THE MCPHERSON MEMO

ON OUR MINDS

Brought to you this week by McPherson Strategies Managing Director and karaoke queen, Kasia Reterska.

A gallant move from Highlights

Like so many in this country, we were devastated to hear the latest reports about conditions at the border and the ongoing separation of children from their families. We were encouraged when children’s magazine Highlights took a stand last week, with this powerful statement condemning family separation. Key point: “This is not a political statement about immigration policy. This is a statement about human decency, plain and simple.” THIS is what corporate responsibility looks like in 2019: using your platform to stand against policies that conflict with core beliefs and values. 

Rainbows, rainbows everywhere

That’s a wrap on Pride month! #RainbowWashing, anyone? We sure hope not. Everywhere you turned during Pride, rainbows and pro-LGBTQ sentiments screamed loud and proud. On storefronts, with your bank teller, at gas stations, subways, and the like. We’re loving all the gay love. Just hope that it sticks and isn’t just a fly by night marketing play. Companies that are serious about pride have to walk the talk and give queer equality the love it needs the other eleven months of the year. Here’s a fine piece that speaks to this. 

330+ corporations stand up for reproductive health care 

We’re proud to share that our team, in partnership with NARAL (client), ACLU, Planned Parenthood and the Center for Reproductive Rights, created the #DontBanEquality campaign. You may have seen the full-page letter in The New York Times signed by leaders from 187 companies including Bloomberg LP, H&M, Square, M∙A∙C Cosmetics, Yelp, Eileen Fisher and more. The message: you can’t have equality in the workplace if people don’t have access to reproductive health care. To date, the number of signatories has grown to 330+. Susan spoke about the campaign, which was covered in all major media outlets, with CNN’s Richard Quest. We’re hearing from companies that the response from employees and consumers has been mostly positive — and that’s certainly encouraging, since there’s still a lot of work to be done. 

9 in 10 consumers say they support companies standing up for social impact 

Porter Novelli and Cone Communications published new research showing that American consumers give a damn and spend their money with purpose-driven companies. The findings go beyond the numbers and look at how consumers feel and physically react when exposed to purpose-driven messaging. 


ON OUR RADAR

Listen: 

• Internet pioneer Caterina Fake hosts Should This Exist, a podcast that explores how technology is impacting our humanity (brought to you by WaitWhat, a McPherson client and the new media gurus behind the ubiquitous TED talks). 
• Terrible, Thanks For Asking, from the exceptional Nora McInerny, explores the funny, awkward, honest, sometimes-painful experience of being human. 

Watch:

• Rockstar comedian and activist Baratunde Thurston brings us his timely and thought-provoking TED Talk: How to deconstruct racism, one headline at a time.
• When They See Us, Ava DuVernay’s powerful limited series on Netflix (produced by client Participant Media), tells the story about the five boys of color now known as the “Exonerated Five” who were wrongfully convicted following the vicious attack in Central Park in the spring of 1989. Bonus: watch Oprah Winfrey’s special, When They See Us Now. 

Subscribe: 

• Moral Money, the new newsletter from the Financial Times, covers corporate responsibility, ESG trends, sustainability and impact investing. Spot-on content! 

Read:

• Winners Take All, the elite charade of changing the world from the brilliant brain of Anand Giridharadas.
• Priya Parker’s The Art of Gathering is a timely and inspiring guide for invigorating group experiences. For a taste, watch her TED Talk on the power of collective thinking and action through the simple act of gathering.

Follow: 

• Ilyse Hogue, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America, is the warrior we need right now — and one of our favorite people to follow Twitter.