Happy Pride Month!🏳️‍🌈

👋🏾 Hi, it’s Darein, your friendly corporate strategist turned business and career analyst for historically underrepresented professionals. If it’s Tuesday after work, it’s time for Perspectives for Progress.

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When it comes to the intersection of social justice, environmental justice, and business ethics, plastic in our oceans is a top concern. Americans love to vacation on beautiful islands, but these paradises, including U.S. territories that are often historically underrepresented like Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands are drowning in plastic. Sulan Chen et al. in The Pacific Island Times report that without intervention, plastic pollution in oceans could nearly triple by 2040, severely affecting Small Island Developing States (SIDS) despite their minimal contribution to global plastic waste.

The good news? Businesses and nonprofits have a unique opportunity to rethink their value chains and lead the shift to circular economic thinking. Circular economy initiatives focus on creating closed-loop systems where resources are reused, repaired, refurbished, and recycled, minimizing waste and extending the lifecycle of products. By adopting these practices, organizations can significantly reduce their environmental footprint, drive innovation, and develop sustainable business models that resonate with today’s eco-conscious consumers.

Challenge: Pose this question to your business unit leaders: How can we build profitable business lines that give us the opportunity to interact with our customers through a prolonged life cycle, and what are the potential profitability gains and marketing goodwill that come with it? By addressing this, we not only contribute to environmental sustainability but also enhance our brand's reputation and customer loyalty.

Leveraging Cultural Influence for $1 billion in Global Success

There are about two million Korean Americans living in the United States and in recent years, the cultural influence and connection between Americans and the Korean diaspora has increased in various aspects, including food and music (👋🏾 hi K Pop). Next Shark’s Brian Ke is reporting that Samyang Foods is becoming a case study in leveraging authentic cultural connection and creating innovative products that move the world. They are on track to do $1 billion dollars in global revenue, led by their innovative ramen products endorsed by none other than Cardi B herself.

Business Analysis:  The global success of Samyang Foods highlights the power of cultural influence and innovative product development in driving business growth. Historically underrepresented professionals can authentically leverage cultural elements, adapt to market changes, and explore global expansion opportunities to enhance their businesses. Collaborating with influencers and embracing unique product variations can significantly boost market interest and sales.

Spotlight on Leadership: Navigating Cultural Capitalism

I write a weekly LinkedIn newsletter called Perspectives on Leadership. This week, I dive into Frank Shyong’s insightful article, “Chili Crisp Capitalism Meets a New Wave of Asian American Cynicism” from the LA Times. This piece is particularly relevant for organizations or historically underrepresented workers aiming to push their corporations to reach diverse markets with culturally relevant products. It is also important for historically underrepresented entrepreneurs serving their own communities.

We cover three major points in the LinkedIn newsletter:

• Build Community Solidarity into Your Business Plan and Marketing

• Prioritize Authenticity

• Address Cynicism with Honesty and Transparency

If this topic interests you, read Frank Shyong’s LA Times article and then head over to LinkedIn and check out our recommendations.

Shifting to Empowerment Philanthropy

Whether working, volunteering, or donating, most Americans have encountered the system of nonprofits and philanthropy in America. At Perspectives Media, we consistently find that capitalist ventures could learn quite a bit from their nonprofit counterparts. For instance, Empowerment Philanthropy, a term recently defined by Mark Kramer and Steve Phillips in a Stanford Social Innovation Review article, challenges the old thinking of figures like Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie's model assumed that wealthy individuals could best solve societal problems, often overlooking the conflict-of-interest billionaires face that stop them from seeking true, structural reforms and denigrates the potential of the communities they aimed to help by assuming they could not help themselves.

In contrast, Empowerment Philanthropy reorients the entire role of philanthropy to supporting individuals and communities in solving their own problems. If you work in nonprofits, philanthropy, or corporate CSR programs, consider how program elements of Universal Basic Income (UBI) can be incorporated into your program planning.   In addition, encourage your organization to employ its human capital as support for community-led projects rather than traditional “client service” models. By shifting focus from top-down, “we know better” solutions to empowering everyday people, studies show we can create more equitable and effective strategies for social progress.

The Problem with Expecting Invisible Labor

"The Unseen Labor of Black Women Leaders" from Non Profit News highlights the often invisible and undervalued labor performed by Black women in leadership roles. The anonymous author discusses the multifaceted challenges they face, including the emotional and psychological support they provide, their expected, almost mandatory involvement in DEI initiatives, and the mentorship they must offer to junior colleagues. Despite their significant contributions, these efforts are often overlooked and taken for granted, adding to their already heavy burden.

The beauty of the writing in this article is indescribable, so I encourage you to read it for yourself.

Emily Maskell of PinkNews wrote a beautiful piece on Sylvia Rivera's passionate advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights during the 1973 Pride march. It reminds us of the importance of inclusivity and relentless activism within our communities. Rivera’s legacy teaches historically underrepresented workers the power of standing up for marginalized voices and supporting community-led initiatives to drive meaningful change.

The Stonewall riots underscore the importance of creating safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ individuals and highlight the power of collective resistance against systemic oppression. This Pride Month, Josh Milton of PinkNews reminds us in his piece, “Remembering the Stonewall riots: How a NYC bar raid kickstarted the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement” to continue our activism and advocacy to build a more equitable and supportive community for all.

Corky Lee, a pioneering photographer and activist, dedicated his life to documenting the struggles and triumphs of the Asian American community, coining the term "photographic justice" to describe his mission of breaking stereotypes and making their stories visible.

“He [Corky Lee] was a photographer, but he was an activist photographer, a social photographer. And he often said his aim in life was to break stereotypes of Asian Americans one photograph at a time. He wanted to make Asian Americans visible when we had been invisible, erased from American history. He wanted to show that we are real people with real concerns and that we had a long struggle a long history of struggle for social justice and racial equality.” -Mac Ngai

His work, now honored in a new book and documentary, continues to educate and inspire future generations by preserving a visual record of Asian American history and activism.

Check out this in-depth piece from Juan Gonzalez and Amy Goodman at Democracy Now!.

A pride syllabus inspired by Beyonce’s album Renaissance? Sure, we’ll take it

One of our favorite writers, Yamily Habib of mitú, wrote, “This June, Remember: PRIDE Began as a Riot Led by Women of Color Defying Oppression.”

Pride is a powerful reminder that our fight for LGBTQ+ rights is ongoing and deeply connected to global struggles for justice, including the liberation of the Palestinian people. This Pride Month, let's engage in activism, support marginalized voices, and remember that true liberation comes from solidarity and direct action.

Anjali Rimi, co-founder of Parivar Bay Area, is profiled by Sree Sripathy of India Currents. She discusses navigating the complex intersections of gender, culture, and immigration as a transgender rights activist. Her story emphasizes the need for cultural humility and support for kinnar and hijra identities within the South Asian and broader communities, advocating for greater acceptance and understanding.

Anjali on moving to America:

Read the full article here.

In this AsAmNews article by Mimi Chen titled “AAPI & LGBTQ Months inspire 2 Asian LGBTQ artists,” Quentin Lee and Kit DeZolt discuss their Emmy-nominated projects. They use their creative talents and platform to bridge the gap between the AAPI and LGBTQ+ communities through projects like "Boy Luck Club" and a new PSA for AAPI Heritage Month. Their work is funny, inspiring, and you should make sure to read the article, check out their work, and sprinkle their names into your TV conversations.

Pew Research reveals that a significant number of Latinas in the U.S. experience intense pressure to balance family responsibilities and career success. In an article by Luis Noe-Bustamente et. al titled, “A Majority of Latinas Feel Pressure To Support Their Families or To Succeed at Work,” researchers find that despite these challenges, many Latinas report high levels of satisfaction with their family life and overall happiness. This dual expectation of fulfilling traditional cultural roles while striving for professional achievement resonates deeply with the broader experiences of historically underrepresented workers.

Actionable Resources Mentioned in the Article:

• National Survey of Latino - Bilingual survey exploring life pressures, sexism, harassment, and discrimination experienced by Latinas.

• Pew Research Center Reports:

  • "Daily Life Experiences of Latinas"

  • "Pressures Latinas Face in Their Lives"

  • "Life Satisfaction and Sources of Joy for Latinas"

• External Links for Further Reading:

  • Blog posts and academic articles on marianismo and familismo.

  • Articles on the economic gains and changes in the situation of Hispanic women over the past decade.

  • Publications on how Hispanic Americans get their news and their views on various social and political issues.

Assistive technology (AT) is transforming education for individuals with learning disabilities by providing tools that enhance their abilities and support their learning processes. From simple aids like magnifiers to advanced AI applications, AT improves academic performance, builds confidence, and fosters independence. Legislative support and emerging trends in AT promise even more inclusive and adaptive learning environments.

Check out this article from AmeriDisability to read in detail.

Tools listed in the article:

1. Manufacturers of Assistive Tech & Free Tools:

   1. Nuance

   2. Kurzweil Education

   3. TextHelp

   4. IrisLink

   5. Audio Note Taker by Sonocent

   6. Evernote

2. Free Accessibility Tools:

   1. Apple Accessibility Tools

   2. Microsoft Accessibility Tools

   3. Google Disability Inclusion Tools

   4. Read & Write for Google Chrome Extension

   5. Grammarly (free version)

3. ADHD Tools:

   1. Healthline ADHD Management Tools

4. Free Textbook Libraries for Dyslexia:

   1. Learning Ally

   2. Bookshare

5. Free E-books Libraries:

   1. NYPL Free E-Audiobooks

6. Organization and Study Tools for ADHD & Executive Function:

   1. LDRFA Organization and Study Tools

7. Web-Based Organization Tools:

   1. Platforms like Google, Outlook, and Yahoo provide comprehensive organizational systems, including calendars and email.

   2. Apple’s integrated system with email, calendar, storage, and free applications for documents, slideshows, and spreadsheets.

8. Sensory Solutions for Autistic Individuals:

   1. Fun & Function - Products for hypersensitivity and more.

Refer a friend and get into some serious career and business intelligence.