Juneteenth @ The Wanderlust Group
This week our elected leaders approved the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. TWG is observing Juneteenth today, and moving forward will continue to observe Juneteenth as a company-wide holiday, using the day as an opportunity to learn and reflect.
The news sparked a discussion in our #diversity-inclusivity Slack channel: which related organizations are near and dear to our hearts?
From Bianca: #HIREBLACK
I found out about #HIREBLACK last year. It was founded by Niani Tolbert after she posted on LinkedIn asking to help 19 black women get help reviewing their resumes for job opportunities — Niani was out of a job herself and found it in her heart to help others. Niani’s LinkedIn post received a lot of attention, which led to several ladies deciding to land a hand, including myself — I designed the #HIREBLACK 2020 summit website.
Niani’s commitment to a small idea grew into an organization, currently helping more than10,000 Black women get hired, including a Juneteenth virtual event that matches Black women to executive leaders, recruiters, hiring managers and more.
Learn more about #HIREBLACK.
From Janelle: Black Girls Code and The Okra Project
Since 2011, Black Girls Code has worked tirelessly to increase the number of women of color in the digital space by empowering girls of color between the ages of 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. Learn more about their workshops, scholarships, and #CODETheSummer virtual summer camp exploring robotics, game design, and iOS app development under the guidance of leaders within the tech industry here. Support this awesome program here.
The Okra Project addresses the global crisis faced by Black Trans people by bringing home cooked, healthy, and culturally specific meals and resources to Black Trans People wherever we can reach them. In the words of The Okra Project founder Ianne Fields Stewart:
For Black people, in particular, the kitchen is such a place of family lineage. It’s a place of community. It’s a place of love. Daily life occurs in the kitchen. And so to have that kitchen be filled with someone who looks, loves, and lives like you, is a luxury and a joy.
Learn more about The Okra Project here, and donate to support the program.
From Anisha: Project Destined
Project Destined is a non-profit that really helped me feel empowered and uplifted as a student in college, and eventually I went on to teach for them. The whole goal is to demystify real estate fundamentals to high school/college black and brown kids from underserved communities, so they can eventually break into a stable career. It’s an organization that’s very very near and dear to my heart. Here’s an article in WSJ that they ran when I was a student.
Learn more about Project Destined.
From Becky: Fair Fight
In a time of unprecedented voter suppression actions against non-white voters, the organizers at Fair Fight is hustling. Georgia’s elections proved that their work pays off: the work of educating voters about their elections and voting rights, and promoting fair elections throughout the U.S. It is crucial to that everyone get to vote and everyone’s vote is counted, so that everyone’s voice is heard and our politicians represent their communities – so the communities can enact or continue policies that help them thrive.
Start volunteering with Fair Fight here. Donate here.
Happy Juneteenth – we hope you’re celebrating and supporting your Black colleagues and communities.
