5 Things / Good Vibes?

I’m excited to share that 5 Things is going a little deeper this year with some small but mighty changes: 1) I’ll begin to provide a bit more context of the problem/oppression behind the positive story; and I’ll include a weekly call to action in the Call to Action & Updates section below. This may be an article to read, a video to watch, a business to support, or something else entirely.

I’m doing this because I learned a lot from my short-lived TikTok experiment. In my nearly 20 years of inclusion work, I realize that we’re all still learning, and there are infinite ways to be inclusive. I heard from a diverse group of people on TikTok that my approach didn't resonate with them – and some felt harmed by “good vibes in DEI.” I realize that DEI exists because of systemic oppression, trauma, and pain, and the comments caused me to listen and reflect on my approach and whether there really is room for “good vibes” in this work.

What I know is that those comments come from places of deep hurt and pain that I’ll never experience or fully understand. That’s my privilege. But what I can do is adjust how I share my message by telling more of the backstory, and by giving you a clear action to remind you that there’s still a lot of work to be done. Just because there’s cause for hope doesn’t mean we should slow down. In fact, we should do more to keep up the momentum. 

I realize my “good vibes” approach isn’t for everyone. Still, I’m going to keep sharing these stories, creating opportunities for and investing in BIPOC and other traditionally marginalized folks, and use my power and privilege to help fix the systems that create the pain experienced by my commenters. Thank you for being on this learning journey with me. Let’s do this.

Here are the good vibes I found this week:

1. Airbnb Announces Ban on Renting Out Houses Where Enslaved People Lived

   • Airbnb will no longer rent properties formerly occupied by enslaved people. Yes, this is really a thing – an “1830s slave cabin” was listed for rent last summer. The new policy prohibits the “Glorification and Marketing of Slavery” and, as a result, 30+ listings have been removed from the site. This matters because listings like that re-traumatize folks.

2. England and Wales Census Counts Trans and Non-binary People for First Time

   • England and Wales are counting transgender and non-binary people in their Census for the first time. Canada was the first country to do this in 2021. This is important because this kind of demographic data brings visibility, which can then bring resources and investment in better serving these traditionally under-resourced communities. The UK is a difficult place to be transgender, especially with beloved figures such as J.K. Rowling opposing transgender inclusion.

3. This Sikh Mom Couldn’t Find a Proper Helmet for Her Boys. Now, She’s Designed Her Own

   • A Sikh mom designed bike helmets to accommodate her sons’ turbans. Prior to her own creation, she tried everything from buying larger helmets to removing protective padding from the inside, to letting her kids ride without helmets. None of those solutions were safe, so she designed a helmet (now certified for use) with a domed top to accommodate a child's turban. This matters because children often opt out of participating in sports and other activities that aren’t inclusive of their diversity – and this product can allow these kids to feel a greater sense of belonging.

4. The TSA Is Rolling Out Gender-Neutral Airport Screenings

   • The Transportation Security Administration is rolling out their new, more transgender-friendly scanner system this month. Previously, the TSA agent had to guess someone’s gender as they went through the scanner, which often led to disclosing one’s trans status, misgendering, and in some cases, harassment. The new technology removes the gender-based system of scanning. This matters greatly to trans people who report invasive pat-downs at TSA, including the 5% of Gen Z who identify as transgender or non-binary (Pew Research).

5. City National Bank to Pay $31M for Lending Discrimination in Doj’s Largest-Ever Redlining Settlement 

   • City National Bank, based in Los Angeles, agreed to pay $31 million in fines for the practice of redlining. Redlining literally refers to drawing red lines around neighborhoods on a map and is how lenders excluded primarily Black people from access to mortgages, based on the lie that those neighborhoods are not creditworthy. This practice goes back to the 1930s and meant that many Black folks weren’t able to accumulate the generational wealth that comes with home ownership. This bank is being fined for redlining Black and Latino neighborhoods in 2017-2020, so unfortunately the practice is alive and well….but the good news is that now there’s more accountability. In addition to the fine, the bank is also providing loan subsidies and otherwise resourcing those neighborhoods.

Call to Action:

We would love for you to read this story in Teen Vogue about New Year’s Eve and its complicated history for Black people. After you read the story, send me an email and let's chat about it!

5 Things / Going First

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

   • Wheelchair users will now have an easier time finding homes on the Airbnb app. The company unveiled a new search feature “Adapted”, which shows users homes with step-free access, for example. Not only that, Airbnb works with a 3D scanning company to vet each property and ensure the accuracy of the listing. This matters because wheelchair users and others with limited mobility may have a more difficult time traveling – and this feature expands their accommodation options, allowing them to experience more of the world. (h/t to Toby Mildon for this share on LinkedIn)

2. Sensory-Friendly Santa Coming To Hundreds Of Locations Nationwide

   • 500+ malls across the U.S. will offer sensory-friendly Santa experiences this holiday season. As anyone who has ever taken a child to a mall Santa knows, it can be an over-stimulating experience. Now caregivers can reserve off-hours times, in smaller groups, for a child to meet Santa. Not only that, but lighting and music will be lowered to manage sensory concerns, and event staff, including Santa, will be trained to accommodate individuals with disabilities. This matters because it allows the Santa experience to include more people. More joy. (h/t to Karen Catlin for sharing this story with me)

3. WHO Renames Monkeypox as Mpox, Citing Racist Stigma

   • The World Health Organization rebranded the Monkeypox virus as mpox. The WHO did this in part because the original name represents “racist and stigmatizing language." The original name of the virus, which was first discovered in 1970, will be phased out over the coming year while the new name takes hold. This matters because the original name played into racist stereotypes and slurs and was causing additional stigmatization of Black people and Africans, in particular.

4. Miami Marlins Become First U.S. Sports Franchise With Women As President And General Manager

   • The Miami Marlins became the first sports franchise in the U.S. to have both a woman President (Caroline O’Connor) and General Manager (Kim Ng). This is both exciting and a challenge. History shows that BIPOC is more easily blamed and forced to take the fall when sports teams are struggling, as the Marlins are. There’s a similar risk here with these women in leadership, but it really does matter in setting a precedent and opening doors for other women in sports operations.

5. Colorado Springs Police Said They Made an Effort Not to Misgender Club Q Victims. Here’s Why That Matters 

   • Colorado Springs police chief Adrian Vasquez showed true allyship when he said he’d identify the victims of the Club Q shooting “how they identified themselves, and how their families have loved and identified them.” He’s choosing to treat the victims of the recent mass shooting inside the LGBTQ+ bar with dignity, using the correct pronouns and names, despite what may appear on their ID. This matters because 70% of police misgender and “deadname” (using a trans person’s birth name) trans people after tragedies – and that perpetuates the trauma.

---

Listen Here:

Watch Here:

5 Things / Authenticity

This week I delivered my keynote Follow the ARC to a professional medical association, and my talk happened to fall on Lesbian Visibility Day. As I shared on LinkedIn, I come out during every keynote (and make fun of myself a little bit) because it’s more fun for everyone when I’m authentic.

I’m grateful to have a career where my authenticity is rewarded, especially when plenty of folks don’t have that privilege. I don’t take it for granted – so, thank you for reading 5 Things, for the kind messages you send, and for hiring me! And for all you do to build an inclusive world.

Another quick note: if you haven’t reached out to Rita or I about a Pride workshop, do it! We’re booking up really quickly.

Good Vibes:

Delta Flight Attendants Will Be Paid During Boarding—A First For U.S. Airlines

In a first for a U.S. airline, Delta flight attendants will now be paid during boarding, not just after the cabin doors close. I found this story shocking because how could they not be paid??? This amounts to many hours of unpaid labor by mostly women over the course of a year. This matters because it’s about equity, about making things right, plain and simple. Let’s hope the other airlines aren’t far behind.

Major Retailers Boost Black Female Entrepreneurship as Employment Gap Lingers

This week I was encouraged to read that Target, Sephora, and Ulta Beauty continue to invest in Black women founders through incubator programs, professional mentorships, and financial support. These programs could have easily faded away in the two years since racial justice commitments were made, but instead, the programs are receiving increased investment. This matters because investing in these startups creates jobs, brings new products to market that better serve diverse audiences, and ultimately can reduce the racial wealth gap.

Meet Ameera, the Newest Muppet Who Teaches Kids Affected by Conflict and Crisis

Sesame Street has a new Muppet named Ameera who is in a wheelchair and is a displaced refugee. Ameera will air on Ahlan Simsim, the version of Sesame Street created for the Middle East and North African audiences. Ameera is really funny and loves basketball and science because we are more than our circumstances. I didn’t realize that Sesame Street shot an alternate version of the show in Jordan, but this matters because it helps children in those regions see themselves represented.

Tyson Foods Announces It Will Pay For Its Employees’ College Education

Tyson Foods will now pay 100% of its 120k employees’ college education. While this doesn’t seem especially notable because I’ve written here before about how many other companies (like Walmart) do this – except that Tyson Foods will also pay for masters degrees, in addition to associates, bachelor’s, certificates, and more. This matters because it shows employees that they’re valued, creates greater equity, and provides a path forward for these employees’ careers.

Airbnb Says Employees Can Work Remotely Forever

With many other companies requiring employees to return to the office, at least some of the time, Airbnb announced that all employees can work remotely forever. While that flexibility is great, my favorite part of the story is that employees who live in lower cost of living places will not be paid less (which is what some other companies do). This matters because studies show that women and BIPOC prefer the flexibility offered by remote work. The challenge here, and with other companies is to ensure that employees who are remote still receive the same visibility and access as those who are in the office full time.

5 things / transparent hiring

Here's this week's roundup of the best practices and good news that I found in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and corporate social responsibility. You can also follow along with the video versions each weekday on LinkedIn and Twitter. Here's the weekly summary:

#5ThingsILearnedThisWeek:

• Automattic, a software company, has a remarkably transparent and inclusive hiring process that acknowledges the unconscious biases that often come up in hiring, and its plan to address them.
  
  

• AnitaB, organizer of The Grace Hopper Celebration, the world's largest conference of women in tech, returned the sponsorship money paid by software company Palantir because the company doesn't align with the conference's values. Palantir recently renewed a $50 million contract with ICE (Immigrations and Custom Enforcement) to provide software for things such as workplace raids.
  
  

• Hasbro has created Ms. Monopoly to raise awareness of the gender pay gap. In this version of the game, female players start with more money than male players, and earn more as they pass go. 
  
  

• CEOs of 145 U.S. companies recently wrote a letter to the Senate asking for stricter gun regulations. CEOs from companies such as SquareSpace, Airbnb, Bloomberg, Royal Caribbean, and Lyft signed the letter.
  
  

• Forbes' list this week of the 100 Most Innovative Leaders had only one woman. Forbes caught a lot of flak (including from many male allies), acknowledged "we blew it", and promised to do better. Dozens of female CEOs wrote an open letter that's worth a read.