005 — September 2022 | 004 — June 2022 | 003 — November 2021 | 002 — October 2021 | 001 — August 2021
005 — September 2022
Hello Everyone!
We hope you’ve had a lovely summer and have many things you’re looking forward to in the fall!
TL;DR
- Added Workplace Integration Recommendations
- New Version Of Inclusion Training Workshop
- Earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Credit
- Social Venture Institute (SVI)
- Coralus Accepting Venture Applications
Added Workplace Integration Recommendations
We’re always looking for ways to improve our offerings. A couple folks who participated in our inclusion training workshops told us they’d love to go deeper and asked us how we integrate JEDI into our workplace. Even though we know a great deal (especially after completing the B Corp certification process), there’s always more to learn. So, we invited an expert to be our co-creation partner on the new workplace integration section of our inclusion training workshops. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Robin Eastman worked for over a decade in HR and Social Work (the final four+ years of which for Amazon as a Leadership Development Program Specialist). She maintains her status as a SHRM-SCP through a variety of startup, educational, and volunteering initiatives. Co-creating with Robin was a lot of fun! Together, we’ve added incredible recommendations for workplace integration.
New Version Of Inclusion Training Workshop
Without further ado, we’re excited to announce the next version of our inclusion training workshops! Topics covered in its enhanced JEDI Reflection and Workplace Integration section include intersectionality, unconscious bias, why diversity and inclusion are beneficial to your business, and how to integrate equity and justice into your workplace. You'll learn strategies and techniques such as navigating discomfort, having more productive conversations, becoming a better ally, and cultivating a culture of accountability.
Our hands-on workshops were co-created with two innovators from Oaxaca Mexico to have a diverse and intercultural lens. They aren’t just engaging and meaningful, they’re also impactful. Learn how to think about JEDI in a different way, have more productive conversations and collaborations, and add several strategies + techniques to your toolbox.
Earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Credit
The online version of our inclusion training workshop also qualifies as 2.5 hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit for 5 organizations: • American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) RACE®; • Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC); • Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA); • Law Society of British Columbia (LSBC); and • Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). It costs $195 per participant — purchase and start today!
Social Venture Institute (SVI)
Liz will be attending Social Venture Institute (SVI) at Hollyhock on Cortes Island from September 21-25. This year’s speakers include Rha Goddess, Paul Lacerte, and Scott Hawthorn. We’d love to see you there.
Coralus Accepting Venture Applications
Liz became a SheEO activator a couple of years ago, loves the community, and has enjoyed watching their recent evolution to Coralus. If you haven’t already heard, applications are open for Coralus’ next cohort of ventures in Canada, the US, and the UK. Winning ventures receive a five-year 0%-interest loan plus a lot of support from mentors and the community. For more information, check out their FAQ. Complete this form to apply. The deadline to apply is Sunday 16 October.
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Warmest Regards,
Liz & Ta
004 — June 2022
Hello Everyone!
It’s officially summer! Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to and are looking forward to.
TL;DR
- Case Studies (Build Up & Textile Lab For Circularity)
- 2021 Impact Report
- WBE & B Corp Certifications
- ProductBC Conference
Case Studies (Build Up & Textile Lab For Circularity)
Collaborating with good people doing good is what it’s all about. That’s why we thoroughly enjoyed our consulting engagements with both Build Up and Textile Lab for Circularity! We enriched the educational experience, participant engagement, and learning outcomes of Textile Lab for Circularity’s workshop series. We developed a deep understanding of the impacts from Build Up’s Peace Innovators Program and synthesized recommendations for the future. Learn more in our new case studies.
2021 Impact Report
During our second year, we began offering consulting services, spoke at several conferences, and were featured at SOCAP21. In our 2021 Impact Report, OAXIN shares how our donation supported their work in two communities of Oaxaca Mexico.
WBE & B Corp Certifications
We’re thrilled and proud to announce that Smith Assembly was certified as a WBE by the Women Business Enterprises Canada Council and as B Corp™ with a score of 124.3! For those who are curious, we shared what we learned during certification on our blog. As individuals, the greatest power we have to change the status quo is choice — choosing how we invest our time and spend our money. When you align your activities, purchases, and endorsements with your beliefs, you send a powerful message about what matters to you and what business should invest in. Whenever possible, we hope you support organizations who are values-aligned and a force for good (even if it takes you a bit more time and/or costs you a bit more money).
ProductBC Conference
Liz will be attending ProductBC’s first conference, “Building the Product Management Craft with Growth, Marketing, & Operations”, on Thursday 23 June. We’d love to see you there.
Know someone who would enjoy our newsletter? Please forward it, or encourage them to subscribe via https://smithassembly.link/OurMailingList.
Warmest Regards,
Liz & Ta
003 — November 2021
Hello Everyone!
Our fall is busy, but as you’ll see below it’s with a lot of exciting activities and events. We hope you too are doing well.
TL;DR
- 1% for the Planet Auction
- Update On Our B Corp Certification
- Ta Profiled In MIT Technology Review
- Leading Bilingual Learning Lab For Youth Collective
- Speaking At “Embracing the Burnout” Conference
1% for the Planet Auction
As a 1% for the Planet member, we donate 1% of our revenue to the environment. This holiday season, to help drive more environmental giving around the world, we're participating in their Network Auction. Like all items in this auction, 100% of the winning bids on two of our Hands-On Workshops will be given back to the planet. Bid now — the auction closes at 11:59 pm EST on 29 November!
Update On Our B Corp Certification
We’re excited to share that we’re now in the verification stage of our B Corp certification and have started working with one of B Lab’s analysts. Our understanding is that we will complete the process soon and have a good chance of being certified by the end of the year.
Ta Profiled In MIT Technology Review
Learn more about the life, education, and work of our inspiring co-founder through this wonderful profile, “The Power of Simple Innovations”, in MIT Technology Review.
Leading Bilingual Leadership Labs Event For Youth Collective
Ta is leading Youth Collective’s first Leadership Labs event, conducted in two sessions (one in Spanish and another in English). During “Unlearning & Its Role In Grassroots Innovation: Examples from Latin America”, she’ll immerse you in multi-sensorial content and examples on the ‘hows’ and ‘whats’ of grassroots innovation. Register via one the links below!
Speaking At “Embracing the Burnout” Conference
We’ll both be attending and speaking at Versatackle’s first conference, “Embracing the Burnout”, on Saturday 11 December. We’d love to see you there.
Know someone who would enjoy our newsletter? Please forward it, or encourage them to subscribe via https://smithassembly.link/OurMailingList.
Warmest Regards,
Liz & Ta
002 — October 2021
Hello Everyone!
Can you believe it’s already October? Neither can we. Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to and are looking forward to.
TL;DR
- Blog Post Series About Our Employee Handbook
- Participated In Social Venture Institute (SVI)
- Honoring Latin American Heritage
- Hope To See You At Techqueria's LHM Summit & SOCAP21!
Blog Post Series About Our Employee Handbook
Creating our employee handbook has been a much more enjoyable and satisfying experience than either of us thought it would be. When we first saw the B Impact Assessment and realized that we’d need to write so many policies and benefit programs, we felt overwhelmed. However, the conversations we’ve had over the past year have helped us clarify how we define workplace culture (and most importantly how to make it inclusive and healthy). Check out our blog post series to learn more about the policies and benefit programs we find most meaningful.
Participated In Social Venture Institute (SVI)
Liz was invited to be panelist for one of the case studies in this year’s Social Venture Institute (SVI) at Hollyhock on Cortes Island. It was her first in-person event since the pandemic began, and it was even more amazing than she hoped. She’s grateful to have shared the experience with such an inspiring group of people in such an incredible place. We’re hoping we can both attend next year’s event.
Honoring Latin American Heritage
Ta generously offered to share with us some meaningful ways we can honor Latinx folks every day of the year. Please join us for a free 30-min webinar, 10 Ideas To Commemorate Hispanic & Latin American Heritage. Register via the links below!
Hope To See You At Techqueria's LHM Summit & SOCAP21!
Ta will be attending this year’s Techqueria's LHM Summit from October 6 - 9, and we’ll both be attending SOCAP21 from October 18-20. If you’ll be online at those virtual events too, let’s connect!
Know someone who would enjoy our newsletter? Please forward it, or encourage them to subscribe via https://smithassembly.link/OurMailingList.
Warmest Regards,
Liz & Ta
001 — August 2021
Hello Everyone!
We hope you and your loved ones are healthy and have been able to enjoy some summer fun.
TL;DR
- We Won A SOCAP21 Scholarship
- Website & Brochure Updates
- Our 30th Blog Post
- Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
- Follow Us On Social
We Won A SOCAP21 Scholarship
Ta and Smith Assembly were one of the 50 social entrepreneurs and ventures to receive a scholarship to SOCAP21! We’re both planning to attend the conference this year, held online October 18-22. If you will be too, let’s connect.
Website & Brochure Updates
In July, we updated our website and brochure to better describe our workshops (and also added a page to our website about our consulting services). If you happen to know anyone who is looking for relationship- or culture-building support for their hybrid or remote teams, would you please mention us?
Our 30th Blog Post
We just published our 30th blog post, a Guide For Facilitating Successful Online Meetings. Some of our favorite recent posts include 3 Reasons Why Hands-On Activities Can Be Transformative, Our Thoughts About JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion), and Our Journey To “B Corp In Waiting”. There’s lots of interesting stuff on our blog, especially the posts about Estrella, Enoc, and why we chose to work first with innovators from Oaxaca. Coming up next… a series of posts about our Employee Handbook (which we’ve been refining in preparation for our B Corp Certification).
Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
During the six weeks of Hispanic Heritage Month and Latin American Heritage Month in the US and Canada, we’ll be sharing ideas on our blog and via free webinars about ways you can celebrate with your colleagues, friends, and family. All 5 of our options for inclusion training workshops feature people and stories from Latin America, so are a perfect way to strengthen cross-cultural competencies while also invigorating your relationships. Join us September 15 - October 31 in appreciating the history, culture, and contributions of the Hispanic and Latin American diaspora in our nations!
Follow Us On Social
We’re posting on the usual channels via @SmithAssembly. If you haven’t already, please follow us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter.
Know someone who would enjoy our newsletter? Please forward it, or encourage them to subscribe via https://smithassembly.link/OurMailingList.
Warmest Regards,
Liz & Ta