Inclusion Geeks

Today is our 11th business birthday! There has been a LOT that's happened over the past 11 years. We've pivoted more times than we can count, we've changed our name more than once, and we've shifted to continue to try and meet the many moments we've found ourselves in over the past decade plus. We're still here though! Working as always to support workplace inclusion and thinking about what the future of work will be, and what all of our roles will be in shaping what that looks like. Happy birthday to us!

In honor of Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) 2025 today, we’re remembering why and how the day started over 20 years ago. Rita Hester was a Black trans woman living in Boston in the 1990s, who was the victim of a hate crime for being trans. On the one-year anniversary of her murder, a small group of activists organized the first Transgender Day of Remembrance in her honor.

Today, anti-trans violence on record is even more widespread than it was when Rita Hester was killed. This year we remember her and all our other trans community members whose lives have been lost. You can participate in TDOR by attending a local vigil, donating to or volunteering with trans advocacy groups, and by educating yourself about the staggering increase in anti-trans legislation and violence that the community continues to deal with.

Thanks to for the invitation to be part of this great panel discussion on AI In People Ops: How Startups Can Harness AI to Build and Support Sustainable Teams. We had a lively and engaging conversation that could have kept on going! As a Boston-founded company that is now remote-first, it is always a good time when we can come back to our old stomping grounds in one of the best cities to build your startup in.

🚨 New Podcast Episode Alert! 🚨

This episode is a bit of a departure from our usual lineup, and we think it’s exactly what many of us are craving right now. We’re joined by intuitive guide and founder of Soul-Speak, Cindy Aaker, who shares her deeply personal spiritual journey, from waking visions and archangel encounters to discovering the Akashic Records and connecting with guides beyond this realm. Recorded in the midst of global uncertainty and collective exhaustion, this conversation is an offering of meaning, stillness, and hope. Whether you’re spiritual, skeptical, or somewhere in between, Cindy’s story invites us all to pause, reflect, and consider what might be possible when we tune in to something deeper.

Link to episode in comments, or listen on your favorite podcast platform.

July 10, 2025 marks Black Woman's Equal Pay Day. This date symbolizes how far into the year Black women need to work in order to earn what men earned in the previous year. Black women working full-time, year-round, were only paid 66 cents for every dollar paid to non-Hispanic white men. This is especially important to note during a time when new research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics has shown that Black women have experienced a substantial increase in unemployment rates during the first half of 2025. This is concerning for many reasons, including the facts that Black women participate more in the labor force than any other group of women, and they tend to remain unemployed for longer than other workers. [Sources: The 19th, National Organization for Women, AAUW]

Happy Disability Pride!

This flag was created by disabled activist Ann Magill in 2019, and updated in 2021. The colors represent:
* Red Stripe: Physical disabilities
* Gold Stripe: Neurodiversity
* White Stripe: Non-apparent and undiagnosed disabilities
* Blue Stripe: Emotional and psychiatric disabilities
* Green Stripe: Sensory disabilities (like deafness or blindness)
* Charcoal Grey background: Mourning those who have died due to su***de, illness, neglect, ableist violence, abuse, negligence and eugenics, and rage against mistreatment
* The diagonal direction of the stripes represents solidarity and cutting across barriers that separate us.

There are approximately 54M people with disabilities in the US, making them the largest minority group in the nation. For many people disabled or otherwise, disability is seen as shameful or something to downplay. On the flip side, sometimes disability is viewed as inspirational. Disability Pride is a way to reclaim identity and take pride in who you are.
-Felicia Jadczak, co-founder and disabled
🩶❤️💛🤍🩵💚🩶

Today we celebrate Juneteenth. It is the 160th anniversary of the date in 1865 when the last enslaved people in Galveston, TX were made known that they were free. This date has long been a day of celebration, remembrance, resilience, and joy for Black communities, long before it was recognized as an official holiday (which it still is). We encourage you to use this day as a time to rest, reflect, and acknowledge the work that still remains when we think about the kind of world we want to live in.

🚨 New Podcast Episode Alert! 🚨

In this episode, we’re joined by the brilliant Aparna Rae—educator, entrepreneur, writer, and disruptor—who brings clarity, honesty, and depth to our conversation about equity, data, and the future of work. We get into the real talk around corporate DEI, why so many initiatives fall flat, and how data can actually help drive meaningful change when used well (and not just to check a box). Aparna shares insights on how to survive this current moment—marked by authoritarian creep, economic anxiety, and corporate gaslighting—while still building dignity, safety, and care into the workplace.

We talk about Costco, AI, bu****it jobs, and how solidarity (not hustle) will get us through. Bring your notebook and maybe a stiff drink if that’s your thing—this one goes deep.
Link to episode:

Valuing Labor in a World Built on Extraction with Aparna Rae In this episode, we’re joined by the brilliant Aparna Rae—educator, entrepreneur, writer, and disruptor—who brings clarity, honesty, and depth to our conversation about equity, data, and the future of work. We get into the real talk around corporate DEI, why so many initiatives fall flat, and ...

This Pride Month, we celebrate the joy, resilience, and courage of the LGBTQ+ community. At a time when some are stepping back from their commitments, we're stepping forward. Our support isn't conditional or trendy—it's rooted in our values and our belief that everyone deserves dignity, respect, and equality. Pride remains both a celebration of love and identity, and a call to action for justice. We stand with our LGBTQ+ friends, colleagues, and community members today and every day. 🏳️‍🌈

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. As May comes to a close, that doesn't mean that any efforts or attention you may have been focusing on should fade away. Instead, think about how your organization can maintain focus and commitment throughout the entire year!

We've prepared three tips to help you think about how to keep the momentum going. Need more ideas? Reach out and let us know!

🚨 New Podcast Episode Alert! 🚨

In this powerful and important episode, we sit down with Mary Rose Mazzola—attorney, public policy powerhouse, and Chief External Affairs Officer at Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts—to unpack what it means to fight for reproductive justice in an increasingly chaotic world. MaryRose shares how her personal experiences shaped her advocacy, the strategic decisions her team is making post-Dobbs, and the unique role Massachusetts plays as a safe haven and leader in this fight.

We also get real about burnout, power, the role of companies in this work, and the big existential questions many of us are asking right now: What is work? What is care? And how do we keep going when the wins feel scarce?

Don't miss this important conversation!

International Day of Pink is observed on the second Wednesday of April every year. It started in 2007 when a teen faced bullying for wearing a pink shirt. Today, this is a worldwide anti-2SLGBTQI+ bullying and anti-homophobia event.

This year’s theme is RE-EMERGENCE which honors the resilience and re-emergence of the 2SLGBTQIA+ communities around the world.

🤔 Not sure what this all means?
🤔 Wondering how to support LGBTQIA+ inclusion at work?
🤔 Need some refreshers on pronouns?

😍 Let us help! https://hubs.li/Q03gg4Lr0