Edward Blum Says He's Done Suing Law Firms Over DEI, Trump Allies Accuse NASCAR of Discriminating Against White Men, & Gen Z is Bringing a New Vibe to Work: Anxiety

The Latest DEI News 👇🏾

DEI Industry News

• Conservatives are suing law firms over diversity efforts. It’s working. [The Washington Post]: ”Since August, the conservative American Alliance for Equal Rights has sued or sent threatening letters to at least seven law firms, demanding that they shutter diversity fellowship programs, and claiming that they exclude qualified White and Asian students based on race. Meanwhile, five Republican state attorneys general have fired off letters to 100 top law firms, threatening legal action and suggesting that “racial discrimination in employment and contracting may be commonplace” in the legal industry.

• Trump Allies Attack Corporate ‘Bigotry’ Against White Men [Bloomberg]: “One complaint accuses Macy’s Inc. of discriminating against White men. Another levels that allegation against BlackRock Inc. A third points a finger at, of all things, NASCAR – a largely White sport where Confederate flags were prevalent until they were banned in 2020. Those three legal actions, and some 20 more like them, have one person in common: Stephen Miller. Miller, the architect of anti-immigration policies under former President Donald Trump, is emerging as a key figure in preparing a hardline conservative agenda in the event Trump returns to the White House.”

• Blum Says He’s Done Suing Law Firms as Winston Yields on DEI [Bloomberg Law]: “Affirmative-action foe Edward Blum said a group he started that files lawsuits challenging diversity programs has no new plans to sue any more law firms. “There’s nothing left for us to do in that space,” he said in an interview. Law firms are no longer raising red flags with their diversity, equity and inclusion programs, he said. However, a researcher for his group still combs websites of hundreds of firms looking for any evidence of programs he views as illegal, he said.”

Inclusive Leadership

• Why does building a neuro-inclusive culture make business sense? [People Management]: “Building a neuro-inclusive culture is a journey and with competing DEI priorities it is often a challenge to know what to do and where to start.”

• Practical Strategies For Elevating Your Leadership: A Road Map For Growth, Empathy And Mentorship [Forbes]: “Drawing inspiration from real leaders and emphasizing hands-on mentorship, this article aims to provide a practical road map for achieving impactful and authentic leadership.”

Workplace, Professional Development, & Employee Wellbeing

• Gen Z is bringing a whole new vibe to the workplace: anxiety [Business Insider]: “From small talk by the coffee machine to presentations over Zoom, the workplace can be a hotbed for anxiety. Pandemic lockdowns, followed by the instability and relentless upheaval of the past several years have heightened these feelings. Remote work, Malcolmson said, "can make everything feel so much more intense." She added: "It's much harder for me to mentally let go of any stresses from the day."

• 5 new workplace trends you must know heading into 2024 [Fast Company]: “In the past year, we’ve tapped our audience to weigh in on a number of topics—the state of DEI and well-being, the economy, what women need to thrive. Based on our findings, these are the top five new DEI and workplace stats you must know heading into 2024. “

Politics & Law

• Supreme Court lets stand Washington state law barring conversion therapy for minors [CNN]: “The Supreme Court on Monday let stand a Washington state law prohibiting licensed health care professionals from practicing “conversion therapy” – a scientifically discredited practice intended to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity – as it applies to minors.”

Art, Music, & Entertainment

• Art program for individuals with dementia [WEAU]: “Art can be an outlet to be creative and make something new, all while having fun. At the Menomonie Area Senior Center, art is doing more to help those with dementia. Each month, the center hosts an event called “Artful Expressions,” where people with dementia and their caretakers spend time making art in a safe space.”

• The Art of Happiness focuses on mental health [WDBJ]: “ The Montgomery Museum of Art and History is putting a focus on mental health by using creativity and hands-on activities to help people find a positive mindset. The Museum’s Executive Director Casey Jenkins and Registered Art Therapist Shelby Wynn joined Here @ Home with a demonstration and more information about the effectiveness of their program The Art of Happiness.

Research

• 2023 Nobel Prize winner was dismissed for decades. But her mRNA work led to COVID vaccine. [USA Today]: “On Sunday, professor Katalin Karikó will receive a Nobel Prize for her research on mRNA that led to the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines and saved millions of lives. Though most Nobel laureates remain little known, Karikó’s story is famous for the way she and her work were dismissed by colleagues and her university for decades.”

Education

• 5 Reasons Why College Degree Requirements Are Unneccessary [Forbes]: “However, employers should be aware that graduates aren’t necessarily ready-made for the workplace. They have the knowledge, but not yet the skills, so don’t expect too much, too soon; give them time to adjust; and offer training to help them improve in areas such as communication, conflict resolution and problem-solving.”

Life, Society, & Environmental

• 2023 Cities in Focus: Lessons in Environmental Resilience [Arch Daily]: “In the rapidly evolving landscape of the 21st century, cities have emerged as models of innovation in terms of sustainable development goals. Cities creatively address pressing urban challenges, including density, transportation, housing, and resilience.”

• World must place human rights at heart of environmental protection: UNEP Executive Director [UNEP]: “The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reaffirmed its commitment to place human rights at the heart of its work at a high-level event in Geneva today to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.”

• Technology built the cashless society. Advances are helping the unhoused so they're not left behind [Anchorage Daily News]: “One of the larger shifts in Western society over the past two decades has been the decline of cash transactions. It started with more people using credit cards to pay for things as trivial as a cup of coffee. It accelerated as smartphone technology advanced to the point where cash-free payments became the norm for many.”

Until later,

Adriele

This newsletter is co-curated by Nico Escobar. Need virtual coordination? Social media management? Content creation? Reach out to her!

P.S If you aren’t already subscribed to DEI in 5 on YouTube, what are you waiting for? 🙃

P.S.S. Btw, if you’re interested in starting your own newsletter, or if you’re not loving your current newsletter platform 🥴, I highly recommend Beehiiv, it’s been a breeze to use and they provide a few more monetization opportunities than other platforms I’ve come across.draf