|
ON OUR MINDS
Brought to you this week by McPherson Strategies account director who always roots for the underdog (even as a cat mom), Isabelle Jetté.
Migrant children now face indefinite detention.
While children around the country are heading back to school, the plight of migrant children at the border is once again making headlines. Last week, the Trump administration announced a new rule, set to take effect in 60 days, that would roll back the Flores agreement, which specifies children cannot be detained for more than 20 days. Border Control would therefore have the ability to hold children indefinitely in conditions that are nothing short of inhumane. In the words of California Governor Newsom, who announced on Monday that a coalition of 19 states and D.C. would seek to block the rule, it’s completely “perverse” and “unconscionable” to consider further exposing children to such conditions. When children are constrained and unable to learn, play and create, their emotional and psychological growth is stunted, putting their future prospects in jeopardy. If you wish to help, here’s how you can get involved.
The U.S. has a colossal labor shortage. Here’s what can be done about it.
Based on the Dept. of Labor’s most recently released data, the U.S. has experienced an ongoing labor shortage for the past 16 months -- a record. And, surprisingly, this is only partly attributable to growing demand for STEM workers; the scarcity is actually being driven by employees in blue-collar jobs who are quitting en masse for better prospects, while the future workforce is pursuing advanced degrees at higher rates. Wages for low-skilled jobs need to rise in order to attract and retain talent, and the reality is our economy needs more, not less, migrant workers. We also need to offer a pathway to jobs for the pool of nearly 5 million disconnected “opportunity” youth who are neither enrolled in school nor participating in the workforce. Cities and NGOs are actively pursuing solutions, and we look forward to seeing more companies step up as well, as this call to action to the Business Roundtable aptly puts it.
The future of work is female -- or is it?
The importance of having women in the workforce is undeniable. In fact, gender-diverse companies outperform their competitors by 21 percent. However, in the age of automation, artificial intelligence technologies, and the gig economy, up to 160 million women will need to transition across occupations and sectors or fundamentally change how they work. What can the business sector do to create future-of-work strategies that work for women? A new report from our friends at BSR (Business for Social Responsibility) highlights ways that businesses can change internal policies, partner with organizations, and influence legislation to ensure that “women of all backgrounds are valued and supported to fully participate in and lead the workplaces of the future.”
ON OUR RADAR
Watch:
- Missy Elliott. Mic. Drop.
- 16-year old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who arrived in NYC Wednesday following a two-week sea voyage aboard a zero-emissions yacht to attend the UN Climate Action Summit and raise awareness of the global climate crisis, had this powerful message for President Trump.
Listen:
- As part of The New York Times’ “The 1619 Project,” an important undertaking marking the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery, the “1619” podcast is a masterful and long-overdue retelling of the country’s history through the lens of slavery.
Cheer:
Follow:
- Follow The Riveter’s Amy Nelson on Instagram for a real-life look at what it’s like to be a CEO and mom of four.
- Check out #IMadeYourFood, an amazing social campaign that celebrates the personal stories of FoodToEat’s local food vendors run by immigrant and women business owners throughout NYC.
Read:
Subscribe:
- Make sure you stay in the know with NPR’s Daily Newsletter, which offers intelligent coverage of the day’s top news along with unique feature stories.
Apply:
- Tiffany & Co. is hiring a manager to join its Global Sustainability team. See here for more details.
- Team McPherson is hiring too! We’re looking for a whip-smart account manager with a passion for social good; if that sounds like you or someone you know, we want to hear from you!
|
