Cub’s Post

February is Black History Month, an annual celebration of achievements made by Black Americans. It’s a time of reflection, remembrance, awareness, unity, and hope. This month, Brother and our employee resource group, WeAreBRAAVE, are focusing on “Health in the Black Community" by offering employees opportunities to establish a foundation for building physical, mental, and financial success. Learn more about how employee resource groups at Brother are "at your side" for our employees: https://lnkd.in/e3MHBi8t

This Black History Month, we celebrate the accomplishments and innovations of Black Americans who have not only fought through adversity, but have disrupted industries, improved our lives, and left an impact on our communities. Read about Black innovators who have impacted the automotive industry and changed the business forever: https://bit.ly/3HT0UdG

February is Black History Month, a celebration of cultural contributions, diversity and the bountiful food and traditions that African Americans have contributed. Starting in 1976, this month recognizes and celebrates the Black voices that have played pivotal roles in shaping our shared history. According to refed.org, a “remarkable thing about this food history is how it sprang from enterprise, creativity, survival, and necessity. Innovation in Black food culture came from scarcity and being unjustly forced into hardship and food insecurity. Creating recipes using scraps, leftovers, and ingredients that were otherwise deemed as ‘less than,’ African American culture set the standard for creating delicious and wholesome meals from very little, and they are meals that we still enjoy today. From cornbread to gumbo, mac and cheese to fried chicken, it is a culinary legacy that is deeply ingrained in the American cultural profile." As we celebrate Black history, we continuously work to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion in our nutrition and health research endeavors. Recognizing and honoring diverse perspectives is key to creating meaningful impacts in our areas of focus. #BlackHistoryMonth

As we celebrate Black History Month, it's vital to honor the deep connection between the land and the Black experience. Author Natalie Baszile highlighted this beautifully at The Joy and Power of Food: A Salon, a FoodCorps event in New York City celebrating the joy and power of food through the Black experience. (event recap ➡️ https://bit.ly/49dZtC4) Natalie spoke about reframing how society thinks about BIPOC farmers and other food producers: “I understand why there has historically been a stigma around that—because people think of progress as getting away from the land. They think of progress or success as getting as far away from the land [as you can], getting your hands out of the dirt, going to be a professional in a metropolitan center someplace. That is what progress means for people of color,” she said. “[But] I also want to remind people that there is a lot to be proud of,” she continued. “And if we shift our definition of what success looks like so that we encompass farmers, land stewards, all of these people who are taking care of the earth, who are doing a different kind of labor…then we’ll be able to honor all of this work. Because this is the future of the planet.” Interested in bringing this conversation into your classroom or cafeteria? Here are some questions to explore with kids about their connection to food and land: 🌱 Who helps provide the food we eat? 🌱 How can we express our gratitude for the growers and makers of our food? 🌱 What does food mean to you? Let us know in the comments what conversations you’ve had with your students about food, land, and community!

PIE doesn’t just honor Black History Month. We put our money where our mouths are. This isn’t a post to brag, but to show just how easy it is to really be inclusive. - Our preferred providers of pies are Black-owned, local businesses - We celebrate Black excellence by seeking melanated speakers and educators FIRST … and then **paying them** for their efforts - PIE has directed dozens of hours of FREE professional speaking coaching to rising melanated experts who want to polish their message before presenting - We maintain connections to organizations like state Black Chambers of Commerce, where we collaborate with leaders by providing time and resources to improve access to government work for Black-owned businesses PIE is a community in which historically excluded groups are not only celebrated, but CENTERED. We say this because our community IS BETTER for choosing to be inclusive. We still have opportunities to improve, and we are always open to critique and improving our practice. We also believe that the best voices, products, and information comes from fairly compensated, historically excluded speakers who are put at the front of the line. We’re tired of hearing from folks who have always been in charge, because leading a broken system doesn’t mean you know what you’re doing. It’s our honor to participate in Black History Month by focusing on Black providers every day of the year. Your business could do it, too.

In today’s Black History Month feature, we celebrate the story of an individual deeply influenced by both national and local Black heroes. ”Black history has shaped my life by providing me with role models of strong unyielding people, a unique heritage, and a dynamic culture. I reflect on the black historical figures who were at the forefront of the civil rights movement and who challenged racial and gender oppression. It’s because of these historic leaders that I am grateful to live in a more fortunate lifetime. Their sacrifices gave me a vision of empowerment and taught me to have a voice. Not only did I gain this pride from the national black heroes, but I was blessed to grow up in rural South Carolina where I was exposed to trades like agriculture, farming, gardening, and sewing by my local heroes: my paternal grandfather, both grandmothers, my mother and father, aunts, uncles, and other community leaders. These trades offered significant contributions to our local community and the economic welfare of our country. My local heroes are always a part of my black history as they taught me courage, dreams, hard work, humility, and love. My past upbringing motivates me to be the best version of myself. I owe it to my ancestors, the ones I knew and those that I didn’t meet, to honor them through living a life of boldness, integrity, and purpose, and to help cultivate wisdom for the younger generation in my family.” - Tammy Robbins, McGrath HR Business Partner   Tammy shares that she takes pride in recognizing the accomplishments and overcoming the challenges faced by Black Americans, not just during Black History Month but all year round. A quote that deeply resonates with her is: “Knowing the past opens the door to the future,” by Carter G. Woodson, highlighting the importance of understanding history to shape a better future.

Black History Month offers the opportunity to educate and learn about Black history and Black culture. It's a time to acknowledge and widely celebrate the achievements and contributions of Black Americans. BHM is an opportunity to focus on the issues and disparities that persist in the workplace today while committing to driving measurable change for the future. Listed below are just a few ways that you can celebrate Black History Month. C.A.R.E. Culture And Relationship Experts are here to help! Hire one of our speakers or facilitators. Utilize our experts to assist with program ideas for Employee Resource Groups. If you have yet to form an African American E.R.G., we can help with that too! Black History Month is not only about recognizing past achievements, it is also about actively working to dismantle barriers Black people are facing, both in and out of the workplace. This year Black History Month falls on a leap year, what special event do you have planned for this extra day?!

And we're off! Happy Black History Month to all! Kraft Heinz in the early front-running for cultural gaffe of the month. At least this is a clean cut example of why diverse hiring matters in supporting your commercial goals. What's wrong with this? There is a prevailing negative stereotype around the presence of Black fathers. Creating an ad in which the one parent missing is the Black father, is... less than welcome. The expectation is not that everyone creating a major marketing campaign will know this. The expectation is that everyone creating a major marketing campaign will know you need to understand the cultural nuances you want to dabble in before you dabble in them. The hope is that eventually you'll have enough/some people of Black heritage working on these ads that someone will be able to point this out to you before you go to print.

Welcome to Black History Month 🥳 As we celebrate the contributions of Black Americans to our country's history, it's important to ask ourselves: Is our organization doing its part to recognize and honor this important month? Take a look at your organization's landing page. Is Black History Month mentioned? Are there plans for tactful celebrations or content to support this month? But it's not just about one month out of the year. Is your work culture inclusive and intentional 365? We must strive to create a workplace that values diversity and promotes equity every day. Remember, Black History is American History 🖤❤️💛💚. So let's all take the time to reflect on the contributions of Black Americans and celebrate their achievements. How is your organization celebrating Black History Month? Let's make sure we're standing on the right side of history. If we’re not standing on the right side of business, then we’re stand’N on Monkey Bidness!

Embark on this Black History Month journey with us as we unite for an unforgettable event, igniting the spirit of celebration and empowerment 🙌🏾 Whether you're a budding entrepreneur, seeking new career pathways, or simply yearning to be a supportive ally to black professionals, our event promises to fulfill your aspirations 🙌🏾 Experience the opportunity to expand your knowledge, forge meaningful connections within the community, and uncover pathways for personal and professional growth. Here's why we firmly believe in the power of community: 1️⃣ Empowerment: Communities serve as the cornerstone for individuals to thrive, offering a platform for learning, knowledge-sharing, and amplifying voices. 2️⃣ Collaboration: Within communities, diverse perspectives and skills converge, fostering collaboration that transcends individual capabilities. 3️⃣ Support: Building community means constructing a safety net of support. In times of adversity, communities extend a hand of assistance and emotional solace. 4️⃣ Networking: Communities serve as gateways to invaluable connections and opportunities, transforming personal and professional trajectories. 5️⃣ Positive Impact: Together, communities drive meaningful change, championing initiatives that shape societies and leave a lasting legacy. This February, let's honor the essence of community. Together, let's nurture communities that inspire, uplift, and catalyze lasting transformations. Join us for the event by clicking the link in our bio or sending us a message. - Sandra Masters