Being the Change to See a Change
Introducing the CDL Digital Future Initiative.
In June 2020, CDL associates, along with the rest of the world, were bearing witness to protests for racial justice. Recognizing the strength and power in numbers, they went to their leadership with an important question:
“What are we, as an organization, going to do about this?”
Getting Started
The CDL Digital Future Initiative — DFI, for short — is a set of action-based programs run by Compass Digital Labs in order to be the change we want to see. DFI was created with an ongoing objective in mind, to use our knowledge and expertise in the world of technology to empower communities we touch and build the next generation of digital leaders.
We established DFI with the intention that our programs’ impacts could be felt on an individual level, empowering CDL associates to help in ways that are particularly meaningful to them. When approached with the initiative, Compass Group NA saw the value in this unique addition to the outreach that they are already doing — there was now a great opportunity to apply specialized skills for direct community impact.
Each DFI team is staffed by volunteers from CDL and cultivates strong partnerships within our local communities. We are so proud to say that in just a few short months, our teams have been up to some pretty impressive work, such as:
Engage
Partnering with Digital Page, a non-profit aiming to tackle the gender gap that exists in the digital technology and design space, the Engage team and allies from across Compass Group recently volunteered their time and expertise to assist with the Girls of South Bay Hacks hackathon. GSBHacks is a 24-hour, student-run virtual hackathon for girls, non-binary and trans-inclusive, that aims to provide the experiences, connections, and resources for those in middle and high school pursuing STEM careers.
CDL associates served as mentors during the event, which also featured a keynote talk by Compass leadership. Digital Page wants to ensure that people like the GSBHacks participants can confidently pursue careers in tech and become leaders in the design thinking space — a goal that we are more than happy to support.
Renew
The Toronto Police Service Engage416 program aims to prevent school-age and pre-teen youth from making dangerous life decisions, such as engaging in gang activity. With closing the Digital Divide in at-risk communities being a part of the TPS’ prevention strategy, the Renew pillar worked alongside Compass Group Canada and the Toronto Police to provide 100 brand-new Apple iPads to carefully select community recipients in most need.
An established partnership with the TPS and CGC provided a perfect opportunity for the Renew team to hit the ground running with their donation efforts. Technology can be a barrier to education and we hope that the tablets are able to help create a better future for the youths that received them and can, in turn, increase community safety.
CDL U
Our partners at YearUp Charlotte are committed to ensuring equitable access to economic opportunity, education, and justice for all young adults, regardless of background, income, or zip code — a perfect fit for the revamped CDL U program.
The CDL U team has been busy with mentorship and networking with our new intern cohort. Several events are scheduled in the near future, and we’re seriously looking forward to what’s to come for this talented group!
Inside Voices
Creating space for open dialogue and important conversations, and making present the power of diversity and inclusion, is the central objective of the Inside Voices pillar. Working to ensure that everyone at CDL has a voice that is heard, this pillar embraces the fact that everyone has a unique background and story, and that affects the way they experience everything, including their time at work.
For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Inside Voices crew had volunteers who identified as being of AAPI heritage share their personal stories, including what they want people to know about their community and their favorite family traditions. For Pride month, we shared an interview between associates, in which they discussed a personal experience as a member of the LGTBQ+ community working for Compass and CDL.
There is more underway for each of our DFI pillars, and we cannot wait to share what these incredible teams do next. For more information about any of our programs, please reach out to us at hello@compassdigital.io
