Cultural Highlights

Celebrate diverse voices and cultural contributions in art, literature, music, and media and be a multicultural smarty pants. 😊

Sasha Colby Becomes First Trans Woman to Present at MTV VMAs

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Sasha Colby, RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 15 winner, became the first Trans woman to present on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards. She introduced Chappell Roan as, “Your favorite drag queen’s favorite artist.”

Culture Closer

Asian Men Are Redefining Hollywood’s Leading Roles

From Crazy Rich Asians to Fire Island, Asian American men are breaking free from outdated stereotypes and claiming center stage in Hollywood. Actors like Joel Kim Booster and Randall Park are not just landing romantic lead roles but are also writing, producing, and directing projects that reflect their authentic experiences. These works are reshaping how Asian masculinity is perceived on screen, showcasing complex characters who challenge the old tropes. In the process, these men may redefine American masculinity away from more toxic stereotypes.

Read more from Matt Stevens at The New York Times.

Voices of Empowerment

Success for everyone: Get inspired by the achievements of everyday underrepresented Americans and find your own path to success.

Carolyn Leonard: A Life Dedicated to Education and Equality

Carolyn Marie Leonard spent her life championing education, civil rights, and cultural understanding. As an educator and civil rights advocate, she helped shape Portland’s schools, created groundbreaking multicultural curriculum, and worked tirelessly to empower marginalized communities. Her legacy includes her work on The Baseline Essays, the renaming of Union Ave to Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, and numerous initiatives that impacted both local and global communities. Carolyn’s dedication to education and equality continues to inspire generations.

Read more from The Skanner.

Empowerment Roundup

• Jackie Aina Goes From Army Reservist to Beauty Mogul: Jackie Aina’s journey from serving in the U.S. Army to becoming a beauty mogul with over 3.5 million YouTube subscribers is a story of boldness and empowerment. She used her platform to call out the lack of diversity in beauty, leading to partnerships with major brands like Too Faced and the creation of her own fragrance line, FORVR Mood. Her success in championing inclusivity and building a business empire shows the power of staying true to your values while pushing industries to change for the better. Read more from Cliché Magazine.

• Selena Gomez Becomes Billionaire: Selena Gomez has earned a new title, billionaire, with her beauty brand Rare Beauty accounting for $1.1 billion of her $1.3 billion net worth. Unlike other celebrities who have claimed the self-made title, Gomez’s rise to success comes from humble beginnings and hard work. Raised by a single teen mom, she built her empire through perseverance, authenticity, and entrepreneurial vision. Gomez’s journey is a powerful example of overcoming adversity and serves as an inspiration to anyone striving to break barriers and create lasting impact. Read more from Jorge Rodríguez-Jiménez at We Are Mitu.

Actionable Resources

Empower your life and career with targeted strategies and tools to overcome systemic barriers and achieve your career and personal goals.

Level Up Your Career at WAATBP 2024

WAATBP 2024 is the premier event for Black professionals in advertising, offering valuable career resources such as portfolio reviews, direct access to recruiters, and insights from industry leaders like Delta Air Lines and Earn Your Leisure. Whether you’re looking to network, get career advice, or find your next job opportunity, this conference delivers everything you need to take the next step. With panels and workshops focused on professional development and DEI initiatives, WAATBP is your go-to resource for building a more inclusive and empowered career in advertising.

Read more from WAATBP 2024.

Resource Roundup

• Build Your Network and Career at the C3 Convention: The Nonprofit Professionals of Color (C3) Convention offers unmatched opportunities to expand your network and engage with peers across the nonprofit sector. With specialized tracks for consultants, development professionals, and emerging leaders, this event ensures you’ll connect with the right people to elevate your career. From interactive workshops to CEO Shadow Day and a networking golf lunch, the C3 Convention empowers attendees to build relationships and develop actionable strategies for organizational impact. Don’t miss the chance to build your community and advance your career! Read more from the Nonprofit Professionals of Color Collective.

• Must-Have Resources for Women Breaking into STEM: If you're a woman pursuing a STEM career, these job boards and internship programs will help you find inclusive, equitable workplaces. Platforms like AdaMarie, which offers DEI training for employers, and Tech Ladies, a community with over 120,000 members, provide early-career opportunities and support. The Smithsonian and Google also offer internships that can give you valuable hands-on experience in fields like software engineering and science writing. Take control of your future in STEM by exploring these resources—your next career opportunity could be just a click away! Read more from Hailey Dickinson at Built By Girls.

• Federal Funds Boost Employment Opportunities for Disabled Youth: The U.S. Department of Education is investing $251 million to support new programs aimed at helping youth and young adults with disabilities transition into competitive integrated employment. With grants awarded across multiple states, these initiatives will focus on using advanced technology, vocational rehabilitation, and justice-involved youth to create scalable, actionable models for employment. This is a valuable opportunity for workplaces, disabled individuals, and nonprofit disability support organizations to get involved and utilize these emerging resources. Learn more from Michelle Diament at Disability Scoop.

• Have You Ever Thought About Owning Your Workplace with Your Co-Workers?: This piece showcases how worker cooperatives offer a transformative path for historically underrepresented workers. By owning and governing their workplaces, individuals find new opportunities for personal and professional growth, while also improving their industries and communities. From home health care to design, these co-op members demonstrate how collaboration, shared leadership, and mutual support lead to financial independence, stronger community connections, and profitability. Explore how you and your co-workers can build a better future through collective ownership. Read more from Sabiha Basrai, Yvette Beatty, and Andrew Gansenberg at NPQ.

Policy Spotlight

Stay updated on key policy changes and legislation affecting your workplace rights and opportunities.

5 Latinas Explain Why Health Care is on the Ballot

With the upcoming elections, health care access and equity are critical issues for the Latino community. This article shares the stories of five Latina women who have faced significant health challenges, from fighting for Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) coverage to advocating for the rights of disabled family members. Their experiences underscore the importance of voting for policies that protect health care access, reproductive rights, and support for underserved communities. As health care remains at risk, your vote could be the key to ensuring that programs like Obamacare continue to serve those who need them most.

*Read more from Tiempo Latino. 

*The original article is written in Spanish. Please use the translation function in your web browser.

Policy Roundup

• Shifting Political Loyalties Inside Arab and Muslim American Communities: As the 2024 presidential race heats up, Arab and Muslim American voters in Michigan find themselves at a crossroads. Frustrated by U.S. foreign policy, particularly regarding Israel and Gaza, these communities are reassessing their support for traditional parties. With both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump vying for their crucial votes in swing states, the importance of this electoral bloc is more pronounced than ever. The outcome of this race may be shaped by their demands for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid. Read more from Tareq Adam at The Arab American News.

• American Broadband Expansion Faces Complex Path Forward: The $42.5 billion federal Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program aims to deliver high-speed internet nationwide, but challenges are slowing the rollout. Despite initial successes in states like Montana and New Jersey, some lawmakers criticize regulatory requirements that complicate the process, especially workforce mandates and pricing controls. However, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration defends its approach, emphasizing that broadband expansion is critical to economic opportunity. States now have the chance to secure funding to build out broadband infrastructure and close the digital divide. Read more from Chris Teale at Route Fifty.

• The Forgotten Fight for Financial Equity in Community Credit Unions: In contrast to the "too big to fail" attitude that lawmakers applied to large banks during the 2009 recession and subsequent bailouts, community development credit unions (CDCUs) have been left behind, facing regulatory challenges and minimal federal support. In this conversation, Michael McCray and Cliff Rosenthal explore how CDCUs, which serve marginalized communities, have been underfunded and overregulated while larger financial institutions receive preferential treatment. Their insights reveal the need for policy reforms to support small, community-driven credit unions that are essential for fostering financial equity and empowerment. Read more from Steve Dubb at NPQ.

DEI Insights Corner

Discover the latest in DEI innovations and strategies. Every historically underrepresented worker and ally should know best practices and emerging trends for inclusive workplaces.

What Historically Underrepresented Leaders Need to Know from the Congressional Black Caucus's (CBC) DEI Report

The CBC’s What Good Looks Like report delivers a comprehensive roadmap for corporate accountability in DEI, focusing on racial equity and closing the wealth gap. Alarmingly, only 27.8% of Fortune 500 companies responded to the CBC’s outreach for transparency. The report outlines critical sectors like communication services and healthcare, leading in DEI engagement, while industries like materials and energy lag behind. Key recommendations include leadership accountability, supplier diversity, and pay equity audits to drive real change. This is an essential read for leaders looking to push for meaningful, actionable DEI initiatives in their workplaces.

Read more from Darein Burton in Perspectives on Leadership.

DEI Insights Roundup

• Record Participation in Corporate Equality Index Despite DEI Backlash: Despite right-wing attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) Corporate Equality Index (CEI) has seen record participation from over 1,400 companies representing 21 million employees. As companies face pressure from both sides, it’s clear that inclusion remains vital, especially with nearly 30% of Gen Z adults identifying as LGBTQ+. HRC’s continued push for corporate accountability reflects a growing demand for workplaces that prioritize equality and fairness. Read more from Erik Niewiarowski at PinkNews.

• HACR’s Walk to Wall Street: A Call to Action for Corporate DEI: The Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) is leading a powerful coalition of organizations in the "Walk to Wall Street" initiative, a 240+ mile journey to raise awareness about the persistent gaps in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within Corporate America. This initiative brings together key partners like the National Urban League and UnidosUS to call for systemic change across corporate structures. With stops in cities like Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Newark, the walk engages local communities, encouraging conversations on how to drive DEI forward. Cid Wilson, HACR’s President and CEO, urges corporate leaders to double down on their DEI commitments, pushing for a more inclusive future. Read more from PR Newswire.

• “Readying the Museum” is Tackling Systemic Inequities in Cultural Institutions: Readying the Museum (RTM) is taking on the deeply rooted inequities in museum management, addressing issues like token hiring, white fragility, and exclusionary fiscal policies. Launched in response to the 2020 racial justice protests, this group is pioneering new strategies to drive real, equitable change. By building a network of 250 museum professionals, artists, and activists, RTM is pushing for more inclusive practices and accountability across museum leadership. This is an important article for understanding collective action and holding institutions to equitable outcomes. [DB1] Read more from Angelica Villa at Art News.

• Unmasking the Unspoken Inequities in Medical Education: First-generation medical students are navigating a landscape filled with financial challenges, social exclusion, and a lack of institutional support. A study reveals how these barriers persist, even as DEI initiatives make strides in admissions. The article emphasizes that medical schools need to go beyond traditional DEI efforts to address deep-rooted inequities. This is a prime example of how institutions must overhaul systemically to create equitable environments for all students. Read more from Batya Swift Yasgur at Medscape.