Our Commitment to Action for BIPOC

The events of the past week have highlighted the critical work that needs to be done in our country when it comes to ending racism and ensuring justice and equality for communities of color. There is no place for racism in the world - and without justice, there will be no peace. We each have an obligation to acknowledge how racism disproportionately impacts the Black community. Now is the time to show up, do the work, educate ourselves, and fight for systematic change.

We each have a role in working toward an anti-racist world. We need to diversify our companies so that people of color are represented in a range of leadership roles. To do this, we need to first invest in communities of color and create pathways for emerging talent to have access to opportunities. We need to ensure that the companies we work with (and for) are working to recruit, hire, and retain a diverse range of talent. We need mentorship programs and support networks in place so that when we bring in people of color, they truly feel welcome and become integrated into the company culture.

Over the past decade of business, Gossip & Glamour has worked with clients from a diverse range of backgrounds. We’ve supported initiatives in the fashion and arts community that work to bring people of color into the fold and provide them with the resources they need to be successful. We have worked to ensure that the events we produce feature a variety of voices, including Black voices, but we know we can do better and we know that is not enough. We must do MORE if we want real change.

Here are the actions we plan to take to take as a company to deepen our involvement in this movement:

• We are going to work to get BIPOC into corporate office positions at fashion retailers in Seattle. To do this, we will be working directly with hiring managers, recruiters, and internal decision-makers to ensure that people of color are included in the interview process and kept in the loop on new job opportunities as they become available.

• We are going to continue our work with local nonprofits including the Olive Crest Foundation and Summer Search to help support young people of color and ensure that they are safe, cared for, and have the resources necessary to pursue higher education.

• We are going to ramp up our mentorship program that is designed to help next-generation fashion talent develop the critical skills necessary to be successful in a competitive market. This program includes an effective mix of hands-on learning and real-time feedback, to give young people an opportunity to experience the fashion industry and begin to develop a network that can help them find meaningful employment.

• We are going to continue working with a diverse range of BIPOC clients to share their stories with the media, secure placement in digital and print, and cultivate opportunities for them to reach audiences around the world through speaking opportunities and business profiles. We will also leverage our diverse influencer network to ensure that the campaigns we create on behalf of clients feature a wide range of talent including BIPOC voices.

• We are going to use our Gossip & Glamour platforms and resources to amplify black voices and support Black-owned businesses. We will do this through our blog content, social media channels, email marketing initiatives, and in-person events.

We support our Black clients, friends, businesses, and communities. We stand with you and recognize this as a moment for meaningful action and change. We will continue to leverage our platform to advocate for you and, most importantly, we will show you our commitment to lasting change through our actions.

Photo credit: Vivian Hsu Photography