A powerful conversation.

Today on Up To Speed Live, Hans moderated a panel discussion on race, equality and justice with:

• Clarence Otis Jr., Lead Director, Verizon Board of Directors
• Krista Bourne, Leader of Verizon Consumer Sales and Operations
• Wendy Taccetta, Leader of Verizon Business Commercial Operations
• Ramcess Jean-Louis, Sr. Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Verizon Media
• Christy Pambianchi, Verizon Chief Human Resources Officer

Tune in to Up To Speed Live tomorrow at 12 PM ET/9 AM PT.

Toolkit

Take action together.

As Hans shared on yesterday’s Up to Speed Live, the Verizon Foundation has committed $10 million to social justice organizations, shared equally with these groups:

• The National Urban League
• The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
• National Action Network
• Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights
• Rainbow Push Coalition, a multi-racial, multi-issue
• National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
• NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund

Should you want to donate to any of the above organizations, make sure to check out our match program to have your impact doubled.

Tools for families to start a conversation.

For tips on how you can start a conversation about race with your friends, family or colleagues, check out the following:

• Talking About Race, from The National Museum of African American History and Culture, offers tools and guidance.
• For parents looking to talk with their kids about race and racism, this school toolkit offers helpful tips and advice.
• Teaching Tolerance offers Beyond The Golden Rule, a free downloadable guide for parents on how to help kids prevent and respond to prejudice.

Volunteer to make a difference.

In these times, it’s important to remember you are not alone. Whenever you sign up to volunteer, your actions are matched by 135,400 fellow V Teamers creating a groundswell of global good. With over 150 virtual events on our Volunteer Platform, you can have an immediate impact by offering your time and skills to help our most vulnerable community members.

Also, please raise your hand to recommend a volunteer opportunity that increases equity and promotes racial justice across the Black community. We want to hear from V Teamers who are working with organizations that are effectively advocating for civil and human rights.

We are stronger together.

While no one person can solve these problems alone, our collective actions will make a difference. Join one of our Employee Resource Groups and help us promote a culture rooted in inclusiveness and belonging.

Listen and learn.

Get educated about the issues. Craig Silliman and his team have been working with many organizations who are on the front lines of criminal justice reform. Last year, he did a podcast on this issue with our Up To Speed team.

Additional resources.

Our VMG colleagues have curated resources that will help us become informed, actionable allies as we work together to achieve the change we want and need to see. Comment on VZWeb to share any other resources you think should be part of the conversation.

Books:

• White Fragility
• So You Want to Talk About Race
• Unraveling the ‘Model Minority’ Stereotype
• 35 Must-Read Books About Racism

Podcasts:

• Intersectionality Matters! hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw
• Pod For The Cause (from The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights)
• Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast
• Code Switch: NPR

Watch:

• Verizon + BUILD Series Present Proud of My Hair
• The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
• Ava DuVernay
• 13th (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix
• American Son (Kenny Leon) — Netflix
• Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 — Available to rent
• Clemency (Chinonye Chukwu) — Available to rent
• Dear White People (Justin Simien) — Netflix
• Fruitvale Station (Ryan Coogler) — Available to rent
• I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin doc) — Available to rent or on Kanopy
• If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins) — Hulu
• Just Mercy (Destin Daniel Cretton) — Available to rent
• King In The Wilderness — HBO
• See You Yesterday (Stefon Bristol) — Netflix
• Selma (Ava DuVernay) — Available to rent
• The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution — Available to rent
• The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.) — Hulu with Cinemax
• When They See Us (Ava DuVernay) — Netflix

Articles and Websites:

• “Your Black Colleagues May Look Like They’re Okay — Chances Are They’re Not” Refinery29 (May 28, 2020)
• Bruk Out Media
• Rachel Ricketts resources
• “Who Gets to Be Afraid in America?” by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi | Atlantic (May 12, 2020)
• Jenna Arnold’s resources (books and people to follow)
• “Black Voices: 11 Things To Do Besides Say 'This Has To Stop' In The Wake Of Police Brutality” HuffPost (May 29, 2020)

Mental Health Resources:

• Inclusive Therapists
• Therapy for Black Girls
• Therapy for Black Men
• Black Mental Health Alliance

Click here for a transcript of the webcast.

Tell us what you think of Up To Speed.

V Teamers, click here to join the conversation on VZWeb.