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The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership opportunities, events and more. Leaders at the McKnight Foundation, the Freedom Foundation, and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation released an open letter in early April calling on the philanthropy community to stand in solidarity with each other and resist the onslaught of executive orders, funding freezes, and investigations that threaten to hobble the independence of the nonprofit sector and reduce trust in charitable institutions. Living Cities, the organization I lead, readily signed on to this pledge of solidarity, along with hundreds of others. I applaud the philanthropic sector for standing up and standing together on this important issue. But if we are to fully rebuild trust among the American people, we must go beyond solidarity calls and begin to lead the charge against the anti-establishment and anti-knowledge crusade that is attacking civic leaders, institutions, and community groups that are seeking to create an economy for all. This requires the philanthropic sector to do three things. 1. Create Inclusive Growth Our country cannot thrive if everyone does not participate in our collective economic growth. Currently, we have too many working people who feel shut out from our economy. They feel like the system is rigged against them. This has led to a groundswell of support for indiscriminate, anti-establishment efforts. We need to counter the narrative that institutions do not support the working people while also acknowledging that there are many reasons why the system is, in fact, rigged against them. We see that in many cases, race and risk are conflated and people of color have difficulty accessing the same opportunities as others. We see that geography is destiny, and the class you are born into determines your future outcomes more than anything else in your life. This is not the America we were promised, and weas philanthropic institutions must work to elevate the opportunity of inclusive growth. 2. Counter the Zero-Sum Narrative Many of our leaderspolitical, business, and otherwiseoperate as if we exist within a zero-sum game: Whats good for some is bad for others. This is decidedly untrue. We see that equity remains a superior growth model. Investing in one part of a communityparticularly parts of communities that are the most marginalizedbenefits the whole. Equitable community reinvestment and economic development not only benefit the neighborhoods where those developments occur, but the entirety of the community through better jobs and increased dollars flowing through neighborhoods. Instead of thinking about how much smaller to slice up the pie, we need to focus on how to grow the pie for all to benefit. 3. Refuse to Back Down Now is not the time to back off. The statement of solidarity is a good first step, but it is not the end. We must find strength in this solidarity to be bold in our pronouncements and push forward on what we know this country needs. No matter how we label our economic opportunity efforts and investments, we must link them, foster connection between grantees, and show, to all parties, that shared prosperity is in the country’s best interest. There are certainly threats to this shared prosperity right now. I do not want to pretend there are not. Those of us speaking out on behalf of this goal may face threats or challenges. But because we stand together, and we know the value of shared prosperity, we can deliver the results all people in this country deserve and restore faith in the philanthropic sector. Joe Scantlebury is CEO of Living Cities.
Category:
E-Commerce
Jimmy Fallon has done plenty of commercials and branded segments on his late-night show. Last year, he partnered with Beats by Dre for a signature set of headphones and put them head-to-head against Kim Kardashians design. Now, The Tonight Show host is taking his business interests to a new level by becoming a brand partner and investor in tortilla chips and salsa brand Xochitl. His first challenge is pretty basic: teach people how to pronounce the brand name. (Its so-cheel.) Its like so-chill. Or so-cheel media. So-cheel network. So-cheel distortion, says Fallon. It gets easier the more you practice it. So that’s my first job. And then once I get that out there, they’ll probably give me other assignments. [Photo: Xochitl] Xochitl is Americas largest independent tortilla chip brand, but it is still far lesser known than your grocery store staples on the tortilla chip shelf, and lacks full national distribution. Its looking to Fallon for a mainstream boost. Founded in 1995, the Irving, Texas-based brand is aiming to take a bigger bite out of the $11 billion North American tortilla chip market. It’s a growing category, with Frito-Lay’s Tostitos brand dominating, and Utz’s On the Border also a major player. Last May, private equity firm Forward Consumer Partners took a 50% stake in Xochitl. Chairman Matt Leeds says the goal here is to drive brand awareness and grow distribution. Who better to do that than a guy with 32.4 million YouTube subscribers and 27.4 million Instagram followers? We believe that his involvement will create a lot of excitement, which can open distribution opportunities and retail partnerships, Leeds says. As a brand looking to emphasize warmth, authenticity, and shared experiences, Jimmys funny, approachable, and family-friendly persona aligns well with us and our brand strategy. Now just say the name. [Photo: Xochitl] Right chip, right time At times it can seem like you cant swing an empty booze bottle without hitting a celebrity tequila or whiskey. And yes, even beer. Fallon says hes been offered similar opportunities in the past, but none really fit. I’ve been offered my own whiskey, my own tequila, and all that stuff, and I just don’t want to be out there boozing it up at the golf course, selling bottles of stuff, Fallon says. What am I doing? I didn’t know anything about that. But this? Tortilla chips, I can get behind. It’s on brand for me, and I have no problem selling this and standing behind it. For Xochitl, the strategy is as simple as it gets: Ask a very famous guy who seems fun to not only promote but be involved in the brand. The partnership with Jimmy grew out of a simple insight: Xochitl is hard to pronounce but easy to love, Leeds says. We started with a blank sheet of paper, and Jimmy was literally our first and best idea for someone who could help teach people the Xochitl name in a way that’s fun, unique, and memorable. Leeds called. Fallon answered. And just so happened to have been eating Xochitl chips that weekend. He called me up, and I said, Wait, I actually know what youre talking about! Fallon says. I had no clue how it’s pronounced, though. He gave me this kind of rundown of where the business is, and I thought this sounded like a fun opportunity. I love business stories, I love marketing stuff, and Id love to help see something grow and become giant. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. [Photo: Xochitl] Marching orders For Fallon, this is a unique opportunity to work with a brand that has very clear and ambitious objectives in mind. This has the chance and opportunity to really grow, Fallon says. When a brand is already massive, then Im just doing a commercial or something. Its a paid gig. It’s all good. You do the commercial, and you hope it’s funny. But with this? I’m a partner and an investor, so if it works out, I might actually see some dividends. Ive got some skin in the game. Before announcing the Fallon partnership, Xochitl had fewer than 5,000 Instagram followers. So theres plenty of room to grow. Fallon is a self-described ad nerd and just wrapped production on a new advertising-based reality show for NBC that’s set to launch later this year. Now its just a matter of taking everything hes ever learned about advertising and marketing, and putting it to work. They’re in select stores and some participating Walmarts, but theyre not in Whole Foods or Target, Fallon sys. Thats the challenge. I know my marching orders, and I want to see if I can get them there. I want to see if I can get them in every store in the country. Itll be fun. This week, Xochitl is dropping its first-ever flavor collaboration with McCormick & Companys Cholula hot sauce brand, exclusively at more than 2,000 Walmart stores, and it will roll out on Amazon and at grocers nationwide in the coming months. Between Late Night and The Tonight Show, Fallon has spent the last 16 years helping his celebrity guests plug their latest movies, TV, music, and more. Now hes excited to really be selling his own brand. One of my jobs at The Tonight Show is to always be selling everyone else’s stuff, which is great. I love it. It’s my favorite job, he says. So now I’m, like, Why not do it for myself? One more time, it’s so-cheel.
Category:
E-Commerce
Florida is poised to become the second state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, over the concerns of dentists and public health advocates who say the mineral is a safe, effective way to protect people of all ages from developing cavities. Florida lawmakers gave final approval to the bill Tuesday after Utah became the first state to pass a ban last month. The Republican-led states are following a push led by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is setting the gears of government in motion to stop fluoridating water. The Florida measure now goes to the desk of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose administration has advocated against the fluoridation of community water systems, arguing high levels could pose a risk to childrens intellectual development. Fluoride strengthens teeth by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water is considered among the greatest public health achievements of the last century. As dentists, we see the direct consequences fluoride removal has on our patients and its a real tragedy when policymakers decisions hurt vulnerable kids and adults in the long term, Brett Kessler, president of the American Dental Association, said in a statement earlier this month. Blindly calling for a ban on fluoridated water hurts people, costs money, and will ultimately harm our economy. While Florida’s bill doesn’t specifically reference fluoride, it will require the mineral and some other additives be removed from water sources across the state, said bill sponsor Republican state Rep. Kaylee Tuck. Anything that relates to water quality, removing contaminants, things like that, we’re not touching that,” Tuck said. “It’s anything that has to do with health. So fluoride, vitamins, whatever else it is. Some local officials in Florida have already voted to remove the mineral from their community water systems, ahead of state lawmakers’ push to ban fluoride. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said Tuesday she is deeply disappointed by the passage of the bill, adding that it disregards the overwhelming consensus of dentists, doctors and medical experts and will end a practice that has been in place for decades to protect our health. Levine Cava said that ending fluoridation, which is a safe and cost-effective way to prevent tooth decay, will have long-lasting health consequences, especially for our most vulnerable families. The mayor said the decision should be left to local communities. About one-third of community water systems, serving more than 60% of the U.S. population, fluoridated their water, according to a 2022 analysis by the CDC. Kate Payne, Associated Press/Report for America Associated Press writer Freida Frisaro contributed to this report.
Category:
E-Commerce
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