National Gun Violence Awareness Day is an annual event that falls on the first Friday in June. This day was created to raise awareness about the devastating impact of gun violence and to honor the lives lost to senseless acts of gun violence. It is a day to come together as a community to demand change and work towards ending gun violence.

The color orange is the official color of National Gun Violence Awareness Day. This color was chosen because it is the color hunters wear in the woods to protect themselves and others from accidental shootings. Wearing orange on this day shows solidarity with the victims and survivors of gun violence and sends a powerful message to lawmakers that we demand action.

Gun violence is a serious problem in the United States. Every year, thousands of people are killed or injured by guns. This includes mass shootings, domestic violence, suicide, and accidental shootings. The statistics are staggering, and yet, little has been done to address the issue.

National Gun Violence Awareness Day is a call to action. It is a day to demand change and work towards ending gun violence. There are many things that can be done to reduce gun violence, including stricter gun laws, better background checks, and increased mental health resources.

One of the most effective ways to reduce gun violence is to pass common-sense gun laws. This includes universal background checks, banning assault weapons, and closing loopholes that allow gun sales without background checks. These laws have been proven to be effective in reducing gun violence in other countries, and it is time for the United States to follow suit.

Another important step is to increase funding for mental health resources. Many mass shootings are committed by individuals with mental health issues, and providing access to mental health care can help prevent these tragedies from occurring.

National Gun Violence Awareness Day is also a time to remember those who have been lost to gun violence. It is a time to honor their memory and to work towards a future where gun violence is a thing of the past.

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National Gun Violence Awareness Day is an important day to come together as a community to demand change and work towards ending gun violence. By wearing orange, advocating for common-sense gun laws, and increasing access to mental health resources, we can make a difference and create a safer future for all.

Visit this link: https://wearorange.org/

https://stmdailynews.com/category/the-bridge/

Stop listening to pundits who purposely distort the phrase

The term “woke” has become an increasingly popular phrase over the past few years. It is used to describe someone who is aware and engaged in social justice issues, and is often used to express a sense of solidarity with those who are marginalized and oppressed.

At its core, being “woke” is about being aware and understanding of the various forms of oppression, injustice, and privilege that exist in our society. It is about acknowledging that our society and its systems are deeply flawed and that these issues need to be addressed. Being “woke” means having a strong sense of social consciousness and being actively involved in the fight for justice and equality.

Being “woke” means being willing to challenge the status quo, speak out against injustice, and stand up for those who are marginalized and oppressed. It means being an active advocate for justice and equality, and understanding the interconnectedness of our society and the way that privilege and oppression intersect.

Finally, being “woke” is not just about speaking out and advocating for justice, but also about being actively involved in the process of creating change. This means being willing to put in the hard work necessary to create systemic change, and to work collaboratively with others who share the same values. It also means being open to learning, growing, and evolving, and being willing to take risks in order to make a difference.

In the end, being “woke” is about being actively engaged in the fight for justice and equality, and being aware of the unjust and oppressive systems that exist in our society. It is about being a part of the solution, not just the problem, and being willing to do the hard work necessary to create real and lasting change.

https://stmdailynews.com/category/the-bridge/

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#BlackHairIsProfessional sets goal to educate 1 million hiring managers and workplace professionals on creating a more equitable and inclusive work environment by the end of 2023

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. /PRNewswire/ — As part of Dove’s ongoing commitment to help pass The CROWN Act and end race-based hair discrimination nationwide, the brand has partnered with LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, who is committed to creating equal access to economic opportunity and creating more equitable outcomes for all professionals. While progress has been made to end hair discrimination with the passage of The CROWN Act in some states across the US, race-based hair discrimination remains a systemic problem in the workplace – from hiring practices to daily workplace interactions – disproportionately impacting Black women’s employment opportunities and professional advancement.  

The NEW CROWN 2023 Workplace Research Study, co-commissioned by Dove and LinkedIn, found that Black women’s hair is 2.5x more likely to be perceived as unprofessional, and details the systemic social and economic impact of hair bias and discrimination against Black women in the workplace. Additional findings from the CROWN 2023 Workplace Research Study include:

• Bias against natural hair and protective styles can impact how Black women navigate the hiring process.
  • Approximately 2/3 of Black women (66%) change their hair for a job interview. Among them, 41% changed their hair from curly to straight.
  • Black women are 54% more likely (or over 1.5x more likely) to feel like they have to wear their hair straight to a job interview to be successful.
• Hair discrimination has led Black women to have a negative experience or outcomes within the workplace.
  • Black women with coily/textured hair are 2x as likely to experience microaggressions in the workplace than Black women with straighter hair.
  • Over 20% of Black women 25-34 have been sent home from work because of their hair.
• Young Black professionals are feeling the pressure from hair discrimination the most.
  • Nearly half (44%) of Black women under age 34 feel pressured to have a headshot with straight hair.
  • 25% of Black women believe they have been denied a job interview because of their hair, which is even higher for women under 34 (1/3).

“For far too long, Black women and men have been subject to unfair treatment, outright discrimination and a myriad of inequities for simply wearing our natural hair texture and hair styles that are inherent to our cultural identity. This includes being denied employment, being sent home from work, being overlooked for promotions, and a range of micro-aggressions. This may be hard to believe, but it is real, clearly unwarranted, and unacceptable,” says Esi Eggleston Bracey, President & CEO of Unilever Personal Care in North America. “The goal of the partnership between Dove and LinkedIn is to help put an end to race-based hair discrimination in the workplace. We intend to shine a light on this issue and call upon employers, hiring managers, and professionals to adopt equitable and inclusive practices that create a respectful and open world for natural hair.”

In support of The CROWN Act, Dove and LinkedIn have partnered on a series of actions to help end race-based hair discrimination in the workplace nationwide. Together, we will:

• Provide free access to 10 LinkedIn Learning courses focused on creating a more equitable and inclusive work environment, with a goal to educate 1 million hiring managers and workplace professionals by the end of 2023.
• Illuminate the real and measurable adverse impact hair discrimination continues to have on Black women in the workplace through the CROWN 2023 Workplace Research Study.
• Elevate and celebrate the real stories and voices of Black women professionals across LinkedIn and social media platforms using #BlackHairIsProfessional to help redefine what society deems “professional” at work.

While talent is equally distributed, opportunity is not. Cultural identifiers, like hair, are not determining factors for someone’s skills or experience, and no one should be denied employment opportunities or professional advancement because of their hair,” says Rosanna Durruthy, Global Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at LinkedIn. “As Dove works to change legislation, LinkedIn is working to change workplace behavior by training and educating one million hiring managers and human resources professionals on inclusive and equitable business practices. The mission of ending race-based hair discrimination is critically important to our own desire to make work, work better for everyone.”

Dove will continue to drive awareness of The CROWN Act across platforms, encourage petition signatures, and support the passing of The CROWN Act to help end race-based hair discrimination nationwide.

Dove co-founded the CROWN Coalition in 2019 alongside non-profits including the National Urban League, Color of Change, and Western Center on Law and Poverty to advance anti-hair discrimination legislation and create a more equitable and inclusive beauty experience for Black women and girls. Since then, the CROWN Coalition has grown to an alliance of more than 100 organizations that work together to pass the CROWN Act.

Everyone can take action to help pass The CROWN Act to end hair discrimination in the workplace. Visit Dove.com/LinkedIn to learn more, sign the CROWN Act petition and access free courses that support a more equitable and inclusive work environment because #BlackHairIsProfessional. 

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CROWN 2023 Workplace Research Study Methodology
The 2023 CROWN Research Study surveyed 2,990 female identifying respondents in the US ages 25-64 (1,039 Black, 1,028 Hispanic, 1,064 White, with some respondents identifying as more than one race/ethnicity) between December 2022 and January 2023. All respondents were employed part or full time at the time of the study. The research was conducted on behalf of Dove by JOY Collective and Modulize, both specializing in marketing, data and analytics for polycultural communities.

About Dove 
Dove started its life in 1957 in the US, with the launch of the Beauty Bar, with its patented blend of mild cleansers and ¼ moisturizing cream. Dove’s heritage is based on moisturization, and it is proof not promises that enabled Dove to grow from a Beauty Bar into one of the world’s most beloved beauty brands. 

Women have always been our inspiration and since the beginning, we have been wholly committed to providing superior care to all women and to championing real beauty in our advertising. Dove believes that beauty is for everyone. That beauty should be a source of confidence and not anxiety. Dove’s mission is to inspire women everywhere to develop a positive relationship with the way they look and realize their personal potential for beauty. 

For 60 years, Dove has been committed to broadening the narrow definition of beauty in the work they do. With the ‘Dove Real Beauty Pledge,’ Dove vows to: 

• Portray women with honesty, diversity and respect. We feature women of different ages, sizes, ethnicities, hair color, type, and style.
• Portray women as they are in real life, with zero digital distortion and all images approved by the women they feature.
• Help young people build body confidence and self-esteem through the Dove Self-Esteem Project, the biggest provider of self-esteem education in the world.

About The CROWN Coalition
The CROWN Coalition is a national alliance founded by Dove, National Urban League, Color Of Change and Western Center on Law & Poverty, to end race-based hair discrimination in America. The Coalition, now consisting of over 100 supporting organizations, is the founder of the CROWN Act movement and was the official sponsor of the inaugural CROWN Act legislation in California in 2019. For a full list of CROWN Coalition members, visit www.thecrownact.com.

The CROWN Coalition is proud to support anti-hair discrimination legislation to address unfair grooming policies that have a disparate impact on Black women, men and children and has drawn attention to cultural and racial discrimination taking place within workplaces and public schools. The CROWN Coalition members believe diversity and inclusion are key drivers of success across all industries and sectors.

About LinkedIn
Founded in 2003, LinkedIn connects the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful. With more than 850 million members worldwide, including executives from every Fortune 500 company, LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network. The company has a diversified business model with revenue coming from Talent Solutions, Marketing Solutions, Sales Solutions and Premium Subscriptions products. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, LinkedIn has offices across the globe.

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SOURCE Dove