Responding to Calls for Racial Equity

B The Change Weekly: February 28, 2020

Delivered on Fridays, B the Change Weekly delivers the most important and most relevant stories about people using business as a force for good. The newsletter features a weekly note from the B the Change team alongside insight and context on the stories we share here on Medium. Below is our latest roundup. To receive these insights directly in your inbox, sign up for B the Change Weekly today. Now on to the good stuff:

Director of Inclusive Economies at B Lab, Dr. Kathryn Buford, Ph.D., summarizes the institutional realities of racism — and the systemic challenges that Certified B Corporations are positioned to tackle — in a few impactful words:

“Black people, and our allies, continue the work that shows our current economic system is not designed to foster equity, diversity, and inclusion, but instead rewards exploitation and hoarding.”

This week on B The Change, she and B Lab’s Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, Dr. Ellonda L. Green, Ed.D, outline plans for the nonprofit’s work on equity, diversity and inclusion and their goals for the B Corp community — and, ultimately, the economy as a whole.

Responding to the B Corp Community’s Call for Racial Equity

The role of Director of Inclusive Economies at B Lab was created in response to increasingly louder calls for social change. In that role, Dr. Kathryn Buford, Ph.D., knew there would be opportunities for growth in terms of racial equity.

On B The Change, she outlines how B Lab and B Corp collective action groups will be addressing White supremacy within the B Corp community, increasing racial diversity, and creating new offerings and content for racially and ethnically under-represented groups.

Guiding B Lab’s Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Journey

As the Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at B Lab, Dr. Ellonda L. Green, Ed.D, pursues creating equitable, diverse and inclusive workplaces where every employee — whatever their gender or gender identity, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation, education, religion, or disability — feels valued and respected.

On B The Change, she shares more about her commitment to providing equal opportunity within B Lab’s teams, programs, and worksites — and her hope that this work will inspire progress on equity, diversity, and inclusion throughout the B Corp community.

Finding Beauty in Entrepreneurism and Women’s Empowerment

Since Rahama Wright founded Shea Yeleen — a health and beauty company dedicated to empowering women in West Africa and the United States through the production, sale, and use of shea butter products — the company has taken a significantly different shape.

In these highlights on B The Change from the Grow Ensemble Podcast, Wright discusses Shea Yeleen’s beginnings as a nonprofit, explains how and why she made the decision to convert the business into a social impact for-profit model, and offers tips on business staying power.

Stay in the Know

Here’s your chance to catch up on recent articles:

• Black History Never Dies: Responding to the B Corp Community’s Call for Racial Equity: B Lab’s Director of Inclusive Economies Shares Ongoing Changes and Funding Opportunities at the Nonprofit
• Personal Experience Inspires EDI Leadership and Goals for B Lab: B Lab’s Director of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Shares History and Vision
• 5 Reasons Our B Corp Became a Worker Cooperative: The PixelSpoke Worker Cooperative Journey, Part 1: Why Change?
• A 15-Year Journey in Entrepreneurism and Women’s Empowerment: Shea Yeleen Founder Inspires Through Efforts to Create Economic Stability for Women Around the World
• How a Clear Process Can Help Your Business Make Progress on Equity: Racial Equity Work Requires More Than Changes to Hiring
• Revitalizing Indigenous Economies Through Agriculture Investments: Zach Ducheneaux Cultivates Change Through Roles with Intertribal Agriculture Council and Akiptan
• 3 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint This Winter: How to Keep Your Home Warm and Reduce Environmental Guilt

B the Change gathers and shares the voices from within the movement of people using business as a force for good and the community of Certified B Corporations. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the nonprofit B Lab.

Responding to Calls for Racial Equity was originally published in B The Change on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.