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harvard business review

How U.S. Companies Can Support Employees of Color Through the Pandemic

by Laura Morgan Roberts, Courtney L. McCluney, Erin L. Thomas, and Michelle Kim

“While there’s plenty of rhetoric about how we’re all in the Covid-19 pandemic together, the fallout clearly shows that we are not in the same boat. The direct impact on Black and brown communities in the U.S. is staggering, both from a physical and mental health perspective. Employers can help support their employees of color and their communities in three key ways: on the individual level, by asking specific questions about how to provide support and making room for people to care for themselves; on the organizational level, by setting up communication, hiring, and benefits systems that support employees of color; and on the societal level, by focusing corporate giving and political action toward communities of color.”

awaken blog on Medium

How to Manage Your Team in Times of Political Trauma

by Michelle MiJung Kim

“Practicing inclusion takes real work. Inclusion starts with every leader in the company making a conscious decision to practice courage and vulnerability. You don’t have to be a diversity and inclusion expert to be a great manager, but it takes a great manager to practice inclusion. We’re living in an era where everyone is being bombarded with devastating and draining news day after day — so many are trying hard just to keep from completely breaking down at any moment. As a leader, you have an opportunity to allow for some breathing room. Know that your team will remember your compassion, but they will also remember your silence.”

awaken blog on medium

Top 10 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Trends and Recommendations: 2020 and Beyond

by Michelle MiJung Kim

“As the CEO of Awaken, I spent about 800 hours last year speaking with different stakeholders from these organizations — of all sizes and industries, from tech startups to media conglomerates to government agencies — trying to understand their needs and determine whether we’d be the best partner to support their goals. We’ve collected a mountain of data on what organizations are looking for, what missteps keep recurring, where DEI efforts are headed next — and noticing patterns and themes.

From the ongoing debate around the real efficacy of Unconscious Bias Trainings to the growing focus on Inclusion and Belonging, here are key trends and recommendations as your organization heads into the new decade of the ongoing journey towards Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.”