Saks OFF 5TH’s Post

Reminder that it's Black History Month all month long in February. Employers and those with a platform have the opportunity to use their influence for good during this month. How? The article below shares some practical examples, adding my favourites here 1) shine a spotlight on Black History and ongoing systemic racism, 2) supporting ERGs, 3) give a platform to Black employees, clients, vendors, etc. If you're an executive or HR leader who is unsure where to start, I'd strongly encourage you to read this straightforward article for ideas on very tactical & action-oriented ways that can make an impact. https://lnkd.in/gB_idzYQ

1. Invest in Black talent year-round, not just during Black History Month. 2. Invest in Black-owned media year-round, not just during Black History Month. 3. Hire Black-owned production houses year-round, not just for Black History Month campaigns. 4. Work with Black photographers for all campaigns, not just black History Month campaigns or campaigns that feature Black talent. Artists create art. period. 5. Partner with Black content creators and influencers year-round, not just during Black History month. 6. Commission Black artists (illustrators, graphic designers, muralists, etc.) year-round, not just during Black History Month. 7. Partner with Black-owned experiential agencies for your activations year-round, not just during Black History month. 8. Hire Black social media managers, social strategists, influencer strategists, marketing managers, creative directors, art directors, year-round, not just to check off a box. If you let them cook without all of the hyper-politics, you'll quickly see their genius throughout your work. 9. Black talent is skilled in general market work, too. Not just multicultural initiatives. My point here is that Black talent and business owners are fully capable of working beyond the box of "diversity & inclusion". Black talent pushes THE CULTURE forward today, tomorrow and in the future. If you haven't deployed these truths by now, then you're behind the times and will continue racing to catch up with the speed of culture. Do I need stats to back this up? What did I miss? P.S. Happy #Blackhistorymonth! Now back to celebrating all of this Black brilliance. 😎

I see you Walmart 👀 Going deeper into Black culture and community. 📱Year 2 for the Issa Rae and HOORAE Media Black & Unlimited digital creators program. 💐 A new partnership with Midwest Kids for a BHM capsule collection. 👨🏾🎓 HBCU Tour 🪡 Black-led brand curation 📖 Black book curation, including some banned titles As DEI continues to be attacked by right-wing conservatives, I ask that you stay the course. Double down, even. This is the time. But in doing this, I also ask two things of you: 1) Prioritize it 365 days a year, in both marketing and policy, not just a rollout for Black History Month (or Juneteenth for that matter). When I say “double down,” I mean DOUBLE DEOWWWN. 2) We talk so much about “Do it for the culture. Do it for the culture.” I saw a brand get wrapped up in this recently and it made me quickly realize, as cool and relevant as it sounds, that’s not your job as a corporate entity. Like all companies that enter cities and towns, you have a corporate responsibility to support the communities you reside within. So my final request in everything you do in regards to the Black community — Do it for the equity. Good talk. Looking forward to seeing the impact you make. Sincerely, Kelle, A Midwest Kid

Since 2019, I've had the privilege of contributing to business publications like Inc. and Entrepreneur, about Black History Month marketing. Through extensive analysis of numerous campaigns, I uncovered a vital secret to success – amplification. 🚀 Some of the best amplification campaigns I've seen are: ✨ Target: "Black Beyond Measure" ✨ Gymshark: "To the Heroes" ✨ Adobe: "Women Create Wednesday" These campaigns serve as a powerful reminder of the role brands can play in amplifying voices, pushing beyond traditional marketing boundaries to make a genuine, lasting impact. They highlight the importance of not just speaking about diversity but actively practicing it, creating spaces where Black voices are heard, celebrated, and supported year-round. For a deeper exploration into how these campaigns contribute to the amplification of Black voices and how your brand can incorporate these lessons into its own strategies, check out my article in Entrepreneur Media - https://bit.ly/3w5c6AK #AmplifyVoices #BlackHistoryMonth #MarketingWithPurpose

I consider Dean Lytle, MBA not only a great colleague and good friend, but one of the strong leaders we have at Skip who is always looking to make a real impact outside of his everyday role. Please watch this video to learn a little bit more about his story and what Black History Month and being our leader at Skip in Colour means to him.

Make sure to follow MELANIN MOI on LinkedIn for more beauty industry insights!

🌟 Soho House x FroHub for Black History Month 🌟 At FroHub, we're dedicated to fostering inclusivity and empowerment, transcending borders and boundaries. This Black History Month, we teamed up with Soho House & Co to host an event uniting voices from diverse backgrounds across the UK and the US. We were honoured to welcome two remarkable speakers, Lekia Lée from Project Embrace UK and Abi Onuoha from ATO life., who shared invaluable insights and ignited powerful conversations. Lekia highlighted the psychological impacts of narrow beauty standards, sparking meaningful reflection. Abi led mindfulness sessions, encouraging self-discovery and growth. Special thanks to Christina Murdock, DEI Specialist, for inviting us to co-create this impactful event for the Soho House global community. Her dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion has been instrumental in creating spaces for meaningful dialogue and collaboration. The energy and engagement from our audience were truly inspiring, reflecting the strength of our community and our shared commitment to positive change. #BlackHistoryMonth ------ FroHub, a fast-growing Afro hair and beauty community, is leading the way in reshaping access to Black hair care in a £30bn+ industry that is highly inefficient and fragmented. Powered by community-generated content, we supercharge underserved small business owners with the essential digital tools needed to run their hair and beauty businesses, fostering micro-entrepreneurship. For clients, we simplify the process of finding and booking hairdressers through visual search. Committed to the 5th UN Sustainable Development Goal, we empower women through technology and are enabling an offline industry to move online.

Mark Your Calendar: Black Leaders Awareness Day on July 18th - Honouring the Accomplishments of Black Leaders, Past, Present, and Upcoming! At Black Leaders Awareness Day (BLAD), we recognise the significance of establishing a powerful visual identity that embodies our principles and objectives. We have developed a distinctive logo and visual style that can be utilised consistently across all our platforms. Our logo serves as a representation of empowerment for black leaders and we are dedicated to ensuring its respectful and thoughtful usage. To assist you in promoting Black Leaders Awareness Day, we have provided an official collection of downloadable logos, images, and other branded materials. You can access them by visiting the following link: https://lnkd.in/eDJaNJF2 There are several meaningful ways to celebrate Black Leaders Awareness Day. Here are a few ideas: 1. Educate Yourself: Take the opportunity to learn about the significant contributions and achievements of black leaders throughout history. Read books, watch documentaries, or explore online resources to deepen your knowledge. 2. Share Their Stories: Use your platform, whether it's social media, a blog, or a community event, to share the inspiring stories of black leaders. Highlight their accomplishments and the impact they have made in various fields. 3. Organise Discussions and Panels: Arrange panel discussions or community forums to facilitate conversations about the contributions of black leaders. Invite speakers who can provide insights and perspectives on their achievements and the ongoing importance of their legacies. 4. Support Black-Owned Businesses: Show your support for black entrepreneurs and business owners by intentionally choosing to shop at black-owned businesses. This can help promote economic empowerment and highlight the success of black leaders in the business world. 5. Volunteer or Donate: Participate in volunteer activities or contribute to organisations that work towards advancing the rights and opportunities of black communities. This can involve mentoring programs, scholarships, or initiatives focused on leadership development. 6. Host Cultural Events: Organise cultural events such as art exhibitions, musical performances, or theatrical productions that celebrate black culture and the artistic contributions of black leaders. This can promote appreciation for their creativity and encourage dialogue about their impact. 7. Engage in Reflection and Dialogue: Take time to reflect on the challenges faced by black leaders and the ongoing struggle for racial equality. Engage in open and honest conversations with others about the importance of recognising and celebrating their achievements. Approach the celebration with respect, empathy, and a genuine desire to honour the accomplishments of black leaders while promoting awareness and understanding. Beyond Our Youth BoardRoomConnect #blackleadersawarenessday

It's not always simple to authentically engage #Black consumers! To help turn insight into impact, we hosted a panel discussion with leading brands to learn how they connect with, engage, and celebrate Black Americans. Shared in celebration of #BlackHistoryMonth, our panel addressed a variety of topics, shedding light on the evolution of the consumer landscape, steps taken to authentically resonate with Black Consumers, executions that have been effective in driving authentic engagement, and personal stories from their own careers. We were joined by esteemed panelists: • Nakia Tull, Vice President & Customer Inclusion Leader, Fidelity Investments • Nicole Buchanan, Senior Director, Head of Cultural Strategy & Multicultural Sales, SiriusXM Media • Kim Adams House, Head of Licensing, Merchandising, and Multicultural Marketing, Stellantis Discover top-level insights from our research and a video replay of our panel, available now! #marketing #mrx #diversity #inclusion #diversityandinclusion #marketresearch #marketingandadvertising #consumerinsights

Don't be this guy. 🖤 During Black History Month, brands often take the opportunity to honor the contributions and achievements of Black people. Unfortunately...many brands make a faux pas when trying to promote their business on social media. ❤️ A recent survey of 1,300 Black Americans revealed that 73% of respondents believe large corporations lack good intentions when running Black History Month promotions. 💛 32% of respondents said the same about businesses primarily running on social media platforms. 💚 Ensure that your social media strategy reinforces your company’s values and avoids potential pitfalls by adding these 5 essential tasks to your to-do list. 👇🏽 https://lnkd.in/eEvsSNAj