Happy Notedd-em-ber!
VOL 64 - THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4
Happy Notedd-em-ber! A fun little spin on the month. It’s one of our favorite months of the year. It’s our founder’s birthday (shout out to all of the Scorpios ♏️ and Sagittariuses ♐️ out there). It also starts the season of giving, expressing gratitude, and opportunities to self-reflect.
As we continue to self-reflect, we want to use this time to express that if anyone has ever felt like we marginalized, isolated, or excluded them in any way or anything that we do, please share that with us.
Earlier this week, we received an unfavorable DM that insinuated that we are not inclusive. It was heartbreaking and disappointing to hear, but we were glad to use that opportunity as a teachable moment (a term that a former colleague introduced to us). We clarified what we do and why we are passionate to celebrate and highlight women of color for the amazing things they do.
However, receiving feedback from you, our true community, is the most important to us. Therefore, please know that we are always open to receiving feedback and available to chat if any moment is not favorable to you.
Alright, back to our regularly scheduled program. Check out this week’s issue below and always #StayNotedd.
Michelle Wu made history, becoming Boston’s first woman and first person of color to be elected as mayor. Ed Gainey became the first Black mayor in Pittsburgh. Eric Adams was elected mayor of New York City, becoming the city’s second Black mayor, but many races are still undecided. Here’s where everything stands as of today.
Earlier this year, Laphonza Butler was named president of EMILY’s List, becoming the first Black woman and the first mother to lead the organization. Butler recently shared her thoughts on the importance of women of color running in 2022 in a recent Ms. article.
Students at Howard University continue to protest until their grievances on the current housing conditions and student representation on the board of trustees are met. Many have disclosed that the current conditions are “unlivable,” claiming mold, roaches, and mice are common inside the dorms on campus. Refinery29 recently spoke with multiple student protesters who shared more on the reasons behind the protest and detailed their firsthand experiences with the university thus far.
For those who watched Squid Games, check out this commentary from The Undefeated on potential reasons why the popular Netflix show resonates with the Black community.
During the pandemic, gardening became a form of self-care. In this New York Times article, six Black writers share how gardening has helped them re-establish, reimagine, and connect with the land.
Have you heard of the term “invisible work?” Coined by sociologist Arlene Kaplan Daniels, invisible work is unpaid labor like housework and volunteer work that women most often bear the brunt of. We all want to do great work and serve in our workplaces or within our communities. Still, this type of work can often be culturally and economically devaluing, especially considering the pay gaps impacting women and women of color.
The recent 2021 Women in Workplace report shares that “only about a quarter of employees say that the extra work they’re doing is formally recognized (either “a great deal” or “a substantial amount).” There are numerous examples where indispensable work is viewed as just a means of “after-hour good deeds.” Like Marianne Cooper points out in her Harvard Business Review article, women faculty of color are shouldering heavier service loads of teaching and advising and leading DEI efforts on their campuses. Another example is a Black woman who is simply applauded for hosting a DEI panel rather than rewarded for her time, leadership, and DEI acumen.
Burnout is at an all-time high, and many are steps away from joining the Great Resignation. Have you come across this way of thinking or behavior in your workplace?
Here’s what we also notedd and acknowledged related to this topic this week:
HONORABLE MENTIONS
It’s almost that time of year to fall back! This weekend, we will set our clocks back one hour.
Although it’s intended to save energy and make better use of daylight, CNN reports that Daylight Savings Time is often forgotten, costing folks to accidentally sleep in or wake up less rested than they would have hoped.
It is suggested to prepare at least a week in advance. However, since we are just a few days away, there’s still time to work in the following tips to avoid sleeping in or waking up on what might feel like the “wrong side of the bed:”
About a week in advance: Start shifting the time you go to sleep and wake up by 10 minutes earlier each night and each morning.
Three days in advance: Start shifting the time you go to sleep and wake up by 20 minutes earlier each night and morning.
The night before: It’s still not too late to get your seven hours of sleep — two options are to go to bed half an hour early and sleep in half an hour or go to bed an hour early.
World Kindness Week starts this Monday, November 8. This week is dedicated to highlighting good deeds within our communities, providing small acts of kindness through donations and contributions, and pledging to empathize with other people.
If you recall, we launched our Random Acts of Kindness Day campaign where we stressed the importance to be kind and grateful to ourselves and the people around us — from our loved ones to our community members. The images above serve as reminders on ways to lend big and small acts of kindness and how to continue this practice outside of these pivotal moments in time.
Acts of Kindness For Yourself
Set the tone of the day with affirmation cards.
Live out your passion or hobby.
Create a gratitude jar and fill it with things for which you are grateful during the month.
Read a book that you’ve been setting aside.
Visit your favorite quiet place and be present.
Acts of Kindness to Pay It Forward to Others
Make a purchase at a Black-women owned business.
Send a token of appreciation to a loved one with a gift or gift card.
Donate to a local charity of your choice.
Contribute to a Gofundme or crowdfunding campaign.
Make a purchase for the person in front of you or behind you in the express line.
Buy and donate necessities or essential items for a local shelter.
As we close out one week and start to plan and transition into the next, check out these Black-owned mobile apps to help you live and happy free.
The link below includes a list of hand-picked apps that were ranked a 4 out of 5 or higher. Each app provides a unique service or offering such as at-home workouts, custom-designed press-on nails, book suggestions, local childcare solutions, and self-care practices to incorporate into your routine.
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Interested in being a Tribe Talk speaker? Have any content ideas? Are you launching a product or service? Have any major accomplishments to share with the group? Reach out to us and we'll add it to our next issue.
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