Woven Housing Association ’s Post

Ads and other communication regarding International Women's Day 2024 have started pouring forth. We'll see more such in the next few days. From the lineup, this one caught my eye. The casting, setting and situation are realistic and the story unfolds well. On an operational level, the connect with the brand is strong; the beautician/personal care/salon service (for women) is one of the main services offered by Urban Company and most of the service providers in this vertical are women. And dignity of labour is the central message: who can argue with dignity of labour? In other words, seen in vacuum, it is a good commercial and a good statement from the brand. But bring in the context, and everything changes. I don't know if you know, but Urban Company took a lot of flak in the media just a few months ago, for not treating its contracted employees (who the company calls 'partners') well. Several of them were up in arms against the management for not paying them fair wages, for firing many of them at random, for extreme pressure on getting 5-star ratings from their customers, ... They even took to the streets as the protest spread nationwide. The beautician/personal care/salon vertical was affected the most. From the way it handled this crisis - from the responses it gave it the striking employees - the brand didn't cover itself in glory. The media reports petered out after a while and the workers seem to have gone back to work. After all, they have to survive and support their families. In other words, there is a direct & major dissonance between this TVC and the brand's values. This raises vital questions in my mind: can a brand that has behaved this way put out a commercial like this? Can it talk about dignity of labour? Can it throw stones at society while living in glass house? Everyone deserves a second (and possibly a third) chance. So if Urban Company has commissioned this TVC AFTER cleaning up its act, alright. But there is no evidence that this is the case. And so, this smacks of cause-washing: latching on to a trending social issue for your own benefit without doing any real work on that front. Products and services will keep changing. They are easily replicable too. It is when a brand is built on the backbone of the right values that it earns respect. #branddissonance #brandcommunication #brandvalues https://lnkd.in/gd3reaky

IWD 2024: Inspire Inclusion - Note 1/7 In the run up to IWD 2024 on March 8, over the next few days, I will be spotlighting messaging out there in the world wide web. Today's spotlight is on the advertisement by Urban Company, which is a slice of life conversation between a UC massage provider and her brother whose friends have implied that his sister's work is unsavoury. The messaging is powerful - all work is good. It's in continuation of UC's existing ad campaign. The notion which is not necessarily limited to the lower middle class, but exists in the dormant shadows across economic strata very often, is that a woman going out to work can be "loose," should not go out at odd timings, not do work which is perceived as taboo is all pervasive. - Sania Mirza shared her perspective on twitter on how after winning 4 grand slams, she was still not perceived as "settled." - I can tell you that my choice to run a business from home was appreciated by so many uncles and aunty's because I was "taking care of the home," whereas the reality was that there was a paucity of jobs aligned to my expectations and qualifications in my city. - My full day housekeeper is uncomfortable with staying even half an hour late in the evening, because her "devrani" (sister-in-law) passes comments on what is she doing at other people's house? These are just a few examples. We need more such messaging for a deep rooted problem. We need also for brands to be more authentic - it's an evolving journey of values vs profits and a topic for another day. What do you think about this campaign? #inclusion #diversity #iwd2024 https://lnkd.in/gNu3EPYC

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Globally and now within Australia, there is an increased priority of wellbeing and social outcomes as the ultimate goal for organisations (not just profit and GDP). Australia launched a national wellbeing framework. Australian Unity negotiated a $50 million loan tied to the organisations ability to deliver community and social value. Social impact assessments and investment in community benefits are either mandatory or standard practice for most NSW State Significant projects. In some cases it's innovative, in others it is just the first step, but nonetheless the focus and investment is shifting towards improving wellbeing of communities and the environment.   Since joining bd infrastructure's Engagement and Social Impact team late last year, I've had many intricate discussions and jumped down a few rabbit holes about what this focus on impact means for community and stakeholder engagement practices. We're no longer purely communicating to or consulting with people, we are listening, responding, co-creating. So, how do engagement and social impact influence each other? An what does a wellbeing era mean for engagement?   Stephanie Potter and I will be discussing this question at the #communityengagement summit 2024 next Thursday 22 Feb. Please come along and join the conversation. And it is beachside in Manly, so bring your bathers for a lunch time dip.

We are excited to announce the release of CIL's 2024 Annual Report, "Accessible Futures." This comprehensive report highlights the meaningful impact of our work over the past year, featuring a personal message from CEO Kent Schwendy, a photo essay of The Gloria House, and an in-depth impact report showcasing our contributions to accessible housing and inclusive community initiatives. Explore insights into the future of universal design, updates on innovative bathroom designs, and significant team achievements that have propelled our mission forward. Dive into the full report to discover how CIL is building a more accessible and inclusive future for all. https://lnkd.in/ePptbu84 #AnnualReport #CILDevelopsHomes #CILDevelopsCommunities #Community #Relationships #Inclusion #RealEstateDevelopment #Accessibility #Advocacy Image Description: The front cover of CIL's 2024 Annual Report, "Accessible Futures."

We often think of public spaces as third spaces, but they're also our first and second. They're the places we (re)claim to express ourselves, seek refuge and meet our most basic needs. How we take up this space, however, rubs up against tensions about who "owns" public spaces and who is allowed to make up the "public."   In this workshopat the Evergreen Conference led by Eunice Wong and Keisha St. Louis-McBurnie from Monumental, we’ll explore how power, including ownership and governance, can be shared or shifted for our human experiences (like grief, joy, protest, belonging, relaxation) to rightfully take up space, and create more equitable and inclusive public spaces.    Learn more and register for the Evergreen Conference this October 9 & 10: https://lnkd.in/gaKQ6pdd     #EvergreenConference2024 #EvergreenBrickWorks #Toronto #PublicSpace #Placemaking   

Q: As Australia builds more new homes in response to the #housingcrisis, how can we also create the right places and communities? A: With Master-Planned Communities ("MPCs"). Taking place on 7-8 August in Melbourne, there is a dedicated 2-day event exploring this topic in depth: • Establishing a comprehensive framework for orderly master-planned community developments • Creating a lifestyle MPC that meets buyer expectations • Drawing investors to master-planned community projects • Using cutting-edge technology to provide a seamless experience in intelligent MPCs • Discussing the challenges faced by developers and planners in expanding urban areas Join "Master-Planned Communities - Elevating the Art of Living" by Trueventus, where industry leaders converge to explore the future of urban living. Discover how integrated MPCs are reshaping our cities, catering to evolving needs while fostering sustainability and inclusivity. For more information, contact farhana@trueventus.com or download the e-brochure here: https://lnkd.in/gVfeAXus #FutureLiving #SustainableCommunities #UrbanInnovation #SmartCity #Trueventus #MPC #PropTech #PropTechNews Build Australia Izzana Farhana

Meet #NGBG - TEH #Associate #Member, and Iain Dace - its lead, from Southern Sweden 🇸🇪 NGBG has recently faced a significant #challenge: loosing their premises and their role as organizers of one of the biggest Malmö-based street festival 😢 This kind of challenges is a #reality that many #TEH #members are grappling with as #exclusion and #displacement become increasingly common challenges in our area of independent cultural centers. But rather than surrender to these setbacks, #NGBG is harnessing their #resilience and #creativity to pave a new path forward. As part of the Alter-Places project, which is dedicated to empowering #alternative #cultural #places (ACPs, in short) to drive sustainable and equitable practices, NGBG is diving into #innovative #nomadic approaches. This project is a beacon of hope for grassroots culture, providing vital insights and strategies from across Europe to help us thrive despite adversity. If you are #close by in #Southern #Sweden, visit the upcoming #AlterPlaces event in #Malmö is a powerful statement of NGBG's commitment to adaptability and transformation, this Saturday September 7th. By reimagining their approach and exploring cutting-edge methods for cultural production, NGBG is not just responding to change. They are seizing it as an opportunity for #recovery, #growth and #sustainability. 📅 So, come join us on Saturday, September 7th, for the final, open-to-the-public day of the 3-day #AlterPlaces workshop! 🏛 Location: #Hypnos (formerly right across the street from NGBG). We start 9:00am with a welcome & coffee ☕ 🔗 Registration link is in the comments. 📰 Detailed programme for Saturday, September 7th, is also there. As TEH members and friends, it's crucial that we #support one another through the turbulent times! #AlterPlaces #NGBG #CulturalResilience #GrassrootsInnovation #TEH #TransEuropeHalles

Impact isn’t just about creating sustainable initiatives, but about the ability to sustain them over time. Enter Chobani House, a model that combines business, urban, and sustainable development – set to reshape #NewYork City's NoHo neighborhood and to contribute lasting value to its community. Expected to open in late 2025, Chobani House will be a 120,000-square-foot complex serving as Chobani's global headquarters and supporting the company's daily business functions, while also creating spaces dedicated to innovation, community, and social responsibility. On top of providing Chobani employees with opportunities for meaningful in-person collaboration, and hosting an experiential retail space that will bring Chobani’s products directly to consumers, the space will feature several unique elements aimed at providing long-term community support and impact. 🌱 Innovation for Good: An #innovation center will host global food scientists who are dedicated to developing solutions to combat food insecurity and advance sustainable food practices, also featuring an incubator lab that will provide emerging social impact NGOs combating hunger with the resources to grow. 🍲 Community Building: Chobani House will also be home to a #community kitchen designed to prepare nutritious meals for those in need, aligning with Chobani's ongoing mission to support organizations fighting hunger, such as The Lower Eastside Girls Club, The Center for Wellbeing, and Hunger Free America. 🧑🤝🧑 Support for Refugees: In addition to supporting food-related initiatives, Chobani House will host the Tent Partnership for Refugees, founded by Chobani’s CEO Hamdi Ulukaya, and created to help #refugees access labor markets by preparing them for employment and connecting them to job opportunities. "Chobani House offers a new vision for the urban office that is about much more than just running the business," Ulukaya said. "Today, more than ever, it's up to business to invest and innovate to ensure our urban communities thrive. The best days of New York – and many cities – are still to come." That’s otherworldly. Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/dM2aEjHH Follow Otherworldly for more news at the intersection of creativity and sustainability. #food #business #sustainability #impact

Announcement of Collaboration: Public Hygiene Lets Us Stay Human (PHLUSH) & Pedestrian Space "While PHLUSH has traditionally focused its efforts on equitable public restroom access in the United States, we are thrilled to partner with a globally-focused organization, as we recognize that this is a worldwide need. Pedestrian Space deeply values the opportunity to partner with PHLUSH, an organization wholly devoted to public restroom availability, as issues of toilet equity are universal and often sorely neglected both as a public amenity as well as in public discourse and awareness. We look forward to joining forces to coauthor content on public restrooms as an issue of public health and walkability; urban planning, governance and design; access to communities and overall livability." Visit links below for full statement co-authored by Genevieve Mancuso, P.E. & Annika Lundkvist, FSI https://lnkd.in/dEj8NiUD https://lnkd.in/dNiTSHXY #publictoilets #toiletequity #publichealth #urbanplanning