SOCIETY

Voices for Change

CVS Sets a New Standard for Retailers on Reducing Plastic Waste

With a nudge from Green Century, CVS recently announced its goal to reduce virgin plastic in its store-brand packaging by 50 percent by 2030.

Gary E. Frank

May 6, 2022

Voices for Change

21st-Century Capitalism Meets the Pope

Pope Francis has long called for a more inclusive capitalism, and this group of companies is following his lead; we profile one company in particular.

Gloria Johns

May 3, 2022

Voices for Change

Memphis Has Become Ground Zero for Predatory Lending

Predatory lending is endemic in Memphis with 114 high-cost lending storefronts, more than twice the number of McDonald’s and Starbucks in the city combined.

Gary E. Frank

April 7, 2022

Voices for Change

Pure Leaf and SeekHer Provide Grants to Women Who Stood Up for Themselves in the Workplace

Pure Leaf and SeekHer are providing $2,000 “No Grants” to 100 individual women who have been adversely affected by standing up for themselves at work.

Terry E. Cohen

March 24, 2022

Voices for Change

Native American Massacre Site in Nevada at Risk in Pursuit of New Energy Development

"Imagine if U.S. citizens were asked to remove a European historical cemetery? They’d be in an uproar," an indigenous organizer from the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony said. But that's what could happen at Thacker Pass, the site of a proposed lithium mine in Nevada.

Cayte Bosler

March 22, 2022

Voices for Change

Plans to Mine Lithium at Thacker Pass Clash with Indigenous Rights

At Thacker Pass near the the Oregon-Nevada border, an imminent archeological dig to clear the way for a planned mine threatens an Indigenous sacred site and historic place of massacre.

Cayte Bosler

March 21, 2022

Voices for Change

Amid the Ukrainian Crisis, Let’s Start a Larger Conversation About Equity at Our Borders

The patterns of racism and brutality that people of color are experiencing as they try to flee Ukraine mirror the gatekeeping that happens in societies and workplaces around the world, says diversity, equity and inclusion expert Kim Crowder.

Roya Sabri

March 11, 2022

Voices for Change

Lush Takes a Stand on How U.S. History is Taught in Classrooms

The beauty brand Lush has taken on another social impact cause within its series of ethical campaigns – this time focused on school curricula.

Gloria Johns

March 10, 2022

Voices for Change

Airbnb Users Set the Bar High on How to Support War-Stricken Ukraine

Thousands of Airbnb users have booked vacation rentals they will never use to support Ukrainian hosts struggling to survive Russia’s invasion.

Gary E. Frank

March 9, 2022

Voices for Change

Etsy, Disney and the Other Brands Showing Support for Ukraine

A growing number of U.S. and international corporations have chosen financial empathy and solidarity with Ukraine, even temporarily suspending profit.

Gloria Johns

March 3, 2022

Voices for Change

Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen Now Focusing on ‘Longer Tables’ for Ukrainian Refugees

Chef José Andrés and WCK are again answering a call: this time, they're providing meals to Ukrainian refugees who have fled to neighboring countries.

Megan Amrich

March 2, 2022

Voices for Change

Our Suggestions on How to Help Ukraine

We’ve put together a list of NGOs that are doing whatever they can to help the 44 million-plus people in Ukraine who are under siege.

Leon Kaye

February 25, 2022

Voices for Change

Yes, It's That Carl Icahn Who's Taking a Stand on Animal Welfare

Carl Icahn has waded into the animal welfare fray, in particular over this fast food giant's reliance on the use of gestation crates to house pregnant sows.

Leon Kaye

February 21, 2022

Voices for Change

Fueling Growth with a Second-Chance Workforce

Success in hiring second-chance employees requires resourcefulness, the right human resources help and having strong relationships with community partners. 

Leslie Morales

February 21, 2022

Voices for Change

Civic Alliance Connects Bottom Line, Employee Expectations and GOTV Efforts

A new Civic Alliance survey shows that employees expect civic engagement from their employers, and GOTV efforts also can boost the bottom line.

Tina Casey

February 10, 2022

Voices for Change

The Brazilian Billionaire Who Defines Social Impact

Brazil's Luiza Trajano and her track record of success pairs with a commitment to social justice that is unmatched by any CEO or chairperson.

Leon Kaye

January 24, 2022

Voices for Change

Five Ideas to Help Make Giving Tuesday 2021 Count

For those who want to be a part of Giving Tuesday, but are not sure where to start, these five ideas offer a starting point.

Leon Kaye

November 22, 2021

Voices for Change

Kids Could Lose or Gain the Most from COP26 Talks, But Are Left Out of the Conversations

COP26 is in a large part about a growing children’s rights crisis, as they are the ones will will long suffer the effects of global warming the most.

Leon Kaye

November 1, 2021

Voices for Change

U.S. Companies Push Back Against Controversial Texas Abortion Law

The Texas “heartbeat bill” law pushed some companies to reiterate their support for abortion rights; others have launched funds to protect their employees.

Sarah Lozanova

September 7, 2021

Voices for Change

Five Ways You Can Support Those in Need in Afghanistan

Global Citizen suggests how we can help the people of Afghanistan who are desperately pleading for assistance and running for refuge from the Taliban.<br />

Global Citizen

August 19, 2021

Voices for Change

A Mandate for Accountability in Business and Policing

One reminder about policing: many companies actively and transparently budget for regulatory and other legal violations as a “cost of doing business.”

Edward Quevedo

June 17, 2021

Voices for Change

That $1 Donation from Your Purchase Won’t Help Your LGBTQ Neighbors – Buying Directly from Their Businesses Will

Pride Month offers abound, but we suggest a better way to show support for the community – as in buying directly from an LGBTQ-owned business.<br />

Leon Kaye

June 15, 2021

Voices for Change

Brands, Voter Engagement and What Comes Next for Corporate America

Businesses’ efforts on voter engagement succeeded in 2020; here's what your company can do to ensure everyone has fair access to the ballot box this decade.

Ashley Spillane

May 24, 2021

Voices for Change

Going Beyond Net-Zero Goals, Autodesk Deploys Technology to Help Build a More Sustainable World

Autodesk recently announced that it has reached its net-zero carbon emissions goal; read how its sustainability strategy includes three core focal points.

Sarah Lozanova

May 17, 2021

Voices for Change

Lifewtr and Häagen-Dazs Amplify Marginalized Voices Through Hollywood Partnerships

Some consumer brands are working to bring what have been otherwise marginalized voices to light, with help from some of Hollywood’s biggest storytellers.

Megan Amrich

May 12, 2021

Voices for Change

Why It Matters: Barclays Withdraws from a Prison Financing Deal

The backstory on why these organizations ended a relationship with Barclays over a prison financing deal - and what this means going forward.

Jeffrey Hollender and Isaac Graves

May 10, 2021

Voices for Change

U.S. Business Leaders Can Tip the Balance on the Death Penalty

In a push to end the death penalty worldwide, Richard Branson has a launched a campaign with the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice.

Tina Casey

March 18, 2021

Voices for Change

U.S. Business Leaders Confront New Voter Suppression Efforts

When it comes to voter suppression, an all-hands-on-deck emergency is snowballing, yet one influential U.S. business group is looking the other way.

Tina Casey

March 10, 2021

Voices for Change

'Gender Parity in Boardrooms ASAP,' This Group Tells the U.S. Tech Sector

Girls in Tech, a nonprofit that seeks gender parity in the U.S. tech sector, says change won’t come unless there is a shakeup in boardrooms nationwide.

Leon Kaye

March 10, 2021

Voices for Change

As Attention Turns to Black Farmers, This Global Food Giant Pledges Support

New legislation could address the wrongs that led to generations of Black farmers losing their land; one company says it wants to be part of the solution.

Tina Casey

March 2, 2021

Voices for Change

Six Companies Stepping Up with Investments in Economic and Social Justice

When it comes to investing in economic and social justice, these six companies are leading the private sector in addressing the racial gap in the U.S.

Leon Kaye

February 5, 2021

Voices for Change

Why Is the Resilience Field So White?

Leaders in the resilience field must seek solutions that start with racial equity, as communities of color are most at risk to the ongoing climate crisis.

Joyce Coffee

January 28, 2021

Voices for Change

IBM Gets It Right on Cancel Culture and Corporate Responsibility

IBM has just made the case for corporate cancel culture - as in discerning what is right from wrong - to go even further.

Tina Casey

January 18, 2021

Voices for Change

Flight Attendants Set the Bar High for Employee Activism After the Capitol Breach

A week after the U.S. Capitol breach, it's clear who's moving faster than employers and government agencies when it comes to taking on domestic terrorists.

Leon Kaye

January 13, 2021

Voices for Change

Finally, After Five Years, Digital Platforms Slam Their Brakes on the Trump Train

The role President Trump had in this week's violence in Washington, D.C. was too much for leading digital platforms, which cut their ties to him.

Leon Kaye

January 8, 2021

Voices for Change

Taking on Silicon Valley, Google Employees Start to Unionize

Google employees, in addition to those within other Alphabet companies, have announced the launch of the Alphabet Workers Union earlier this week.

Amelia Ahl

January 7, 2021

Voices for Change

'Play to Learn' Humanitarian Response Introduces Rohingya Muppets to Sesame Street

Rohingya refugees Noor and Aziz of Sesame Street are now bringing the power of early education and play to displaced children.

Roya Sabri

December 24, 2020

Voices for Change

A Note for Corporate Purpose Leaders: How to Ensure that Crisis Funding Doesn’t Happen at the Expense of Long-Term Needs

Here are five lessons from the COVID-19 crisis about what it takes to ensure ongoing crisis funding for community nonprofits at a time of dire need.<br /> <br />

Shannon Paz

December 18, 2020

Voices for Change

How Expensify Raised the Bar on Democracy and Corporate Social Responsibility

Expensify CEO David Barrett sent an email, and a firestorm, with a powerful get-out-the-vote message aimed at booting President Trump out of office.

Tina Casey

October 28, 2020

Voices for Change

Your Company Can Drive Civic Engagement: Here's Why Your Actions Matter

Leaders at businesses and nonprofits shared why civic engagement is so important - and why early voting so far is at an all-time high in the U.S.

Leon Kaye

October 28, 2020

Voices for Change

The Fight For Racial Justice is Intersectional: A Tale of Three Case Studies

As Conroy Boxhill of Porter Novelli-Atlanta observed during the 3BL Virtual Forum: “The fight for racial justice is not siloed.” True progress is intersectional and takes on the overlapping issues that prevent equal access to opportunity, justice and wellbeing. 

Mary Mazzoni

October 21, 2020

Voices for Change

Why Brand Activism Will Be Here to Stay, Long After 2020

The changes in consumer behavior, accelerated by this pandemic and the demands for social justice, mean one thing: brand activism is here to stay.

Heidi Schoeneck Phil White

October 16, 2020

Voices for Change

This is a Defining Moment for CSR Leaders: Stand Out, or Lose Our Faith

Like democracy and the environment, the CSR profession is at a tipping point - and to achieve their goals, CSR leaders can't resume business as normal.

Mark Horoszowski

October 7, 2020

Voices for Change

The Climate Crisis Is Pushing Companies Toward Social and Political Activism

Businesses are finding new ways to take on bold activism as the climate crisis, calls for racial justice and the pandemic force companies off the sidelines.

Amelia Ahl

October 2, 2020

Voices for Change

As Diversity Training Becomes the New Red Scare, Corporate Leaders Stay Mum — For Now

The White House's demagoguing of diversity training has been met by relative silence from corporate America. DoD is a little more vocal - but not by much.

Tina Casey

September 30, 2020

Voices for Change

Racial Injustice Has Changed How Nonprofits Operate for Social Impact

Recently, many nonprofits have adjusted their operations as a response to racial injustice so they can maximize their organizations' social impact.???????

Jenna Tsui

September 22, 2020

Voices for Change

Businesses Must Help Fix a Broken Criminal Justice System. They Should Start with the Death Penalty

Carleen Pickard of LUSH Cosmetics makes the case why businesses must strive to reform the criminal justice system - including taking on the death penalty.

Carleen Pickard

September 18, 2020

Voices for Change

The NBA Schools America on How to Secure Voting Rights

The NBA has taken a stand for voting rights by allowing arenas to become converted into voting locations for the November 3 elections.

Leon Kaye

August 31, 2020

Voices for Change

Harvard University Sends a Message to the Fossil Fuels Sector

A group of Harvard University alums insisted on taking a stand on climate action by divesting from fossil fuels - and scored a big victory last week.

Leon Kaye

August 25, 2020

Voices for Change

How This Tech Company's Pre-IPO Equity Pledge Helped It Align with Black Lives Matter

One business that says it is stepping up to meet the moment and support the Black Lives Matter movement is the cloud computing company Okta.

Leon Kaye

August 19, 2020

Voices for Change

Before Proclaiming Words on Black Lives Matter, Be Sure the Deeds Are Covered

As companies rushed to show allyship with the Black Lives Matter movement, one cosmetics company stood out - but then former employees spoke out.

Leon Kaye

August 19, 2020

Voices for Change

Companies Pressured to Stop Funding Police Foundations

A national racial justice organization is urging several Fortune 500 companies to stop funding police foundations.

Leon Kaye

August 13, 2020

Voices for Change

New BP CEO Identifies the Devastating Problem for the Fossil Fuel Sector (Spoiler Alert: Her Name is Jo)

More companies are stepping up to address employee concerns such as climate change, and that includes the oil giant BP under its new CEO.

Tina Casey

August 12, 2020

Voices for Change

Returning to the Office During COVID-19 Isn’t an Epic Idea, Say These Employees

This company told its workforce to return to the office by late September, but fears over COVID-19 led to a swift and fierce reaction from its employees.

Leon Kaye

August 12, 2020

Voices for Change

It’s Time the Restaurant Industry Shed This Legacy of Slavery

This labor coalition insists it’s time to rethink how the restaurant industry pays employees, which is based on a system that dates back to slavery.

Leon Kaye

August 10, 2020

Voices for Change

How Tech Companies Can Support Black Lives Matter and the Justice Reform Movement

Now is the time for tech companies to change the world for the better, starting with the Black Lives Matter movement and criminal justice reform.

Mary Rinaldi

August 10, 2020

Voices for Change

Snapchat Looks to Mobilize the Youth Vote in November

Snapchat unveiled its plan for the November 2020 U.S. election: Mobilize young voters with the use of technology so their voices are heard this fall.

Leon Kaye

August 7, 2020

Voices for Change

Social Media Posts Don’t Count as ‘Brands Taking Stands’ Against Racism Unless Backed Up by Real Action

Virtually all brands have released at least one social media post, email or advertisement about racial injustice in recent months - but that's only a start.

Megan Amrich

August 3, 2020

Voices for Change

Your Company Agrees Black Lives Matter. Then What? Learn More, Wednesday, August 5 at Noon ET

We'll host a live talk with the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice on how companies can pursue criminal justice reform on Wed., August 5, Noon ET.

3p Editors

July 30, 2020

Voices for Change

Energy Companies, Utilities and Banks Complicit in Funding Racist Policing Across the U.S.

A new report documents how major energy and financial companies fund police foundations, which helps contributes to racist policing tactics across the U.S.

Leon Kaye

July 29, 2020

Voices for Change

Athletes Believe Voting Rights Should Be a Slam Dunk. Shouldn’t Companies, Too?

A group LeBron James leads is raising funds to pay off fines and fees to restore voting rights for Floridians who have been denied access to the ballot box.

Leon Kaye

July 28, 2020

Voices for Change

Pandemic, George Floyd Protests and Popular Opinion: How Companies Are Answering the Call to Action

Americans now look elsewhere in society to show leadership as the pandemic worsens and the George Floyd protests continue in various forms across the U.S.

Jessica Abensour

July 10, 2020

Voices for Change

Brands Put Pressure On Congress to End Qualified Immunity

More than 440 business leaders, with the backing of the American Sustainable Business Council, are demanding Congress end qualified immunity.

Leon Kaye

July 9, 2020

Voices for Change

CPG Giants Rush to Cease Marketing of Skin Whitening Products

The global reckoning on race relations pushed some of the world’s leading personal care companies to roll back their marketing of skin whitening products.

Leon Kaye

July 3, 2020

Voices for Change

NRDC Shames Facebook on Racism and Climate Change

The NRDC has brought renewed attention to climate and environmental issues as they relate to structural racism, including voter suppression.

Tina Casey

June 30, 2020

Voices for Change

Pride Without Parades: What the Fight for LGBTQ+ Inclusion Means in 2020

Experts share their perspective about the future of Pride, what it means in the context of the Black Lives Matter movement and the COVID-19 pandemic, and how companies can engage during this unique time in our history. 

Mary Mazzoni

June 26, 2020

Voices for Change

Revived 'Poor People's Campaign' Unites to Challenge Systemic Racism and Poverty

Co-founded by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Poor People's Campaign is uniting low-income people from across the U.S. in a rallying cry against systemic racism, poverty and oppression.

Mary Mazzoni

June 19, 2020

Voices for Change

Bias Training Beyond the Factory Gates in the Black Lives Matter Era

The Black Lives Matter movement, through episodes of white privilege taken on film, has focused more attention on the behavior of private citizens.

Tina Casey

June 17, 2020

Voices for Change

Environmental and Justice Activists Need to Join Forces

Environmentalists and justice activists can't stay isolated in their movements; together they must devise strategies to protect the planet and its citizens.

Cayte Bosler

June 12, 2020

Voices for Change

To Understand the Movement For Racial Justice, Listen to Black People

These resources from black creators will help you understand the ongoing racial justice protests and the legacy of systemic racism in America.

Mary Mazzoni

June 3, 2020

Voices for Change

Could More Business Leaders Support Reparations as a Way to Heal?

Might it be time for the U.S. business community to stoke a conversation that for many white citizens is very uncomfortable – as in discussing reparations?

Leon Kaye

June 2, 2020

Voices for Change

Facebook Employees Walk Off the Job in Support of Black Lives Matter Protesters

A group of Facebook employees refused to work on Monday in protest of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's decision to protect messages from Donald Trump that many viewed as inciting violence against demonstrators.

Mary Mazzoni

June 2, 2020