What are you thankful for? It goes without saying that 2020 has been a challenging year. But we also know that maintaining optimism is critical to the advocacy work we do here at RALIANCE. There have been flickers of light as we have advocated for survivors, served corporate partners, and presented at online events to share our knowledge.
And in order to work toward our ambitious mission to end sexual violence, we must remember that, despite ambiguity and unimaginable obstacles, we have the power to make this type of systemic change possible. Taking time for gratitude is one way to stay hopeful about the potential for change, and the RALIANCE team wants to take the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday as an opportunity to share what we’re grateful for this year. We hope you’ll do the same.
● RALIANCE Executive Director Ebony Tucker: The country’s seen a surge of activism in the last year in support of Black lives, and I’m grateful to be part of that movement. My life’s passion is advocating for survivors of sexual violence, especially those who are the most vulnerable and have the least access to support, including survivors of color and LGBTQ survivors. I’m hugely thankful that my daily work focuses on meeting their needs and preventing future abuse.
● RALIANCE Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer S. Renee Smith: I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity to be a strategic partner with businesses to help them create more diverse and equitable workplaces. An environment where employees feel safe from misconduct or abuse is one where they can be innovative and productive. I’m thankful for the opportunity to share the message that protecting employees is both a social good and a business imperative.
● RALIANCE Communications Director Laura Palumbo: Whether speaking with the media or sharing educational materials, I’m so thankful to contribute to a team that ensures a supportive voice for survivors is heard loud and clear. I am also thankful to be working with organizations and businesses striving for change to improve their own practices so that the places we live, work, and play are more supportive for survivors and safer for all. I’m grateful for the opportunity to play my part in spreading this message and sharing the resources that support our work far and wide.
● RALIANCE Social Media Manager Megan Thomas: In my work for RALIANCE, I spend much of my time focused on social media, which is our most direct channel for reaching the general public and hearing about their concerns and priorities. I’m grateful for the massive social media engagement we’ve seen in recent years for causes that support survivors, such as #MeToo, and movements that prioritize racial equity, such as #BlackLivesMatter. Many people who may have never thought much about these issues in the past are now directly involved in the conversation – evidence of opportunities for change.
RALIANCE also wants to take this opportunity to express our gratitude for you – our readers. Whether you read our blogs to educate yourself about sexual violence prevention or to seek opportunities to partner for change in your organization or workplace, we couldn’t be more grateful that you make us part of your week.
RALIANCE provides consulting, assessment, and employee development services to help build more equitable workplace cultures and create environments free from sexual harassment, misconduct and abuse. We stand ready to support your organization’s goals – contact us today at [email protected] to get started.