Marlene Linzner-Scherf’s Post

June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community's rich history, diversity, and ongoing fight for equality. At CCI Consulting, we believe in fostering a workplace culture that is inclusive and welcoming to all. Here are a few ways to celebrate Pride in your workplace while maintaining a professional environment: 🌈 Educate & Advocate: Encourage employees to learn about LGBTQ+ history, terminology, and experiences. Share resources or host a "lunch and learn" session. 🌈 Embrace Pronouns: Normalize the inclusion of pronouns in email signatures and introductions. 🌈 Ally Visibility: Encourage employees to show their support through rainbow attire or featuring LGBTQ+ team members' stories. 🌈 Donate & Volunteer: Partner with an LGBTQ+ charity or organization for a donation drive or volunteer activity. 🌈 Celebrate Pride Events: Sponsor or participate in local Pride events, virtually or in person. By creating a more inclusive environment, we empower all employees to bring their authentic selves to work, fostering creativity, collaboration, and innovation. Let us know how you’re celebrating Pride at work in the comments! #PrideMonth #CelebratePride #CCIConsulting

Celebrate Pride with Purpose! Custom Promo Products that Make a Statement This #PrideMonth, let's celebrate diversity, inclusion, and the LGBTQ+ community. But how can your brand authentically show its support? Custom promotional products can be a powerful tool to amplify your message and create a lasting impact. Consider these ideas: 🌈 Rainbow Swag: Design water bottles, tote bags, or t-shirts in vibrant Pride colors. A portion of the proceeds could be donated to an LGBTQ+ charity! 🌈 Pride-Themed Giveaways: Host a social media contest featuring custom phone cases or keychains that celebrate Pride. 🌈 Employee Appreciation: Gift employees with logo-branded items alongside a message of inclusion. Custom promotional products not only show your support, they also: 🌈 Increase brand awareness - Keep your company name visible at Pride events or parades. 🌈 Spark conversations - Encourage dialogue about diversity and inclusion. 🌈 Build stronger relationships - Show your commitment to creating a welcoming environment. Looking for inspiration? We can help you design custom products that celebrate Pride with purpose! ️ Check out our Custom Pride Giveaways here: https://lnkd.in/e-pcCgtS

Are you Pinkwashing?? #PrideMonth 🏳️🌈 is around the corner and just like March where we see 1000% uptick in marketing using "women's day", this month be sure to see lots of rainbow and LGBTQIA+ themed programs. If you're a brand/company looking to jump on the 🌈 bang-wagon, here are some questions are ask yourself! What is pink washing you ask? Well it's when someone capitalizes on the commercial aspects of Pride Month like changing your logos to rainbow colors or releasing limited edition Pride-themed products *solely* for profit. Do you lack diversity and inclusion in your workforce? Brands that participate in Pride Month celebrations but lack diversity and inclusion in their own workforce or fail to support LGBTQ+ employees are insincere. For instance, if you only feature LGBTQ+ individuals in your marketing campaigns during Pride Month but don't have inclusive policies or practices internally, then what's the point? Are you failing to donate or support LGBTQIA+ Causes: Failing to donate CSR funds or profits to LGBTQ+ organizations or supporting relevant causes makes your contribution less tangible. Are you committed all-year round? Does your idea to promote Pride only happen in June? If your brands only shows support for LGBTQ+ issues during Pride Month and remains silent or inactive for the rest of the year then are you anything but opportunistic? True allyship requires ongoing advocacy and support beyond a single month of celebration. Are you ignoring feedback and/or criticism: It is disingenous when brands ignore feedback or criticism from the LGBTQ+ #community about their actions during Pride Month. Genuine #allyship involves listening and responding. Thanks for reading! 💜 💙 💚 💛 🧡 ❤️ 💖

June is 🌈 Pride Month 🌈 which means a plethora of rainbow-themed packaging designs online and in stores. But while some people view this as a sign of growing support of the LGBTQ+ community, others fear companies are exploiting a social movement for profit. Can packaging be a force for good? Packaging Europe recently investigated the issue in their article 'Packaging in Pride Month: allyship versus ‘rainbow-washing’. Rainbow-washing occurs when brands use Pride to market themselves as socially progressive without taking meaningful action to support the LGBTQ+ community. On the surface, incorporating Pride imagery into packaging may seem harmless. However, critics argue that perceived insincerity can damage a company's reputation more than silence, as contradictions between branding and actions are easier to spot in the digital age. To prove their authenticity, companies need to go beyond aesthetics and actively support equality legislation, LGBTQ+ employees and non-profit organisations. Packaging can be a useful tool in educating consumers and raising funds, but it should not be used to facilitate a token gesture or one-off PR stunt. Successful examples of consumer brands showing LGBTQ+ allyship include Unilever's personal care brands, which have partnered with The Brighton Rainbow Fund and made Pride-themed packaging available year-round. #PrideMonth #Pride #Packaging #Packagingdesign #Rainbowwashing

As we celebrate the start of Pride Month, it’s a time to reflect on the progress we’ve made and the journey ahead in creating inclusive and diverse communities. Pride is not just a celebration; it’s a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and the importance of standing together against discrimination. For our sector leaders, this month is a call to action to continue advocating for inclusivity and diversity, ensuring that every individual feels valued and respected. Nonprofits have long been at the forefront of creating safe spaces for marginalized communities. By providing support, resources, and advocacy, the work we do plays a critical role in fostering environments where everyone can thrive. Our organizations understand the importance of intersectionality and work tirelessly to address the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, especially those who are also part of other marginalized groups. I believe that social impact organizations have a unique position in advancing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) work. By integrating EDI goals into our missions, our organizations can lead by example, influencing policy, and fostering cultural change. As practitioners, we can provide training, develop inclusive programs, and advocate for policies that promote equality. Through collaboration and community engagement, we can amplify the voices of those who are often unheard, driving meaningful change and ensuring that inclusivity and diversity are not just ideals but everyday realities. Today, and everyday, we can lead with love, kindness, empathy and acceptance. Happy Pride Month, everyone! #loveislove #pride #EDI #equity #diversity #inclusion #ally #nonprofit #advocacy

The Stonewall Inn, which was raided 55 years ago today, was a haven for the LGBTQ+ community - away from the discrimination and oppression LGBTQ+ were facing at the time 🏳️🌈 The Stonewall Uprising started a global movement and is hailed as a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights and liberation 🌎 At the forefront of the resistance, courageous individuals, including Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera, led the charge for justice and equality 🙌 Its anniversary serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for equality and inclusivity, as well as the importance of standing up against injustice. We’ve included some inspirations of ways you can help honour this time and continue striving for an LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Future. [Visual description: carousel is designed in blue, pink and yellow. Image 1: title, Stonewall Riots. Today is the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, also known as the Stonewall Uprising, which took place on 28th June 1969 in New York City when police raided a gay club called ‘The Stonewall Inn’. Image 2: The police raid caused a riot, leading to six days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement outside the bar and on neighbouring streets. The protests that followed the raids sparked a movement. Image 3: The Stonewall Uprising became a catalyst for change, motivating communities across the United States and beyond to fight for LGBTQ+ rights and liberation. It led to the formation of LGBTQ+ organisations and the emergence of Pride marches and caused a profound shift in societal attitudes toward acceptance and equality. Image 4: What we can do differently for a LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Future: Educate yourself on LGBTQIA+ issues and history, including challenges the community still faces today, Utilise the power of collective action, just as protestors did during the Stonewall Uprising, Promote intersectional inclusivity by ensuring your LGBTQIA+ advocacy includes all voices represented within the community, such as trans folks and people of colour, Support organisations which actively fight for LGBTQIA+ rights, Push for policies and laws which protect LGBTQIA+ rights.] #StonewallRiots #PrideMonth #PrideMonth2024 #Pride2024 #Pride #DiversityAndInclusion #DiversityMatters #InclusionMatters #UnconsciousBias #DiversityEquityInclusion #DiversityInTech #Inclusivity #InclusionAndDiversity #BelongingAtWork #WorkplaceCulture #WorkplaceInclusion #WorkCulture

Ah, Pride month. 🌈 To me, pride month is every month, in fact, it’s every single day. I have so much pride in being a trans man, and it’s taken me a LONG time to get to be the man I am today, with the love I have for myself after so many years of self-hatred. As happy as pride month makes me, I do sometimes feel like all these big companies only choose to recognise people like me in June because they’re following the rest of said big companies. *insert rainbow washing and tick boxing for diversity employment data paragraph here* 🙃 Pride month is all about celebrating our history and how far we as LGBTQ+ people have come since the Stonewall riots back in June 1969 (when being gay was classified as a mental illness…) June was forever more dedicated to commemorate the sole reason pride began. We still have so much more to do to make the UK (and the world) a safer place for our LGBTQ+ people, so I urge you to spend this pride month reflecting what you know and what you don’t know, learn and unlearn, review your diversity and inclusion policies, incorporate pronouns to email signatures, check in with your LGBTQ+ employee network and ask if there’s anything else you could be doing. Donate to LGBTQ+ related charities… There are SO many small, yet simple acts of kindness that can really make your peers feel comfortable in both the workplace and outside of work. Do more than add a rainbow to your logo…🌈 #pridemonth #pride #lgbtq #diversity #inclusion

Happy Pride Month! Every year, June is our opportunity to celebrate, honor, commemorate, and stand in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. We take a moment to reflect on the past. We pay tribute. We spend time in community with each other. We dance! We remember that each one of us, regardless of our sexual orientation or identity, is worthy of #belonging. So where do we start the celebration? There are so many impactful (and fun) ways to celebrate #Pride. Here are my top three ways to get involved this month: 1. Get Out There: Be a part of your community. Support your local Pride events. Attend fundraisers, parades, marches, and festivals. Donate your time or money. Write your local legislators. Get involved. And read books! 2. Gain Local Knowledge: Do you know the history of Pride Month where you live? What are some of the struggles and achievements of the LGBTQ+ community in your town or city? What are the some of the issues currently being faced right in your backyard? We need to all be better educated because knowledge is key to change. 3. Be an Ally: Stand in solidarity, whether you're a part of the LGBTQ+ community or an #ally. Use your voice and privilege to always speak up. While going to events and celebrations is always a great time, keep in mind that this month is about the fight for #equality, justice, and the right to be who you are. Let's embrace this spirit of diversity and inclusion during Pride Month and beyond. Because when we do, we create spaces where we can all be free to live authentically and thrive. Because love is love, is love, is love. Happy Pride! 🌈

"Skittles- WHEN YOU FIND YOUR COMMUNITY, YOUR COLORS SHINE" <Campaign> Pride Packs <Why this campaign Works> Skittles has been known for its vibrant and colorful candies, but each year during Pride Month, they take a different approach by removing the colors from their candies, turning them monochromatic gray. This campaign is designed to emphasize that only one rainbow matters during Pride, which is the rainbow of the Pride flag. - Collaboration with LGBTQIA+ Artists  Skittles partners with artists from the LGBTQIA+ community, giving them a platform to showcase their art on the Pride Packs. This not only highlights the artists' work but also shows Skittles' commitment to supporting the community. - Supporting GLAAD Skittles donates a portion of the profits from the Pride Packs to GLAAD, an LGBTQIA+ organization, further showing their support and commitment to the community. <Success Metrics> - Social Media Engagement  Over 18,000 people posted more than 20,000 mentions related to Skittles, Pride Month, and the LGBTQIA+ community during the campaign. - Positive Moods The campaign has been well-received, with nearly 90% of sentiment-categorized mentions being positive. - Increased Awareness  The campaign not only raises awareness about Pride but also involves the community directly, creating a sense of authenticity and genuine support. <POV> In my opinion, Skittles' Pride Packs campaign is a great example of how inclusive marketing can be both powerful and meaningful. By stripping away their iconic rainbow colors and turning their candies monochromatic gray during Pride Month, Skittles makes a bold visual statement that the only rainbow that matters during this time is the Pride rainbow. This simple yet impactful gesture underscores the brand's solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community in a visually compelling way. Skittles takes it a step further by collaborating with LGBTQ+ artists, showcasing their art on the Pride Packs. One of the most commendable aspects of this campaign is Skittles' commitment to giving back. By donating a portion of the profits from the Pride Packs to GLAAD, they are not just paying lip service to inclusivity but are actively supporting an organization that works tirelessly for LGBTQ+ rights. From a marketing perspective, this approach is brilliant because it combines powerful visuals, community engagement, and tangible support. It raises awareness about LGBTQ+ issues and fosters a sense of inclusion and belonging. Overall, Skittles' Pride Packs campaign demonstrates how brands can make a positive difference through thoughtful and inclusive marketing strategies. <Conclusion> Skittles' Pride Packs campaign successfully combines creative visual elements with a strong message of support for the LGBTQ+ community. Moxie Garrett https://lnkd.in/euaEgCQi Happy Pride 🌈🌈 #LGBTQ+ #SeeTheRainbow #skittles

Happy Pride Month! 🌈🏳️🌈 Let's celebrate love, diversity, and equality. May this month be filled with joy, acceptance, and respect for everyone in the LGBTQ+ community. Remember, love is love, and everyone deserves to be celebrated and embraced for who they are. 🌈💙💚💛🧡❤️💜 There are many wonderful ways to celebrate love, diversity, and equality during Pride Month! 1. Attend Pride Events: Join local Pride parades, festivals, and events in your area. These gatherings are a fantastic way to show support, connect with the LGBTQ+ community, and celebrate love and equality together. 2. Educate Yourself: Take the time to learn more about the history and struggles of the LGBTQ+ community. Read books, watch documentaries, and engage in conversations to expand your knowledge and understanding. 3. Support LGBTQ+ Businesses: Show your support by shopping at LGBTQ+ owned businesses or supporting LGBTQ+ artists, creators, and entrepreneurs. This can be done through purchasing their products, attending their performances, or sharing their work with others. 4. Advocate for LGBTQ+ Rights: Use your voice to support equal rights for everyone. Speak up against discrimination and injustice, and educate others on the importance of equality and inclusivity. 5. Volunteer and Donate: Consider volunteering your time or making a donation to LGBTQ+ organizations and charities that work towards promoting equality, providing support, and advocating for the rights of the community. 6. Be an Ally: Stand up against homophobia, transphobia, and discrimination. Be a supportive ally to friends, family, and colleagues who identify as LGBTQ+. Show love, respect, and acceptance. Remember, celebrating love, diversity, and equality is not limited to Pride Month alone. It is essential to continue supporting the LGBTQ+ community throughout the year. Let's strive for a world where everyone can live and love freely, without fear of judgment or discrimination. 🌈🏳️🌈❤️