Covid-19 is on track to wipe out most Black-owned small businesses unless community-led responses are actioned
In 1919, Madam C.J Walker was the first female self-made millionaire and the wealthiest Black businesswoman in the United States.
Today, Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the U.S. accounting for 47% of all women-owned businesses. Their growth was largely driven during the post-recession period in 2009, where a large number of women started their own businesses to mitigate financial hardships and prolonged unemployment.
Yet the Covid-19 pandemic is threatening to undo those strides as recent analyses indicate that Black-owned businesses are the most vulnerable to a pandemic-induced recession.
Wealth generation in the U.S. is largely dependent…
Not every ‘green’ initiative you see is authentic
Normally, I would only know it’s Earth Day if I happened to browse the news on the off chance and saw a headline about climate change.
This year, I received 10+ emails from businesses highlighting new ways they are becoming more sustainable with ads embossed with pastel imagery, vegan dishes, and panda cartoons. Even my Instagram feed was filled with #EarthDay memes and throwbacks to nature hikes.
Evidently, in a recent survey by the Pew Research Center — 6 in 10 Americans said global climate change is a major threat to the country. By 2021, U.S. …
Joe Rogan recently announced his multi-year licensing agreement to host The Joe Rogan Experience exclusively on Spotify starting this September.
As several media outlets are experiencing drops in ad revenue and layoffs amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Rogan’s $100m deal with Spotify is indicative of the rising influence of individual commentators.
Gaps in Mainstream Media
Mainstream media’s blind spots in connecting with a wider demographic — particularly young men, have continued to propel Rogan’s success.
As traditional media outlets are increasingly competing with social media and online streaming platforms to attract eyeballs to their pages, Rogan’s success is also signaling a transformation in the way…
People are living in bubbles, and you’re probably living in one too
Have you ever heard yourself say, “well, I don’t really care,” during a heated discussion? Or perhaps ended such conversation with “that’s how I’ve always done it?”
Chances are that you are experiencing cognitive dissonance — the psychological distress we feel when absorbing new information that does not fit within our pre-existing beliefs.
“I smoke cigarettes every day and I know that smoking is bad for you.”
When people are faced with such contradictory or incompatible statements, the discomfort that follows usually leads to one of four things:
Modify
“I’m more of a social smoker, so it’s not that bad.”
Rationalize
“I…
Canada’s post-pandemic recovery hinges on how we treat our most vulnerable. With the second wave of Covid-19 looming ahead, the time to invest in community resilience is now.
A s the Canadian economy is heading into a recession, many Canadians are grappling with anxiety about their future security. According to a new Angus Reid survey, around half of Canadians reported a worsening of their mental wellbeing, where those earning less than $25,000 were least likely to be managing well.
While governments begin to pave the ‘new normal’, the case for investing in community resilience has never been more pertinent.
Adaptive…
Despite the indiscriminate nature of Covid-19, recent data is increasingly highlighting the gendered impacts of the virus.
A s Covid-19 infections continue to climb, governments across the globe have implemented various response efforts to mitigate the health, economic and social fallout from the pandemic.
Despite the indiscriminate nature of Covid-19, recent data is increasingly highlighting the gendered impacts of the virus.
Understanding these impacts is critical in shaping the global response efforts.
Male susceptibility to Covid-19 has been evident since cases were first documented in China. Since then, 63% of all Covid-19 related deaths in Europe have reportedly been among…
Pratiksha Gurung
Policy enthusiast & avid coffee drinker based in Calgary. I write about health / technology / & sustainable living.
