5 Things / Crickets
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Have you ever cried in front of a client?
As a very slow (business-wise) Pride month approaches, despair and tears arrived on Tuesday. I even teared up a little in front of a client. It was a moment in which my authenticity risked being embarrassing, but ended up being connective. Have you ever had that experience?
June is typically our firm’s busiest month, but not this year. My peer friends are experiencing the same sound of crickets. This makes finding the good vibes – and having pride – extra difficult. Which means the good vibes are more important than ever.
What I know is that it’s my purpose to discover and share the light – and that we’re better when we find ways to come together, especially in the low moments. Happy Pride!
This Week's Good Vibes:
Disability Inclusion Gets a Desert Debut
In a milestone moment for the Middle East, Qatar hosted its first-ever career fair for disabled people on May 10. Hilton Hotels was one of the employers represented at the event. In a region where 80% of disabled residents remain unemployed, this is a big deal. Deloitte’s 2024 study shows persistent under-accommodation and bias, and in the U.S., disabled unemployment just jumped to 8.2%, over twice that of non-disabled workers. While Qatar mandates that 21% of staff in organizations of 25+ employees must be disabled, real-world inclusion remains elusive. ♐ Audit your hiring pipeline for accessibility gaps.
Access Granted, Finally!
Vrbo is stepping up for travelers with disabilities by rolling out eight new accessibility filters—like stair-free entry, accessible parking, and handrails, making it easier to find vacation rentals that meet real-world mobility needs. This comes alongside a new partnership with Becoming rentABLE, a platform that champions accessible short-term stays, and is providing a 10-minute training for Vrbo hosts on inclusive design. It’s a business-smart move too: travelers with disabilities represent a $58B annual market globally, yet they’re consistently sidelined by vague or inaccurate accommodation listings. ♐ Use detailed, accurate descriptors in service listings.
Queer Reels, River Vibes
Every Memorial Day weekend, Paducah, Kentucky transforms into a cinematic sanctuary for queer women through Cinema Systers, the only all-lesbian film festival in the U.S. I’m a bad lesbian and knew nothing about this! Since 2016, the festival has screened an eclectic mix of lesbian-centered films in genres ranging from horror to documentary, drawing filmmakers and film lovers from around the world. But not me. What’s rare here is the visibility in a place known more for quilting bees than queer film buffs. ♐ Host queer art in unexpected spaces.
Game, Set, Equity
The USTA and American Tennis Association just launched a major initiative to boost Black representation in tennis, a sport historically dominated by whiteness. Only two Black men have ever won a Grand Slam, and racism still shadows the courts. This collaboration aims to change that with mentorship programs to support diverse players and coaches from the junior level on up. At a time when DEI efforts are being politically targeted, this move is more than symbolic, it’s a defiant rally cry for representation, visibility, and belonging in every corner of the court. ♐ Partner with legacy orgs doing grassroots equity work.
Aid Cuts, She Delivers
When the Trump administration gutted USAID, canceling 83% of contracts and leaving $35B in global aid in limbo, economist Caitlin Tulloch and her former colleagues launched Project Resource Optimization (PRO), a fast-acting matchmaking service that connects philanthropists to lifesaving foreign aid programs on the brink. Using USAID’s own data, they triaged 22,724 de-funded projects to find the most cost-effective, high-impact work, like ALIMA’s acute malnutrition treatment in Mali. When government support collapses, it’s often the most marginalized—Black and brown communities across the Global South—who suffer first. ♐ Fund nimble, community-rooted aid efforts.
Good Vibes to Go:
In the spirit of Pride month, here’s a book recommendation: Tomorrow Will Be Different by U.S. Senator Sarah McBride, the first transgender senator. This was written before she was elected to any office, but it is a great trans memoir.