5 Things In 15 Minutes: Good Vibes in DEI (Bernadette Smith)

This week I received a message from a former client: "Yippee for our marriages being codified into law!"

Some of you may know that I spent years as a wedding planner with an LGBTQ+ specialty and a speaker on inclusion in that industry. I started that business in 2004. I was so young! It's been nearly 19 years since the first legal same-sex marriage licenses were issued in Massachusetts -- and only NOW are those marriages — and interracial marriages – codified into federal law, thanks to the Respect for Marriage Act. Those marriages were allowed due to Supreme Court decisions, which could have potentially been challenged.

19 years of waiting for same-sex marriages; 55 years of waiting for interracial marriages to become officially official.

Still, I'll take it. I'll celebrate it. And here it is, in 5 Things.

I'll take progress towards equality in most forms. Progress, even with caveats, as this law has. More equity and inclusion that starts tomorrow, next year, or the year after.

In the new year, I’ll keep sharing 5 Things, and maybe one of these stories will inspire you to take the next step forward toward greater equity and inclusion.

Just start.

To cap off the year, I’m sharing what I found to be the top 5 good vibes of the year, that I predict will become more common and expected in years to come.

Here are my top 5 good vibes of the year:

1. Hybrid Work Models
2. Companies Speaking Out Against Injustice
3. Awareness That Diversity Means Everyone
4. Diversity in Sports
5. Four-Day Workweeks Gain Momentum

Read the full blog here: www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-the-year-in-good-vibes

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:

1. UMB Honors Service Dogs with ‘Dogtorate’ Degrees
2. Illinois Becomes the First State in the U.S. To Ban Book Bans
3. Characters With Disabilities At the Center Of New TV Show
4. NYC’s Food Delivery Workers Will Be the First in the Country to Get a Minimum Wage
5. The U.S. Army Renames a Base in Honor of Sgt. William Henry Johnson, a Black WWI Hero

Call to Action:

Know someone whose child recently came out as trans? The Cut offers this fantastic Transgender Family Handbook, 144 specific suggestions, curated from trans young people and their loved ones.

Read the full blog here.

Connect with THERESA FLETCHER-BROWN here.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Rubén Alejandro Ramírez, Group Head Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Syngenta Group and I will recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week our conversation is about Apple podcasts becoming more accessible, psychedelics, DEI jobs, and more!

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. JPMorgan fully committed to DEI
2. Billionaire couple gifts $100 million to Spelman College
3. DEI jobs alive and well
4. More employers offering psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy
5. More accessible Apple podcasts

This week's Call to Action:

Ready to do the work? Check out the book Reconstructing DEI: A Practitioner's Workbook by Lily Zheng to get yourself into action!

Read the Stories: https://theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/accountability

Connect with Rubén Alejandro Ramírez:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rubenalejandro/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Happy new year! I hope this year is a wonderful one for you, personally and professionally. As always, I’m optimistic that we’re all on the right side of history. I’ll keep sharing the good vibes with you every week and cheer you on along on this DEI journey.

Lately, I’ve had some conversations with people who’ve shared with me how they’ve been using 5 Things. You’re a creative bunch! I can’t tell you how happy it makes me that 5 Things resonates with you, and that you actually use it.

Here are 5 ways you can use 5 Things:

• Bring it to a weekly team meeting and choose an item to discuss as part of the agenda
• Share a story from 5 Things in your internal DEI newsletter
• Bring one idea from 5 Things to each DEI Council meeting for discussion
• Share it with someone you’d like to reconnect with - tell them that you saw this and thought of them
• Test some things out! If you see a story that sounds like something that could work at your org, then get the right people in the room to figure out how to make it happen.

My word of the year is deepen and that includes deepening my relationships with any of you. In part, that means that I’m going to start sharing these 5 Things daily on TikTok…you can find me over there @5ThingsDEI. Doing this makes me very uncomfortable, but I’m doing it anyway because the world needs these messages.

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. Hershey Launches 1st Bilingual Manufacturing Facility
2. 911 Dispatchers in Montreal Are Learning to Stop It Racial Bias Calls
3. West Point Will Remove Confederate Symbols from Its Campus
4. The White House Gets Its Own Menorah for the First Time
5. The Ex Manifesto; The Definitions, the Values, and the Principles of Ex and Ex Design 

Read the full blog here.

To learn more about Minette, visit her website: www.minettenorman.com

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are this week's good vibes:

PBS Kids Adds ASL to Six Shows

Delta Continues to Invest in Employees

Korean Company Uses Korean Names

Retail/Grocery Employees to Have More Protections

Dell Sees ERG Success

This week's Call to Action: Join my next DEI Double Feature: The Belonging Buzzword. I’m hosting it with Michelle Silverthorn on May 8 and you can join right here! 

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-unique-wisdom 

Connect with Joel Davis Brown: https://joeldavisbrown.com/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. More states strive to make parks, trails accessible
2. Dove and Open Source Afro Hair Library launch Code My Crown
3. Companies leading in disability inclusion outperform peers
4. Companies offer more generous bereavement leave in pandemic’s wake and expand who counts as ‘family’
5. AI is helping new parents apply for paid leave

This week's call to action: Listen to this interview with Better Allies’ Karen Catlin as she talks about inclusive holiday parties. It’s here on the Visible Voices podcast.

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-cat-equity

Connect with Carlos Herrera: https://www.linkedin.com/in/herreracarlos/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

In this week's Good Vibes, in honor of yesterday's Transgender Day of Visibility, I’d like to introduce you to some amazing transgender business owners, many of whom are authors. I hope you’ll consider following and supporting them:

Celia Daniels (she/her)

I am an Asian Indian trans woman of color who is an entrepreneur, public speaker, activist, motivator, musician, artist, photographer, and filmmaker. Growing up as a lonely closeted kid from Southern India with stigma, discrimination, and gender dysphoria, I write and speak passionately about the struggles and challenges I faced in my family, work, school, and community both in the US and India. Visit Celia's Linkedin page

Robbie Samuels (he/him)

I'm an event design consultant and executive Zoom producer, with a passion for creating engaging and unforgettable experiences. With two decades of experience in the meetings and events industry, I have honed my skills in designing and executing events that leave a lasting impression. I'm openly trans and own a Certified LGBT Business Enterprise. Visit Robbie's Linkedin page

Ashley Brundage (she/her)

I advanced my career from a part-time bank teller to a vice president of the national diversity and inclusion team at PNC Bank in less than 5 years. I celebrated my authenticity, and empowered myself, and others, to create a stronger community…Everyone’s journey will look different, but these methods can produce similar results and the takeaways of the book (Empowering Differences) can be applied to anyone. Visit Ashley's Linkedin page

Lily Zheng (they/them)

I help leaders achieve diversity, equity, and inclusion as real and measurable outcomes of organizations, rather than just the aspirational intentions of individuals. My clients are organizations and leaders of organizations looking for approaches grounded in data of all kinds, rooted in outcomes and effectiveness, and informed by a systemic approach to organizational problem-solving. Visit Lily's Linkedin page

Rhodes Perry (he/him)

I help leaders build psychological safety, trust, and belonging at work. I created the Belonging at Work Summit, an annual virtual conference empowering DEI practitioners to build community, gain new skills, and recommit to building healthier workplace cultures. Visit Rhodes' Linkedin page

Call to Action:

Follow some of the amazing people above and buy their books. And, please, please let your transgender employees know that you’ve got their backs. Here are Rhodes Perry’s tips on Ways You Can Show Up for Your Transgender and Nonbinary Colleagues.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Molly Vetter (she/her), Senior Pastor, Westwood Church, and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. Molly and I were friends at college and she was a strong and visible ally and advocate during the United Methodist Church’s recent decision to lift bans on LGBTQ+ clergy and same-sex weddings. She shared some of that story with us. 

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. 80% of Mattel Games Are Color-Blind Accessible
2. First-Ever Nursery at Olympics Athletes Village
3. Caroline’s Carts Debuting At Walmart
4. JPMorgan’s Second Chance Agenda is Working
5. NPS’s First-Ever LGBTQ Visitor Center Is Open

This week's Call to Action:

International Allyship Day is August 8 and my friend Julie Kratz is hosting an event live in NYC or virtually. The event will bring together industry-leading organizations to share best practices and help others develop their own unique Allyship programming. Get the details here. 

Read this week’s stories.

Connect with Molly here: www.westwoodumc.org or @revmollyvetter on Insta 

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Today our Senior Consultant Patti Flynn is joining me as a guest writer. 

This week was (and still is through today) Trans Awareness Week. This week culminates in the Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR) tomorrow, on November 20th. TDOR was started in 1999 by a transgender advocate as a vigil to the memory of Rita Hester who was killed in anti-transgender violence. The somber nature of the end of the week stands in contrast to the prior 7 days when trans people (and cisgender allies) educate and take action. We bring attention to and lift up the work of trans creators, celebrate the success of trans people in public life, and amplify the voices of trans advocates and activists. We show the world our shared humanity and I hope that leads to more acceptance and less discrimination.

Although my TDOR this year will be extra difficult as I say the name of a dear friend, I know that the example she provided to so many when she was with us here in Chicago resonates. Her advocacy and activism inspire my own, and that of many others. So, while we mourn those losses, we look forward to a brighter future. A future that is truly possible with some help from our (cis) friends.

There are ways that you can help as an ally. Find a vigil in your area and go to support those there grieving, keeping in mind that this event is by and for the trans community. Seek out information about anti-trans legislation in your state, or a neighboring state, and contact your representative to register your opposition, and encourage others to do the same. And lastly, educate yourself – watching the documentary “Disclosure” on Netflix is a good starting point. Or check out the GenderCool YouTube Channel for some inspiration.

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. The First Female Crash Dummy Has Arrived
2. How Stunning Images from Space Were Brought to Life for the Visually Impaired
3. All-Terrain Wheelchairs Arrive at U.S. Parks: ‘This Is Life-Changing’
4. & 5. Self-Expression Within Airline Uniform Standards

To learn more about Jess, visit: https://jesspettitt.com/

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-remembrance

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Brenda Harrington, PCC (she/her), founder of Adaptive Leadership Strategies LLC, and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI). This week our conversation is about the 49ers Black Excellence Collection, Lyft’s commitment to driver pay, and more!

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. 49ERS Launch Black Excellence Collection
2. Poker Power for Women+
3. Lyft Takes Care of Its Drivers
4. m.m.lafleur Dresses Women Candidates
5. Apple to Achieve Gender Balance on Its Board

This week's Call to Action:

It’s Black History Month! Support small businesses with this list of 21 Businesses Owned by Black Women and Non-Binary Folx. 

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-fast-car

Connect with Brenda Harrington: https://adaptiveleadershipstrategies.com/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendaharrington

Brenda's book: Access Denied: Addressing Workplace Disparities and Discrimination: https://access-denied.net/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week my partner and I went to seeU.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor talk in Chicago. She answered most of her questions while walking through the audience, shaking hands, and signing books. The Justice approaches her work with an amazing amount of grace and gentleness and sees her greatest work as being a trailblazer for others. She’s written three children’s books and dedicates an astounding amount of time to speak with young people.

At no point were the words, “diversity, equity, and inclusion” spoken, but Justice Sotomayor shared some lessons that resonated with me as universal. She’s openly diabetic and shared a story about a time years ago when she was giving herself an insulin shot in a restaurant restroom. Another woman walked in, and later as Sotomayor was leaving, she overheard that woman say to her friend, “That woman is a drug addict” (referring to Sotomayor). The woman assumed that the insulin shot was drugs. That experience stuck with Justice Sotomayor and years later, she wrote a children’s book called “Just Ask” about how we shouldn’t make assumptions about others, and instead ask questions. Those of you who are familiar with my ARC Method know I wholeheartedly agree!

The Justice was also asked about the increasing polarization within our country and the Supreme Court. She emphasized empathy towards everybody, to take a moment to try to put ourselves in their shoes, to take their perspective. She seeks out the good in others, even those, or perhaps especially those, with whom she disagrees, and gave an example of Justice Clarence Thomas’ kindness.

Perhaps most importantly, Justice Sotomayor gave us a call to action: “What choice do we have but to keep trying to change things?’ Because if you feel disenfranchised and let other people fight for what they think is right and you’re not willing to get up and fight, then you are just giving it to them.”

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. Anna May Wong Will Be 1st Asian American Featured on U.S. Currency
2. You Can Now Buy Hearing Aids Over the Counter
3. New Glassdoor Filters Enable Searches on Demographic Group Ratings and Interests Like Work Life Balance
4. Social Security Administration Makes It Easier to Change Sex Marker in Records
5. Bank of Ireland Offers Workers Paid Menopause Leave

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-justice-sotomayor

To learn more about Brian and Hummingbird Humanity, visit: https://hummingbirdhumanity.com/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week I delivered a keynote and I had a question from a manager who was struggling with an employee who was disrupting the team with negativity and hate.

I believe it always comes back to empathy, in this case, the manager having empathy for that employee. Whether we’re talking about conversations about politics or race, or whatever, inclusion always comes back to empathy. After all, I only know my lived experience, and it’s been full of privilege.

My mom used to say, “You can't understand someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes” – and I think that message is still accurate.

What I believe is that each of us was born a pure kind soul, and then life happened. Maybe we felt left out from our older siblings or cousins. Maybe someone at school called us a name, and that was the first time we knew we were different. Maybe there was addiction in the family. Maybe grandma was the parental figure because the actual parent was in prison due to mass incarceration. Any of the above. And worse. We’re all walking around with our baggage, our Traumas big and little. It’s been said that hurt people hurt people. Just trying to protect ourselves.

It can be incredibly hard to be empathetic, especially if we find ourselves in fight or flight mode. That’s where mindfulness comes in. Breathe, breathe, breathe. I’m working on this myself. Always a work in progress.

From that empathetic space, we can become more curious about what’s going on, and then lead with compassion. That’s how people change behavior.

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. How the MCA Chicago Transformed Its Collection at Unprecedented Speed to Better Reflect Its Audience
2. Reviving Sales at Kay and Zales: How Signet CEO Gina Drosos Pulled America’s Biggest Jeweler Out of a Long Slump
3. Vancity Employees Will Receive $10K in Mental Health Coverage Starting July 1, 2023
4. Publicis Groupe’s CEO Has Launched an Initiative to Remove the Stigma of Working with Cancer
5. L'oréal Made A Handheld, Motorized Device That Helps People With Disabilities Apply Lipstick. It's Meant To Give Users Independence

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-always-empathy

To learn more about Lee Rubin, visit: https://www.leerubin.org/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week I facilitated a conversation with a client about my book Inclusive 360. In the conversation, I was struck by how often my conversations around DEI quickly focus on hiring for diversity. Yes, that’s important, but data tells us that at the entry-level of organizations, the percentage of men vs women, and White people vs BIPOC are fairly balanced. The gaps widen as employees are promoted. Classic unconscious bias.

It’s clear to me that organizations should instead prioritize embedding equity into the employee lifecycle to give everyone a fair shot at success and growth. This includes everything from updating and standardizing the performance review process, to inclusive leader training for managers, and coaching for high potentials. There’s a reason that many organizations are paying out big bonuses right now…it can be far more cost-effective to invest in current employees than hire new ones. 

Yes, we can help you with those things…but here’s how to start making the case for this: share the data that shows it can cost 3x an employee's salary to fill a role (including time spent by other employees as part of the hiring process). Then ask some of your high potentials, “what can we do to keep awesome people like you around?” Listen to the ideas and work through what’s reasonable, bit by bit.

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. Period Poverty: Scotland First in World to Make Period Products Free
2. Global Consumer Brands Are Wading Into an Uproar Over the Firing of a Popular Female Television Anchor
3. Ben & Jerry's and Tony's Chocolonely Team Up To Tackle Cocoa Slave Labor
4. All-Black, All-Female American Airlines Crew Flies From Dallas to Honor Bessie Coleman
5. Races Are Finally Making Room for Nonbinary Runners, Whose Stories Are Driving the Change

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-high-potentials

To learn more about Geneviéve Jones-Wright and Motivation.In.Action (MIA), visit: https://yourmia.org/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

I originally started this newsletter with a story about a mistaken assumption I made but my editor told me, “It comes across to me like you are downplaying biases… and I think this also shows your privilege that you don't have to deal with biased situations as others do.”

I’m here for accountability. It’s my job to keep my team both diverse and psychologically safe where each person feels comfortable expressing constructive feedback directly to me. I’m always still learning – and yes, I still have mistaken assumptions. 

A few weeks ago, I had a sales conversation with a medical professional who told me about a recent time in which an “older, white doctor from the South Suburbs” misgendered a transgender patient. My mind painted a picture of that doctor. I asked, “Did the patient file a complaint against him?” Turns out the doctor is a woman. I was embarrassed about that mistaken assumption in front of a potential client.

It’s remarkable. All the work I do, and my assumptions and biases still show up. My privilege still shows up. And if it shows up for me, I’m sure it shows up for you as well. But the more we talk about it, the more we can interrupt it.

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. New D.C. Strip Mall Is Dedicated To Black-Owned Businesses
2. President Biden Signs Cantwell-Capito Equal Pay Bill Into Law
3. North Carolina Updates License Plate Rules & the Roads Just Got a Whole Lot Gayer
4. Chipotle Plans to Hire 15,000 Restaurant Workers as It Plans Double in Size to 7,000 Restaurants in the Coming Years
5. You Can Now Add Top-Surgery Scars, Binders, and Hearing Aids to Your ‘Sims’ Characters

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-always-assuming

To learn more about Stan, visit his site here: https://www.totalengagementconsulting.com/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week's Good Vibes:

1. Apple Created Its New Voice Feature For—and With—People With ALS
2. Autodesk Renames Its “Diversity and Inclusion” Team to the “Diversity and Belonging” Team
3. New York City Passes Bill Banning Weight Discrimination
4. Starbucks’ New Gender-Inclusive Ad Starring Trans Model
5. Canada Labour Code to Ensure Access to Menstrual Products at Work Starting December 15

Call to Action:

Listen to this interview with Target CEO Brian Cornell on the Leadership Next Podcast. Spoiler alert: he’s a true believer in DEI.

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-patience

To learn more about Jessica and her book, visit: https://www.jessicabantom.com/designforidentity

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:

1. Selma Blair and Isaac Mizrahi Debut Accessible Fashion Collection: 'A Real Dream Come True'
2. Job Market Transparency Soars: 50% of Indeed Postings Now Include Salary Info, a 25% Increase from 2020
3. Mauritius Decriminalizes Gay Sex in Historic Ruling
4. Dictionary.com's Inclusive Language Evolution: Embracing Diversity and Gender-Neutrality
5. Levi Strauss Champions Mental Health in the Workplace: A Progressive Approach to Employee Well-being

This Week’s Call to Action:

Check out Bo Young Lee's insightful LinkedIn post titled "Using DEI Tools to Support Your Employees in Navigating Current Events." Bo's concise and well-structured framework can be effortlessly applied to enhance your approach.

Connect with Tom on Linkedin or by visiting: psychsafety.co.uk

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Karl Dunn (he/him), Author of How to Burn a Rainbow, and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week our conversation is about up-front tuition funding, increased safety for women travelers in India, Pottery Barn’s latest collection, and more!

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. DNC Showcases Diverse-Owned Businesses at Vendor Fair
2. Pottery Barn Expands Accessible Products
3. IndiGo Airlines Improves Safety for Women
4. Stress Relief for NYC Transit Workers
5. Trane Offers Up-Front Funding for Tuition

This week's Call to Action:

Read this great article by Tom Geraghty: Psychological safety should support DEI, not replace it.

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-joy

Connect with Karl Dunn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/karldunn/ and https://www.karldunn.com/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

We are in National Hispanic Heritage Month and I’d like to recommend some Latine folks for you to follow and/or hire all year long. Ingrid Harb is my guest on 5 Things in 15 Minutes this week. She’s a fabulous, connective speaker who also leads transformative in-person DEI experiences. You can follow Ingrid here and catch her on my podcast this week.

My friend, speaker Miguel Aviles-Perez is based in Puerto Rico, which remains in crisis once again due to the devastation of Hurricane Fiona. Much of the island still lacks power. Miguel is thoughtful and insightful and his energy is amazing! You can follow Miguel here.

Finally, we have a new team member here at Equality Institute, Erika Latines, who is a compelling and engaging facilitator and storyteller. You can read more about Erika here. She’s available for our new workshops True Colors and Just the Way You Are, as well as our bestseller, Voices Carry.

And if you’re looking for a great novel, I highly recommend the NYT bestseller Olga Dies Dreaming written by my old friend Xochitl Gonzalez. It’s a juicy novel set in NYC and Puerto Rico. I loved it.

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. Virgin Atlantic Announces Non-Gendered Uniform Policy
2. Amazon, Hilton, and PepsiCo Among Nearly Four Dozen Major Companies That Commit To Hiring 22,000 Refugees
3. Activision Blizzard launched a boot camp for industry outsiders
4. California Job Postings Will Soon Include Pay Ranges Due to a New Salary Transparency Bill Signed Into Law
5. First Neurodiversity-Focused Chamber of Commerce Launches in Colorado

Read the full blog here

Learn more about Ingrid and NOTA Inclusion here

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Katherine Longhi (she/her), Inclusive Culture Consultant at Limitless Possibility, and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week, our conversation is about Starbucks serving up parental leave perks, justice literally taking the stage, Walmart’s game-changing visual interpretation initiative, and more!

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Starbucks Serves Up Parental Leave Perks
2. Justice Takes the Stage—Literally!
3. Walmart Provides Visual Interpretation
4. Breaking Up Is Hard to Hide
5. Hasbro Plays to Win on Innovation

Good Vibes to Go: 

Bernadette’s GVTG: Listen to this short National Public Radio segment about President Jimmy Carter’s “legacy of advancing progress for Black women.” I wasn’t previously aware of the appointments he made and the opportunities he created. 

Katherine's GVTG: Get uncomfortable. One way is to read the book White Women: Everything You Already Know About Your Own Racism and How to Do Better by Regina Jackson and Saira Rao

Read the Stories.

Connect with Katherine Longhi.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

 I discovered that there were a lot of really inspirational actions being taken to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive world, but typical news stories focus more on negativity. I decided to begin sharing what I consider to be "good vibes" each week in an effort to provide a little bit of hope -- to others, and to myself! 5 Things caught on quickly and now thousands of leaders around the world receive 5 Things and share them with their organizations, families, and friends.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Erica Vogel, Author: Advice from Your Trans Aunty, and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week our conversation is about women leading in the NFL, voting rights never going out of style, and, of course, legacy privilege getting the boot. 

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Levi's: Voting Rights Never Go Out of Style
2. Women Leading NFL—And Winning!
3. Bye-Bye, Legacy Privilege!
4. BoA Boosts Teller Pay
5. Outing Isn’t an Option Anymore

Good Vibes to Go: 

There are a number of Jewish holidays coming up – and Rosh Hoshana just wrapped. Learn the dates and some tips for your team in this LinkedIn post by Nate Shalev. 

Erica’s tip: Be kind to trans folks; escort them to public bathrooms; talk to them using their correct names and pronouns. Before you ask an invasive question, particularly about bodies, ask yourself if you would be uncomfortable with someone asking you that same question. And if so, don’t ask!

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-service

Connect with Erica Vogel.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week's Good Vibes:

1. ‘Sesame Street’ Introduces TJ, the Show’s First Filipino American Muppet
2. FDA Paves Way for More Gay and Bisexual Men to Donate Blood With New Risk-Based Assessment
3. Dartmouth Health on How to Reduce Hiring Bias, the Power of DEIB Statements
4. Airbnb Let Its Workers Live and Work Anywhere. Spoiler: They’re Loving It
5. For Kids, Going Under Anesthesia Can Be Scary. This Nurse Made a Video Game to Ease Fears

Call to Action:

Watch this PBS Special “Rising Against Asian Hate” narrated by the fabulous Sandra Oh. The special “sheds light on the struggles, triumphs, and achievements of AAPI communities.”

To learn more about CurieDx and Dr. Canares, visit: https://www.curiedx.com/

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-ageist

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This episode originally aired on May 16, 2023

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Lekeshia Hicks (she/her), Diversity Strategist & Inclusive Leadership Coach and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week our conversation is about breaking barriers with Fenix FC, cutting out racism in barbering, and inclusive beauty that benefits everyone!

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Style That Fits—Literally!
2. Fenix FC Breaks Barriers
3. Cutting Racism Out of Barbering
4. Inclusive Beauty That Benefits All
5. Game-Changer for Brands

Good Vibes to Go: 

Bernadette’s GVTG: Check out one of my favorite DEI Books: Inclusion Nudges by Tinna C. Nielsen and Lisa Kepinski. This book has 100 crowd-sourced DEI behavioral design ideas that specifically “nudge” our brains towards inclusion using principles of neuroscience. It’s an incredibly useful book. 

Lekeshia’s GVTG: Build yourself a personal board of directors, people you can collaborate with, bounce ideas off, and get support when things are tough. It can be transformative to your life and business!

Read the Stories.

Connect with Lekeshia Hicks on LinkedIn and her website. Get her book Receipts and Revelations here.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:

1. Duke University Offering Free Tuition For North And South Carolina Families Earning Below $150,000
2. Estonia Becomes First Central European Country to Allow Same-Sex Marriage
3. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Is Now in Effect
4. Sephora Announces Newest Influencers To Support Diverse Voices In Beauty
5. Wimbledon Allows Dark Shorts to Ease Period Leakage Worries

Call to Action:

My friend LaTonya Wilkins, author of Leading Below the Surface, has a new Leadership + Team Effectiveness Assessment™️, which you can preview here. LaTonya is one of the best people I know and this is a very cool new product.

Read the full blog here: www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-affirmative-action

Connect with Anthony on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/anthonypapini

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. Maryland Just Made It Easier for Its Residents to Access Gender-Affirming Care
2. Wetzel’s Pretzels Is Giving Female Entrepreneurs a Boost With New Franchisee Equity Program
3. Disability Rights Advocates Speak Out Against Candace Owens Harmful Comments on Disability Representation
4. Chip Makers Will Have to Provide Child Care to Tap Joe Biden’s Huge $39 Billion Semiconductor Industry Fund
5. Google’s Muslim Employee Resource Group Helped Make Ramadan Better for Everyone

Call to action:

• Friday is Transgender Day of Visibility. Visit GenderCool.org to meet some amazing transgender youth. These youth are brave and inspiring, and they keep showing up even when their community is under attack.

Read the full blog here.

Learn more about Lisa here.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:

1. The Trans Handy Ma’am
2. Inclusive Tours at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection
3. Hiring Refugees Is Good for People, Good for Business, Says Stickley CEO
4. Companies Offering To Pay For Abortion Travel See Uptick In Recruitment
5. Popcorn Stand at Lincoln Financial Field to Be Staffed by People With Autism

Learn more about Jennifer at jenniferbrownconsulting.com

Read the full blog for Least Interesting at theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

When I’m prepping for a keynote, I love to spend time talking to the client about their DEI goals and current state. Between all these conversations, research for 5 Things, and research for my book, Inclusive 360, I think I figured out the winning formula for meaningful DEI progress: Purpose + Strategy + Accountability (PSA). 

It sounds simple but we all know it’s not easy. Let me break it down:

• Purpose must be a people-first message that employees can rally around. Leaders should also share their own individual purposes.
• Strategy must be holistic and organization-wide, not simply workshops and coaching, not simply hiring more underrepresented talent.
• Accountability must be for all managers, or everyone, if you'd like, where engagement in or progress on DEI goals is a part of performance reviews.

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. LinkedIn Adds New Accessibility Features, Including Auto-Captions on Videos
2. Software Helps Employers Fix Problematic Feedback Language Before It’s Delivered
3. ‘The Whole Country Shines With a Huge Rainbow’: Same-Sex Marriage Legal in All Mexican States
4. Diwali Will Be a Public School Holiday in New York City Starting in 2023
5. Disney Expands Costume Options For Children With Disabilities

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-the-dei-psa

To learn more about Toby and his company, Mildon - visit: https://www.mildon.co.uk/

This episode originally aired October 31, 2022

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Michael Iannelli (he/him), Co-Founder and Chief Growth Officer of Ablr, and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week our conversation is about BSL at Nissan, baby-wearing statues in the UK, unplugged Australians, and more!

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Permission for Australians to Unplug
2. London Statues Now Include Baby-Wearers
3. Connecticut Claps-Back to Florida
4. BoA’s Crisis Support
5. Nissan Employees Learn BSL

This week's Call to Action:

Is your organization’s website fully accessible? I know ours isn’t fully there – but we’re working on it…connect with Ablr to get your own free website accessibility assessment. 

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-cruising

Connect with Mike at Ablr and on LinkedIn. 

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Singapore Enshrines Flexible Work in Law
2. Allstate Managers Get Connections Budget
3. Ashley for State Rep!
4. NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Sets Records
5. Wisconsin Includes Asian American History

This week's Call to Action:

Read this article in HBR by Lily Zheng: What Needs to Change About DEI — and What Doesn’t.

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-i-lied

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Racial Diversity Leaders to Higher Box Office ROI
2. Tyson to Hire 42,000 Migrants
3. Walmart Teaches Compassion
4. Inclusive Bridal Dresses
5. It’s OK to Say Gay

This week's Call to Action:

It’s Women’s History Month! Learn about some amazing women by exploring the inductees of the National Women’s Hall of Fame. The 2024 class has its first trans woman, Sandy Stone. 

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-code-switching

Connect with Latia Vaughan: https://www.latiavaughan.com

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

When I’m prepping for a keynote, I love to spend time talking to the client about their DEI goals and current state. Between all these conversations, research for 5 Things, and research for my book, Inclusive 360, I think I figured out the winning formula for meaningful DEI progress: Purpose + Strategy + Accountability (PSA). 

It sounds simple but we all know it’s not easy. Let me break it down:

• Purpose must be a people-first message that employees can rally around. Leaders should also share their own individual purposes.
• Strategy must be holistic and organization-wide, not simply workshops and coaching, not simply hiring more underrepresented talent.
• Accountability must be for all managers, or everyone, if you'd like, where engagement in or progress on DEI goals is a part of performance reviews.

Consider Purpose + Strategy + Accountability (PSA) as a three-legged stool that wobbles depending on what’s missing (a metaphor borrowed from the book Unleashed). In a short conversation with a client, that framework will allow our team to quickly identify the areas of opportunity that can move the needle most quickly. I love that we get to do this stuff!

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. LinkedIn Adds New Accessibility Features, Including Auto-Captions on Videos
2. Software Helps Employers Fix Problematic Feedback Language Before It’s Delivered
3. ‘The Whole Country Shines With a Huge Rainbow’: Same-Sex Marriage Legal in All Mexican States
4. Diwali Will Be a Public School Holiday in New York City Starting in 2023
5. Disney Expands Costume Options For Children With Disabilities

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-the-dei-psa

To learn more about Toby and his company, Mildon - visit: https://www.mildon.co.uk/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Jessica Pettitt (she/her), author of Good Enough Now, and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week our conversation is all about LA comedy embracing neurodiversity, Phifer shaking up employee health care, Microsoft getting serious about inclusive AI, and more!

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. LA Comedy Show Embraces Neurodiversity
2. Phifer Transforms Employee Health Care
3. Microsoft Focuses on Inclusive AI Development
4. Synchrony Offers On-Site Therapy Sessions
5. SheDrives Empowers Trans, Women Riders

This week’s good vibes to go:

From Bernadette: Get Smarter in Seconds by watching this YouTube series by Blair Imani. Learn about Juneteenth in 90 seconds, about Ramadan in 30, and ADHD in a minute! 

From Jess: Be more curious…always look for something that you don’t already know so you can find beauty and novelty in something new and interesting. What are you doing that you’ve never done before? What are you learning and are you challenging yourself so that you can create a better community?

Read the Stories

Connect with Jessica Pettitt. Her next book comes out on October 8!

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week's good vibes:

1. Croquet player becomes first out trans woman to win world championship
2. Discord Explicitly Bans Misgendering and Deadnaming on Its Platform
3. Estée Lauder leverages AI and AR to help visually impaired people use cosmetics
4. 'Barbie' Movie Adds Unique Accessibility Option
5. Beck’s New Beer for Older Adults

Call to Action:

What is Trauma Intelligence? Check out LaTonya Wilkins' Leading Below the Surface podcast to learn about the intersection of trauma and DEI. 

LaTonya Wilkins' website: https://changecoaches.io

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

In my first-ever solo episode, I answer the question posed by Rita from my team: "What's the future of DEI?" The answer for me is simple: it's becoming Inclusive 360, which is the name of my book. Listen up for more.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Title IX Protections More Inclusive
2. Potawatomi Nation Reclaims Ancestral Land
3. John Lewis Partnership Publishes Interview Questions Online
4. United Methodist Church Lifts LGBTQ Bans
5. Opting Out of Mother’s Day
6. This week's Call to Action:

Speaking of belonging, my friend Rhodes Perry, author of Imagine Belonging, is hosting The Belonging Circle: A Gathering for Inclusive Leaders, Visionaries, and Changemakers on June 6. Learn more and register here.

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-the-belonging-buzzword

Connect with Karmen Smith: https://www.karmenmichael.com/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week the U.S. Congress passed a significant and transformative climate bill that President Biden is expected to sign. Among many other things, the law will provide many incentives for shifts to clean energy, including rebates for car buyers. 

I found this timely when I read how GM connects the dots between diversity, equity, and inclusion and its goal to be an electric vehicle leader. Telva McGruder, chief diversity, inclusion, and equity officer at GM, shared:

“Our tagline, ‘Everybody in,’ means that we are designing vehicles that will be able to accommodate people regardless of their level of income. So vehicles from low- to high-income price points. It also means people who purchase electric vehicles are going to have the ability to charge them wherever they are, regardless of location…We're also thinking about the impact on the electrical grid, making sure that communities that are typically underrepresented or under-considered when major infrastructure plans are made are indeed represented.” 

A holistic approach to DEI is deep and robust and hard work. But wow, when it’s thoughtful, what a difference it can make in the lives of others – literally in the lives of Black and brown communities. That’s what matters. Read that whole article above about GM – they’re doing some fantastic stuff with DEI.

Here are other good vibes I found this week:

1. Private equity giant Carlyle thinks it’s found the formula for incentivizing diversity work
2. Taco Bell has a unique strategy to improve its frontline ... a six-week program aimed at helping store workers move up the ranks
3. LinkedIn has added nudges to its hiring platform to prompt recruiters to consider diversity
4. Gender neutral ‘Mx.’ prefix option added to the Disney experience

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-everybody-in

To learn more about Sarah and Bettman Consulting Group, visit: https://www.bettmanleadership.com/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. The South Korean high court ruled that same-sex couples in the country are entitled to the same national health benefits as their opposite-sex counterparts.
2. Emmy Award-winning costume designer and Beyonce’s former stylist Zerina Akers partnered with Barbie to create a collection of dolls that are icons of Black culture
3. Home Depot became the latest company with a major front-line workforce to increase its minimum wage to at least $15/hour.
4. Seattle became the first U.S. city to ban caste discrimination
5. Amazon Instant Video has just become the first streaming service to use Bluetooth to connect the tv’s sound directly to the cochlear implant, making it a much better viewing experience for the person with hearing loss.

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-square-holes

To learn more about Rhonda and Flock Theory, visit: https://flocktheory.com/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Dr. Melissa Vogel (she/her), Business Anthropologist, and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week, our conversation is about Breaking Fashion Barriers, Rising Wages (but Not Enough), Theme Parks Ditching Paperwork, TJ Maxx's Inclusion Win, and more!

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Breaking Barriers in Fashion
2. Wages Are Rising—But Not Enough!
3. Theme Parks Drop Disability Paperwork!
4. TJ Maxx Teams Up for Inclusion!
5. History is Made for Trans Rights

Good Vibes to Go: 

Bernadette’s GVTG: Listen to this episode of the How I Built This podcast featuring the story of Fawn Weaver and Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. It’s great for business nerds like me and anyone who loves a feel-good story.

Melissa’s GVTG: 1. Keep having conversations around DEI and try to stay open to understanding different perspectives. Personalizing things with simple language and relevant examples works better than statistics.

2. Look for ways to use common courtesy. Be aware of when you might be experiencing privilege at someone else’s expense. For example, speak up if the cashier overlooked the person ahead of you in line, or give the floor to a work colleague who hasn’t been able to break into the conversation or had a chance to speak.

3. Anyone can put on their “anthropologist hat” and learn more about the world and people with which they’re less familiar. The holidays are a great time to do that and to celebrate both the similarities and differences we have across cultures. Take the opportunity to teach your kids or other family members about traditions different from your own.

Read the Stories. 

Connect with Dr. Melissa Vogel.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Anna DeShawn (she/her), Founder & Podcaster, E3 Radio & The Qube, and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week, we’re talking about Tokyo’s big bet on work-life balance with a four-day workweek, how Lego is building inclusion one brick at a time for hidden disabilities, the Vatican’s rainbow-hued welcome during Holy Year, and more!

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Four-Day Workweek Coming to Tokyo
2. Hidden Disabilities Get Brick-by-Brick Representation
3. Holy Year, Rainbow Welcome!
4. Doula Love Saves Lives!
5. Boards Are Better With Women

Good Vibes to Go: 

Bernadette’s GVTG: I’m buying some holiday gifts from FreeFrom, a social enterprise where “100% of every purchase helps survivors of gender-based violence build wealth, safety, and power through their handcrafted products. For survivor-entrepreneurs, creating these items nurtures their healing, giving customers even more of a reason to gift abundantly.” There’s even a new documentary about this program called Survivor Made. 

Anna’s GVTG: Get yourself some E3 Radio & The Qube merch! Save 5% by end end of 2024 with code 5Things.

Read the Stories

Connect with Anna DeShawn

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This time, I’m doing a solo episode to share my thoughts and recap the latest 5 Things. This week my conversation with myself is about inclusive books winning big, Pride over profits, Michigan stepping up against hate, and more!

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Inclusive Stories Win
2. Hate Stops Here, Michigan Steps Up
3. Thailand Puts Money Behind Gender Care
4. Pride > Profits: Community Steps Up
5. DEI Showdown: Companies Hold the Line

Good Vibes to Go: 

It’s Lunar New Year, a 15-day festival in many parts of the world. Here is a good primer on Lunar New Year. What do you say to someone who celebrates? Happy New Year!

Read the Stories

Watch the show on YouTube.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week's Good Vibes:

1. The Owners of Butter & Gave Their Employees Stock Options
2. Barbie Doll With Down’s Syndrome Launched by Mattel
3. Linkedin’s New Commitments Tool Lets Users Screen Prospective Employers by What They Stand For
4. Taraji P. Henson and Kate Spade Are Teaming Up With HBCUs
5. USA Today Highlights Some of the Incredible Accessible Products They’ve Seen and the Impact They’re Making in People’s Lives

Call to Action:

I’m not going to do this often, I promise, but please consider a donation to the Rainbow Cafe or your local LGBTQ Center.

To learn more about Dr. Joel A. Davis, visit: https://www.pneumos.com/our-founder/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week I was in a series of meetings with a client, leading them through our Inclusive 360 assessment process. Our assessment is extremely granular, breaking down DEI into a series of small tactics, across all functions. As part of the process, we put employees in small group meetings and go through the assessment questions.

One leader repeatedly used the phrase “not yet” when answering my questions – not yet because we’re at the beginning of this process. Not yet because they’re learning, still understanding the current state of affairs. Not yet – but they’re excited about it. They’re ready to do better as soon as they know better. It’s coming from leadership. Not yet, but the tactics are bite-sized. They’re doable. They’re cumulatively impactful but many are small enough to generate momentum through quick wins.

So while we may start with “not yet”, I believe in the power of forward momentum, the kind that can come from a cross-functional approach. Celebrate the quick wins and keep going.

This Week's Good Vibes:

1. Disneyland Rebuilds Mickey’s Toontown From The Ground Up For Kids Of All Abilities
2. Thousands of Catholic Nuns Unite to ‘Wholeheartedly’ Declare Trans People Are Beloved by God
3. Companies That Get ‘Woke’ Aren’t Going Broke — They’re More Profitable Than Ever
4. Beau Jo’s Is Selling His Famous Colorado Pizza Shop — To His Employees
5. BBC Education Show in Afghanistan Helps Children Banned From School

Call to action:

Planning an event or meeting in a state with anti-diversity laws or bills? Your attendees can now offset the cost of their spending in that state by supporting charities that align with their values. This is super cool! Learn more at: https://socialoffset.org/

Learn more about Jesse here: https://hymn.consulting/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Davey Shlasko, Founder and Director, Think Again Training & Consulting and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week our conversation is about lessons in love for autistic people, inclusive design at Virgin Media, pickleball in prison, standing firm on DEI—and more!

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Love Lessons, Autism Edition!
2. Inclusion, Designed to the Nines!
3. Celebrities and Companies Pledge Wildlife Support
4. Pickleball: Serving Redemption in Prison
5. Apple & Costco Stand Firm on DEI!

Good Vibes to Go: 

Bernadette’s GVTG: Watch ALOK’s new special (comedy and poetry) on YouTube. It’ll make you laugh and make you think!

Davey’s GVTG: Be mindful of jumping to an assumption about what level of solutions are required for any big challenge. Thinking about what I can do as an individual or what we can do as a small organization might be exactly what’s needed instead of waiting on big policy changes. 

Check out the Cross Class Dialogue Circle, which is a nonprofit community-based project that brings people together across differences of socioeconomic background and financial experiences to build relationships across those differences.

Read this week’s stories.

Connect with Davey Shlasko

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

There was a recurring theme this week in my conversations with clients: how to recover after you’ve been called out or accidentally offended someone. Here’s the short answer: don't get dramatic. Apologize sincerely once without diminishing their experience. If you’re corrected, say thanks. Educate yourself, rather than asking them, so you can do better next time.

During an in-person keynote for a corporate client, I was asked a question that took the topic a step further. I was asked, “How much responsibility do I need to continue to take after I’ve offended someone when, after my sincere apology, they remain angry and/or aggressive?”

Here are a couple of guidelines: Remember you don’t know what it’s like to walk in their shoes and it’s a good idea to acknowledge that when speaking with the person. And, after an appropriate period of time, it’s OK to ask, “Is there anything I can do to repair this relationship?”

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. Disabled Models and Designers Take Center Stage at New York Fashion Week
2. Hearst Joins Employers Expanding Benefits to Include Divorce Support
3. Twilio Promises ‘Anti-racist’ Layoffs as Ceo Says 11% Job Cuts Won’t Hit Workers From ‘Marginalized Communities’ More Than Others
4. Hot Chicken Takeover’s Mission Is to Hire People Who Might Be Passed Over Elsewhere, Whether Because of Prior Incarceration, Drug Addiction, or Homelessness
5. Interior Department Completes Removal of “Sq___” from Federal Use
    

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-recovery

To learn more about Rex, visit: https://www.rexwilde.com/
 

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week's Good Vibes:

1. To Celebrate Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, Mattel Is Introducing a Doll Based on Hollywood Pioneer Anna May Wong
2. Ben & Jerry’s Co-founder Starts Cannabis Nonprofit to Support Social Causes
3. MrBeast Calls Out Transphobic Backlash to Chris Tyson’s Hormone Therapy
4. Smartsheet Is Now Giving Logo Space to Various Nonprofit Organizations in F1 Racing
5. Democrat Angie Craig Has Joined Other Employers Rejecting the “Paper Ceiling” Blamed for Limiting Millions of Workers

Call to Action:

I see everything as an experiment and have the sticker to go along with it, so I found this article interesting and a worthy read: “Why You Should Start A/B Testing Your DEI Initiatives."

To learn more about Jen and Inclusive AF, visit: https://www.pagingdrjen.com/inclusive-af-a-field-guide

Read the full blog here for this 5 Things Episode: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-connection-first

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week I had some important conversations with my team about the future of our little company, where we’re going, and what we have to do to get there. As a CEO and leader, I’m making big decisions and taking massive risks. It’s scary but it’s less scary when I admit how scary it is, and when my team shares their fears, too – and we all move forward anyway with humility and our shared sense of purpose.

I was reminded this week that sometimes big risks don’t pay off. Layoffs and hiring slowdowns have hit tech. What we’re now seeing crystal clear is that there’s a right way and a wrong way to reduce the workforce. Shopify laid off 1000 employees - and did so with humanity and compassion.

In the letter to the team, CEO Tobi Lütke was transparent about the mistakes that were made that led to the staff reduction: Ultimately, placing this bet was my call to make and I got this wrong. Now, we have to adjust. As a consequence, we have to say goodbye to some of you today and I’m deeply sorry for that.

Lütke also gave departing employees some generous perks beyond severance pay, including still paying for internet, money for new hardware, and organizing and distributing a list of employees looking for work.

To those remaining employees, Lütke reiterated the company’s purpose: Our customers are merchants, entrepreneurs, and small business owners - the bedrock of our economy and precisely those that are typically hit hardest during recessions. Most are already feeling it. We again have a clear objective in these challenging macro-economic times, and we will use everything we’ve got to help them succeed and come out stronger. That’s our core mission.

This matters because it shows humility. The CEO, in admitting his failures, also models a way to create psychological safety.

Here are other good vibes I found this week:

2.  VP Aims for Inclusivity: “I Am Kamala Harris. My Pronouns Are She and Her, and I Am a Woman Sitting at the Table Wearing a Blue Suit.”

3. Disney Replaces ‘Fairy Godmothers’ Title at Parks With Gender-Neutral ‘Apprentices’

4. Pottery Barn Debuts 150+ Pieces of Furniture for People With Disabilities

5. HSBC Offers Gender-Neutral Banking in Inclusivity Bid

To learn more about Genesis Fisher, Esq. and her firm, visit: http://www.fisherlawpractice.nyc/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week's Good Vibes:

• Transgender Woman Inducted Into The National Women's Hall of Fame
• March Madness Finals Ratings Set A Record High For Women
• Historically Black University Created Its Own Tech Intern Pipeline
• Goldman Sachs Invests $2 Billion in Black Women-Owned Businesses — The First Chapter of a Bigger Plan
• Bud Light Doesn't Care That You're Mad About Its Dylan Mulvaney Collab

Call to action:

Check out Translator, “a social DEI learning platform designed for facilitators, live audiences, and data freaks.” Its Founder and CEO, Natalie Egan, is a brilliant trans woman I neglected to include in my list last week. h/t to reader Rachel Kjack for the note.

To learn more about Dr. Steve Yacovelli, visit: www.topdoglearning.biz

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Dr. Marla Corson, Ph.D., CSP, (she/her), Founder of Corson Consulting, and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week our conversation is about what to do when people on your team feel psychologically unsafe and don’t trust leadership after the election results. We’ll also talk about some historic firsts:  double the power with Rochester and Alsobrooks, McBride shattering ceilings, Kim’s Senate milestone, and more!

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Double the Power with Rochester and Alsobrooks
2. McBride Shatters Glass Ceilings in Congress
3. Emily Randall’s Triple Firsts
4. Kim Makes History in Senate
5. Johnson Becomes First Out LGBTQ+ Rep From The South

Good Vibes to Go: 

Bernadette’s GVTG: Watch this video of a woman in Michigan asking her neighbor how to wear a headscarf at a mosque. 

Marla’s GVTG: Take the opportunity to connect more with anyone, not just with people who have the same viewpoint, but be open to those who don't. And really take note of what you've learned from them. And create good vibes from that. 

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-managing-distrust

Connect with Dr. Corson

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week I spoke with a few clients to discuss the workshop series for 2023. What impressed me most was the care to ensure a variety of diverse identities were represented in the content and presenters. In fact, on one call, I was joined by leaders from the LGBTQ+, Women’s, and Black Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to discuss a series of workshops that thoughtfully included all identities.

The Human Rights Campaign recently released their criteria for the 2023 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). Part of the revised criteria is about ensuring that employee training is intersectional. Intersectionality is a big word and was coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, who describes it as, “We tend to talk about race inequality as separate from inequality based on gender, class, sexuality or immigrant status. What’s often missing is how some people are subject to all of these, and the experience is not just the sum of its parts.”

I really do believe that intersectionality has become more than a buzzword. Equitable programs, policies, processes, and partnerships must be intentionally intersectional. That means asking questions like “What can we do to make this a great [hiring process, onboarding process, customer experience, conference… etc] for a Black, transgender woman with a disability?” Because if you can make the organization a great place for her, it will be a great place for everyone. (This concept is adapted from the book Unleashed)

Keep intersectionality in mind when you’re booking speakers for events (DEI or non-DEI events). We have some great folks on our team with fascinating stories to tell, and I can personally refer you to some fantastic speaker friends.

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. Meet Chelsea -- The First Barbie With Scoliosis
2. ‘We Need to Stop Viewing Employees as Merely Resources and Start Treating Humans as Valued People.’
3. Mellody Hobson Has An Ingenious Idea To Narrow The Wealth Gap
4. & 5. Artists Made History At The 2023 GRAMMYs

This week’s call to action:

More Black History Month resources – check out this Black American History Crash Course, a series of short (~12 minutes each) animated videos on YouTube: Black American History Playlist

To learn more about Elena, visit her website at: https://www.elenajoyexperience.com/

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-always-intersectional

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

A new study from Boston College and the Society of Human Resources Management tells us that 65% of organizations believe DEI is important, yet 63% give little to no resources to DEI. This doesn’t surprise me. In my conversations with organizations, I find many who see DEI as an HR or L&D initiative. In other words, recruitment, and training. There are many DEI actions that can be taken that cost minimal external resources, such as policy changes and building inclusion nudges into process documentation. 

I’m a big believer in the 360 approach – beyond HR and L&D, which is why I wrote Inclusive 360 and built our assessment tool. Here’s a beautiful example of how an organization (this one with A LOT of resources!) can become Inclusive 360.

Last month, the David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center in New York reopened after major redesigns. The building was built on land formerly known as San Juan Hill, a low-income Black and Hispanic neighborhood with 7,000 families. That neighborhood was razed years ago as part of a racist “urban renewal” initiative. To correct historic wrongs, 42% of construction contracts for this massive redesign went to minority and women-owned businesses. They launched a robust training program, helping three dozen new construction workers get union cards. Lincoln Center itself increased its leadership diversity, with about 50% of leaders who are women and BIPOC. Finally, the debut concert for the reopening was a pay-what-you-can show called “San Juan Hill” celebrating the music and culture of the old neighborhood. All of this matters because it shows a 360 approach to equity and inclusion. A holistic approach is what’s necessary for true equity.

More good vibes I found this week:

2. Gay Racer Zach Herrin Made His Nascar Debut This Weekend

3. Fortune 500 Companies Tie Executive Compensations to ESG Performance

4 & 5. Several Major Companies Expand Workplace and Workweek Flexibility

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-360

To learn more about Julie and  Next Pivot Point, visit: https://nextpivotpoint.com/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Women’s Hockey Continues to Set Records
2. Malcolm X Gets His Recognition in Nebraska
3. Four-Day Workweeks in France and Germany
4. To Increase Diversity, Hire Differently
5. Stolen Artifacts Returned to Japan

This week's Call to Action:

If you like 5 Things, then check out “5 Ally Actions”, Karen Catlin’s weekly newsletter that’s been around for 6 years! Subscribe here to get “5 everyday actions to create a more inclusive workplace.”

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-watched

Connect with Naeema Arrastia on LinkedIn and visit Red Rabbit. 

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Wendy Ryan (she/her), CEO of Kadabra, author of the award-winning bestseller, Learn Lead Lift: How to Think, Act, and Inspire Your Way to Greatness and I recap the latest 5 Things (Good Vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week our conversation is about a unique cure for travel anxiety, period leave progress in Odisha, a Staten Island Parade with a little more pride, and more!

Here Are This Week’s Good Vibes:

1. Staten Island Parade Finally Catches Up
2. Darts, Drama, and Breaking Barriers
3. Llama Kisses: Travel Anxiety, Cured
4. Period Leave Progress in Odisha
5. Equal Rights for Everyone, Period.

Good Vibes to Go: 

Bernadette’s GVTG: On Wednesday, attend Rex Wilde’s next virtual gathering space for DEI, HR, and ERG leaders to discuss all things TGX+.

Wendy's GVTG: Find one thing you can do each day to move yourself forward in a time in which it can be easy to feel stuck. Whether it's a self-care yoga class or sending someone a thoughtful note, or something else entirely, stay in action!

Read the 5 Things Stories.

Connect with Wendy Ryan

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Happy Pride! I’m going to be honest here…to me, life as a gay person in America right now feels like whiplash. On one hand, we’re seeing rainbow everything and everywhere this year – from products at IKEA and Target to tweets like this from the Marines. It’s so extreme that I’ve seen posts decrying the commodification of pride. They’re not wrong. And also, I really love rainbows.

This week, Equality Institute Associate Facilitator Darnell Adams and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI:

• Unilever Is Skipping Rainbow Merchandise & Pride Floats. They’d Rather Make an Actual Difference
• Members of Ukraine’s LGBTQ Community Who Sign Up for the War Have Taken to Sewing the Image of the Mythical Beast Into Their Uniforms Just Below the National Flag
• Shonda Rhimes Launches Two New DEI Initiatives With Netflix
• Virgin Atlantic Makes History With New Change to Employee Dress Code
• Slack Will Teach Your Co-workers How to Pronounce Your Name

5 Things / Pride Paradox blog show notes: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-pride-paradox

Follow us:

• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-equality-institute/
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Subscribe to the 5 Things in 15 Minutes newsletter: http://5thingsdei.com/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Rex Wilde, LGBTQ+ educator, speaker, and consultant, and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week our conversation is about anti-racist layoffs, disabled models and designers, and more!

There was a recurring theme this week in my conversations with clients: how to recover after you’ve been called out or accidentally offended someone. Here’s the short answer: don't get dramatic. Apologize sincerely once without diminishing their experience. If you’re corrected, say thanks. Educate yourself, rather than asking them, so you can do better next time.

During an in-person keynote for a corporate client, I was asked a question that took the topic a step further. I was asked, “How much responsibility do I need to continue to take after I’ve offended someone when, after my sincere apology, they remain angry and/or aggressive?”

Here are a couple of guidelines: Remember you don’t know what it’s like to walk in their shoes and it’s a good idea to acknowledge that when speaking with the person. And, after an appropriate period of time, it’s OK to ask, “Is there anything I can do to repair this relationship?”

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. Disabled Models and Designers Take Center Stage at New York Fashion Week
2. Hearst Joins Employers Expanding Benefits to Include Divorce Support
3. Twilio Promises ‘Anti-racist’ Layoffs as Ceo Says 11% Job Cuts Won’t Hit Workers From ‘Marginalized Communities’ More Than Others
4. Hot Chicken Takeover’s Mission Is to Hire People Who Might Be Passed Over Elsewhere, Whether Because of Prior Incarceration, Drug Addiction, or Homelessness
5. Interior Department Completes Removal of “Sq___” from Federal Use
    

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-recovery

To learn more about Rex, visit: https://www.rexwilde.com/
 

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week's Good Vibes:

1. Walmart’s Live Better U Program Turns 5, Expands to Canada
2. Annual Grace Hopper Celebration Conference to Leave Orlando Due to New Florida Laws
3. Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Protect LGBTQI+ Communities
4. Delta Is Developing a New First-Of-Its-Kind Airline Seat That Allows Wheelchair Users to Stay In Their Chairs
5. Portugal Just Launched a ‘Government-Funded’ 4-Day Workweek Trial

Call To Action:

Learn about Geena Rocero, the Filipina transgender fashion model and activist, and consider her new book Horse Barbie, which I’ll plan to read after I finish Elliot Page’s new memoir, Pageboy.

Read the full blog here. 

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:

1. 1st Stadium Built for Professional Women’s Sports Team Going Up in Kansas City
2. “Illustrate Change,” an Initiative to Drive Greater Diversity in Medical Imagery
3. Amazon Expands Fertility Benefit to Workers in 50 Countries
4. A Musical Centering on a Group of Young Adults With Autism Is Heading to Broadway This Fall

Call to Action:

Connect with Toby Mildon on LinkedIn for insightful and intelligent posts, particularly on the subject of accessibility. I find his content enriching and always look forward to learning from him.

Read the full blog here.

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:

1. Achieving Gender Parity in M.B.A. Programs
2. Inclusivity Revamp by the American Ornithological Society
3. NFL's Inclusive Fan Gear Initiative
4. Sony's Accessible Gaming Controller Launch
5. Breaking Barriers: Admiral Lisa Franchetti's Historic Achievement

Call to Action: In observation of Native American Heritage Month, this is an ideal moment to explore the ancestral histories of the land where you live. For instance, here in Chicago, I am privileged to live on the traditional homelands of multiple tribal nations, including the Kickapoo, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Potawatomi, Myaamia, and Ochethi Sakowin. You can look up the indigenous heritage of your area and then learn more about the specific tribal nation here.

Connect with Kelvin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelvin-goss/

Read the full blog for this episode at TheEqualityInstitute.com

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Earlier this week I was at the law firm Jenner & Block for an event. As I was attaching my lavalier mic, the tech said, referring to me, “she’s a pro [with the mic].” Seconds later, the tech came back and said, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to assume your gender.” I responded with, “No worries! You guessed right. Thank you.”

I found this whole exchange startling in a good way. I even told the story to the group, applauding the firm for giving all of their employees the tools to be LGBTQ-inclusive. I was so impressed by the tech’s self-awareness and willingness to apologize for something I hadn’t given a moment’s thought to. It was also a “no big deal” moment, in that there wasn’t a giant discussion – moments of inclusion can be quick and straightforward.

My pronouns are she/her and even when I’m not somewhere they’re on display, people generally get it right. In the work world, we haven’t gotten to a critical mass sharing of pronouns. It’s not quite normalized. We’re working on it. That’s why it’s really inspiring to watch that work being done, to experience someone apologizing for something that’s not yet normalized, apologizing for something that didn’t bother me one bit. Because I’m cisgender, and I have the privilege that comes with it.

I’m celebrating the small wins because that’s how we build momentum for the big stuff. Let’s do this! 

Here are the other good vibes I found this week:

         2. Bank of America Making Big Moves With Avoiding Layoffs, BIPOC Leadership, and More         
         3. The State Department is ditching Times New Roman for Calibri
         4. Welcome Corps, A New Refugee Resettlement Program
         5.  Businesses Pledge to Support Divorcing Employees

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-the-tech

Learn more about Cherie Price, President of the Illinois Diversity Council here!

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

I had a conversation this week with a very kind senior DEI leader who wanted to help me help the company. They gave me some words to say that they thought might help get buy-in from the boss. This person encouraged me to pitch our Inclusive 360 Assessment as an “organizational improvement methodology”, not DEI. Our future work together as “change management”, not DEI.

All of this is true because our assessment examines the systems for gaps in equity and inclusion. What it delivers is a roadmap for meaningful systemic change and organizational improvement. 

Not DEI. I’ve found that a lot of the organizations I speak to aren’t quite invested enough for “organizational improvement”, beyond changing the way they hire. We deliver a lot of workshops and keynotes to help establish that readiness, but those workshops are mostly about behavior change. About people. While that’s great, I know that will only move the needle so far.

Lily Zheng recently wrote about this in HBR – To Avoid DEI Backlash, Focus on Changing Systems — Not People. Organizational improvement, change management, systemic change, whatever you want to call it. We’re here for it. 

Have you found that you've had to change your messaging around DEI to get buy-in?

Here are the good vibes I found this week:\

1. A Colorado Ski Resort Is Opening a Day Care For Employees—and It Could Provide a Blueprint to Help Solve the Childcare Crisis
2. Brown University Bans Caste Discrimination Throughout Campus in a First for the Ivy League
3. Ava DuVernay Becomes the First Black Woman on a Ben & Jerry's Pint with New Caramel Flavor
4. A Hundred UK Companies Sign Up for Four-Day Week with No Loss of Pay\
5. Anti-racism: When You Picture Doctors Without Borders, What Do You See? 

Read the full blog here: www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-not-dei

To learn more about Gena Cox, please visit https://genacox.com/about/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Good Vibes:

1. Cordillera Chocolates Launches New Sustainability Initiative for Female Cocoa Farmers in Colombia
2. Majority of Birmingham Logistics Company’s Workers Are Recovering Addicts Getting a Second Chance
3. Walmart Adds Sensory-Friendly Hours At Stores Nationwide
4. Esther Vergeer’s Induction Into the Hall Of Fame Puts Spotlight On Wheelchair Tennis
5. Miss Netherlands Crowns Its First Openly Trans Woman Rikkie Valerie Kollé

Call to Action:

New podcast alert! My friend LaToyna Wilkins, who wrote Leading Below the Surface: How to Build Real (and Psychologically Safe) Relationships with People Who Are Different from You has a new podcast of the same name. You can check it out here, too. (yes, I realize I gave her a shout-out last week, too)

Read the full 5 Things here.

Connect with Allie here.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

In a special episode of 5 Things in 15 Minutes, Sandy Diaz Haley (she/her), Founder & Principal SDH Communications, and I chat about change management through a DEIB lens. Join us as we discuss Sandy's 5 key elements of communicating DEIB for change:

1. Know your audience and what's in it for them.
2. Who is delivering your message, the tone, and the timing?
3. What channels are you using for maximum reach?
4. Ask for and listen to feedback.
5. News should be more than just sharing information - but also be about celebrating wins and successes.
    

This week’s Call to Action:

Read this article by Bernadette Davis: Keeping it Civil: Managing Contentious Conversations in the Workplace 

Connect with Sandy Diaz Haley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandy-diaz-haley/ and https://www.sdhcommunications.com/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week I had a bunch of planning meetings in anticipation of upcoming keynotes. About 80% of the time, the client advises: “As a heads up, our employees are generally pretty conservative.” I’ve heard this from clients in many industries: financial services, energy, manufacturing, commercial real estate, and more.

Still, they’re willing to learn – and admit what they don’t know. Recently I had an attendee from a “conservative” industry send me a private email hours after the keynote sharing a recent experience being called out on their own microaggressions towards others, and looking for some additional resources to be better informed in the future.

I appreciated this email so much because it required some vulnerability for that person to reach out to me, share an embarrassing experience, and ask for resources. It also showed humility and curiosity, both of which are essential to the work of DEI.

I appreciate that you take the time to read 5 Things – because we’re all still learning. The discipline of writing 5 Things every week is part of my own learning journey.

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. The NFL’s First Out Trans Cheerleader Readies for Her Carolina Panthers Debut
2. Ms. Marvel Is the First Muslim Superhero in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
3. Ben & Jerry’s Launches Multi-State Billboard Campaign to Support Trans Youth
4. Biden Administration to Pay White House Interns for the First Time in Recent History
5. 220 CEOs Demand Immediate Action From the Senate to Reduce Gun Violence

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:

1. 46 Million Americans Struggle With Substance-Use Disorder and Hypertherm Associates Is Paving the Way for “Recover-Friendly Workplaces”
2. UPS Workers Reach a Tentative Contract Deal With Management Days Ahead of Strike Deadline
3. Tech Company CHANI Is Proving Why Caring for Your Employees Pays Off
4. Swift Stunned the Eras Tour’s Trucking Staff by Giving Each Trucker a Check in the Amount of $100,000
5. Wisconsin’s First Universally Accessible Park Breaks Ground in Wauwatosa

Call to Action:

Minette Norman’s book The Boldly Inclusive Leader, is here! You can order it for release on August 8 right here. Minette was a delightful 5 Things in 15 Minutes guest earlier this year.

Read the full blog here.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Scholastic Publishes Pride Guide 
2. Claudia Sheinbaum Breaks Glass Ceiling in Mexico
3. Planet Fitness Affirms Trans Inclusion
4. FIFA and Citigroup Expand Parental Leave

This week's Call to Action:

GRACE is a transgender-led national nonprofit organization that’s creating videos featuring conservative and center-right parents standing up for their trans children. Watch and share this first video of Eric Childs, Operation Iraqi Freedom combat Veteran – and father to a transgender teenager. He also happens to have conservative values. 

Read this week’s stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-trojan-horse

Connect with David Smith: www.workplaceallies.com

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

If you’re a long-time reader of 5 Things, you may have noticed that it doesn’t matter to me why an organization decides to “do the right thing” – to embed equity and inclusion into its systems as a way to accelerate the promises of diversity. 

I don’t care whether an organization is working on DEI initiatives because everyone else is because they see the promises of higher revenue because they want to reduce turnover, because they don’t want to be left in the dust, or because it’s just the right thing to do. I don’t care why Hard Rock is paying $100 million in wage hikes (as you’ll read below). I care about the long-term benefits.

Don’t get me wrong: having an inspirational and aligned purpose will only help organizations get there faster (if they effectively rally employees around that purpose) – but if it’s just about making more money, that’s fine, too. Real change, the systems and policy change that I write about every week here, that I wrote about in my awesome book Inclusive 360, is replicable, scalable, and sustainable. 

In my conversations with clients, I will keep making the business case because – whatever works.

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. Patagonia’s Founder Transfers Ownership Into Two Entities to Help Fight the Climate Crisis
2. Runners for the First Time Had the Option to Select Nonbinary, Male, or Female in Response to the Gender Question for their Boston Marathon Registration
3. Doordash Invests in Employee Resource Groups by Compensating Leaders
4. Casino Company Hard Rock to Spend $100 Million to Raise Employees’ Wages
5. This Year Marks the First Ever South Asian New York Fashion Week (SANYFW)

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-no-matter-why

To learn more about Gearah Goldstein and The GenderCool Project, visit: https://gendercool.org/

This episode originally aired on September 19, 2022

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:

1. City of Boston Announces Gender Equity Updates to Marriage Licenses
2. Bank of America to Raise Minimum Wage to $23 an Hour in October
3. Netflix, Bollywood, and India’s Biggest Companies Take a Stand for LGBTQ Inclusion
4. Empowering Black-Owned Businesses: Wayfair's Supplier Diversity Initiative
5. Lyric Opera’s Soundshirt — A New Way Deaf, Hearing-Impaired Patrons Can Experience Music

Call to Action:

Tune in to Diversity: Beyond The Checkbox hosted by Jackie Ferguson. Explore a world of diverse insights and perspectives shared by influential figures in the realms of business, executive education, and diversity & inclusion on this compelling podcast. Subscribe and listen on all major podcast platforms.

Read the full blog here: theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-who-asks-who

Make sure to connect with Rhodes Perry on Linkedin.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. Rei Co-op Asks Suppliers to up their Inclusivity Game
2. Major Companies Are Using AI to Avoid Bias and Cliches in Advertising
3. Supporters Rally Around Trans Activist in Hershey’s Women’s Day Campaign
4. Nordstrom Teams With The Folklore Group to Grow Black-owned Brands
5. Gabrielle Union-Wade, Dwyane Wade Call for Black LGBTQ Community Support at Naacp Image Awards

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-and-other-st

To learn more about Veronica, visit: https://www.data2insight.com/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

John R. DiJulius III and David D. Murray, President and Vice President of Consulting, respectively, The DiJulius Group, recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week, we're diving into the push for debt-free degrees for employees, Uber's latest commitment to accessibility, and retailers' commitment to Diwali!

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Inclusivity Strikes Back: Star Wars Edition!
2. Uber Says: Accessibility, Full Speed Ahead!
3. Representation Index: Time for Inclusivity Check!
4. Degrees Without Debt? Yes, Please!
5. Diwali Delights in Retail

Good Vibes to Go: 

Bernadette’s Good Vibe to Go: It’s almost Halloween, a time when cultural appropriation can go very badly. Check out these tips for an inclusive Halloween, from our friends at The Diversity Movement. 

John and Dave's Good Vibe to go: Lead with humility! It's a skill you can develop and it goes a long way towards being an inclusive leader.

Read the Stories.

Connect with John R. DiJulius III and David D. Murray.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:

1. Desantis Controversial Policies Spark Florida Convention Cancellations as Tourism Shows Signs of Slowing
2. Pie Shop on Chicago’s South Side Serves More Than Dessert
3. CVS Rolls Out Collection of Accessible Products
4. Armless Pilot Gives Students a Look at First Foot-Controlled Plane
5. Jags’ Maxen Is the First Male American Pro Sports Coach to Come Out as Gay

Call to Action:

August is National Black Business Month, a time to recognize and support Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs across the country. Of course, you should do that every month, but add some extra intention this month. Here’s a great one: Tubby’s Taste, delicious, island-inspired cookies, available for corporate gifts or treats at home.

Connect with Celia on Linkedin.

Read the full blog here.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week I attended the 2023 Edelman Trust Barometer Executive Insights event. The Trust Barometer is an annual global trust and credibility study that measures trust across society. I’ve used their data in my work over the years so I was surprised to learn this year that the business was named as the most trusted institution. Business is trusted more than non-governmental organizations, the media, and the government – and the only of those institutions rated both ethical and competent. 55% of Americans trust businesses. And while this isn’t a large majority, overall, trust has increased across all demographics.

The study also revealed that while economic anxieties, a class divide, and the spread of misinformation have led to increased polarization, the place people feel safest to talk about societal issues is the workplace. Why? Because they generally expect people to behave. Very interesting. Has that been your experience?

The Trust Barometer also reveals that over 60% of your customers and employees are asking businesses to take a stand on societal issues. I believe this is good vibes indeed – the opportunity here for businesses to build upon this already growing trust can be transformative for any organization.

Here are the other good vibes I found this week:

2. ASL Performer Justina Miles Stole the Show at Super Bowl Lvii

3. Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair

4. Spain Becomes the First Country in Europe to Approve Menstrual Leave

5.  Spain Gives Final Approval to Law Making It Easier to Legally Change Gender

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-trust

To learn more about Crystal and her book, visit: https://www.crystallily.co/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. LGBTQ+ Inclusive Curriculum in Washington
2. Big ROI on Child Care Benefits
3. “Hop” Showcases Authentic Disability Representation
4. Federal Forms to be Updated for Better Representation
5. Yurok Becomes First Tribal Nation to Co-manage Land

This week's Call to Action:

March 31 is Transgender Day of Visibility. My good friend Rhodes Perry created a checklist on how to show up for your TGX (transgender and gender expansive) colleagues. It’s a great personal and professional resource. 

Read the stores:

https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-good-trouble

Connect with Julie Pham: https://curiositybased.com/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Chris Simmons (he/him), Trailblazing Diversity Leader, Author & Keynote Speaker, and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes! This week our conversation is about neurodivergent inclusion at EY, a more accessible Yelp, Harry Potter, and more!

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Yelp Expands Accessibility Features
2. Don’t Tell J.K. Rowling
3. EY Sees Success with Neurodivergent Inclusion
4. Non-Binary Runners to Earn Prize Money
5. New Monuments Pay Tribute to Black Women

This week's Call to Action:

Read my friend Julie Kratz’s article in Forbes: How PWC Measures the Impact of Inclusion.

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-hang-on

Connect with Chris Simmons via his website and LinkedIn.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:

1. Lego Is Launching Its Braille Bricks in English and French for the General Public
2. Nebraska Cornhuskers Volleyball Breaks Women’s Sports World Attendance Record
3. Texas Waves Goodbye to Sales Tax on Menstrual and Gender-Based Products
4. Retailers Help Generate $14 Billion for Black-Owned Companies
5. Lumen Field Was Awarded KultureCity’s Sports Venue of the Year Award 2023

Call to Action:

Have you checked out Living Corporate? It's a Black-owned digital media network that centers and amplifies Black and brown folks at work. Check it out for some great podcasts and articles. 

Connect with Karen Wilkins-Mickey on Linkedin.

Read the full blog on our website.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. NYC Worker Protections Grow With Rare Ban on Weight, Height Bias
2. Incarcerated students earn degrees in groundbreaking US university program
3. At Malls Nationwide, Santa Goes Sensory-Friendly
4. Awards show de-genders category in honor of nonbinary icon Janelle Monáe
5. Comcast launches live video ASL interpretation at Philadelphia stores

This week's call to action: Watch this TEDx Talk on Uncovering Talent: The Power of Authenticity by Kenji Yoshino, NYU School of Law.

Download the ARC Method: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/arc-method-1

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-follow-the-arc

Connect with Bill Hendrix: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wmhendrix

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week we launched a really cool DEI web app (and the feedback has been 🔥). Creating the Inclusive 360 Assessment and Roadmap has been my obsession for 10 months as I sought to solve a recurring challenge our clients share - a need to cut through the overwhelm and get crystal clear direction about the next steps forward with DEI.

To be perfectly honest, I was also dissatisfied with the custom DEI analysis and strategic plan we were providing to consulting clients. I felt that the analysis was great but the plan was too general. In my own experience, when I don’t have specifics, I often get stuck and don’t take action. I like specifics. The tool is very specific.

Anyway, I promise we’ll chill out with the emails about the web app, but I want to share how proud I am of what we built, and how much I believe it can help organizations accelerate their DEI and accessibility goals.

Watch the 3-minute video.

Try it out with the Inclusive 360 Quiz.

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. A Black History & Culture Collection Was Created to Provide Access to Historical & Cultural Images of the African/Black Diaspora in the US & UK
2. Nintendo Has Enchanted Video Game Players With Titles Like Super Mario Brothers and the Legend of Zelda, but Now It’s Helping Bring LGBTQ Equality to Its Home Country of Japan
3. Educator and Civil Rights Activist Mary McLeod Bethune Makes History as the First Black Person to Have a State-Commissioned Statue in the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall, Replacing a Confederate Statue
4. & 5. ADP Created a Preferred Name Policy to Foster an Inclusive Workplace.  Betterment did something similar - users of this financial app have more than two genders to choose from when registering. Account holders can also add their preferred names.

Read the blog version here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-obsessed
 

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are this week's good vibes:

Walmart Creates a Pipeline for AI Talent

Charlotte Tilbury Promotes Women in Motorsports

New Jersey to Recognize LGBTQ+ Businesses

Unilever Hires People With Disabilities Behind the Camera

Historic Donation to Albert Einstein College of Medicine

This week's Call to Action:

Learn about Nex Benedict, the non-binary teen in Oklahoma who was bullied and beaten by classmates and later died. Oklahoma legislators are currently considering 54 anti-LGBTQ bills. It’s a really tough time to be a young trans person. 

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-outside-of-hr

Connect with Lisa Mulligan: https://www.thecultureministry.com/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:

1. Walmart's Nationwide Doula Coverage to Tackle Healthcare Disparities
2. California Enacts Groundbreaking Law for Diversity in Venture Capital
3. Charlottesville's Robert E. Lee Statue Transformed into Unity Art Piece
4. Che Flores: Breaking Barriers as the NBA's First Nonbinary Referee
5. Morgan's Wonderland: A $6 Million Investment in Accessibility and Joy

Call to Action: Read Levi Baer’s tips for “the subtle art of checking in” with the people on your team.

Connect with Michelle and sign up here for her newsletter: https://www.michellesilverthorn.com/monday-mornings-with-michelle

Read the full blog for this episode at TheEqualityInstitute.com

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. ‘Peppa Pig’ Gets Its First Same-Sex Couple – Two Polar Bear Mommies
2. A Swimming Cap Made for Black Hair Gets Official Approval After Previous Olympic Ban
3. The Hubspot Culture Code: “Better to Try and Sometimes Fail Than to Sit Tight...and Fail for Sure.”
4. U.S. Soccer Players Formally Sign Equal Pay Agreements
5. If Your Family Makes Less Than $100,000 per Year, Princeton Will Cover All Your Tuition

Learn more about John Avila here: https://www.avilacreativeinc.com/

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-the-sales-team

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Walmart to increase pay for store managers
2. Philadelphia becomes first sensory-inclusive city in the U.S.
3. Jerod Mayo hired as New England Patriots coach
4. BIPOC folks win big at Emmy’s
5. 321 Coffee shows an inclusive business model

This week's Call to Action:

Do you crave Girl Scout cookies but struggle to find them for sale where you live? No worries! Check out this list of scouts who happen to be trans girls and will ship cookies wherever you are! The list was curated by Erin Reed.

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/companeros

Connect with Jason Benitez:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-benitez-64a269b3/ and https://capitalregionchamber.com/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week’s Good Vibes:

1. TD Bank Offering Doula Reimbursement Benefit
2. Virgin Voyages Brings Fun Accessibility
3. New York Adds Lunar New Year as Public School Holiday
4. Haley Van Voorhis Becomes First Woman Non-kicker to Play in NCAA Football Game
5. New California Law Raises Minimum Wage for Fast Food Workers to $20 per Hour, Among Nation’s Highest

Connect with Christian on Linkedin or by visiting www.kindredkeynotesandcoaching.com

Read this week's full 5 Things blog here.

This Week's Call to Action: Trying to keep up with the evolving language? We’re halfway through Latino Heritage Month – but is that the right term to use? Here’s a good primer…I personally use Latine’. 

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. AT&T offers paid caregiver leave
2. Every employee at Microsoft sets DEI goals
3. Walmart’s set sensory hours each day
4. Common App makes it easier to go to college
5. NYC Marathon gets lactating-parent friendly

This week's call to action:

This past Sunday was the main celebration in Diwali, the festival of lights celebrating the Indian New Year. Learn about Diwali and how to acknowledge/recognize it with this LinkedIn post from our good friends at Seva Global.

Connect with Kelly Ann Winget:

• https://www.kellyannwinget.com/
  https://www.alternativewealthpartners.com/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week’s Good Vibes:

1. Some U.S. Airports Strive to Make Flying More Inclusive for Those With Dementia
2. Meet The Entrepreneur With A Plan To Create One Million Black-Owned Businesses By 2030
3. Lyft Launches Women+ Connect
4. Smucker’s New Hybrid Work Model
5. Pinterest’s New Algorithms Want You to See Every Body Type

Call to Action:

A month full of Jewish holidays is upon us. Here are some inclusion tips from our friends at Seva Global. Shanah Tovah, to those who celebrate.

Learn more about Jackie at thediversitymovement.com

Read the full blog on the Equality Institute website.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Happier Employees = Lower Turnover at IKEA
2. Thailand Approves Marriage Equality
3. Record Employment for People With Disabilities
4. Doris Burke Calls NBA Finals
5. Miss Maryland USA Breaks Barriers

Call to Action:

Too hot out there? Stay cool inside and check out these movies by and about trans people to watch this Pride month

Read the stories:  https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-gayborhood

Connect with Kit Lim (she/her), DEI leader and coach.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. WNBA Players to Fly Charter Flights
2. American Cancer Society to Study Black Women
3. Japan Airlines’ New CEO is a Woman
4. Sesame Place Is More Inclusive of Neurodivergence
5. Kate Spade Promotes Mental Health Awareness

This week's Call to Action:

Speaking of mental health awareness, I’ve developed a “bag of tricks” to manage my own in times of acute stress. Here are some great quick tips I learned from Ana Del Castillo that you can try in-the-moment: 6 Ways to Regulate Your System

https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-reconnecting

Connect with Lisa Demmi: www.lisademmi.com

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Carlos Butler-Vale (he/him), Co-Host, Corporate Cafecito Business Podcast, and Founder, Avizo Consulting, and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week our conversation is about history at the Oscars, marriage equality in Thailand, Bloomberg’s big investment, and more!

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Bloomberg Stands for Climate Action
2. Hyatt and Carnival Lead Accessibility Wave
3. A Trailblazer’s Moment
4. Thailand Says 'I Do' to Equality
5. Brave Rep. Emily Randall

Good Vibes to Go: 

Bernadette’s GVTG: Read this article by Lily Zheng in Harvard Business Review in which they present a new framework: What Comes After DEI. 

Carlos’ GVTG: Look for a symphony performance of “Encanto”, the Disney movie, and support the Central Illinois Friends Center, or your local LGBTQ Center. Find yours at CenterLink.

Read the Stories.

Connect with Carlos Butler-Vale

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week my partner said something incredibly wise to me when we were talking about the kids’ rules. She said, “what I’ve come to realize is that it should be about equity, not equality."

That was a mic drop moment for me. By that, she meant that each kid should be treated according to their own unique needs. Of course. The kid who gets overstimulated has different needs than the one who is a hardcore extrovert.

Of course. I remember at work. I forget at home. Anyone else? Or vice versa?

Equity, not equality. Since my business is Equality Institute, I’ll quickly define those terms. Equality (“the condition of being equal”) simply isn’t possible without equity (“more for those who need it”) first. I see equality as an aspirational outcome. I’m an aspirational kind of person. Let’s get to it.

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. Food Lion Has Made Working With Owners From Underrepresented Groups Part of Its Day-To-Day Sourcing Processes
2. The ANA Membership Assembly Took Historic Action by Unanimously Voting ‘Yes’ to Adopt The ANA Racial Reckoning Statement
3. IOC Reinstates Jim Thorpe as Sole Winner of 1912 Olympic Decathlon and Pentathlon
4. Once Neglected, Dei Initiatives Now Present at All Fortune 100 Companies
5. Top Russian Tennis Player Daria Kasatkina Comes Out as Gay

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-mic-drop

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Aviva CEO to sign-off on all “non-diverse hires”
2. Irish dancing community shows trans support
3. Formerly incarcerated people get instant voting access in Michigan
4. Inclusive customer service at Sephora
5. Southwest praised for 'customer of size' policy that gives larger passengers priority

This week's call to action: Read this important article in Forbes by Janice Gassam Asare: Claudine Gay Resigns From Harvard: Why Black Excellence Is Never Enough.

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/finding-joy

Connect with Kim Clark: https://www.kimclarkcommunications.com/ and check out her course: https://www.kimclarkcommunications.com/dei-communications-blueprint-with-kim-clark-communications-1

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week's Good Vibes:

1. Revised Blood Donation Policies for Gay and Bisexual Men in the US: A Step Forward
2. Room & Board's Innovative Approach: An Indoor Pickleball Court Promoting Fun and Productivity
3. Historic Inclusion: Two Transgender Women Compete in the 2023 Miss Universe Pageant
4. The Power of E-Learning in the Workplace: Driving Diversity and Inclusion
5. Google's Enhanced Accessibility Features Are Empowering Users with Disabilities

Call to Action:

If you find yourself continually advocating for inclusion and belonging, I recommend reading "10 Reasons Why Inclusion Is a Competitive Advantage" in the Harvard Business Review (please note that you may need to pay for access). This article provides valuable tips and sound bites that can help you drive DEI initiatives.

Connect with Dina at https://equalityhealthcareconsulting.com/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week our conversation is about same-sex marriage and adoption in Greece, lactation pods, employee stock ownership, and more!

Here are this week's good vibes:

MLB’s First Woman Play-by-Play Announcer

Greece Legalizes Same-Sex Marriage and Adoption

Mamava's Lactation Pods Revolutionize Support for Nursing Parents

Lyft Expands Pilot to Prioritize Safety and Inclusion

RIP Bob Moore

This week's Call to Action:

It’s Lunar New Year, the year of the Dragon! In Chicago, the big parade is today. Learn more about the tradition in this DEI Double Feature with Lisa Ong.

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/flow-state

Connect with Michael Neece: https://www.michaelgneece.com/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week’s Good Vibes:

• Walmart Scraps Degree Requirements for Some Corporate Jobs
• Lincoln Park Zoo Announces First-Ever Zoo-Based Memory Enrichment Program
• Laphonza Butler Sworn in as California’s Newest Senator and First Openly Black Lesbian to Join Congress
• United Airlines Looks To Improve Travel For Those With Disabilities
• Some Minnesota Hospitals Now Offer Culturally Appropriate Hair- And Skin-Care Products

Call to Action:

Subscribe to the Fortune raceAhead newsletter. It’s one of my sources of inspiration and news for 5 Things. Definitely a worthy read.

Connect with Charlene on Linkedin or by visiting her website https://charlenewheeless.com/

Read the full blog on the Equality Institute website.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Andres Sigcha, Founder & CEO of Tariy.ai recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week our conversation is about DEI metrics in performance reviews, autism-friendly airports, skills-based hiring, and more! 

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Hitachi adds DEI metrics to performance reviews
2. JFK and other airports become more autism-friendly
3. Massachusetts moves to skills-based hiring
4. Walmart invests in its managers, again
5. Mark Cuban doubles down on support for DEI

This week's Call to Action:

It’s Black History Month! In the spirit of intersectionality, here’s a list of 12 Black queer books and 21 films to check out.

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/flow-state

Connect with Andres Sigcha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andressigcha and www.Tariy.ai

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week, I spent three days (and joyful evenings) with other thought leaders, each working to bring our new keynotes to life with the brilliant team at Heroic Public Speaking. I had a great week and did some fantastic work, but I started to feel a little down on myself once I left. I didn’t feel like writing this morning. Spending three days with other thought leaders can trigger comparisonitis (comparison syndrome). They have how many LinkedIn followers??!!

Any one of you could go to a conference of peers, or even read 5 Things and think, “That is such a cool thing that company X is doing…my company stinks and isn’t doing anything significant with DEI.” Or worse: ”They’re such a great leader…I stink compared to them…”

Comparisonitis. Comparison has been called the thief of joy – and it causes stagnation. I can’t fulfill my purpose to build a world where people feel safe to be authentically themselves if I let comparison drag me down. What I have to remind myself is that each step I take toward my vision matters.

Screw comparisonitis. There will always be those ahead of you and trust me, there will be many others just starting out. Each step you take towards more significant equity and inclusion matters – as an individual, and as an organization. Even simple things like intentionally connecting with people who are different from you, builds momentum that can be world-changing, and life-changing.

If you find yourself stuck because of comparisonitis or anything else, reply to this email. Seriously. I read every response and I’ll get back to you ASAP. Oh, and as much as I hate to admit it, external validation helps…so if you listen to the 5 Things in 15 Minutes podcast, will you do me a favor, rate, and review?

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. Championing Authenticity and Equity: Inside and Outside of Yelp
2. Walmart to Cover Fertility Treatments Under Insurance Plan
3. How Employers Can Set Formerly Incarcerated Workers Up for Success
4. The Who Says Gender-Affirming Care Is Essential to Transgender Health
5. CVS Drops Prices on Its Tampons and Will Pay the ‘Pink Tax’

Read the full blog here

Click here to learn more about Simone and Your Choice Coach

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Deidra Green (she/her), Director of DEI at European Wax Center recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week our conversation is about a new dub of the Avengers movie, Ben & Jerry’s new ad campaign, trans representation at the Olympics, and more!

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. The Avengers to be Dubbed in Lakota
2. Ben & Jerry’s Urges Activism
3. Nikki Hiltz, a Trans Non-Binary Runner, Heads to the Olympics
4. Minnesota is Stepping Up Its Inclusivity Game
5. More ERG Leads Get Compensated

This week's Call to Action:

Lily Zheng has released a new LinkedIn Learning course called “A Playbook to Achieve Equity Anywhere” and I learned a thing or two. Check it out!

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-managing-yourself

Connect with Deidra Green on LinkedIn.

Visit the European Wax Center.

Deidra’s book recommendations: The Courage to be Disliked and The Life Brief

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Jay Baez-Sanchez (she/her), DEI Enthusiast, and Anthony Papini (he/him), Director of DEI at ActiveCampaign and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week our conversation is about the first Black African to win a Tour de France stage, Barbie’s new dolls, inclusion at the Emmy awards, and more! We’ll also be talking about the development of ActiveCampaign’s new Junior Platform Certification Program.

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Biniam Girmay Wins Tour de France Stage
2. Barbie’s New Inclusive Dolls
3. Indigenous Actresses Get Emmy Noms
4. Track and Field Gold Medalists Get Paid
5. Canada's First Female Chief of Defense

This week's Call to Action:

Check out the Black Barbie documentary on Netflix! It’s super entertaining and brought me some good vibes. 

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-holding-space

Connect with Jay Baez-Sanchez (she/her), DEI Enthusiast, and Anthony Papini (he/him) on LinkedIn.

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Dorie Clark (she/her), WSJ Bestselling Author and Professor of Executive Education at Columbia Business School and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. This week our conversation is about Inclusive Care with a Smile, Raising the Curtain on Neurodivergence, Toasting Respect, and more!

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Inclusive Dentistry Is More Than Words
2. Long-Overdue Apology Hits Home
3. Neurodiverse Stars in the Spotlight
4. Respect in Every Pour
5. Neurodivergent Nights

Good Vibes to Go: 

Bernadette’s GVTG: Watch Rez Ball on Netflix! It’s a drama about a high school basketball team in New Mexico competing for the state championship. I loved the authenticity of the storytelling. 

Dorie’s GVTG: Dorie celebrates LGBTQ-inclusive wedding cards while acknowledging there aren't many of them including on Etsy!

Read the Stories

Connect with Dorie Clark

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Recently, I’ve been thinking about the topic of vulnerability. We’ve been told that vulnerability in teams and in groups can unlock greatness. That it creates connection, establishes trust, and can lead to everyone doing their best work.

Here’s the thing about vulnerability that I think gets forgotten: somebody has to go first.

That's what's on my mind these days.

Life can be intense. And it can be exhausting pretending it's not. It feels so much better to have people cheering us on.

But somebody has to go first. Continue reading on LinkedIn…

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. Airbnb Makes It Easier to Find Wheelchair-Friendly Homes
2. Sensory-Friendly Santa Coming To Hundreds Of Locations Nationwide
3. WHO Renames Monkeypox as Mpox, Citing Racist Stigma
4. Miami Marlins Become First U.S. Sports Franchise With Women As President And General Manager
5. Colorado Springs Police Said They Made an Effort Not to Misgender Club Q Victims. Here’s Why That Matters 

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-going-first

Learn more about Lisa M. Ong here: https://www.wishingoutloud.com/
 

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. SFMOMA’s New Exhibit Celebrates Inclusion
2. Kaylynne Truong Becomes the First Vietnamese Athlete in the WNBA
3. Frontier Co-Op’s Values-Driven Approach
4. Liechtenstein Passes Marriage Equality
5. Apple Products Grow More Accessible

Connect with Bernadette: www.BernadetteSmith.com

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-karen

The first 5 Good Vibes podcast subscribers who mention the podcast in their outreach to Lisa Flick at the Radical Optimist Collective will get 20% off an immersive learning journey supported by our team in Montgomery as part of our work with Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy sites. Email us via our website: https://theradicaloptimist.com/contact/

This week's Call to Action:

Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) was last week. Get your organization a free accessibility assessment by our friends at Ablr, who train visually impaired folks to perform accessibility audits (among other amazing things).

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This week I was reminded that every story is nuanced – sometimes, I miss the [whole/complete] picture when researching the stories. In the last 5 Things, I shared how Shopify’s CEO was humble and kind in handling layoffs. A reader so smartly responded:

While they lost their jobs due to his mistake he still made over $20 million and cashed out more than $623 million in equity last year. To me, this raises huge questions about internal equity, executive compensation, and holding decision-makers accountable for their decisions. Instead, once again, we will likely see huge numbers of lower-wage, junior, and shared service (where most diversity exists in US companies) employees paying the price.

Yes, yes, yes, and yes. Perfectly put.

And yet, in addition to some layoffs, I’m also seeing salary bumps and bonuses announced across industries as a potential antidote to still-high resignation numbers. Does that count as a good vibe?

Ultimately, there are so many gray areas, and there are always trade-offs. I’m hopeful we will mostly see leaders choose the path that causes the least harm. I’m reminded of what my friend Jess Pettitt says, “Do the best you can with what you have some of the time."

Another reader had a question about Disney’s Fairy Godmothers from last week… we inadvertently left off an apostrophe, causing the story about going gender-free to make no sense. Sorry for the confusion! To summarize Fairy Godmothers in Training --> Fairy Godmother’s Apprentices.

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. How the World’s Biggest Four-Day Workweek Trial Run Changed People’s Lives in the UK
2. Spotify Allowed Its Employees to Work From Anywhere in the World and Its Turnover Rate Dropped
3. Gen Z Knows What It Wants From Employers And Employers Want Them
4. U.S. Companies Support Harvard, UNC in Supreme Court Affirmative Action Cases
5. Microsoft Has Taken a Proactive Approach to Accessible Technology and Disability Hiring

Read the full blog here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-trade-offs

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

Catharine Montgomery, the founder and CEO of the social-impact-focused communications agency, Better Together and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. 

Here are this week's good vibes:

1. Big Bonuses for Delta Employees
2. Starbucks Re-Designs Store for Inclusion
3. Breaking Barriers in Whiskey
4. Churches Teach Black History in Florida
5. Four-Day Workweek Sticks

This week's Call to Action:

If you have Paramount+ streaming, check out the TV show Bet on Black. It’s like Shark Tank but for Black entrepreneurs. Target is a big sponsor and one of their employees was a judge. The company that makes our client gifts competed in the most recent season…no major spoilers but they did quite well. 

Read the Stories: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/5-things-comms

Connect with Catharine Montgomery: https://thebettertogether.agency/

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/

This Week’s Good Vibes:

1. The National Park Service (NPS) is working to incorporate more Black history into its storytelling about America. This includes considering the establishment of a Black Panther Party National Historical Park, and other new parks in locations related to civil rights, such as the 1964 murders of civil rights workers and the 1955 lynching of Emmett Till. The goal is to establish new national parks that facilitate conversations about race. I’m hopeful that all of these come to fruition so these stories continue to be heard and remembered. 
2. The North Face is fighting back against backlash from conservatives for partnering with drag queen Pattie Gonia to promote their "Summer of Pride" event. However, unlike other companies that have faced similar backlash, The North Face is standing by its brand partner and expressing support for LGBTQ+ equality. When other brands have backed down, this response is significant as it demonstrates a commitment to inclusion and sends a message to other businesses about the importance of embracing LGBTQ+ consumers and employees.
3. Mexico has introduced a new policy allowing citizens to identify as nonbinary on their passports, with the option to select "X" as their gender marker. The U.S. and Canada already have this policy in place. This is significant as it demonstrates Mexico's progress in advancing LGBTQ+ rights and the acceptance of gender beyond the binary. The indigenous Muxe of Oaxaca live and are widely accepted in their “third gender.”
4. Texas now has the CROWN Act. The CROWN Act (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) aims to protect individuals from discrimination based on their natural hair in workplaces, schools, and housing policies. This affects mostly Black and Brown folks who have dreadlocks, braids, twists, and other natural hair. These folks are often burdened with the white supremacy standard of "professional” hair. There are about 20 states with this protection.
5. In a strange turnabout, another company which faced recent conservative backlash was Chik-Fil-A, when people realized the company had a Vice President of DEI. The irony is that the fast-food restaurant chain has a history of partnerships with anti-LGBTQ organizations and has been boycotted by many people like me, who love that chicken but go to Popeye’s instead. The good news here is that (I hope) Chik-Fil-A is showing some commitment towards greater equity and inclusion…my hope is that it’s not lip service, but they haven’t released any statements.

Call to Action:

Read this article and photos about the trans joy on display at the Trans Youth Prom outside the U.S. Capitol building last week.

To learn more about Nancy, visit: https://www.restartconsult.com/

Read the full 5 Things here: https://www.theequalityinstitute.com/equality-insights-blog/pride-amp-joy

Join thousands of readers by subscribing to the 5 Things newsletter. Enjoy some good vibes in DEI every Saturday morning. https://5thingsdei.com/