had a Vice President of DEI. The irony is that the fast-food restaurant chain has a history of partnerships with anti-LGBTQ organizations and has been boycotted by many people like me, who love that chicken but go to Popeye’s instead. The good news here is that (I hope) Chik-Fil-A is showing some commitment towards greater equity and inclusion…my hope is that it’s not lip service, but they haven’t released any statements.Call to Action:Read this article and photos about the trans joy on display at the Trans Youth Prom outside the U.S. Capitol building last week.To learn more about Nancy, visit: https://www.restartconsult.com/Read the full 5 Things here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/pride-amp-joy Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week's Good Vibes:Apple Created Its New Voice Feature For—and With—People With ALSAutodesk Renames Its “Diversity and Inclusion” Team to the “Diversity and Belonging” TeamNew York City Passes Bill Banning Weight DiscriminationStarbucks’ New Gender-Inclusive Ad Starring Trans ModelCanada Labour Code to Ensure Access to Menstrual Products at Work Starting December 15Call to Action:Listen to this interview with Target CEO Brian Cornell on the Leadership Next Podcast. Spoiler alert: he’s a true believer in DEI.Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-patienceTo learn more about Jessica and her book, visit: https://www.jessicabantom.com/designforidentity Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week's Good Vibes:‘Sesame Street’ Introduces TJ, the Show’s First Filipino American MuppetFDA Paves Way for More Gay and Bisexual Men to Donate Blood With New Risk-Based AssessmentDartmouth Health on How to Reduce Hiring Bias, the Power of DEIB StatementsAirbnb Let Its Workers Live and Work Anywhere. Spoiler: They’re Loving ItFor Kids, Going Under Anesthesia Can Be Scary. This Nurse Made a Video Game to Ease FearsCall to Action:Watch this PBS Special “Rising Against Asian Hate” narrated by the fabulous Sandra Oh. The special “sheds light on the struggles, triumphs, and achievements of AAPI communities.”To learn more about CurieDx and Dr. Canares, visit: https://www.curiedx.com/Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-ageist Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week's Good Vibes:To Celebrate Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, Mattel Is Introducing a Doll Based on Hollywood Pioneer Anna May WongBen & Jerry’s Co-founder Starts Cannabis Nonprofit to Support Social CausesMrBeast Calls Out Transphobic Backlash to Chris Tyson’s Hormone TherapySmartsheet Is Now Giving Logo Space to Various Nonprofit Organizations in F1 RacingDemocrat Angie Craig Has Joined Other Employers Rejecting the “Paper Ceiling” Blamed for Limiting Millions of WorkersCall to Action:I see everything as an experiment and have the sticker to go along with it, so I found this article interesting and a worthy read: “Why You Should Start A/B Testing Your DEI Initiatives."To learn more about Jen and Inclusive AF, visit: https://www.pagingdrjen.com/inclusive-af-a-field-guideRead the full blog here for this 5 Things Episode: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-connection-first Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week's Good Vibes:The Owners of Butter & Gave Their Employees Stock OptionsBarbie Doll With Down’s Syndrome Launched by MattelLinkedin’s New Commitments Tool Lets Users Screen Prospective Employers by What They Stand ForTaraji P. Henson and Kate Spade Are Teaming Up With HBCUsUSA Today Highlights Some of the Incredible Accessible Products They’ve Seen and the Impact They’re Making in People’s LivesCall to Action:I’m not going to do this often, I promise, but please consider a donation to the Rainbow Cafe or your local LGBTQ Center.To learn more about Dr. Joel A. Davis, visit: https://www.pneumos.com/our-founder/ Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week's Good Vibes:A Navy Ship Named for a Confederate Victory Now Honors a Black Union HeroAlaska Airlines’ First Class Gets Upgrade With Black Sisters’ WineDisability Activists Grace Cover Of British VogueNasdaq Board Diversity Rule Boosted LGBTQ PoliciesBeaches Resorts Grows Program For Guests On The SpectrumThis Week’s Call to Action:If you don’t already get Karen Catlin’s fantastic 5 Ally Actions newsletter each Friday morning, I’d encourage you to subscribe. It’s an excellent summary of bite-sized actions (with concrete examples) that we ALL take to promote inclusion at work.To learn more about John Estrada, visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-estrada-264345/ Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week I was in a series of meetings with a client, leading them through our Inclusive 360 assessment process. Our assessment is extremely granular, breaking down DEI into a series of small tactics, across all functions. As part of the process, we put employees in small group meetings and go through the assessment questions.One leader repeatedly used the phrase “not yet” when answering my questions – not yet because we’re at the beginning of this process. Not yet because they’re learning, still understanding the current state of affairs. Not yet – but they’re excited about it. They’re ready to do better as soon as they know better. It’s coming from leadership. Not yet, but the tactics are bite-sized. They’re doable. They’re cumulatively impactful but many are small enough to generate momentum through quick wins.So while we may start with “not yet”, I believe in the power of forward momentum, the kind that can come from a cross-functional approach. Celebrate the quick wins and keep going.This Week's Good Vibes:Disneyland Rebuilds Mickey’s Toontown From The Ground Up For Kids Of All AbilitiesThousands of Catholic Nuns Unite to ‘Wholeheartedly’ Declare Trans People Are Beloved by GodCompanies That Get ‘Woke’ Aren’t Going Broke — They’re More Profitable Than EverBeau Jo’s Is Selling His Famous Colorado Pizza Shop — To His EmployeesBBC Education Show in Afghanistan Helps Children Banned From SchoolCall to action:Planning an event or meeting in a state with anti-diversity laws or bills? Your attendees can now offset the cost of their spending in that state by supporting charities that align with their values. This is super cool! Learn more at: https://socialoffset.org/Learn more about Jesse here: https://hymn.consulting/ Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week's Good Vibes:Transgender Woman Inducted Into The National Women's Hall of FameMarch Madness Finals Ratings Set A Record High For WomenHistorically Black University Created Its Own Tech Intern PipelineGoldman Sachs Invests $2 Billion in Black Women-Owned Businesses — The First Chapter of a Bigger PlanBud Light Doesn't Care That You're Mad About Its Dylan Mulvaney CollabCall to action:Check out Translator, “a social DEI learning platform designed for facilitators, live audiences, and data freaks.” Its Founder and CEO, Natalie Egan, is a brilliant trans woman I neglected to include in my list last week. h/t to reader Rachel Kjack for the note.To learn more about Dr. Steve Yacovelli, visit: www.topdoglearning.biz Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

In this week's Good Vibes, in honor of yesterday's Transgender Day of Visibility, I’d like to introduce you to some amazing transgender business owners, many of whom are authors. I hope you’ll consider following and supporting them:Celia Daniels (she/her)I am an Asian Indian trans woman of color who is an entrepreneur, public speaker, activist, motivator, musician, artist, photographer, and filmmaker. Growing up as a lonely closeted kid from Southern India with stigma, discrimination, and gender dysphoria, I write and speak passionately about the struggles and challenges I faced in my family, work, school, and community both in the US and India. Visit Celia's Linkedin pageRobbie Samuels (he/him)I'm an event design consultant and executive Zoom producer, with a passion for creating engaging and unforgettable experiences. With two decades of experience in the meetings and events industry, I have honed my skills in designing and executing events that leave a lasting impression. I'm openly trans and own a Certified LGBT Business Enterprise. Visit Robbie's Linkedin pageAshley Brundage (she/her)I advanced my career from a part-time bank teller to a vice president of the national diversity and inclusion team at PNC Bank in less than 5 years. I celebrated my authenticity, and empowered myself, and others, to create a stronger community…Everyone’s journey will look different, but these methods can produce similar results and the takeaways of the book (Empowering Differences) can be applied to anyone. Visit Ashley's Linkedin pageLily Zheng (they/them)I help leaders achieve diversity, equity, and inclusion as real and measurable outcomes of organizations, rather than just the aspirational intentions of individuals. My clients are organizations and leaders of organizations looking for approaches grounded in data of all kinds, rooted in outcomes and effectiveness, and informed by a systemic approach to organizational problem-solving. Visit Lily's Linkedin pageRhodes Perry (he/him)I help leaders build psychological safety, trust, and belonging at work. I created the Belonging at Work Summit, an annual virtual conference empowering DEI practitioners to build community, gain new skills, and recommit to building healthier workplace cultures. Visit Rhodes' Linkedin pageCall to Action:Follow some of the amazing people above and buy their books. And, please, please let your transgender employees know that you’ve got their backs. Here are Rhodes Perry’s tips on Ways You Can Show Up for Your Transgender and Nonbinary Colleagues. Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are the good vibes I found this week:Maryland Just Made It Easier for Its Residents to Access Gender-Affirming CareWetzel’s Pretzels Is Giving Female Entrepreneurs a Boost With New Franchisee Equity ProgramDisability Rights Advocates Speak Out Against Candace Owens Harmful Comments on Disability RepresentationChip Makers Will Have to Provide Child Care to Tap Joe Biden’s Huge $39 Billion Semiconductor Industry FundGoogle’s Muslim Employee Resource Group Helped Make Ramadan Better for EveryoneCall to action:Friday is Transgender Day of Visibility. Visit GenderCool.org to meet some amazing transgender youth. These youth are brave and inspiring, and they keep showing up even when their community is under attack.Read the full blog here.Learn more about Lisa here. Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are the good vibes I found this week:Critical Care Physician Creates Curly Hair Kits for PatientsAllstate Is Listening to EmployeesWalmart Has Designed Inclusive Uniforms for WorkersGov. Whitmer Signs Bill Expanding Michigan Civil Rights Law to Include LGBTQ ProtectionsNew VA Mission Statement Recognizes Sacred Commitment to All Veterans, Their Families, Caregivers, and SurvivorsCall to Action:Ramadan begins on Wednesday. Check out these tips from Yasar Ahmed on how non-Muslims can be allies this Ramadan.Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-the-irish Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are the good vibes I found this week:New Lego Sets Feature Characters With A Range Of DisabilitiesMinnesota Governor Signs Order Protecting Access to Gender-Affirming Health CareHow IKEA Retail Reached Gender Balance Globally For Leadership RolesQVC Boosts Adaptive, Accessible Product OfferingsBiden’s Dei Executive Order Mandates That Each Government Agency Create an “Equity Team” and Also Establishes a DEI Steering CommitteeRead the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-the-blind-guyTo learn more about John and his book - Don’t Ask the Blind Guy, visit: https://www.johngsamuel.com/book/ Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are the good vibes I found this week:Rei Co-op Asks Suppliers to up their Inclusivity GameMajor Companies Are Using AI to Avoid Bias and Cliches in AdvertisingSupporters Rally Around Trans Activist in Hershey’s Women’s Day CampaignNordstrom Teams With The Folklore Group to Grow Black-owned BrandsGabrielle Union-Wade, Dwyane Wade Call for Black LGBTQ Community Support at Naacp Image AwardsRead the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-and-other-stTo learn more about Veronica, visit: https://www.data2insight.com/ Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are the good vibes I found this week:The South Korean high court ruled that same-sex couples in the country are entitled to the same national health benefits as their opposite-sex counterparts.Emmy Award-winning costume designer and Beyonce’s former stylist Zerina Akers partnered with Barbie to create a collection of dolls that are icons of Black cultureHome Depot became the latest company with a major front-line workforce to increase its minimum wage to at least $15/hour.Seattle became the first U.S. city to ban caste discriminationAmazon Instant Video has just become the first streaming service to use Bluetooth to connect the tv’s sound directly to the cochlear implant, making it a much better viewing experience for the person with hearing loss.Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-square-holesTo learn more about Rhonda and Flock Theory, visit: https://flocktheory.com/ Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week I attended the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer Executive Insights event. The Trust Barometer is an annual global trust and credibility study that measures trust across society. I’ve used their data in my work over the years so I was surprised to learn this year that the business was named as the most trusted institution. Business is trusted more than non-governmental organizations, the media, and the government – and the only of those institutions rated both ethical and competent. 55% of Americans trust businesses. And while this isn’t a large majority, overall, trust has increased across all demographics.The study also revealed that while economic anxieties, a class divide, and the spread of misinformation have led to increased polarization, the place people feel safest to talk about societal issues is the workplace. Why? Because they generally expect people to behave. Very interesting. Has that been your experience?The Trust Barometer also reveals that over 60% of your customers and employees are asking businesses to take a stand on societal issues. I believe this is good vibes indeed – the opportunity here for businesses to build upon this already growing trust can be transformative for any organization.Here are the other good vibes I found this week:2. ASL Performer Justina Miles Stole the Show at Super Bowl Lvii3. Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair4. Spain Becomes the First Country in Europe to Approve Menstrual Leave5.  Spain Gives Final Approval to Law Making It Easier to Legally Change GenderRead the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-trustTo learn more about Crystal and her book, visit: https://www.crystallily.co/ Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week I spoke with a few clients to discuss the workshop series for 2023. What impressed me most was the care to ensure a variety of diverse identities were represented in the content and presenters. In fact, on one call, I was joined by leaders from the LGBTQ+, Women’s, and Black Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to discuss a series of workshops that thoughtfully included all identities.The Human Rights Campaign recently released their criteria for the 2023 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). Part of the revised criteria is about ensuring that employee training is intersectional. Intersectionality is a big word and was coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, who describes it as, “We tend to talk about race inequality as separate from inequality based on gender, class, sexuality or immigrant status. What’s often missing is how some people are subject to all of these, and the experience is not just the sum of its parts.”I really do believe that intersectionality has become more than a buzzword. Equitable programs, policies, processes, and partnerships must be intentionally intersectional. That means asking questions like “What can we do to make this a great [hiring process, onboarding process, customer experience, conference… etc] for a Black, transgender woman with a disability?” Because if you can make the organization a great place for her, it will be a great place for everyone. (This concept is adapted from the book Unleashed)Keep intersectionality in mind when you’re booking speakers for events (DEI or non-DEI events). We have some great folks on our team with fascinating stories to tell, and I can personally refer you to some fantastic speaker friends.Here are the good vibes I found this week:Meet Chelsea -- The First Barbie With Scoliosis‘We Need to Stop Viewing Employees as Merely Resources and Start Treating Humans as Valued People.’Mellody Hobson Has An Ingenious Idea To Narrow The Wealth Gap& 5. Artists Made History At The 2023 GRAMMYsThis week’s call to action:More Black History Month resources – check out this Black American History Crash Course, a series of short (~12 minutes each) animated videos on YouTube: Black American History PlaylistTo learn more about Elena, visit her website at: https://www.elenajoyexperience.com/Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-always-intersectional Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

I originally started this newsletter with a story about a mistaken assumption I made but my editor told me, “It comes across to me like you are downplaying biases… and I think this also shows your privilege that you don't have to deal with biased situations as others do.”I’m here for accountability. It’s my job to keep my team both diverse and psychologically safe where each person feels comfortable expressing constructive feedback directly to me. I’m always still learning – and yes, I still have mistaken assumptions. A few weeks ago, I had a sales conversation with a medical professional who told me about a recent time in which an “older, white doctor from the South Suburbs” misgendered a transgender patient. My mind painted a picture of that doctor. I asked, “Did the patient file a complaint against him?” Turns out the doctor is a woman. I was embarrassed about that mistaken assumption in front of a potential client.It’s remarkable. All the work I do, and my assumptions and biases still show up. My privilege still shows up. And if it shows up for me, I’m sure it shows up for you as well. But the more we talk about it, the more we can interrupt it.Here are the good vibes I found this week:New D.C. Strip Mall Is Dedicated To Black-Owned BusinessesPresident Biden Signs Cantwell-Capito Equal Pay Bill Into LawNorth Carolina Updates License Plate Rules & the Roads Just Got a Whole Lot GayerChipotle Plans to Hire 15,000 Restaurant Workers as It Plans Double in Size to 7,000 Restaurants in the Coming YearsYou Can Now Add Top-Surgery Scars, Binders, and Hearing Aids to Your ‘Sims’ CharactersRead the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-always-assumingTo learn more about Stan, visit his site here: https://www.totalengagementconsulting.com/ Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Earlier this week I was at the law firm Jenner & Block for an event. As I was attaching my lavalier mic, the tech said, referring to me, “she’s a pro [with the mic].” Seconds later, the tech came back and said, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to assume your gender.” I responded with, “No worries! You guessed right. Thank you.”I found this whole exchange startling in a good way. I even told the story to the group, applauding the firm for giving all of their employees the tools to be LGBTQ-inclusive. I was so impressed by the tech’s self-awareness and willingness to apologize for something I hadn’t given a moment’s thought to. It was also a “no big deal” moment, in that there wasn’t a giant discussion – moments of inclusion can be quick and straightforward.My pronouns are she/her and even when I’m not somewhere they’re on display, people generally get it right. In the work world, we haven’t gotten to a critical mass sharing of pronouns. It’s not quite normalized. We’re working on it. That’s why it’s really inspiring to watch that work being done, to experience someone apologizing for something that’s not yet normalized, apologizing for something that didn’t bother me one bit. Because I’m cisgender, and I have the privilege that comes with it.I’m celebrating the small wins because that’s how we build momentum for the big stuff. Let’s do this! Here are the other good vibes I found this week:         2. Bank of America Making Big Moves With Avoiding Layoffs, BIPOC Leadership, and More                  3. The State Department is ditching Times New Roman for Calibri         4. Welcome Corps, A New Refugee Resettlement Program         5.  Businesses Pledge to Support Divorcing EmployeesRead the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-the-techLearn more about Cherie Price, President of the Illinois Diversity Council here! Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week I delivered a keynote and I had a question from a manager who was struggling with an employee who was disrupting the team with negativity and hate.I believe it always comes back to empathy, in this case, the manager having empathy for that employee. Whether we’re talking about conversations about politics or race, or whatever, inclusion always comes back to empathy. After all, I only know my lived experience, and it’s been full of privilege.My mom used to say, “You can't understand someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes” – and I think that message is still accurate.What I believe is that each of us was born a pure kind soul, and then life happened. Maybe we felt left out from our older siblings or cousins. Maybe someone at school called us a name, and that was the first time we knew we were different. Maybe there was addiction in the family. Maybe grandma was the parental figure because the actual parent was in prison due to mass incarceration. Any of the above. And worse. We’re all walking around with our baggage, our Traumas big and little. It’s been said that hurt people hurt people. Just trying to protect ourselves.It can be incredibly hard to be empathetic, especially if we find ourselves in fight or flight mode. That’s where mindfulness comes in. Breathe, breathe, breathe. I’m working on this myself. Always a work in progress.From that empathetic space, we can become more curious about what’s going on, and then lead with compassion. That’s how people change behavior.Here are the good vibes I found this week:How the MCA Chicago Transformed Its Collection at Unprecedented Speed to Better Reflect Its AudienceReviving Sales at Kay and Zales: How Signet CEO Gina Drosos Pulled America’s Biggest Jeweler Out of a Long SlumpVancity Employees Will Receive $10K in Mental Health Coverage Starting July 1, 2023Publicis Groupe’s CEO Has Launched an Initiative to Remove the Stigma of Working with CancerL'oréal Made A Handheld, Motorized Device That Helps People With Disabilities Apply Lipstick. It's Meant To Give Users IndependenceRead the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-always-empathyTo learn more about Lee Rubin, visit: https://www.leerubin.org/ Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Happy new year! I hope this year is a wonderful one for you, personally and professionally. As always, I’m optimistic that we’re all on the right side of history. I’ll keep sharing the good vibes with you every week and cheer you on along on this DEI journey.Lately, I’ve had some conversations with people who’ve shared with me how they’ve been using 5 Things. You’re a creative bunch! I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that 5 Things resonates with you, and that you actually use it.Here are 5 ways you can use 5 Things:Bring it to a weekly team meeting and choose an item to discuss as part of the agendaShare a story from 5 Things in your internal DEI newsletterBring one idea from 5 Things to each DEI Council meeting for discussionShare it with someone you’d like to reconnect with - tell them that you saw this and thought of themTest some things out! If you see a story that sounds like something that could work at your org, then get the right people in the room to figure out how to make it happen.My word of the year is deepen and that includes deepening my relationships with any of you. In part, that means that I’m going to start sharing these 5 Things daily on TikTok…you can find me over there @5ThingsDEI. Doing this makes me very uncomfortable, but I’m doing it anyway because the world needs these messages.Here are the good vibes I found this week:Hershey Launches 1st Bilingual Manufacturing Facility911 Dispatchers in Montreal Are Learning to Stop It Racial Bias CallsWest Point Will Remove Confederate Symbols from Its CampusThe White House Gets Its Own Menorah for the First TimeThe Ex Manifesto; The Definitions, the Values, and the Principles of Ex and Ex Design Read the full blog here.To learn more about Minette, visit her website: www.minettenorman.com Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week I received a message from a former client: "Yippee for our marriages being codified into law!"Some of you may know that I spent years as a wedding planner with an LGBTQ+ specialty and a speaker on inclusion in that industry. I started that business in 2004. I was so young! It's been nearly 19 years since the first legal same-sex marriage licenses were issued in Massachusetts -- and only NOW are those marriages — and interracial marriages – codified into federal law, thanks to the Respect for Marriage Act. Those marriages were allowed due to Supreme Court decisions, which could have potentially been challenged.19 years of waiting for same-sex marriages; 55 years of waiting for interracial marriages to become officially official.Still, I'll take it. I'll celebrate it. And here it is, in 5 Things.I'll take progress towards equality in most forms. Progress, even with caveats, as this law has. More equity and inclusion that starts tomorrow, next year, or the year after.In the new year, I’ll keep sharing 5 Things, and maybe one of these stories will inspire you to take the next step forward toward greater equity and inclusion.Just start.To cap off the year, I’m sharing what I found to be the top 5 good vibes of the year, that I predict will become more common and expected in years to come.Here are my top 5 good vibes of the year:Hybrid Work ModelsCompanies Speaking Out Against InjusticeAwareness That Diversity Means EveryoneDiversity in SportsFour-Day Workweeks Gain MomentumRead the full blog here: www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-the-year-in-good-vibes Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

I had a conversation this week with a very kind senior DEI leader who wanted to help me help the company. They gave me some words to say that they thought might help get buy-in from the boss. This person encouraged me to pitch our Inclusive 360 Assessment as an “organizational improvement methodology”, not DEI. Our future work together as “change management”, not DEI.All of this is true because our assessment examines the systems for gaps in equity and inclusion. What it delivers is a roadmap for meaningful systemic change and organizational improvement. Not DEI. I’ve found that a lot of the organizations I speak to aren’t quite invested enough for “organizational improvement”, beyond changing the way they hire. We deliver a lot of workshops and keynotes to help establish that readiness, but those workshops are mostly about behavior change. About people. While that’s great, I know that will only move the needle so far.Lily Zheng recently wrote about this in HBR – To Avoid DEI Backlash, Focus on Changing Systems — Not People. Organizational improvement, change management, systemic change, whatever you want to call it. We’re here for it. Have you found that you've had to change your messaging around DEI to get buy-in?Here are the good vibes I found this week:\A Colorado Ski Resort Is Opening a Day Care For Employees—and It Could Provide a Blueprint to Help Solve the Childcare CrisisBrown University Bans Caste Discrimination Throughout Campus in a First for the Ivy LeagueAva DuVernay Becomes the First Black Woman on a Ben & Jerry's Pint with New Caramel FlavorA Hundred UK Companies Sign Up for Four-Day Week with No Loss of Pay\Anti-racism: When You Picture Doctors Without Borders, What Do You See? Read the full blog here: www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-not-deiTo learn more about Gena Cox, please visit https://genacox.com/about/ Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Recently, I’ve been thinking about the topic of vulnerability. We’ve been told that vulnerability in teams and in groups can unlock greatness. That it creates connection, establishes trust, and can lead to everyone doing their best work.Here’s the thing about vulnerability that I think gets forgotten: somebody has to go first.That's what's on my mind these days.Life can be intense. And it can be exhausting pretending it's not. It feels so much better to have people cheering us on.But somebody has to go first. Continue reading on LinkedIn…Here are the good vibes I found this week:Airbnb Makes It Easier to Find Wheelchair-Friendly HomesSensory-Friendly Santa Coming To Hundreds Of Locations NationwideWHO Renames Monkeypox as Mpox, Citing Racist StigmaMiami Marlins Become First U.S. Sports Franchise With Women As President And General ManagerColorado Springs Police Said They Made an Effort Not to Misgender Club Q Victims. Here’s Why That Matters Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-going-firstLearn more about Lisa M. Ong here: https://www.wishingoutloud.com/  Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Today our Senior Consultant Patti Flynn is joining me as a guest writer. This week was (and still is through today) Trans Awareness Week. This week culminates in the Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR) tomorrow, on November 20th. TDOR was started in 1999 by a transgender advocate as a vigil to the memory of Rita Hester who was killed in anti-transgender violence. The somber nature of the end of the week stands in contrast to the prior 7 days when trans people (and cisgender allies) educate and take action. We bring attention to and lift up the work of trans creators, celebrate the success of trans people in public life, and amplify the voices of trans advocates and activists. We show the world our shared humanity and I hope that leads to more acceptance and less discrimination.Although my TDOR this year will be extra difficult as I say the name of a dear friend, I know that the example she provided to so many when she was with us here in Chicago resonates. Her advocacy and activism inspire my own, and that of many others. So, while we mourn those losses, we look forward to a brighter future. A future that is truly possible with some help from our (cis) friends.There are ways that you can help as an ally. Find a vigil in your area and go to support those there grieving, keeping in mind that this event is by and for the trans community. Seek out information about anti-trans legislation in your state, or a neighboring state, and contact your representative to register your opposition, and encourage others to do the same. And lastly, educate yourself – watching the documentary “Disclosure” on Netflix is a good starting point. Or check out the GenderCool YouTube Channel for some inspiration.Here are the good vibes I found this week:The First Female Crash Dummy Has ArrivedHow Stunning Images from Space Were Brought to Life for the Visually ImpairedAll-Terrain Wheelchairs Arrive at U.S. Parks: ‘This Is Life-Changing’& 5. Self-Expression Within Airline Uniform StandardsTo learn more about Jess, visit: https://jesspettitt.com/Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-remembrance Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

A new study from Boston College and the Society of Human Resources Management tells us that 65% of organizations believe DEI is important, yet 63% give little to no resources to DEI. This doesn’t surprise me. In my conversations with organizations, I find many who see DEI as an HR or L&D initiative. In other words, recruitment, and training. There are many DEI actions that can be taken that cost minimal external resources, such as policy changes and building inclusion nudges into process documentation. I’m a big believer in the 360 approach – beyond HR and L&D, which is why I wrote Inclusive 360 and built our assessment tool. Here’s a beautiful example of how an organization (this one with A LOT of resources!) can become Inclusive 360.Last month, the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in New York reopened after major redesigns. The building was built on land formerly known as San Juan Hill, a low-income Black and Hispanic neighborhood with 7,000 families. That neighborhood was razed years ago as part of a racist “urban renewal” initiative. To correct historic wrongs, 42% of construction contracts for this massive redesign went to minority and women-owned businesses. They launched a robust training program, helping three dozen new construction workers get union cards. Lincoln Center itself increased its leadership diversity, with about 50% of leaders who are women and BIPOC. Finally, the debut concert for the reopening was a pay-what-you-can show called “San Juan Hill” celebrating the music and culture of the old neighborhood. All of this matters because it shows a 360 approach to equity and inclusion. A holistic approach is what’s necessary for true equity.More good vibes I found this week:2. Gay Racer Zach Herrin Made His Nascar Debut This Weekend3. Fortune 500 Companies Tie Executive Compensations to ESG Performance4 & 5. Several Major Companies Expand Workplace and Workweek FlexibilityRead the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-360To learn more about Julie and  Next Pivot Point, visit: https://nextpivotpoint.com/ Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

When I’m prepping for a keynote, I love to spend time talking to the client about their DEI goals and current state. Between all these conversations, research for 5 Things, and research for my book, Inclusive 360, I think I figured out the winning formula for meaningful DEI progress: Purpose + Strategy + Accountability (PSA). It sounds simple but we all know it’s not easy. Let me break it down:Purpose must be a people-first message that employees can rally around. Leaders should also share their own individual purposes.Strategy must be holistic and organization-wide, not simply workshops and coaching, not simply hiring more underrepresented talent.Accountability must be for all managers, or everyone, if you'd like, where engagement in or progress on DEI goals is a part of performance reviews.Consider Purpose + Strategy + Accountability (PSA) as a three-legged stool that wobbles depending on what’s missing (a metaphor borrowed from the book Unleashed). In a short conversation with a client, that framework will allow our team to quickly identify the areas of opportunity that can move the needle most quickly. I love that we get to do this stuff!Here are the good vibes I found this week:LinkedIn Adds New Accessibility Features, Including Auto-Captions on VideosSoftware Helps Employers Fix Problematic Feedback Language Before It’s Delivered‘The Whole Country Shines With a Huge Rainbow’: Same-Sex Marriage Legal in All Mexican StatesDiwali Will Be a Public School Holiday in New York City Starting in 2023Disney Expands Costume Options For Children With DisabilitiesRead the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-the-dei-psaTo learn more about Toby and his company, Mildon - visit: https://www.mildon.co.uk/ Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week my partner and I went to seeU.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor talk in Chicago. She answered most of her questions while walking through the audience, shaking hands, and signing books. The Justice approaches her work with an amazing amount of grace and gentleness and sees her greatest work as being a trailblazer for others. She’s written three children’s books and dedicates an astounding amount of time to speak with young people.At no point were the words, “diversity, equity, and inclusion” spoken, but Justice Sotomayor shared some lessons that resonated with me as universal. She’s openly diabetic and shared a story about a time years ago when she was giving herself an insulin shot in a restaurant restroom. Another woman walked in, and later as Sotomayor was leaving, she overheard that woman say to her friend, “That woman is a drug addict” (referring to Sotomayor). The woman assumed that the insulin shot was drugs. That experience stuck with Justice Sotomayor and years later, she wrote a children’s book called “Just Ask” about how we shouldn’t make assumptions about others, and instead ask questions. Those of you who are familiar with my ARC Method know I wholeheartedly agree!The Justice was also asked about the increasing polarization within our country and the Supreme Court. She emphasized empathy towards everybody, to take a moment to try to put ourselves in their shoes, to take their perspective. She seeks out the good in others, even those, or perhaps especially those, with whom she disagrees, and gave an example of Justice Clarence Thomas’ kindness.Perhaps most importantly, Justice Sotomayor gave us a call to action: “What choice do we have but to keep trying to change things?’ Because if you feel disenfranchised and let other people fight for what they think is right and you’re not willing to get up and fight, then you are just giving it to them.”Here are the good vibes I found this week:Anna May Wong Will Be 1st Asian American Featured on U.S. CurrencyYou Can Now Buy Hearing Aids Over the CounterNew Glassdoor Filters Enable Searches on Demographic Group Ratings and Interests Like Work Life BalanceSocial Security Administration Makes It Easier to Change Sex Marker in RecordsBank of Ireland Offers Workers Paid Menopause LeaveRead the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-justice-sotomayorTo learn more about Brian and Hummingbird Humanity, visit: https://hummingbirdhumanity.com/ Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week, I spent three days (and joyful evenings) with other thought leaders, each working to bring our new keynotes to life with the brilliant team at Heroic Public Speaking. I had a great week and did some fantastic work, but I started to feel a little down on myself once I left. I didn’t feel like writing this morning. Spending three days with other thought leaders can trigger comparisonitis (comparison syndrome). They have how many LinkedIn followers??!!Any one of you could go to a conference of peers, or even read 5 Things and think, “That is such a cool thing that company X is doing…my company stinks and isn’t doing anything significant with DEI.” Or worse: ”They’re such a great leader…I stink compared to them…”Comparisonitis. Comparison has been called the thief of joy – and it causes stagnation. I can’t fulfill my purpose to build a world where people feel safe to be authentically themselves if I let comparison drag me down. What I have to remind myself is that each step I take toward my vision matters.Screw comparisonitis. There will always be those ahead of you and trust me, there will be many others just starting out. Each step you take towards more significant equity and inclusion matters – as an individual, and as an organization. Even simple things like intentionally connecting with people who are different from you, builds momentum that can be world-changing, and life-changing.If you find yourself stuck because of comparisonitis or anything else, reply to this email. Seriously. I read every response and I’ll get back to you ASAP. Oh, and as much as I hate to admit it, external validation helps…so if you listen to the 5 Things in 15 Minutes podcast, will you do me a favor, rate, and review?Here are the good vibes I found this week:Championing Authenticity and Equity: Inside and Outside of YelpWalmart to Cover Fertility Treatments Under Insurance PlanHow Employers Can Set Formerly Incarcerated Workers Up for SuccessThe Who Says Gender-Affirming Care Is Essential to Transgender HealthCVS Drops Prices on Its Tampons and Will Pay the ‘Pink Tax’ Read the full blog hereClick here to learn more about Simone and Your Choice Coach Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

We are in National Hispanic Heritage Month and I’d like to recommend some Latine folks for you to follow and/or hire all year long. Ingrid Harb is my guest on 5 Things in 15 Minutes this week. She’s a fabulous, connective speaker who also leads transformative in-person DEI experiences. You can follow Ingrid here and catch her on my podcast this week.My friend, speaker Miguel Aviles-Perez is based in Puerto Rico, which remains in crisis once again due to the devastation of Hurricane Fiona. Much of the island still lacks power. Miguel is thoughtful and insightful and his energy is amazing! You can follow Miguel here.Finally, we have a new team member here at Equality Institute, Erika Latines, who is a compelling and engaging facilitator and storyteller. You can read more about Erika here. She’s available for our new workshops True Colors and Just the Way You Are, as well as our bestseller, Voices Carry.And if you’re looking for a great novel, I highly recommend the NYT bestseller Olga Dies Dreaming written by my old friend Xochitl Gonzalez. It’s a juicy novel set in NYC and Puerto Rico. I loved it.Here are the good vibes I found this week:Virgin Atlantic Announces Non-Gendered Uniform PolicyAmazon, Hilton, and PepsiCo Among Nearly Four Dozen Major Companies That Commit To Hiring 22,000 RefugeesActivision Blizzard launched a boot camp for industry outsidersCalifornia Job Postings Will Soon Include Pay Ranges Due to a New Salary Transparency Bill Signed Into LawFirst Neurodiversity-Focused Chamber of Commerce Launches in ColoradoRead the full blog hereLearn more about Ingrid and NOTA Inclusion here Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

There was a recurring theme this week in my conversations with clients: how to recover after you’ve been called out or accidentally offended someone. Here’s the short answer: don't get dramatic. Apologize sincerely once without diminishing their experience. If you’re corrected, say thanks. Educate yourself, rather than asking them, so you can do better next time.During an in-person keynote for a corporate client, I was asked a question that took the topic a step further. I was asked, “How much responsibility do I need to continue to take after I’ve offended someone when, after my sincere apology, they remain angry and/or aggressive?”Here are a couple of guidelines: Remember you don’t know what it’s like to walk in their shoes and it’s a good idea to acknowledge that when speaking with the person. And, after an appropriate period of time, it’s OK to ask, “Is there anything I can do to repair this relationship?”Here are the good vibes I found this week:Disabled Models and Designers Take Center Stage at New York Fashion WeekHearst Joins Employers Expanding Benefits to Include Divorce SupportTwilio Promises ‘Anti-racist’ Layoffs as Ceo Says 11% Job Cuts Won’t Hit Workers From ‘Marginalized Communities’ More Than OthersHot Chicken Takeover’s Mission Is to Hire People Who Might Be Passed Over Elsewhere, Whether Because of Prior Incarceration, Drug Addiction, or HomelessnessInterior Department Completes Removal of “Sq___” from Federal Use Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-recoveryTo learn more about Rex, visit: https://www.rexwilde.com/  Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

If you’re a long-time reader of 5 Things, you may have noticed that it doesn’t matter to me why an organization decides to “do the right thing” – to embed equity and inclusion into its systems as a way to accelerate the promises of diversity. I don’t care whether an organization is working on DEI initiatives because everyone else is because they see the promises of higher revenue because they want to reduce turnover, because they don’t want to be left in the dust, or because it’s just the right thing to do. I don’t care why Hard Rock is paying $100 million in wage hikes (as you’ll read below). I care about the long-term benefits.Don’t get me wrong: having an inspirational and aligned purpose will only help organizations get there faster (if they effectively rally employees around that purpose) – but if it’s just about making more money, that’s fine, too. Real change, the systems and policy change that I write about every week here, that I wrote about in my awesome book Inclusive 360, is replicable, scalable, and sustainable. In my conversations with clients, I will keep making the business case because – whatever works.Here are the good vibes I found this week:Patagonia’s Founder Transfers Ownership Into Two Entities to Help Fight the Climate CrisisRunners for the First Time Had the Option to Select Nonbinary, Male, or Female in Response to the Gender Question for their Boston Marathon RegistrationDoordash Invests in Employee Resource Groups by Compensating LeadersCasino Company Hard Rock to Spend $100 Million to Raise Employees’ WagesThis Year Marks the First Ever South Asian New York Fashion Week (SANYFW)Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-no-matter-whyTo learn more about Gearah Goldstein and The GenderCool Project, visit: https://gendercool.org/ Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week I met with a client to prepare for an upcoming keynote. We were discussing some of the company’s DEI challenges, and I heard the familiar comment, “We struggle to get the sales team to care. They don’t get why it’s important.”It’s a common struggle: in many cases, DEI events are voluntary, and many folks on the sales team are in the field. How do you reach them? How do you get them to care?It starts with embedding DEI into the sales meetings and getting the senior leaders at those meetings to care. But there are a few other tricks, best summarized in this lovely feedback I received from a client: They were VERY appreciative of the practical tips for relating to their clients and candidates. I personally felt that her focus on those folks, over their own colleagues, also may have made this feel more like a professional development session than "another DEI lecture" for those that are less receptive to our DEI council's efforts.The sales team is financially motivated. To reach them, share any myriad bits of data about the financial benefits of diversity. Then talk about DEI and cultural competency more broadly in terms of how it relates to their clients and candidates – how do they establish trust with, and NOT accidentally offend their increasingly diverse client and candidate base? No one, especially no one in sales, likes to embarrass themselves in front of a client.Here are the good vibes I found this week:‘Peppa Pig’ Gets Its First Same-Sex Couple – Two Polar Bear MommiesA Swimming Cap Made for Black Hair Gets Official Approval After Previous Olympic BanThe Hubspot Culture Code: “Better to Try and Sometimes Fail Than to Sit Tight...and Fail for Sure.”U.S. Soccer Players Formally Sign Equal Pay AgreementsIf Your Family Makes Less Than $100,000 per Year, Princeton Will Cover All Your TuitionLearn more about John Avila here: https://www.avilacreativeinc.com/Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-the-sales-team Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week I facilitated a conversation with a client about my book Inclusive 360. In the conversation, I was struck by how often my conversations around DEI quickly focus on hiring for diversity. Yes, that’s important, but data tells us that at the entry-level of organizations, the percentage of men vs women, and White people vs BIPOC are fairly balanced. The gaps widen as employees are promoted. Classic unconscious bias.It’s clear to me that organizations should instead prioritize embedding equity into the employee lifecycle to give everyone a fair shot at success and growth. This includes everything from updating and standardizing the performance review process, to inclusive leader training for managers, and coaching for high potentials. There’s a reason that many organizations are paying out big bonuses right now…it can be far more cost-effective to invest in current employees than hire new ones. Yes, we can help you with those things…but here’s how to start making the case for this: share the data that shows it can cost 3x an employee's salary to fill a role (including time spent by other employees as part of the hiring process). Then ask some of your high potentials, “what can we do to keep awesome people like you around?” Listen to the ideas and work through what’s reasonable, bit by bit.Here are the good vibes I found this week:Period Poverty: Scotland First in World to Make Period Products FreeGlobal Consumer Brands Are Wading Into an Uproar Over the Firing of a Popular Female Television AnchorBen & Jerry's and Tony's Chocolonely Team Up To Tackle Cocoa Slave LaborAll-Black, All-Female American Airlines Crew Flies From Dallas to Honor Bessie ColemanRaces Are Finally Making Room for Nonbinary Runners, Whose Stories Are Driving the ChangeRead the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-high-potentialsTo learn more about Geneviéve Jones-Wright and Motivation.In.Action (MIA), visit: https://yourmia.org/ Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week the U.S. Congress passed a significant and transformative climate bill that President Biden is expected to sign. Among many other things, the law will provide many incentives for shifts to clean energy, including rebates for car buyers. I found this timely when I read how GM connects the dots between diversity, equity, and inclusion and its goal to be an electric vehicle leader. Telva McGruder, chief diversity, inclusion, and equity officer at GM, shared:“Our tagline, ‘Everybody in,’ means that we are designing vehicles that will be able to accommodate people regardless of their level of income. So vehicles from low- to high-income price points. It also means people who purchase electric vehicles are going to have the ability to charge them wherever they are, regardless of location…We're also thinking about the impact on the electrical grid, making sure that communities that are typically underrepresented or under-considered when major infrastructure plans are made are indeed represented.” A holistic approach to DEI is deep and robust and hard work. But wow, when it’s thoughtful, what a difference it can make in the lives of others – literally in the lives of Black and brown communities. That’s what matters. Read that whole article above about GM – they’re doing some fantastic stuff with DEI.Here are other good vibes I found this week:Private equity giant Carlyle thinks it’s found the formula for incentivizing diversity workTaco Bell has a unique strategy to improve its frontline ... a six-week program aimed at helping store workers move up the ranksLinkedIn has added nudges to its hiring platform to prompt recruiters to consider diversityGender neutral ‘Mx.’ prefix option added to the Disney experienceRead the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-everybody-inTo learn more about Sarah and Bettman Consulting Group, visit: https://www.bettmanleadership.com/ Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/