Women's Jewelry Association (WJA)’s Post

I recently started reading "Unapologetic: A Black, Queer, and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements" by Charlene A. Carruthers and even though I'm still at the beginning, I'm already hooked. As we celebrate Pride Month, it's a perfect time to talk about intersectionality and intersectional allyship. Intersectionality, a term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, refers to the interconnected nature of social categorizations such as race, gender, and sexuality, which create overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage. In simple terms, it means recognizing that our experiences and struggles are multifaceted and cannot be understood in isolation. Charlene A. Carruthers's book is a powerful call to action, urging us to embrace a more inclusive and intersectional approach to activism. It's about understanding that our fight for equality must consider all aspects of our identities. 💡As Audre Lorde once said: "There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives." This resonates deeply, reminding us that in our efforts to support one another, we must acknowledge the complex realities people face. This Pride Month, let's commit to being intersectional allies. This means actively educating ourselves, listening to diverse voices, and advocating for inclusive practices in our communities and workplaces. Intersectional allyship is about understanding the bigger picture and fighting for justice for everyone. If you're looking for a thought-provoking read that challenges and inspires, I highly recommend picking up "Unapologetic." Let's continue to learn, grow, and advocate for a world where everyone is truly seen and heard. #PrideMonth #Intersectionality #IntersectionalAllyship #CharleneCarruthers #AudreLorde #BlackQueerFeminism #Unapologetic #Diversity #Inclusion #Equality

#TheMorningInclusive Lady Phyll: Pioneering activist and co-founder of UK Black Pride Today, we celebrate the incredible work of Phyll Opoku-Gyimah, also known as Lady Phyll, who has been a driving force in advocating for the rights and visibility of Queer, Trans, and Intersex People of Colour (QTIPOC) in the UK and beyond. Lady Phyll's work has been instrumental in creating spaces where QTIPOC individuals can celebrate their identities and experiences without fear of discrimination. UK Black Pride, which started as a small gathering in Southend-on-Sea, has grown into Europe's largest celebration for LGBTIQ+ people of African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Latin American, and Caribbean descent. This event not only promotes the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual well-being of these communities but also serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of intersectionality in the fight for equality. In 2019, Stonewall, the UK's leading LGBTIQ+ rights organization, announced a groundbreaking partnership with UK Black Pride. This collaboration aimed to bridge a stronger relationship between the LGBTIQ+ and Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. Lady Phyll's tireless efforts have highlighted the urgent need for racial inclusion within the queer community, addressing the fact that Pride events have historically been far too much of a whitewash. The partnership between Stonewall and UK Black Pride is a testament to the progress that can be made when we prioritize inclusivity and solidarity. By working together, we can ensure that all members of the LGBTIQ+ community, regardless of their race or ethnicity, have the opportunity to thrive and be celebrated for who they are. As Lady Phyll herself said, "Until we all have the same rights, until we all do not face any form of injustice, until we all have proper access to housing, to health, to school, to education, then they'll always be a need for Black Pride". Let's continue to support and uplift the voices of QTIPOC individuals and work towards a more inclusive and equitable future for all. #LGBTIQ #BlackPride #Equality #Intersectionality #UK #LadyPhyll #Belonging #Inclusion #Diveristy #Equity #Accessibility NOTE: This image was created by Copilot to represent this text

Pioneering Black Inventor: Celebrating Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner This International Women’s Month This #WomensHistoryMonth, let’s celebrate Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner, a remarkable woman who shattered barriers and changed the world with her inventions. With no formal training, she secured five patents – a record for any Black woman in history. Her most notable creation, the adjustable sanitary belt, revolutionized menstrual hygiene for countless women. But her ingenuity continued, with inventions like the carrier attachment for walkers and the wall-mounted back washer, highlighting her ingenuity and empathy for others.  What I find most inspiring about Kenner is her unwavering perseverance. Facing discrimination and prejudice as a Black woman in a male-dominated field, she never let obstacles deter her. Driven by her passion for problem-solving and a belief in her own abilities, she paved the way for future generations of Black women in STEM fields, reminding us that dreams can become reality regardless of the challenges we face. As we celebrate Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner's pioneering spirit for Black History and Women's History Month, let's also take a moment to reflect on the importance of supporting initiatives that empower women in STEM. Women's History Month provides an opportunity to honor the achievements of trailblazing women like Kenner and to advocate for greater gender equality in all spheres of life. Let us continue to champion diversity and inclusion, ensuring that the next generation of women has the resources and opportunities to thrive in fields traditionally dominated by men. Together, we can build a future where everyone has the chance to pursue their dreams and make a lasting impact on the world. #WomenInSTEM #Empowerment #WomensHistoryMonth Organizations focused on Black women in STEM/CTE: BlackGirlCode: @BlackGirlsCode National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE): @nsbe Black Women in Science and Engineering (BWISE): @BWISEonline 

As Pride month celebrations end, let me say as a proud Black LGBTQ+ leader, the CEO of the UK's largest LGBTQ+ Pride event - "our fight for equality and justice is a 365-day-a-year endeavour". Remember, the spirit of Pride must endure, our community faces constant attacks on our existence. In an era where slurs still flow freely, where our identities are dismissed as "a choice" by certain politicians and media figures, and extremist forces seek our annihilation, Pride is not just important - it is imperative. That's why the Pride in London campaign for 2024 centred on the theme "We Are Everywhere." Because the truth is, we LGBTQ+ Londoners are the fabric of this incredible city, woven into every facet of its vibrant culture and community. And it is time we were celebrated, respected, and defended. The fight for visibility and acceptance doesn't end when Pride in London has ended. In the coming weeks, LGBTQ+ people and allies will still have the chance to show up, be seen, and be their authentic selves - UK Black Pride, Manchester Pride and Brighton Pride CIC As Black gay activist Marsha P. Johnson once said, "No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us." This is the ethos that must drive us all, long after the last pride has concluded. From Poland's "LGBTQ-free zones" to Uganda's proposed death penalty for homosexuality, the assault on queer existence knows no borders. And even in the UK, where we've secured more legal protections, the forces of hatred and fear still threaten to undermine the hard-won progress of the past. Just recently, we've seen attempts to roll back rights for trans people in the UK, while homophobic hate crimes continue to rise. The bigotry and prejudice that our community faces is very much alive and well. Yet Pride endures as a beacon of authenticity, a celebration of diversity, and an unyielding act of defiance in the face of adversity. For at the heart of Pride lies a simple, tragic truth - that somewhere, someone still believes our kind would be better off dead than true to ourselves. The reasons for this oppression are as clear as they are corrosive: a willful ignorance, a lack of education, and a refusal from both within and without our community to stand up for what is right. It is precisely this toxic climate that makes Pride more necessary than ever before. Pride offers the antidote - a chance to reflect, to learn, to grow. With open and honest dialogue, a thirst for understanding, and a collective determination to be better, we can shift the very paradigm that seeks to erase us. Pride is an obligation - to ourselves, to each other, and to those who will come after. Our existence is under assault. Our rights hang by a thread. And there are young people who need to know they are not alone, that they are worthy of love and respect. Until we live in a world where no one has to fear their own truth, the fight for equality and inclusion continues. And Pride will remain our most powerful weapon.

I Support the Girls is gearing up for #PrideMonth! Pride Month honors the #LGBTQIA Community with so many different types of celebrations- parades, festivals, marches, events, and more! But each and every one of those events centers the queer community and what it stands for. What do you know about Pride and how it started? Here's a quick article to learn more about Pride Month and how to participate! https://lnkd.in/gH2M_vSY

As Black History Month draws to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on the significance of the past month and reinforce our ongoing commitment to promoting equality, correcting systemic issues, and recognizing the invaluable contributions of Black leaders both past and present.   Throughout February, we've had the opportunity to deepen our understanding of Black history and celebrate the achievements and resilience of the Black community. However, it's essential to recognize that our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion extends far beyond this designated month.   While Black History Month serves as a focal point for reflection and celebration, it also serves as a reminder of the ongoing work that needs to be done. We must continue to actively advocate for equality, address systemic issues, and amplify the voices of Black leaders within our organization and beyond.   By recognizing the importance, value, and necessity of equality, and by actively working towards the correction of systemic issues, we can create a more inclusive and equitable future for all. Let us honor the legacy of Black leaders past and present by striving for positive change and fostering a culture of respect, understanding, and unity.   As we conclude, this week's leader highlight is for #BayardRustin, a key architect of the civil rights movement, who stood at the intersection of multiple social justice movements. As a chief organizer of the March on Washington and a champion of civil rights and LGBTQ+ rights, Rustin's legacy embodies a lifelong commitment to equality and justice, transcending boundaries and influencing both civil rights and LGBTQ+ activism. Together, these leaders have left an enduring impact on history, advancing causes of equality, justice, and empowerment. Make a Positive Difference, Drew G. #celebratediversity #equality #blackhistory #diversityandinclusion #drewapproved #blackhistorymonth #blackleadership #activists #civilrights

Pride Month 2024. Symbolic events have so often been co-opted and capitalised that somewhere we forget the reason for their existence in the first place. Pride month is rooted in resistance, protest and activism. Ask yourself, how many queer/trans people of colour do you see in leadership roles and positions of power. How many of those come from the global south, lower socio-economic classes, and are from ethno-linguistic and caste minority communities. This pride month, disengage with companies profiting off of performative ‘rainbow coloured profiles’ and engage with queer/trans voices, artists and activists. Take a moment to learn about cross movement solidarity and the need to support movements of resistance around the world. Begin your allyship by centering queer/trans lived experiences in your workspaces over the next four weeks and by ensuring inclusivity is intersectional and not transactional moving forward. Till then I leave you with a quote from one of favourite authors, the black lesbian feminist activist Audre Lorde- “There is no thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives.” #pridemonth2024 #queerrights #transrights #intersectionality

In many ways, Juneteenth marks our country’s second independence day, but the fight for Black liberation, reparations, justice, and equity continues in 2024. Due to systemic anti-Blackness, white supremacy, the Prison Industrial Complex, homophobia and transphobia, ableism, and other barriers, Black people in America still don’t have the same freedoms as their white and non-Black counterparts. There would be no Pride Month without Juneteenth! “…a country’s actual level of freedom for all can be discerned by the way it treats its most marginalized of the marginalized. Black trans people have always been here, and Black trans women and femmes functioned as the first LGBTQ+ activists in America centuries before the Stonewall Riots.” Learn more in this guide that connects the dots between Black and LGBTQ+ liberation.

Yesterday, somebody assumed and then insisted, I must be on the same grade as them, (I am not and they are two grades above). I am really tempted to forward this infographic by way of explanation as this cycle has happened in all of the companies I have worked in. I am so familiar with it, I have effective resilience strategies for each phase and can significantly reduce my time spent in "Burn Out" and "Grin and Bear it". One of the most effective tools for my wellbeing is my network of sponsors, champions and mentors. I go to them for support, to build resilience and to navigate fast to where I can be "Optimistic Employee" as long as possible. However the biggest difference working at my current company has been the implementation of the "Advancing Justice & Equity" Plan over the last four years https://lnkd.in/eXJXJm5m. The companies commitment to my personal development through the Black LeadHERership program and the opportunity to be supported, held, comforted, challenged and inspired by our Employee Network Group "Harambee - Black, Empowered and Engaged". The network of colleagues who are committed to inclusion, diversity and equity across the business makes Jacobs a company like no other and I am proud to work with such a wide level of cognitive diversity and intention. MY advice for other women is to choose larger companies with visible commitment to inclusion. Navigate internally to other roles, notice the cycle but use your network and resilience to build your optimism and don't be disheartened. Surround yourself with the colleagues who support your optimism and maintain your levels of empathy for yourselves and for others. We are all going through "something". Empathy for yourself first then others will help you gain perspective and interrupt this cycle. I have found my NVC training helps enormously with negative self talk. Whatever is going on I am grateful every day for my privilege of being right here, right now, exactly where I am!

"As we celebrate Juneteenth, we can't overlook the fact that 'anti-woke' attacks on Black history and Black political power have become one of the biggest threats to our democracy. The consequence of this threat goes all the way up to the supreme court...We must use this federal holiday to dedicate ourselves to achieving true multiracial democracy in the United States." Kimberle Crenshaw, Co-Founder and Executive Director of The African American Policy Forum, is the pioneering legal scholar and thought leader who introduced us to intersectionality and whose groundbreaking work has shifted the ways we address racial, gender, and social justice. Democracy and equity are clearly under attack, and work to advance racial justice, gender equity, LGBTQ+ and other human rights is critical and noble pro-democracy work. At Global Citizen, LLC, we are proud to serve as a strategic consulting, coaching, training, and transformation partner that works in the United States and internationally to develop inclusive leadership skills and strengthen leaders' capacity to effect organizational transformation and social impact by advancing racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ equity, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), public health, human rights, and global competence. 👉 Contact us at info@globalcitizenllc.com to schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss how we can help you achieve your strategic goals for greater impact and #ForABetterWorld. 💳 Join Global Citizen, LLC in contributing to The African American Policy Forum: https://lnkd.in/ed5KH-Yt. #Juneteenth #Juneteenth2024 #RacialJustice #GenderEquity #LGBTQRights #HumanRights #Intersectionality #IntersectionalDEI Kimberle Crenshaw's full statement: https://lnkd.in/ezbreWeK. (Photo credit: ArtHouse)