June is a big month of celebrations here at the International Franchise Association Foundation. Our Pride Council and Black Franchise Leadership Council (BFLC) are celebrating Pride Month and Juneteenth respectively, and we are taking this time to reflect on our progress and what’s to come. The Pride Council, launched in September 2019, serves to create a space where all feel welcome and embraced as they are and is made up of people from the LGBTQ+ community, as well as allies and people looking to learn more. Last year, our Pride celebration featured members of the Pride Council and leaders from Wendy’s DEI team who shared insights on advancing equity within a franchise brand, and we are continuing to build on those conversations in 2022.
The BFLC has hosted a number of webinars encouraging members to share challenges and solutions they face, exchange experiences from franchisors and franchisees, and provide resources from non-profit leaders. Last year, Juneteenth was recognized as a federal holiday, and Joe Johnson, president of Disrupt Foods and COO of Malcolm Inc., said, “The inequalities in economic development remain as minorities seek to find funding and resources for their small businesses, retail and real estate. It will take a concerted effort to create real actionable steps for our society to implement for people of color to succeed as investors and owners, beyond the simple acknowledgment of Juneteenth as a holiday.” This is why the BFLC is dedicated not only to recognize the strides that have been made but also to find ways our industry can improve and lead in the future.
Both the Pride Council and BFLC will be hosting events this month, and we invite you to join us. Follow us on Twitter @IFAFdn for regular updates on our programs, ways to get involved and franchise successes celebrating diverse entrepreneurs.
Previous webinars are available on the International Franchise Association YouTube page. For more information on ways to get involved, please contact ramos@franchise.org. Together we are working to make franchising the most diverse, equitable and inclusive business sector of the economy.
Rikki Amos