If you’ve been following my podcasts for a while now, you know that in September, I focus on the theme of “Laboring for Justice as a Labor of Love” to coincide with Labor Day, which we’ll celebrate on September 4th.
Just to provide a little context, Labor Day has been a national holiday since 1894, when President Grover Cleveland signed the law that Congress passed designating the first Monday in September as a holiday for workers. Labor unions pressed and activists sacrificed to gain recognition of both the contributions and the mistreatment of workers at the time. That reminder in particular – that unions and activists sacrificed to gain recognition of both the contributions and mistreatment of workers at the time - is still relevant to consider in today’s workforce. As a consultant, this is why Belonging is such a critical element in my work as it relates specifically to developing effective team dynamics strategies.
As you’re probably well aware, the decline in commitment to DEI in our workplaces since the Supreme Court's ruling against affirmative action in college admissions processes is a critical matter that has been on my mind lately.
As we continue to reflect on the profound impact of that ruling, we must acknowledge its ripple effects that extend far beyond academia. We find ourselves at a crossroads, where the principles of fairness, justice, and equal opportunity are being challenged in the very fabric of our corporate landscape. Just like the conversations that I host here on my podcast and with my clients, diversity is a complex web of issues that intersect race, economic justice, employment, and civil rights.