Companies around the world have remained silent to their role in racism for centuries. No matter how well-crafted or well-intended, it is not enough for corporations to just make public statements and large donations to racial justice organizations. Without action, these statements can land as nothing more than platitudes from a PR playbook.
The events of 2020 have made it even clearer that one of the most pressing issues we face together in society is inequality and the lack of access and opportunity that goes with it. Around the world, this unfortunate reality has many faces, and it pressures the lives of too many individuals, families and communities. Though addressing inequality is challenging and complex and there is no easy fix, as the world’s largest restaurant company, we’re at an inflection point where our actions can, and should, make real and lasting change.
10 actions to help people stand up against racism and social injustice
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Recent events involving racial inequity and injustice have shown us that racism is still very much alive. Change starts with each of us and we can play a role in addressing the far-too-prevalent discrimination against Black individuals—both now and in the future, forever.
Some companies are helping their people take action. And many are looking to strengthen their existing diversity and inclusion programs to create long-term, collective impact.
“In the wake of George Floyd’s tragic death in Minneapolis, major corporations have been voicing their support for racial justice in the United States. But we are way past the point when words alone suffice. Actions are needed. Corporations can and should make 10 concrete commitments to achieving racial equity in their workplaces and society.”
- Mark Kramer, co-founder and managing director, FSG
FSG co-founder and managing director Mark Kramer reviews Rebecca Henderson’s Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire, which outlines five ways we can reform capitalism to overcome climate change, inequality, and the collapse of democracy.
By learning from this crisis and others before it, foundations can do more—individually and as an alliance—to identify and prepare themselves and their partners for major threats in the future and their impact on long-term efforts to solve serious social problems. Doing so will help ensure that the opportunities for innovative solutions created by a crisis today become the building blocks of a more just world tomorrow.
This week on Pro Bono Perspectives, host Danielle Holly welcomes to the show Cecily Joseph, a CSR powerhouse with a rich career across the private and social sectors. Cecily is Chair of the Board of Directors at Net Impact and was formerly Vice President of Corporate Responsibility at Symantec and the head of its foundation. At Symantec, Cecily oversaw ESG program development and implemented initiatives focused on bringing underrepresented groups - including women and people of color - into the technology sector.
by Jinny Jeong, Associate Manager, Company Services, CECP
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Ask yourself: how are you contributing to solving today’s problem? It could be something small, specific to just today, or conceptual and large with a longer time frame. While the answer may sometimes be elusive, CECP is proud to have been a trusted advisor to leading companies for over two decades, helping share best practices and insights to tackle society’s challenging problems. In the past few years, CECP has been advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices for, and with, our companies.
PwC has been recognized time and again for its responsible business practices and its organizational culture. In this week's episode of Pro Bono Perspectives, Host and Common Impact CEO Danielle Holly interviews PwC Responsible Business Leader Jeff Senne, a key leader in PwC’s shift from corporate responsibility to responsible business leadership. Jeff speaks to PwC’s business imperative to create a more equitable society, which he pursues through the lens of digital inclusion.
It’s not always what you say, but how you say it. For foundations engaging in equity discussions, FSG's John Harper talks about the importance of framing in a new blog post.
