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Good afternoon, all -
Imagine launching a book all about the importance of building deep, meaningful connections throughout your career during a global pandemic when we have been socially isolated for 11+ months. Well, that’s me. My book, The Lost Art of Connecting, joins the world on March 23rd (McGraw-Hill). This labor of love offers readers a practical guide to reclaiming the power of human contact and features 30+ interviews with a host of characters ranging from Baratunde Thurston to Cindi Leive to Adam Grant, all sharing their perspectives on connection. In complete candor, I burst into tears recently considering the irony of it all, but then reclaimed my composure when I realized that our ties to one another (via whatever tech platform is our personal choice) is what has kept us sane during these challenging months.
More information about the book is available here and the book is available for presale now on Porchlight or Amazon. If you preorder and email me the receipt, I’d love to make a donation in your name to The 19th, an independent, nonprofit newsroom reporting at the intersection of gender, politics and policy.
Grateful for all of your support. And happy connecting to all!
Susan
PS: My annual roundup of corporate social responsibility trends is live on Newsweek – full of insights from a diverse network of industry leaders.
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ON OUR MINDS
Brought to you this week by senior account executive McKenna Gramoll who is trying to navigate Clubhouse in her free time.
CEO of the COVID vaccine
This week, Axios reported on big businesses getting involved with the rollout of COVID vaccines or alternatively, “what may be the biggest countrywide undertaking of our lifetimes.” McP client Telemundo is providing accessible information on vaccine safety and eligibility to Latinos, who are disproportionately affected by COVID yet less likely to be vaccinated, with its Planifica Tu Vacuna tool. From Amazon to Microsoft to Starbucks, the private sector is offering up its expertise and resources to help federal and local governments think big about distribution. As Arthur Herman, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, puts it: “They [large corporations] can afford to step back and think about their role as a social force in their state and in the country. They also have enormous supply chains and logistical connections.” Regardless of collaboration at the federal level, the biggest impact businesses can have on the vaccine rollout is encouraging their own employees to get vaccinated. From video campaigns to “cheerleading” at clinics, the C-suite can be sure to find itself in an entirely new kind of leadership position this year.
Snow with a chance of partisanship
The winter storm hitting Texas has yielded deadly consequences and rekindled long-overdue conversations about climate change’s worsening extremes and our response to them. Similar to the pandemic and the attack on this year’s election, the disaster in Texas is the latest in a line of reasoning for leaders to put aside partisan interests and collaborate on meaningful solutions. As Dave Pell of NextDraft writes, “Covid didn't care about politics. Neither does climate change. The call to turn Texas Blue was meant politically not in terms of skin temperature.” The tumultuous start to 2021 has opened yet another window of opportunity for corporate and government leaders to put a stake in the ground and work together on our nation’s most pressing challenges. In the meantime, here is a roundup of resources that you can engage with to support those affected by extreme conditions.
Essential pay for essential workers
Kroger – the country’s largest grocery store chain – closed several West Coast retail locations this week after cities like Seattle passed an additional $4-an-hour hazard pay requirement for grocery workers. Kroger’s move comes in direct response to the city’s new ordinance; the retail giant had previously ended its employee hazard pay back in May of 2020. It’s no secret that grocery chains have profited significantly during the pandemic. As a report from Brookings clearly illuminates: “We find that while top retail companies’ profits have soared during the pandemic, pay for their frontline workers — in most cases — has not.” The divide between corporate profit booms and stagnant worker compensation continues to persist across industries. Despite the widening gap, some companies have taken a different path to support their frontline employees. Across the (grocery) aisle, Trader Joe’s increased its workers’ pay by $4 an hour for employees nationwide (forgoing traditional midyear raises) until the pandemic ends or employees are distinctly eligible for a vaccine.
ON OUR RADAR
Do:
- From bystander intervention training to supporting nonprofits to speaking up, learn how you can play a key role in supporting the Asian Pacific Islander community as racist and violent attacks persist.
- Black Owned Everything, a collective founded and curated by stylist and costume designer Zerina Akers, just launched its own marketplace. Shop now.
Read:
- “If Black Lives Matter and Black History Month holds any promise then we must also undo the harms of workplace environments to Black people.” Kimberly Seals Allers shares more about how her leadership skills have been refined through twin pandemics.
- After several notable companies, including social media giants, moderated or outright banned former President Trump, Susan spoke with Adweek about the intersection of CSR and free speech.
- The fashion industry is responsible for 10 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. It needs to be regulated like other big sectors. Read one of Fast Company’s Big Ideas for Biden’s first 100 days: appointing a fashion czar.
- Abby Falik, founder and CEO of Global Citizen Year, shares her insights on how the pandemic altered major-gift fundraising in some very positive ways.
- During the GreenBiz 21 keynote session "All We Can Save: Why We Must Learn from Indigenous Wisdom," Tara Houska and Katharine Wilkinson share their perspectives on environmental responsibility. Read the takeaways.
- In advance of her book launch next month, Susan penned a new piece about bringing your “authentic self” to work for Harvard Business Review.
Watch:
Listen:
- McPherson’s own (incredibly talented) Lauren Hill (aka Elle Nikole) just dropped her latest single, “In The Way.” Listen now!
- Client Dr. Angela Jackson is at the center of a movement to build a more equitable future of work. Tune in as she talks with SOCAP about funding, equity, and workforce development.
Subscribe:
- We Are For Good is a community of movers, shakers and innovators in the nonprofit and social good industry. Subscribe to the team's newsletter to stay up-to-date (and check out their must-listen podcast – recently featuring Susan!).
- The New York Times’ In Her Words newsletter has long been a team favorite. Check out a recent edition, featuring Melanne Verveer’s take on the creation of the White House’s Gender Policy Council.
Apply:
- The Levi Strauss Foundation is accepting applications for its “Pioneers in Justice initiative,” which invests in the learning, resilience, and impact of all female-identifying social justice leaders of color. The deadline to apply is March 19 (self-nominations are welcome).
- Haven is a new nonprofit of BIPOC womxn rooted towards abolition, liberation and healing through art and storytelling. Learn more about its open Executive Director role.
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