United Parks & Resorts’ Post

A good piece (as are all Bronwyn's other substack articles). As I was reading Bronwyn's excellent description of Diversity and the difference between that and Inclusion it came to my mind parallels can be drawn with what are often put forward as the 3 needs of marginalised communities: Visibility, Safety, Empowerment. Diversity is broadly equivalent to Visibility, i.e. there are different types of people represented. Safety is broadly similar to Inclusion i.e. those people must be made to feel like they belong and are safe in the workplace / community. However it seems to me what we are missing in the discussion of D&I is Empowerment. This is different from Inclusion. Empowerment is giving people from marginalised communities control over their own destinies, giving them the power to direct and control the actions of organisations as it affects their lives and communities. Empowerment is by a long shot the scariest, most dangerous and highest risk of the three needs of marginalised communities. This risk carries with it the opportunity for great reward, reward that typically benefits many, not just the marginalised. That is where I would like to see the conversation exploring.

A topic I love to soapbox about, alongside experts in the space who are truly walking the walk and changing the game for the private sector's role in activisim and legislative change. Can't wait for this one, hope you will join us. #activisim #socialimpact #policychange #legislativeaction #csr

Check out my next art piece in the University of Michigan Respond, Resist, Rethink art exhibit. Check out the article below!

Today is Native American Heritage Day! We acknowledge and celebrate the rich history, achievements, and traditions of Native American and Native Alaskan culture.  Did you know there are a variety of resources specifically for Native American and Native Alaskan survivors? It is important that individuals can find organizations that provide advocacy tailored to meet their needs. Here are some organizations that provide culturally specific advocacy.

Just 15 days into 2024, many of us are struggling to keep up with those aspirational new year's resolutions. I can't think of a better time to remember the legacy of a man who boldly fought against injustice and called out those on the sidelines. Today, as the New Year's Resolutions fade, let us remember that justice-for-all is not a goal we can afford to give up on as the year progresses. Allyship and advocacy must be more than beginning-of-the-year resolutions. They must be at the heart of all our efforts in life and career. #martinlutherkingjr #justiceforall

Accepting Speaking Engagements on Human Rights, Policy Development, and Community Advocacy! 🌟 Hello friends! 👋 As an advocate for human rights, I am thrilled to announce that I am now accepting speaking engagements! 🎙️ Whether it’s at conferences, workshops, or community events, I am passionate about sharing insights on policy development, community advocacy, and the intersection of environmental issues and justice. 🌿 Areas of Expertise: Human rights Human Rights: Let’s discuss the fundamental rights and freedoms that every person deserves. Policy Development: I’m ready to collaborate with companies and local governments to create impactful policies. Community Advocacy: Together, we can amplify voices and drive positive change. Environmental justice Environmental Justice: Our planet needs us—let’s explore sustainable solutions. 📩 If you’re interested in having me speak at your event or organization, feel free to reach out! Let’s ignite meaningful conversations and work towards a better world. 🌎✨ #SpeakUpForChange #AdvocateForJustice #TogetherWeRise

Discover the Power of the Arts in Georgia's Economy! Dive into the updated 'Why the Arts Matter in Georgia' factsheet from @artsactionfund. Learn how the arts fuel our state's economy and amplify our collective advocacy efforts. Let's champion the arts together! #WhyTheArtsMatter

The secret superstar in animal advocacy: find out what design can do for your organization 👇 Design's importance tends to fly under the radar, and understandably so – whether you're running an organization or doing independent activist work, there are so many things to watch out for! But the impact of design is far-reaching, and it might just surprise you. Design can: 🐝 Influence trust 🐝 Communicate accurately 🐝 Help you show up authentically 🐝 Say more with less 🐝 Build reputation 🐝 Increase visibility 🐝 Unify teams & communities 🐝 Attract talent 🐝 Keep people engaged 🐝 Create memorability If you want to learn how design can do all of these things and more for your organization, check out our newest post in our design-focused Knowledge Hub: https://lnkd.in/e6JXsVSc

An excellent commentary by the CEO of Paradigm (a DEI consultancy firm) on how the "anti-DEI movement" became mainstream in the U.S. by mischaracterizing DEI policies as discriminatory and anti-meritocratic. 🤔 The quote that resonated for me the most deals with the importance of making space for good faith questions that lead to better understanding. This is a crucial skill for advocates to develop to build a movement in any advocacy area (whether the issue is DEI, climate change, biodiversity, animal welfare, etc.). 🌎 🐺 🐰 "When DEI advocates don’t make space for good faith questions posed by people who are seeking to understand, we create a vacuum of information that is right now being filled by a more threatening and factually incorrect set of answers: that creating a level playing field for one group means taking opportunity away from another (it doesn’t), that any consideration of someone’s background is inherently discriminatory (it isn’t), that DEI is about giving unfair advantages to marginalized groups instead of correcting for real systemic inequalities (it’s not)."

STLMade! Shop Local at These 23 St. Louis Stores We Love in 2023 You have a lot of places you can shop this season, but when you love local you get uniquely different gifts that keep your spending right here in the metro. Check out this great local shopping guide from the @LadueNews for some ideas: https://bit.ly/3QPXsnG #stlmade   St. Louis receives perfect score in annual Human Rights Campaign equality report St. Louis received a perfect score in the @HRC 2023 Municipal Equality Index for its support of the local queer community. The Index is a comprehensive nationwide assessment of LGBTQ+ equality in communities. More: https://bit.ly/40MxNAM #stlpride   Missouri Technology Corp. invests in 5 St. Louis startups, names new board chair Five #stlmade startups are included in the latest round of funding from @MoTechCorp. The $2.4M in equity funding marks the fourth round of capital from a $95M allocation through the U.S. Treasury Department's State Small Business Credit Initiative. More: https://bit.ly/3SPsgaB