the 2021 Edelman Trust Barometer reveals an epidemic of misinformation and widespread mistrust of societal institutions and leaders around the world. Adding to this is a failing trust ecosystem unable to confront the rampant infodemic, leaving the four institutions – business, government, NGOs and media – in an environment of information bankruptcy and a mandate to rebuild trust and chart a new path forward.
A year into the global pandemic, there is near universal agreement that flexible working models—accommodating different locations and schedules—have proven to be better and more productive than most would have imagined possible. Data increasingly shows that employees want to maintain a flexible working model, even once the pandemic has ended. And many companies are rapidly experimenting with distributed and asynchronous models, helping to write the playbook for how to thrive in the new world of work.
The equity imperative was created with the goal of inspiring better understanding, deeper insight, and more meaningful action now toward greater racial equity. It is composed of three linked sections that acknowledge the legacy and realities of racism in the United States, imagine various potential futures for racial equity in the United States over the next decade and beyond, and suggest specific steps leaders can take to promote more equitable outcomes, both in their organizations and more broadly. Each section can be read separately, but they are intended to work together to build the case for urgency and new action.
The wide-ranging research covers areas including mental health, diversity, measurement, technology, and skills, broken down by regions: Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America, and the UK. Globally, 60% of PR professionals now work for a company which has a diversity and inclusion policy, with North America (77%) and the UK (77%) being the most likely to have adopted such a policy.
Venture capitalists have voiced their support for Black founders since the killing of George Floyd. These investment firms–and some grantmaking institutions–are walking the walk.
The last but certainly not the least on this list is the SheaMoisture $1Million Fund by popular hair care company SheaMoisture. Launched back in April, this $1 million relief fund is solely aimed at supporting enterprises owned by women of color as well as other minority businesses affected by the pandemic.
Venture firm SoGal was created to bridge the gap between women and venture capital funding and according to them, black women entrepreneurs receive less than 0.5% of venture capital funding.
The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) provides support for minority-owned businesses across the United States.
At the early stages of the pandemic, Verizon made a US$7.25 million investment in non-profit social enterprise platform to launch the Verizon Small Business Recovery Fund.
College students across the country took part in protests this summer against racial injustice in the aftermath of the deaths of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Elijah McClain and others.
In 2020, the intersection of COVID-19 and the racial unrest following the killing of George Floyd has sharply refocused our attention on the dire state of diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the PR industry. According to available statistics, racial/ethnic diversity is less than 20%, and some figures even suggest as low as 11% (Chikara, 2018). This is not culturally sustainable, especially because the country is diversifying at a fast pace; by 2050, groups currently constituting minoritized groups will collectively be a majority (Lee, 2008). This situation is a business, cultural, and moral problem.
The need for organizations to cater to diverse publics becomes more evident as the U.S. population continues to diversify, and academic programs play a key role in meeting that need.
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