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PUBLIC ALLIES NEWS

Not All Women: Women’s Equality Day and the Continued Fight for Freedom

Most of us were taught that the 19th Amendment granted women the right to vote in 1920, after decades of work to gain support for and pass the law. Of course, the history books aren’t quite wrong—they just leave out crucial context about the role of race during that time. In fact, in 1918, leading Read More

The Power of Gift Seats for Giving Feedback

Giving and receiving effective feedback is an essential practice of every leader. When approached thoughtfully, it can accelerate learning and growth.  Of course, the best feedback is rarely easy. Whether conscious or not, we all live with “mental models,” or stories we tell ourselves about the world and who we are in relation to it. Read More

People-First Language: Putting the Person Before the Disability

Identifying a person or group primarily by their disabilities subjects them to devaluation, marginalization, and prejudice. By replacing outdated and offensive terms that describe what a person has with terms that assert what a person is, we put a person before their medical diagnosis. According to EARN, “People-first language (PFL) emphasizes the individuality, equality, and Read More

Public Allies Wisconsin Names New Executive Director

It is with great excitement that Public Allies announces the appointment of Adriana (Nanis) Rodriguez as the new Executive Director of Public Allies Wisconsin. As Executive Director of Public Allies Wisconsin, Nanis will be charged with leading a growing, multi-region program encompassing Public Allies Milwaukee and Public Allies Racine/Kenosha, as well as related alumni programming. Read More

Perfectionism and White Supremacy

White supremacy shows up in even the most well-intentioned organizations. As explained by Tema Okun of dRworks, it doesn’t always look like overt discrimination; the subtler characteristics of white supremacy can be just as ingrained and harmful. By explicitly naming and challenging these characteristics, organizations can take steps towards establishing a more equitable and inclusive Read More

Toxic Polarization Threatens Our Democracy. Here’s How National Service Can Save Us.

By Jenise Terrell and Kristen Bennett for USA Today Trust is the backbone of American democracy. But trust in the media, the federal government and our neighbors is hard to come by, and our democracy continues to face growing threats from misinformation and polarization. A new report from More in Common found that less than 30% of Americans in Read More

Pride in Action: Allies and Partners

This Pride Month, we celebrate our Public Allies AmeriCorps members and partner organizations working daily for LGBTQ+ equality and well-being: Mileena Muhammad (Chicago) partners with the Broadway Youth Center to make life healthier and happier for young people who identify as LGBTQ+, and especially young people who do not have stable housing. “As Youth Development Specialist, Read More

6 Job-Hunting Tips for Public Allies from Illumina

Illumina is an applied genomics technology company and the global leader in DNA sequencing and array-based technologies. Its products are used for applications in the life sciences, oncology, reproductive health, agriculture, and other emerging segments. Illumina also strives to practice diversity, inclusion, and fairness for all as part of its corporate culture, which led the Read More

“PRIDE means LOVE”: Poem by Xesenia Maurice

By Xesenia Maurice PRIDE means LOVE Maybe it’s cliché to say A phrase so simple That can run so deep Like the currents in our body As we navigate how to exist, live, and be in this world. A phrase so many have fought for And continue to fight for. A phrase that has seen Read More

“Pride is Big Mama’s Love”: An Essay

By Betrice Coleman-Sweet In 2008, Bea and I had been in our committed relationship for 4 years. We had our official wedding ceremony in May of 2005 and about 2 months later we obtained our domestic partnership. Through our tribe, we were introduced to someone who in turn introduced us to some amazing people at Read More