A personal message on allyship with some ideas & resources.

- Tweet0
- 0
- Pin It 0
- 0
- Subscribe to RSS
Subscribe

Subject: A personal message on allyship with some ideas & resources.

Hi Friend,

This isn’t my usual newsletter. If you follow me on Instagram, you know I've been #mutedandlistening this week. I haven't created any content, but I've been sharing messages that have spoken to me about the protests, racism, and allyship.

I’ve never spent a week so focused on these topics, and specifically thinking about racism in our country. And I recognize that’s a privilege because of the color of my skin. It’s been intensely emotional, but also an opportunity to reflect and to grow.

I've been listening to people talk about their horrific experiences of racism. I've been reading. I've been having conversations. And I've been touching base with my Black friends. My friend and college roommate, Aileen, said something I loved:

"I know this crisis is bringing up a lot for folks - and I'm feeling sad but I'm also thankful if it helps people connect and learn and love each other more."

And I think that's the path forward: Connect, Learn, Love, and Act. Because if you truly Connect, Learn and Love, you will be compelled to take Action.

What Being an Ally Means to Me

I acknowledge that as a white woman, I’ve had the opportunity to learn about racism rather than it being my lived experience. I choose to be an ally and do the work that comes with that role in a more deliberate way. I’ve outlined what that means to me as a way to share ideas and resources. I also have areas I’m working on, and I welcome your help.

Speak Up

Call it out. Not only if you hear blatantly racist remarks or unfair generalizations. It also means calling out a lack of diversity when you see it. If you're at work and realize your whole team looks the same; if you notice that everyone who interviewed for the recent opening looked the same too. Being an ally means not being colorblind.
Check in with people of color (POC) and don’t be afraid to engage in conversations about race. My sister's colleague said it well: "we know we're Black and we're used to talking about race." And through experience, I’ve learned that it's worth having important conversations, even if they’re uncomfortable.

Educate Yourself

You have to be willing to learn. This will include hearing painful truths and stories that are deeply disturbing and emotionally draining, but allies can’t be ignorant or shy away from experiencing discomfort. I’m working on this and planning to read a book my husband recommended about a decade ago that I haven’t had the courage to pick up until now.
You might be interested in a range of topics, or you may be drawn to certain themes. If you’re a history buff, in the LGBTQ community, or interested in the inner city experience*… there’s something to learn in virtually any category.
I’ve found these to be quite moving and eye-opening if you’re interested in the Justice system: Season 3 of Serial, which takes place in a courthouse in Cleveland, the Justice in America podcast (episode 1 is on Money Bail), and the movie When They See Us. The documentary 13th is currently in my Queue.

Diversify Your World

This applies to the media you consume, to your work environment, whether you choose to live in a bubble, and how you actively seek out meaningful engagement with people who don’t look like you, specifically POC in this case.
Do the same for your kids. They are our future! Their books and dolls should reflect your values for diversity, and they should have a chance to learn about heroes and cuddle baby dolls with darker skin (here's a place to shop*). But a book on Rosa Parks* isn’t enough.
Think about your community and their schools. Talk to school administrators about Diversity and Inclusion efforts. If your community lacks diversity, figure out ways for your children to get out of their bubble to have real, meaningful experiences with different kinds of people. Can you find sports leagues or summer camps that are more diverse and culturally enriching? Can you do volunteer work together that connects you to different types of people?

Take Action to Support POC

If you’re a business leader, you must think about Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. This will impact your interview / hiring practices (consider the Rooney Rule), how you set compensation, and what you do to retain and support POC - especially in a place without much diversity.
If you’re an individual contributor, you play a critical role in fostering Inclusion and Belonging. Here’s a guide on Being a Better Ally: How To Use Your Privilege To Create More Inclusive and Engaging Workplaces. (P.S. Not only is this the right thing to do, it’s also tied to better results).
Find your lane(s), tap into your passions, and leverage your skills (and privileges!). I truly think this is how to have the greatest impact and sustain your engagement. My first passion was education and that quickly evolved into career readiness, professional development, and mentorship, so that’s been my primary “lane” for volunteer work since I was in high school. I’m linking to great organizations** I’ve supported with my time and / or resources below in case this lane speaks to you also.
Vote - I dislike politics, so this is a place where I need to do better in terms of elections at every level. It also means voting with my dollars more deliberately. This means supporting high-integrity businesses and those owned by POC. And I’ve gotta tell you, it felt great to buy from a family owned store* and a woman on Etsy rather than from Amazon this week!

This isn’t an exhaustive list, but I hope it’s helpful.

Going Forward

Being an ally in my previous role as a business leader in a large company was more straightforward. And I’m sorry that I haven’t put a lot of energy into allyship as it relates to Kaleifornian.

I plan to channel my passion for wellness to work in a new “lane.” I’m diversifying the influencers I follow, and I will share their content with you when it makes sense. I’m also looking for ways to support education around nutrition and healthy living in Black communities that are disproportionately impacted by chronic disease. I welcome other suggestions and recommendations if you know of amazing organizations I should look into.

I also want to offer myself as a resource if you work at a company that doesn’t have initiatives around Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging. I had the privilege of working at LinkedIn for nearly 8 years, where this is the #1 talent priority. I’m no expert, but I’d be happy to set up time to discuss and share more resources if you’d like to go deeper on this.

Next week I’ll be back to creating and sharing Health & Wellness content, but I want you to know what’s happening behind the scenes and what’s in my heart. I may still share important messages related to these topics, but as a marketer and businesswoman, I know that focus is important. So Kaleifornian will continue to primarily be a place for healthy recipes and clean living. But please know that this is only one slice of my life.

Thank you for reading. If you’re not a person of color, I hope you join me as an ally for the Black community. If you are a person of color, please know you have my support and commitment to a more just and anti-racist world. I will continue to speak up, educate myself, promote diversity, and take action as your ally.

A special thanks to my friend, Aileen, for being much more than a roommate, for sharing her perspective, providing thoughtful input and reviewing this message.

Be well,

Jess XO

*These are links to Black-owned bookstores. Please consider shopping here (or from local stores in your area) when possible.

**Organizations

(descriptions pulled from their websites)

Boys & Girls Clubs of America - provides a safe haven for more than 4 million youth with a goal of enabling them (especially those most in need) to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
826 Valencia - writing-focused organization that supports under-resourced students through afterschool programs, college and career readiness, workshops and more.
Spark - Career Exploration and Self-Discovery program that connects students to mentors at companies invested in making a difference in their communities.
New Door Ventures - provides skills training, meaningful jobs, education assistance and personal support to help disconnected youth get ready for work and life.
Black Girls Code - STEM education and training for girls with a goal to increase the number of women of color in the digital space by empowering girls of color (ages 7 to 17) to become innovators in STEM fields, leaders in their communities, and builders of their own futures through exposure to computer science and technology.
YearUp - on a mission to close the Opportunity Divide by ensuring that young adults gain the skills, experiences, and support that will empower them to reach their potential through careers and higher education.

Not in the category of education / career support, but these are two other fantastic organizations we’ve supported since moving to Chicago, which may also speak to you:

Good Sports - gives all kids the lifelong benefits of sport and physical activity by providing new equipment, apparel and footwear to those most in need.
Metropolitan Family Services - empowers Chicago-area families reach their greatest potential and positively impact their communities.

Subscribe

Subject: A personal message on allyship with some ideas & resources.

What Being an Ally Means to Me