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ON OUR MINDS
Brought to you this week by our CEO Susan McPherson, who has never met a dog she doesn’t like (OK, love).
Finally, meaningful action on guns (just not from who you might expect)
With politicians continuing to drag their feet, CEOs are embracing a leadership role in addressing our country’s gun violence epidemic. Following the El Paso shooting, Walmart announced that it would discontinue sales of handgun and other ammunition that can be used in mass shootings, and would ask shoppers to not openly carry firearms. Other retailers followed suit. Just yesterday, 145 CEOs from companies including Levi Strauss, Twitter and Uber, stepped up in the largest private sector coalition yet, penning this letter to Senate leaders: “Doing nothing about America’s gun violence crisis is simply unacceptable and it is time to stand with the American public on gun safety.” Give organizations like Moms Demand Action major credit here in helping cultivate the mainstream support that emboldened companies to take a stand.
Trouble for teens
This week, the MIT Technology Review highlighted a recent JAMA Psychiatry study on teen social media use. The research found that teens who spend more than three hours a day on social media are more likely to develop mental health problems including depression, anxiety, aggression and antisocial behavior. Sound like something you've heard before? While we’ve seen studies — often conflicting — like this previously, the new research is yet another reminder of the importance of paying attention to how younger generations continually adopt new ways of using technology, from the proliferation of TikTok to DMing in place of texting. Reading studies like this makes us all the more thankful for services like the Crisis Text Line, founded by Nancy Lublin. Learn more about how you can get involved.
Award-winning AND world-changing
With award-winning films like Roma, RBG, and more, Participant has had an amazing year, by all accounts — and it’s been doing so by telling stories that compel audiences to think, to act… to all become Participants. This Stanford Social Innovation Review piece talks about how Roma, for instance, shined a spotlight on the issues of domestic workers’ rights in Mexico and — through Participant’s strategic partnership with the Center for Support and Training of Household Employees (CACEH) and their leader Marcelina Bautista — helped set the stage for meaningful change. Holly Gordon, Participant’s chief impact officer, explained how film can be a powerful tool for companies, sharing the example of RBG, which gave “law firms and companies a way to talk to their employees about their own commitment to these issues of equity, and... a way to share with their community.”
ON OUR RADAR
Read:
- Two amazing new books out this week: “For the Love of Men” by the dynamic journalist Liz Plank, and “She Said” by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporters who broke the news of Harvey Weinstein's sexual harassment.
- Is the landmark Business Roundtable statement about the purpose of corporations “virtue signaling” or something more? A smart overview in Christian Science Monitor (you’ll recognize a familiar name in the introduction!).
Cheer:
- Bravo to Alaska Airlines for launching the #FillBeforeYouFly campaign: "The airline will plant a tree for every passenger who brings a pre-filled water bottle onto their flight and posts a photo to social media tagging @AlaskaAir with the hashtag #FillBeforeYouFly."
- American fashion designer Gabriela Hearst’s New York Fashion Week show this week was reportedly carbon neutral. Now Gucci, too, says it’s on its way to becoming carbon neutral.
Subscribe:
- The Sunday Long Read, brought you to by Don Van Natta and team, graces your inbox every Sunday morning with all the best long reads of the previous week. You’ll discover so many gems, you won’t know where to start!
Listen:
- Thanks to New York Magazine for this exciting roster of new podcasts. A few that caught our eye:
- "Dolly Parton’s America" (WNYC Studios) is a nine-part series that will do a deep dive on the entertainer’s life and long-lasting appeal.
- "Short Wave" (NPR) is a soon-to-launch daily podcast that “will draw on the strength of its science desk to help listeners see the world a little differently.”
Watch:
- Written and produced by Josh Healy, the web series "The North Pole" just dropped its new season this week. The episodes showcase immigrant rights, wildfires, and the epic battle of the millennial generation: tacos or tamales?
- Judy (2019) is a retelling of the tragic but brilliant life of actress and performer, Judy Garland. Star Renée Zellweger makes a very strong comeback, and it could very well win her an Oscar for the performance.
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Go:
- We’re thrilled to be working with The Riveter Summit, a new event coming to NYC November 6 and 7. With speakers like Stacey Abrams, Jessica Bennett, Arlan Hamilton and Rebecca Minkoff, this is one you do NOT want to miss. Tickets here.
Meet:
- Congrats to Tiffany Dufu on closing the first $1 million round of funding for The Cru! Even better, Tiffany shares her insights on how other women can reach their own million-dollar milestone.
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