At this point in 2021, there is no going back to the way things were before the pandemic. While companies reevaluate office reopenings and new ways of working, countries continue to deal with the soaring COVID-19 cases and challenges associated with vaccine access and uptake. This year is a solid reminder that our approach to what’s ahead requires a new way of thinking.
The #TwitterIgnite Series features a number of panels and events focused on expanding how we think about intersecting oppressions and our collective responsibility to one another as citizens and human beings. pic.twitter.com/jHhdcbQabj
— Twitter Together (@TwitterTogether) November 10, 2020
Twitter has made strides. They’ve become a more distributed, more global Tweepforce, putting our Tweeps in the center and prioritizing flexibility and choice in how we work. We also recognize that it’s more complex than this, and collectively we’ve got work to do to build a truly inclusive culture.
Diversity Partnership Strategy & Engagement:
Earlier this year, we introduced #TwitterIgnite, a program from our Diversity Partnership Strategy & Engagement (DPS) team to elevate diverse communities and ignite change. We started by engaging partners from civil rights organizations, Historically Black Colleges, Non-Governmental Organizations, and the National Pan-Hellenic Council, with three objectives in mind:
1) Ignite conversation:
Many companies continue to reel and navigate current events, and many of our nonprofit partners that serve hard-hit communities have valuable insights to offer. That’s why we created the #TwitterIgnite video series featuring timely and relevant topics that bridge conversation in the workplace and society, including #StopAsianHate, #LiftEveryVoice, #MandelaMile, #AlwaysProud. During the summer, we also invited many leaders from these organizations to host conversations on our service for #Juneteenth. We will continue to ignite conversation about issues impacting diverse communities like a recent intersectional conversation at the DEIB conference with leaders of League of United Latin American Citizens, Ford Foundation, National Action Network, and National Black Justice Coalition.
2) Ignite action:
We recognize harnessing the power of public conversation can create action. We’re leaning into that by empowering partners to more effectively use Twitter to elevate their work and go deeper in regional and local markets. Starting with 10 cities in the US, we are partnering with local chapters of national organizations and grassroots organizations by providing digital campaign support. We continue to identify new opportunities and support campaigns that amplify the work on the ground and empower communities and allies to participate –– in person, on Twitter, and where change is likely to happen.
3) Ignite change:
When we launched our external Intersectionality, Culture, & Diversity (ICD) Council in 2018, our focus was to anticipate, discuss, and share solutions to ongoing issues in society and the workplace. Since then, our work has evolved toward driving systemic change across our industry while answering the call to social justice and how it shows up across the workplace. This required collaboration beyond our walls and respective organizations. With our ICD council and partners, we are identifying barriers to inclusion through research, spotlighting best practices, and identifying recommendations to move workplace solutions to industry solutions. This #IgniteChange collaboration with Forum on Workplace Inclusion focuses on six industries:
Academia, Banking/Finance, Criminal Justice, Education, and Technology.
I’m grateful to be at a company that prioritizes belonging for EVERYONE.
Transparency is key and being comfortable admitting that there’s work to do is really important.
Taking relentless ACTION.. that is the key to progress#UntilWeAllBelong #LoveWhereYouWork
— Kiyla M (@Kiyla_MA) September 14, 2021
Looking forward, by 2025, Twitter intends to:
- Double spend with suppliers from historically excluded communities.
- Expand the program to represent better global footprint.
- Create the ability to measure the economic impact in these communities.
- Share progress and plans across the industry.
This work is a journey, and thanks to our committed Tweepforce, we won’t stop #UntilWeAllBelong.
This is how Twitter is encouraging people to be themselves on social media, how are you implementing it? Let us know on @itp.live.Â