Ponder Diversity Group, LLC

Happy Women’s Equality Day! ♥️ One of the best things you can do today and throughout the year is to support a woman….a woman business owner, woman leader, women employee, woman colleague, and women candidates who are seeking public office. Be a mentor, sponsor, ally, supporter, client, customer - just do something. #ERA #WomenEqualityDay #equalrights #womenempowerment #workplacediversity #payequity #supplierdiversity #womenlawyers #womenprofessionals

RIGHT TO VOTE. If you don’t vote, you don’t care. You don’t give a damn about yourself, your family, your friends or your community. And, you don’t deserve the same freedoms, rights and benefits as those of us who do vote. If you care - then vote. Period.⚫️ #Vote #KamalaHarrisforPresident #WomenUnitedforHarris #equality #womenempowerment #womenrights #payequity #workplacediversity #supplierdiversity

Sonni Choi Williams, J.D. ’99, was installed this year as the 148th president of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA), the first woman attorney of color to helm the organization. “This historic advancement is not for me, but for so many others who have put their hopes and dreams in my rise to the highest position in the organization,” she said. "I hope that my presidency inspires others after me to take the leap of faith and follow me, thus making the ISBA more welcoming and inclusive of attorneys who have long been under-represented in the ISBA leadership.” Read her story here: https://bit.ly/3WStfY0

Calling someone a “DEI hire” is damaging not just to that person, but to everyone in underrepresented and disadvantaged communities — and that’s exactly the goal: To strip that person of their qualifications and achievements, and to cast them as some unfit charity case who got a job for undeserving reasons. And worse, to raise suspicion generally of such diverse individuals in successful or influential positions. If an American Vice President, United States Senator, State Attorney General, and District Attorney can be dismissed and derided as someone who got those roles only because of her skin color or gender, then virtually any person of color, woman, LGBTQ+ person, or person with a disability can be diminished in the same way. And the argument that DEI supporters are hypocrites for bemoaning this label is disingenuous and insidious. The people using that term are no supporters of DEI efforts — they intend it as a disparagement. They also typically are not people who have to worry about losing out on opportunities because of their skin color, gender, sexuality, or disability. Unfortunately, some of us have to worry about that all the time because of both implicit and explicit biases. Considering diversity as a factor among otherwise qualified candidates is critical for ensuring equitable decision-making and a workforce that benefits from a diversity of ideas and experiences and that reflects the rich diversity of those it serves. To me, this is good common sense and basic human decency, regardless of politics or party affiliations. #dei #deihire #diversityandinclusion #deia

DEI is leadership. That means, all leaders need to do the bare minimum to ensure inclusion on their teams. Some starter expectations... 💗 Listening (even if I disagree) to perspectives other than my own 🎤 Modeling inclusive behavior 🔌 Calling on other leaders to model inclusion 🥐 Supporting cultural celebrations for employees of historically marginalized groups 📩 Accepting organizational commitments to DEI even if they are different than my beliefs Full piece here: https://lnkd.in/gyHFA6s2 #leadership #allyship #diversityandinclusion

#OnThisDay in 1920, the 19th Amendment was ratified, guaranteeing and protecting women's constitutional right to vote! Thanks to the determination of countless activists such as Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Alice Paul, Ida B. Wells, Jane Addams and many, many others, the 72-year battle for the vote was won. Check out some quick facts about the road to women's suffrage from the ABA Division for Public Education: https://ambar.org/tztnqjcg

DEEPLY HONORED…..I am deeply honored and incredibly grateful to have been elected to the board of the Chicago Foundation for Women (CFW), an amazing organization that embodies leadership, inclusivity and service. CFW’s commitment to nurturing emerging organizations through leadership development and financial support is vital in building sustainable nonprofit infrastructures. Joining the CFW board is both a humbling and inspiring opportunity, aligning with my business goals and longstanding dedication to advancing the rights and opportunities of women, people of color and others who have been historically marginalized in the workplace and supply chain. Throughout my legal career, I have been unwavering in my belief that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are absolutely essential to one’s professional and business development, and to our nation’s continued progress. The ongoing political debate surrounding DEI has only deepened my resolve to champion justice, challenge misinformation and work toward leveling the playing field for all, including women, girls and people of color. As a newly elected CFW board member, I am committed to advocating for the rights of women and girls, ensuring that they have equal opportunities to achieve their educational, professional, business…. and political aspirations. My election reflects a deep commitment to the organization’s mission of building strong, inclusive communities. I am eager to collaborate with my fellow board members and CFW’s dynamic leadership to amplify the significant impact of this remarkable organization. Together, we will work to empower women and girls, and support other organizations that share our vision, ensuring that the city and surrounding areas remain places where CFW continues to transform lives and build resilient communities for all to thrive. #ChicagoFoundationforWomen #CFW #boardmember #nonprofits #DEI #diversity #equity #inclusion #workplacediversity #supplierdiversity #leadership #service #levelplayingfield #equalopportunity #women #girls #womenempowerment #womenprofessionals #womenlawyers #womenconsultants #womenbusinesses #blacklawyers #blackownedbusinesses #minoritybusinesses #lawfirm #legalservices #consultingfirm #consultingservices #LinkedIn

#OnThisDay in 2009, Sonia Sotomayor was sworn in to the Supreme Court of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts. Did you know that it was the first Judicial Oath ceremony to be televised live?

It’s the last day of #DisabilityPrideMonth. Let's celebrate it by honoring disabled athletes who competed and won big at the #Paris2024Olympics! Congrats to gold medalists Simone Biles, who has ADHD; Suni Lee, who’s in remission from kidney disease; and Katie Ledecky, who has POTS! [Image Description: Pictures of Team USA Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles (left), Suni Lee (middle), and Katie Ledecky (right)]

Congratulations to the U.S. women who took home the gold tonight in the team gymnastics competition, the ninth straight team medal and the team’s third gold in the last four Olympics 🥇 #SimoneBiles competed in all four events — vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise — alongside her teammates Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee and Jade Carey. This gold is Simone’s first medal of the 2024 Olympic Games. It marks her eighth Olympic medal overall and her fifth gold. She now has the most Olympic medals in U.S. gymnastics history! After all, that’s why she’s the GOAT 💥