To say the least, 2020 was a year unlike any other.
Apart from the pandemic, equality issues took center stage. In response to them, Stryve aimed to do its part by publicizing our stance on equality back in June 2020. In this announcement, we emphasized our four areas of focus relating to equality, diversity, and charitable causes:
- Reviewing our policies, conduct, and culture and making changes where necessary
- Donating regularly
- Volunteering and lending our platform
- Listening and learning
These action items were woven into a Community Building plan which became a functional area of the business like marketing, finance, and operations. This was an important step, as designating something as a functional area gives it strategic importance and budget support within our company.
We committed to holding ourselves accountable to the action items we set in June 2020 and part of that accountability is providing an update on progress. Here’s how we’re doing:
Reviewing and updating our policies, conduct, and culture
Action Item: Conduct a social impact assessment to understand how our company can improve as it relates to our community involvement. Once we receive the results, we’ll implement changes to our policies and procedures where necessary.
Update: We performed the assessment using the B Corporation Assessment tool. To obtain our B Corp certification, we’re currently working on closing the gaps mentioned in the report.
Donating regularly
Action item: Make a donation to Social Venture Partners International’s Reimagine Fund and the Know Your Rights Camp. Both organizations are aiming to solve social and inequality challenges at the root level.
Update: In addition to the donations we made to the Reimagine Fund and the Know Your Rights Camp, we established a donation fund that allows each Stryve employee to donate $500 each year towards a charity of their choice. They pick the charity and Stryve makes the donation. So far this year, donations have gone towards charities such as Legacy of Hope Foundation, The Black Business and Professional Association, Food4kids, Orange Shirt Day, and Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation.
Volunteering and lending our platform
Action item: Whether it be with our time or capabilities as a business, we will be seeking ongoing volunteer opportunities to support efforts relating to issues that disproportionately impact BIPOC communities. Additionally, we’ll be offering our social media platform to organizations working on equality issues to help amplify their message.
Update: We’re in the midst of planning how to structure the way in which we’ll lend our social platform to other organizations. At this point, our goal is to finalize the plan and launch by 2022. In the meantime, we have produced and published our own content and resources on diversity and equality. You can visit the following links to read our articles on rainbow washing and the impact diversity training can have on your business.
Additionally, each of our Stryve team members has been given 16 hours of paid time off to volunteer for a non-profit cause of their choice. So far, Stryve team members have volunteered for organizations such as the YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Ride for Refuge, Social Venture Partners, Ronald McDonald House, and National Service Dogs.
Listening and learning
Action item: To continue educating ourselves in order to improve our understanding of the issues at play.
Update: Through documentaries, books, podcasts, and other media, we’ve continued to learn as individuals about equality and diversity. As a team, this year we took part in diversity training with Spectrum Waterloo and the Beer. Diversity. course with Ren Navarro.
Continuing forward
Stryve’s ‘why’ is ‘to elevate others’. This means we define our success by our ability to help our clients and fellow Stryve teammates succeed. Through our equality action plan, we aim to expand this impact beyond the walls of our office to help elevate those in the community as well.
Community building is an integral part of our company’s success and we’ll continue to keep ourselves accountable as we continue forward.
