In Review: Civic Duties, History Lessons, and Other Things on Our Minds
We are less than a month away from Election Day in the US and the air is charged. With so much at stake including the morale of a nation and the global implications the next four years will have, staying informed has never been more vital. And, we must say, finding hope and inspiration is just as critical, as this year has resulted in unprecedented challenges. We’ve been galvanized by leaders who break the norm, history lessons that offer modern lessons, and the idea that democracy is something in which we all need to take part. Here’s what’s been propelling us.
And in case you’ve missed any, we’ve rounded up our latest stories.
Eva Yazhari, founder
Civic Duties
“My uncle, former Congressman David Bonior, says ‘Democracy is a verb.’ He inspires me to think that if we do not all participate, then we forfeit our voice and ultimately could lose our democracy. He believes that everybody should be in some level of politics—school board races, city council, state level, federal level. And to think about treating the ‘government/politics’ area of life as a positive community exercise.”
Conversations with Leaders
“I am always in awe of purpose-driven leaders that take their civic duty into their companies. We saw this just recently when we interviewed Richard Shirtcliffe, Jennifer Kenning, Desiree Buchannan, and Gino Borges (of Open Path Investments) for the next season of The Beyond Capital Podcast.”
This membership club, which includes social entrepreneurs, impact investors, journalists, NGO leaders, and others from across the globe, “has a series called Build Back Better, which shares leaders that are creating solutions to build back from the pandemic.”
Mathilde Beniflah, associate
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Key Cases that Paved the Way for Financial Equality
“Ruth Bader Ginsburg is well known for advocating for women's rights in the Supreme Court, notably, for financial equality between men and women. This Forbes article outlines some of the most consequential cases that the late Justice Ginsburg worked on, that have made a profound difference in how our financial systems treat women.”
The State of Ex-Felons Voting Rights Explained
“With recent high-profile political donations going towards voter enfranchisement in key swing states, I enjoyed this brief from Vox, summarizing the state of voting rights for ex-felons. Removing the policies that have led to systemic disenfranchisement, especially in communities of color, could have major socio-political effects and ultimately affect the outcome of the election.”
Does More Money Really Make Us More Happy?
“This article in the Harvard Business Review states that savings can actually be more important than earnings to determine happiness. The writers also discuss the results of a survey to provide recommendations on what to spend your money on to maximize happiness: including experiences, time, and giving to others.”
Stacey Lindsay, editorial director
The Upswing by Robert D. Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett
“I have long admired the work of Robert D. Putman, a Harvard professor of public policy and author of fifteen books including Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis. Putnam has a talent of pouring light over trends in our social history that turn out to be glaring lessons for everyone. His new book, The Upswing, takes a macro looks at the United States over the last century and how we’ve changed from an “I” society to a “we” society—and back again. What can we learn from how we’ve evolved over the last 100 years? And where are we headed? I cannot wait to find out from these pages.”
“Why is it that some of the most fundamentally important aspects to our democracy and civic life—voting and paying taxes—are often the most complicated? It’s a frustrating fact, and also a frightening one. With that in mind, I have the utmost appreciation for Suffrage Over Silence, a voter mobilization group that focuses on corralling the most vital information regarding state-by-state mail-in voting. With the information on Instagram and their site, they make it easy, concise, and so inspiring.”
Killer Mike Says He Has a Choice to Make
“Some know Michael Render, who goes by his artist name Killer Mike, as being one half of the rap duo, Run the Jewels. Others know him for his constant presence, either in-person or by mention, in some of the most important conversations about racial justice, progressive policy, and the need for radical reform today. Killer Mike is one of the most progressive activists in how he articulates issues of humanity with a rare mix of clarity, urgency, and inspiration. If you’re curious to learn more about his work, or if you’re already a fan, this recent interview he did with Kara Swisher should not be missed. (Fun Fact: Killer Mike is also launching a digital bank catering to Black and Latinx consumers.)”
In our latest stories:
We spoke with Carrie Freeman about what inclusive, prosperous futures really look like (and require).
We explored the grave impact a lack of menstrual care and personal care items can have on a society—and the company that is working tirelessly to change this.
And we interviewed a venture capitalist who fought the greatest odds to change the way female, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ founders get funded.
——
At The Conscious Investor, it is our goal to shed light on topics that we find interesting, inspirational, and educational. Therefore, this article is strictly for inspirational and informational purposes only. It is in no way intended to substitute for professional investment advice, professional financial advice, or general counsel. To the extent that an article features the insight, opinions, or advice of an expert or company, the expressed views are those of the cited person or company and do not necessarily represent The Conscious Investor and its employees or affiliates.