September 14, 2020
To help you navigate these uncertain times, we’ve compiled timely news and resources related to small business, education and connectivity. We hope this provides both information and comfort as we continue to weather these challenges.
T.D. Jakes Foundation in Action
D CEO’s second annual Diversity, Inclusion, and Impact Symposium featuring top executives and thought leaders will be held virtually on September 17th. The day will be filled with conversations surrounding race, gender and sexual identification in the workplace. Hattie Hill, President and CEO of the T.D. Jakes Foundation will be a part of the “Data and Transparency: Setting Goals and Measuring Results” panel discussion. Learn more via D Magazine.
In an interview with Employee Benefit News, Hattie Hill, President and CEO of the T.D. Jakes Foundation, discusses why it’s important for leaders to influence company culture to create a more inclusive workplace. They can do this by offering Black employees a seat at the table, whether on the council or in senior executive positions to bring about a more inclusive environment.
Assistance for Job Seekers
Amazon will hold a virtual job fair on September 16th to fill 33,000 job openings in corporate and tech roles. In addition, the company will hire 100,000 new employees to support a surge in online shopping amid the ongoing pandemic. The jobs, a mix of full-time and part-time positions, span the entire operations network, including its warehouses, delivery stations and other sites. Find out more information here.
Last week, UPS announced plans to hire more than 100,000 extra workers for the upcoming holiday season. As the pandemic makes online shopping more attractive, UPS anticipates a continuous growth in package volume. Read more here.
Working from Home
Because of COVID-19, many office employees are working from home for the foreseeable future. CNN has put together these helpful tips to help workers cope in the new normal.
Supporting Black-owned Businesses
As a part of The Great Rehire incentive, CareerBuilder is offering additional support to Black-owned small businesses through its EmpowerHire Pack. The EmpowerHire Pack includes six months of free access, three job postings per month, 500 resume searches each month, and the ability to send 100 targeted emails to qualified candidates. Learn more.
Digital Divide
A new study by Common Sense Media shows that of the country’s 51 million students, up to 15 million either had no home broadband service or lack service that can handle the demands of online classes—a problem that’s now heightened in the age of COVID-19. What’s more, 400,000 teachers also lack adequate connections. Read the story in Fast Company.
In the United States, Students of color are disproportionately affected when it comes to virtual learning in the COVID-19 era. For example, according to the Alliance for Excellent Education, 30.6% of Black households with one or more children age 17 or younger lack high-speed home internet —affecting over 3.25 million Black children. Yahoo! Finance looks at how the coronavirus pandemic is deepening the digital divide for students of color.
To combat the Digital Divide, The Get Connected campaign will provide an estimated 40,000 hotspots or mobile access points to Dallas County students from pre-kindergarten through college. Find out more here.
Together, we can and will get through this.
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