Sunday, July 12th
Bob Rosenbloom: “Corporate and Nonprofit Social Responsibility in an Era of COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter”
The topic of corporate and nonprofit social responsibility seems particularly appropriate for discussion now given the vast number of organizations that have recently issued statements condemning racism and aligning their brands, policies, and programs with at least the broader goals of the BLM movement. Similarly, the COVID-19 pandemic has also brought forth enhanced corporate and nonprofit commitments to socially responsible actions, particularly with regard to consumers and employees.
Questions for discussion:
- What do these recent statements of social responsibility really mean? Do you think that for the most part they’re public relations exercises or do you think they’ve been adopted and publicized with more serious intent?
- What actions, if any, do you think organizations will likely take to live up to their new verbal commitments, and, if actions are taken, how likely is it that they’ll result in the changes that are promised?
- How long will the newly found social responsibility commitments last?
- Do corporate responsibility statements affect your willingness to do business as consumers with these organizations?
- Finally, do the social responsibilities of corporations and nonprofits differ in meaningful ways, and if so how?
Recommended Reading Material:
- “Here’s What Companies Are Promising To Do To Fight Racism”
- “Are Black Lives What Really Matters To Companies?”
- “Are You Willing to Give Up Your Privilege?”
- “Corporate America Has Failed Black America”
- “Princeton Will Remove Woodrow Wilson’s Name From School”
Before his retirement, Bob worked for over twenty years in the Corporate Social Responsibility Department at JPMorgan Chase (and some of its predecessors). During those years he also taught Corporate Social Responsibility as an Adjunct Professor at several local universities. Before coming to what was then Chemical Bank he taught political science and urban studies at Mount Holyoke College.
________________________________________________________________________________
Sunday, July 26th
Joe Palau: “Racism: Racist, Not a Racist, Anti-Racist”
In the aftermath of so many deaths of Black Americans in the hands of American Police forces, in the aftermath of the recent death of George Floyd, the time for personal reflection has come upon us. We fought to end Jim Crow, we fought for the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and following, and we continue to fight for the rights of all Americans to vote for their representation in local, State and Federal Government. Yet, we find ourselves living, decade after decade in an institutionally racist society. We were born into and brought up in a racist society, we have been socialized to the norms of our racist society. Where do we stand today? Where are we going to go from here?
Joe Palau will lead a community discussion of where we find ourselves as individuals of conscience in our systemically racist society. How have we been personally affected by institutional racism? How has our socialization in a racist society affected us personally in our schooling, workplace, and social lives? How would raising our awareness of how racism affects us personally help change ourselves and the society in which we live? Come join us for an open, community discussion and reflection on Racism, Not being a Racist, and being an Anti-Racist in American today.
Recommended Reading Material:
Recommended YouTube Links:
Ibram X Kendi – Racist vs Anti-Racist Points of View
- “An Argument Between Racist and Anti-Racist Ideas”
- “How to be an Antiracist”
- “The Difference Between Being ‘Not Racist’ and Antiracist”
Robin DiAngelo – White Fragility
- “White Fragility”
- “Deconstructing White Privilege”
- “Dr. Robin DiAngelo Wants White People to Stop Saying They’re not Racist”
Kendi and DiAngelo Together
________________________________________________________________________________
Sunday, August 16th
Klaus Schreiber: “Psychological Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic”
By the time we will meet for our discussion it will be five months that Covid-19 is with us and has dramatically impacted the way we live. The initial desire to feel safe at all costs had to make room for competing wishes to return to a sense of feeling free to go about our life as we felt before. For many of us, the value of ‘life’ is competing with ‘quality of life’.
All of this has and continues to stir emotions in us that affect how we feel and go about our daily routines. Hopefully, besides being distressing it has given us an opportunity to a different self-understanding,
Here are some possible questions to discuss:
- How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected you? What has been most distressing to you?
- How has Covid-19 affected your body and mind?
- What has helped you to cope? What have been your coping strategies and how have they changed?
- How has the way you manage your fears changed?
- What have you learned about yourself in the process? Has your view of life changed?
- What gives you hope?
Recommended Reading Material:
- The Mental Health Consequences of COVID-19 and Physical Distancing – The Need for Prevention and Early Intervention
- Dealing with Uncertainty During the Coronavirus Pandemic
- How The COVID-19 Pandemic Will Change the Way We Live
- Psychological Distress and Loneliness Reported by US Adults in 2018 and April 2020
- Using social and behavioral science to support COVID-19 pandemic response
Klaus Schreiber received his medical training in Germany and came to New York for his training in Child Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis. Finding life in the USA – 50 years ago – exciting he and his family decided to stay here for good. He has been a member of the Ethical Society of Northern Westchester for seven years.