Smart and timely analysis on diversity, equity, and inclusion topics, by Future of Good subject matter experts.
Indigenous communities play an important role in Canada’s climate policy. Without their meaningful participation in climate action by governments and the social impact sector, Indigenous leaders cannot bring their ideas to bear on a crisis that disproportionately affects them.
During the pandemic many non-profits have shifted their programming online, but without considering accessibility and accommodations, some of these programs have excluded some individuals from participating in virtual programming.
The people who are most responsible for climate change are least impacted by it, and those who are most impacted have contributed the least to creating the crisis. If social impact organizations’ climate action doesn’t take this into account, it’s not only tone-deaf, but it’s ineffective.
Anti-Asian hate is happening in Canada, too — in both blatant and subtle ways. The Vancouver Police Board, for instance, reported a 717 percent increase in reported anti-Asian hate crimes this year. Social impact organizations are well positioned as leaders in their communities — both in dollars and in influence — to stop anti-Asian hate.
Women’s leadership in social impact organizations could help communities build back differently, if not better, than they were pre-pandemic. Because of the ways women are socialized, research shows their leadership styles tend to differ from men’s. This year’s International Women’s Day arrived in the midst of a very different reality from last year’s.