The Flexibility to Fight for What’s Right
The project of Weak Ties/Strong Bonds is obviously economic, but it is also political. Ideological. Cultural.
We seek to build women’s economic power because study after study will confirm what we know from anecdotal experience: Womxn do good things with money.
We build communities rather than empires.
We fill unmet needs rather than create new ones.
We create safety and security rather than harassment and hustle.
So when you see the project of freedom and democracy taking blow after blow like we continue to see in Minneapolis, it can be hard to drag yourself to your keyboard. But if we let the dismay demoralize and silence us, we squander our power and forfeit to forces that we know are simply, clearly, morally wrong.
Instead, here are 3 ways to use the freedom and flexibility of entrepreneurship to follow the path of brave womxn who preceded us and build a more just world.
⏰ Time Shift to Show Up
Protests, canvassing, and other organizing activities often can’t align with the 9-to-5. Use the time flexibility that working for yourself provides to take to the streets not only for yourself, but for those who can’t miss a shift, or still have to ask to take PTO (gross). Local actions will vary by location, but organizations like the National Immigration Law Center, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Indivisible are good places to start looking for volunteer opportunities in your community.
📣 Raise Your Unencumbered Voice
Many people have clauses in their employment contracts or employee handbooks that prevent them from posting about politically sensitive topics. Even more may fear retaliation from current or future employers if they express a strong option. Working for yourself lets you use your voice, your social channels, your apparel, your name on an op-ed, and more without fear of economic consequences. So shout. For yourself, and for those who can’t.
🏗️ Build the Workplace We All Deserve
Whether you’re a solopreneur, expanding with contractors, or a business with full-time employees, you’re setting the corporate culture for at least one person, so make it the culture we all deserve. Create time and space for employees to react to the news of the day, whether with action or recovery. Work with values-aligned clients and partners, and don’t tolerate behavior that’s outside those values. Implement the pay, benefits, and hiring practices that match your moral standards. Put an action plan in place now for federal raids and interference if your business or subcontractors could possibly encounter ICE enforcement, no matter how remote the possibility.
To quote (with liberties) the cursed text that is Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song,” your business may only be one match, but it can make an explosion.
Looking for a place to expand your economic opportunities for the greater good, share best practices for building a values-based business, or just scream into the void that this shit should not be happening?
There are still a couple seats left for our February dinner in NYC next week.
🪢 Laura & Lauren
Things We Loved This Week
Laura’s Things
☎️ This simple script you can use to call your Senators.
🪡 Turning anger into beauty at Schiaparelli.
🚨 Help a girl out - she's just looking for love!
Lauren’s Things
💔 The statement from Alex Pretti's parents.
🇨🇦 Between Heated Rivalry and Mark Carney's Davos speech, I've never been more tempted to move to Canada.
🤬 This week's soundtrack.
✊ This excellent discussion of America's two-steps-forward-one-step-back civil rights legal history.
To Tie Things Up…
A Deep cut for the John Mulaney fans out there
We know there are at least 3 of you.
