5 Things / The Belonging Buzzword

Belonging is a buzzword these days. Having a sense of belonging is hard. It’s hard in this world, and it’s especially hard at work.

I’ve spent most of my life feeling very different from the people around me. And with losing my parents more than 20 years ago, my biggest wound has always been around abandonment.

I ended my awesome book Inclusive 360 with a chapter on belonging. I described it as the “holy grail,” as aspirational. But the truth is that there have been very few places where I felt that I belonged. For me, there’s wisdom in that.

Belonging takes significant effort. There is no magic formula to establish belonging at work. And anyone can stop feeling like they belong the second they feel excluded. Michelle Silverthorn and I are going to unpack all of this on Wednesday during The Belonging Buzzword: a DEI Double Feature.

Join us for this free LinkedIn Live Wednesday at 1 pm ET where we get to the heart of belonging, what it looks like in an ideal state, and how to get there at work. Register right here.

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:

1. Title IX Protections More Inclusive

   • The Biden administration's new Title IX rules, effective August 1, protect LGBTQ students and overhaul responses to sexual assault. Definitions of sexual harassment have been broadened, and protections have been extended to pregnant, gay, and transgender students, addressing long-standing inequities. I found this part interesting: “It could be a violation of Title IX if schools, for example, refuse to use the pronouns that correspond with a student's gender identity.” This goes into effect on August 1 and could have a significant ripple effect.

2. Potawatomi Nation Reclaims Ancestral Land

   • The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation has reclaimed a portion of its ancestral land in Illinois after 175 years, marking the state's first federally recognized tribal land. The decision, announced by the U.S. Department of the Interior, grants sovereignty over portions of Shab-eh-nay Reservation land to the tribe. This historic restitution acknowledges the injustice of the U.S. government illegally auctioning off 1,280 acres of land 175 years ago. Most importantly, it sets a precedent for indigenous land reclamation, empowering tribes to reclaim cultural heritage.

3. John Lewis Partnership Publishes Interview Questions Online

   • John Lewis Partnership, the U.K.'s largest employee-owned business with 83,000 “partners”, is publishing interview questions online. This move aims to alleviate job seekers' anxiety and ensure fair assessments. By allowing candidates to prepare responses in advance, JLP aims to attract more diversity and reduce biases. This is great for everyone, especially neurodivergent candidates. JLP's innovative approach aligns with industry trends, fostering a more inclusive and effective recruitment process for candidates of all backgrounds.

4. United Methodist Church Lifts LGBTQ Bans

   • The United Methodist Church voted to lift bans on LGBTQ+ clergy and same-sex weddings with a resounding 692 to 51 approval. The decision marks a shift towards inclusivity, especially after many previous contentious debates. The Church established geographic regions (based around continents) and is allowing each to set its own LGBTQ clergy and marriage rules, so theoretically, some regions may still keep these bans. Still, this is a really big deal.

5. Opting Out for Mother's Day

   • ButcherBox is one of an increasing number of companies offering its mailing list the ability to opt-out of Mother’s Day promotions. Sarah Bettman wrote about this on LinkedIn and how it’s personally meaningful to her. I agree… Mother’s Day is a tough day for a lot of folks. I’ve personally spent a lot of them grieving and I appreciate the thoughtfulness here.

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. You can learn more and register here.

5 Things / Unique Wisdom

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I’m a lesbian and yesterday was Lesbian Visibility Day. 👋🏻🏳️‍🌈Despite putting myself out there as a speaker and writer for years now, it took me a long time to figure out how I wanted to be in the world. What gender expression feels authentic? How to find the balance between being open and vulnerable while still protecting myself? But those are things many of us navigate.

What I know is that I have a hell of a lot of resilience and empathy because of my sexuality. It’s made me stronger and amplified my gifts and my messages. It’s given me unique wisdom.

But whatever your story is, whoever you are, gives you unique wisdom. Whatever the stories are of the people on your team, even of the people who annoy you, gives them all unique wisdom as well. It would be cool if we took a moment to be curious about each other’s unique wisdom, and the gifts they have from their experiences. The things they can teach us. It all starts with curiosity. My ARC (Ask-Respect-Connect) Method helps.

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:

1. PBS Kids Adds ASL to Six Shows

   • PBS Kids is enhancing accessibility by adding American Sign Language interpreters to popular shows, benefiting children who are deaf or hard of hearing. With content aimed at ages 2 to 8, many kids may not yet read captions, making ASL crucial. Partnering with Bridge Multimedia, PBS conducted user testing to optimize interpreter placement, ensuring seamless integration. ASL versions of six shows are now available online, with plans to expand.

2. Delta Continues to Invest in Employees

   • Delta Airlines is giving a 5% pay raise to over 80,000 ground employees and flight attendants, a 20–25% cumulative increase in comp in 2 years. This rise follows a generous $1.4 billion profit-sharing payment to employees, doubling last year's payout. Delta has a $125 million profit-sharing fund already allocated for next year and has a stable and loyal workforce. Delta’s my favorite airline to follow for this reason…it’s too bad Chicago’s not a hub.

3. Korean Company Uses Korean Names

   • Kakao Games distinguishes itself by abandoning its longstanding tradition of using English names for employees, opting instead to embrace their Korean identities. This unique move underscores the company's respect for individuality and is a departure from the common practice in Korean workplaces. By prioritizing authenticity and inclusion, Kakao Games sets a precedent for other organizations to do the same.

4. Retail/Grocery Employees to Have More Protections

   • Starting July 2025, retail and grocery workers in unincorporated L.A. County gain more control over their schedules, thanks to a new ordinance mandating employers to provide schedules two weeks in advance, offer compensation for last-minute changes, and space out shifts by 10 hours. This policy, mirroring L.A. city's 2022 ordinance, affects around 200 businesses and up to 6,000 workers. With many workers being people of color, this policy promotes equity, fair treatment, and hopefully stability.

5. Dell Sees ERG Success

   • Dell’s Employee resource groups (ERGs) have a 52% participation rate across its 120,000 global employees. They achieved this because CEO Michael Dell mandates that each direct report sponsor an ERG. This leadership buy-in then incentivizes employees to show up! When the leaders are bought-in, great things can happen in DEI. That’s the way it’s done.

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!

5 Things / I Lied

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Not long ago, I was feeling incredibly run down, not exactly sick, but not energetic enough to do my best. I didn’t want to admit my own fatigue and I pushed back a client deliverable with a family excuse. I lied.

I’m not sure why I didn’t just tell the client that I wasn’t feeling well. Was I afraid of seeming weak? I didn’t put much thought into it at the time, but in hindsight, I’m sure I’ve been socially conditioned to associate fatigue = weakness.

The whole story is harmless in that I didn’t miss the client’s deadline, just my promised delivery date – except that a ton of other people do the exact same thing. They tell half-truths and white lies to avoid looking weak, different, or incapable – especially at work. The cumulative effect of this is huge and means that many teams lack psychological safety, which has been shown to drive innovation in diverse teams.

Wouldn’t it be nice if making excuses wasn’t necessary and we could just be a little more honest? Managers have a huge role to play here…and it starts with kind curiosity.

This Week’s Good Vibes:

1. Singapore Enshrines Flexible Work in Law

   • In Singapore, employees gained the legal right to request flexible work arrangements, including four-day workweeks and remote work days, starting December 1. By mandating a formal process for flexible work requests, Singapore aims to foster trust and reciprocity in the workplace and acknowledges the importance of flexibility for all workers, particularly caregivers, women, and seniors.

2. NCAA Women’s Basketball Final Sets Records

   • The NCAA women's basketball final set records, beating the viewership for the men’s final, becoming the most-watched basketball game since 2019, and the most-watched spring sporting event in five years. The women's success continues to show the growing audience and recognition for women's sports. I share these stories because there’s still such a need for continued investment and promotion to elevate their visibility and impact.

3. Allstate Managers Get Connections Budget

   • Allstate has hit its stride with a hybrid work model, in part by allocating leaders a portion of a $10 million “connections budget.” Managers have the autonomy to allocate funds for various activities that bring their teams together, such as in-person meetings, team-building events, or virtual contests. The flexibility of the budget allows for tailored experiences that cater to the unique dynamics and preferences of each team, ultimately contributing to an 84% engagement rate across the company.

4. Wisconsin Includes Asian American History

   1. Wisconsin's new law adds Asian American and Hmong history to K-12 school curriculums. Governor Tony Evers sees it as a way to acknowledge the state's diverse roots, including the third-largest Hmong population in the country. This is especially important in light of recent anti-Asian sentiments. Wisconsin currently requires instruction of Black, Native American, and Latino American history and this addition is long overdue. It finally gives students a chance to see themselves in their lessons.

5. Ashley for State Rep!

   • Ashley Brundage, a fellow DEI speaker and author who once joined me for a DEI Double Feature, aims to become Florida's first transgender elected official in South Tampa. She’s running for State Representative. Ashley is an amazing woman whose platform focuses on key issues like insurance costs and small business support. She’s also very clever: in 2022, she received the "Spirit of the Community Award" from the Florida Commission on the Status of Women, with a letter signed from anti-LGBTQ Governor Ron DeSantis. She’s using that letter as part of her campaign to bridge political divides.

This Week’s Call to Action:

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

5 Things / Gratitude

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Full transparency: my small firm has been impacted by client budget cuts and priority shifts. This has meant our own budget cuts, priority shifts, and a heartbreaking layoff. I’ve had hard conversations with folks on my team over the past 18 months.

Yet, as I write this, I’m flying to a client event and can’t help but feel such a strong sense of gratitude. Gratitude that organizations are trusting me to deliver a message that will give their employees the tools they need to contribute towards psychological safety on their team, create meaningful connections, and show up just a little more authentically.

It’s a gift that I’m being trusted to deliver this message, especially since I spent years feeling inauthentic in my work.

Thank you for your trust in me, in this little firm I’m building with a fabulous team and a spirit of “better late than never!” and “let’s do this together!” Please respond if I can help you in any way.

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:

1. USCIS Now Offers Gender X

   • United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) introduced an X gender option on naturalization forms, a crucial step for gender-nonconforming immigrants. This aligns with the US passport policy and global trends, like Pakistan and Mexico's inclusion of third-gender options. This is a big stride towards recognizing diverse gender identities and dismantling barriers to accessing immigration benefits, fostering a more equitable and accessible pathway to citizenship for all.

2. Shift from Autism Awareness to Acceptance

   • President Biden shifts from "Autism Awareness" to "Autism Acceptance" in this year’s proclamation. This reflects a broader movement advocated by autistic self-advocates to foster a society that accommodates and includes autistic individuals, moving away from fear-based awareness campaigns. While some organizations will still use "awareness," the shift highlights a growing understanding that acceptance is crucial for true inclusion and creating welcoming communities.

3. Innovative Trans Employment Project

   • California pioneered the nation's inaugural large-scale initiative to combat the disproportionately high unemployment rates among transgender folks, especially trans people of color. As an incentive to owners and managers to hire trans staff, the first 60 hours of a new hire's wages will be paid for through a $150,000 grant from the California Workforce Development Board. To qualify, owners or managers must attend a seminar on the issues that trans people face at work and how to support trans staff. I absolutely love this initiative because it removes significant barriers to employment and even paves the way for broader societal acceptance.

4. First Watch Employees Get Caregiver Benefits

   • The brunch restaurant First Watch introduced groundbreaking childcare and elder care benefits, partnering with Bright Horizons to offer discounted rates for employees. This move addresses the industry-wide issue of caretaking responsibilities hindering upward mobility, especially for women. The initiative is a rarity in the industry! The benefits are available for all employees, both part-time and full-time, regardless of their position within the company. This approach ensures that all hourly employees (who are disproportionately women and BIPOC) have more options to address the challenges of balancing work and family obligations.

5. First Arab Woman Graduates from NASA

   • Emirati Nora AlMatrooshi's journey became the first Arab woman to graduate from NASA's astronaut training. NASA even set her up with a custom hijab within the spacesuit. I appreciate that this shows the agency's commitment to accommodating diverse backgrounds in space exploration. AlMatrooshi is a great possibility model, showing that women of all backgrounds can belong in space.

This Week’s Call to Action:

Book recommendation time! Check out The Boldly Inclusive Leader by my friend Minette Norman. There are some great stories in this book that illustrate the principles of inclusive leadership. Minette has seen A LOT!

5 Things / Good Trouble

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I recently delivered a keynote at the DFW Inclusion Conference and spoke about how we can come together in our increasingly polarized society. My talk built upon what my friend Kelvin Goss spoke about earlier. Kelvin challenged us to get into “good trouble.”

That was the challenge set forth by the late great Congressman John Lewis, a legend who fought with Dr. King for civil rights: “Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.”

Here’s how Kelvin reinterpreted this message to urge us to get into good trouble. I’m ready. Are you? 

💡speak up for inclusion and equity

💡challenge bias

💡educate others

💡create allies

💡lead by example

Here Are This Week's Good Vibes:

1. LGBTQ+ Inclusive Curriculum in Washington

   • Washington state in the US has taken a big step forward by passing a law requiring LGBTQ+ inclusive curricula in public schools, joining six other states. The law ensures that students will learn about the histories, contributions, and perspectives of marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ individuals. Sharing these stories can lead to better attendance and academic achievement due to safer environments and reduced harassment in schools. This is such a positive move, especially considering the wave of anti-LGBTQ laws in other states, many of which directly impact youth.

2. Big ROI on Child Care Benefits

   • For every dollar invested in childcare benefits, employers see significant returns, ranging from $0.90 to $4.25, through reduced absenteeism and attrition, according to a new study by Boston Consulting Group and Moms First. Examples from companies like UPS, Etsy, and Steamboat showcase tangible benefits towards boosting workforce participation and retention. Currently, only 12% of employees have access to childcare benefits, and this disproportionately affects part-timers and low-income earners. I hope more companies will make these investments, which are just good for everyone.

3. “Hop” Showcases Authentic Disability Representation

   • "Hop," the first animated show with a cast of characters who all have some type of disability, debuts on Max this week. Led by Hop, a frog with a shorter leg, and friends like Filipa, a neurodivergent squirrel, the show is hilarious for kids while fostering empathy. What I love is that voice actors include David Connolly, a double amputee, and Charlotte Walker, who has autism, adding authenticity. The powerful representation de-stigmatizes these disabilities. The show was developed in partnership with RespectAbility

4. Federal Forms to be Updated for Better Representation

   • The US government is expanding race and ethnicity options on federal forms, including the next Census. Additions include a Middle Eastern or North African category and a reformulation of the Hispanic or Latino categories. They’re also testing sexual orientation and gender identity questions in next year’s American Community Survey for possible inclusion in 2030. This is a huge deal because more precise data collection is essential for informed policymaking, resource allocation, and addressing systemic inequalities. It also allows for better representation and advocacy for historically underrepresented groups.

5. Yurok Becomes First Tribal Nation to Co-manage Land

   • The Yurok Tribe reclaimed 125 acres near Redwood National and State Parks, a historic return after 90% of their land was taken during the California Gold Rush. They became the first tribal nation to co-manage land with the National Park Service under a historic memorandum of understanding signed by the tribe, Redwood National and State Parks, and the non-profit Save the Redwoods League. The tribe plans a Yurok village, cultural center, trails, and salmon habitat restoration. This is a monumental step towards healing past injustices and honoring Indigenous wisdom in land management and conservation.

This Week’s Call to Action:

Tomorrow is Transgender Day of Visibility, celebrated each year on March 31. 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.