A Bit of Wisdom

One hundred years ago this month, the United States Congress passed the 19th amendment, extending suffrage to all citizens regardless of sex. And on Monday this week, the Supreme Court ruled that workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation is illegal, a landmark case that reverses legislation in more than half of U.S. states. Though separated by ten decades, both acts serve as remarkable equal rights victories fueled by an unflagging determination that helped put an end to overdue practices for the betterment of our society. 

And it’s in this spirit, this commitment to democracy, that we look to 2020’s second half. Because on November 3rd, Americans will participate in the 59th presidential election that will also serve as a referendum on 35 U.S. Senate seats and scores of down-ballot races. While seemingly every election is billed as the “most important of our lifetime,” it may be a fair assessment this time around given the reality of an unabating global health pandemic amidst nationwide protesting of police brutality, plus ever-present issues such as climate change, economic uncertainty, and human rights. And, now, with an election and a pandemic running parallel, we’re likely to see attempts at voter suppression coupled with potential logistical issues. To help mitigate these problems, businesses can play a unique role here. At AW, like in Illinois, we’re making Election Day a holiday, encouraging our employees to vote and volunteer when possible. We’re also donating to organizations dedicated to maintaining fair elections. Because while this year has been unexpectedly turbulent (necessarily so in places), we can prepare for this if we’re all in.