The McPherson Memo: Finding Balance in Constant Connectivity Edition
McPherson Strategies
McPherson Strategies develops, amplifies and communicates corporate social impact and philanthropic initiatives.
Dear all,
It can be hard to remember what life was like before the Internet. We use it at work to check emails, upload and download documents from the cloud, and read our news. We also use the Internet at home to stream our favorite shows, bank, cook, and of course, in transit, when apps like Google Maps make navigating the city a breeze. As a culture, we’re literally always online.
Always being connected also means that we’re constantly inundated with various perspectives and opinions – many of which can be politically and/or racially charged. Especially as we count the days until November in this critical election year.
For the rest of February, all of us here at McPherson are committed to finding a bit of levity online by sharing timely and educational stories with each other, and here with you. This week we have a round-up of stories and media that nod to Black history and culture, provide insights on how we can all pitch in to protect democracy, and highlight and celebrate wins across the social impact space. If you read something interesting or learn something new, please send us an email to share, we’d love to hear your thoughts!
On a different note, we were saddened to learn today that a brave human rights defender and staunch opponent of authoritarianism has died in prison. Alexei Navalny might be the only "opposition leader" that many have heard of. My heart goes out to his wife and daughter and all who supported him around this world.
With appreciation and admiration,
Susan
ON OUR MINDS
Brought to you this week by Dallas-based Account Supervisor?Laura Wise, who is thrilled at the announcement of Beyoncé’s new country music album. ??
Black women are making history and fighting for democracy
Black women are now at the head of three state Democratic parties, including Christale Spain in South Carolina, Daniele Monroe-Moreno in Nevada, and Lavora Barnes in Michigan. Black women are running?and winning political offices at a higher rate than ever before, however, there are still challenges. Most notably with legislation such as strict voting ID laws, which disproportionately affect Black voters. Despite the obstacles, Black women not only actively engage in civic life, they prioritize it. Take for example Elsie Cooke-Holmes, International President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., who, this week, led more than 100 members and advocates into the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas for the closing arguments in the Texas Senate Bill 1 case. Black women’s commitment to civic engagement is also highlighted by the over two-thirds voter turnout in the 2020 presidential election, while the historic presence of 28 Black women in the House of Representatives and 383 in state legislatures nationwide underscores significant strides in political representation. There is still much work to be done, but this Black History Month, let’s collectively celebrate the Black women we know, and those we might not, who are on the front lines in fighting for our democracy.
Roses are red, violets are blue. Americans feel squeezed financially, and nonprofits too?
On Valentine's Day, Americans spend an average of $192.80 on gifts and activities, with candy being the most popular choice, though this year, prices soared up to 803% for holiday-themed sweets. It’s not just candy, the basics are becoming harder and harder for many to attain. In January, food prices shot up by 0.4%, even faster than the overall Consumer Price Index rise of 0.3%. Housing prices also continue to climb leaving many young adults anxious at the prospect of never owning their own home, which affects their perception of their finances and the economy. While the U.S. economy is doing well overall, higher prices for food, gas, and housing are driving up credit card debt. And that credit card debt has contributed to a rise in household debt, which has now surpassed $17.5 trillion. Millennials and those with lower incomes are the most affected. Millennials have historically been very charitable, often participating in and leading corporate social responsibility initiatives at work, which has led to a significant increase in millennial gift-giving from 2016 to 2022. We’ll be following along to monitor how rising debt might affect charitable giving.
Is AI inclusive?
The adoption of generative AI is happening quickly. Industries and sectors from advertising to transportation to politics are finding ways to incorporate this new technology into the foundation of their work. In a recent Financial Times article, Mark Read, CEO of WPP described the power of AI in creative industries: “AI is the equivalent to the invention of the internet, and (it’s) more profound than mobile.” However, with the widespread adoption of a new technology comes challenges; take for example the use of AI in policing. According to The Innocence Project, there are at least six confirmed cases of wrongful arrests of Black people who were misidentified due to facial recognition technology (FRT). Research shows that facial recognition software is significantly less reliable for people of color, especially Black and Asian people. Last year, the Biden administration issued an executive order to set standards and manage the risk of AI, however, there are currently no federal policies in place to regulate the use of AI in policing. Until then, Amanda Wallwin, one of the Innocence Project’s state policy advocates, encourages all of us to “...go to your local city council or town council meetings… On the very local level, those representatives are the people who are voting whether to use tax dollars or public money to fund FRT.”
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