S3E20: Steven Clarke, Ceres
We’ve seen a very encouraging shift amongst companies that acknowledge racial justice and equity is an absolutely integral component to addressing the climate issue.
We’ve seen a very encouraging shift amongst companies that acknowledge racial justice and equity is an absolutely integral component to addressing the climate issue.
Common Impact and Cruise partnered with San Francisco-based nonprofits for a discussion on how cross-sector partnerships and workforce development programs can create more equitable pathways to opportunity.
Catch up on the latest Pro Bono Perspectives podcast episodes from September 2021!
If companies were to move too quickly, it might do more harm than good. Companies really shouldn’t just throw resources at something without the depth of understanding. I don’t think that’s an excuse, but I do think it is a reality.
More over the last three years than any time in my tenure, people reference their service as activism… It’s led people to have a broader social justice or racial justice framework in their service that directs where they want to serve and the context around their service.
I’m careful not to hold companies to too high a standard because it takes time for [them] to actually move. They’re cruise ships, not row boats… We have to do everything we can to encourage these companies to do more.
There’s no better investment than in our staff because we know that when we do so, they will be fortified and ready to address the needs of the community.
We cannot unsee what we saw [during the pandemic]. We can’t just paper over differences and do things that feel good because that’s what’s most comfortable. We need to be uncomfortable in a way that gives us urgency to impact folks [who] are caught in these disparities.
Pay equity is critical and – I’d argue – one of the first things companies need to be thinking about if they’re truly wanting to commit to racial equity.