Accountability: FY 2020 Reflections 2.0

(The blog this post is in reference to can be found here, if you’re so inclined)

We’ve all been on this same pandemic rollercoaster together for over a year, at this point. India is in crisis, and the US has surpassed 500,000 COVID-19 related fatalities. Racial violence has rocked the world, hitting home for those of us in the US in a way that many of us have been blind to until fairly recently. Economic imbalance is pulling our communities apart at the seams.

Last August, I committed 10% of my small business income to BIPOC-run or BIPOC community supporting organizations. I had minimal income last year, and the impact I was able to make was smaller than I’d have liked, but I chose to donate to Stop AAPI Hate in honor of my dear friend, Thao Trang. The donation method I selected allowed me to double my impact through a donation match. So thank you all for enabling me to support this organization.

I committed to listening to BIPOC voices, and have expanded my podcast library to include artists, creatives, and entrepreneurs of diverse backgrounds.

Today, I renew my commitments to continue learning, to seek out marginalized voices, to buy raw materials and other items from small, BIPOC led businesses, and women-owned businesses whenever possible. I commit to ensuring a diverse model pool for my wearable work.

But most of all, I thank you for your support, because I couldn’t do any of this without you.