Pursuit of Social Justice

As an agency we want to be transparent in our pursuit of social justice. As part of that pursuit, we have asked ourselves:

What can we do?
What do we want to achieve?

We've found that other agencies and organizations are feeling the same way and asking the same questions, so we created this collection of resources. Our hope is for this to become a living document that is a resource for agencies and creatives everywhere; something that can help lead us toward an anti-racist future.

Pursuit of Social Justice in the Workplace

Below is a list of what steps agencies are taking towards ending inequity.

Section 1: Action Items to Consider

Employee Donation Matching

Match a dollar amount per employee, per year. This increases the amount of money sent to nonprofits and community aid organizations, reinforces employee agency, and helps foster a more diverse aid/nonprofit landscape.

Sustaining Company Donation

As an agency, consider a sustaining (ongoing) yearly donation to an organization doing anti-racist work. Prioritize Black-led organizations.

Update, Implement, and Stick To Internal Policies

Hire a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) firm to examine hiring policies and internal culture.

Company DEI Committee

A team of employees working together to hold the company accountable on promises, commitments, and action items.
This is an ongoing effort.

Updating Job Posting Language to be Inclusive

For example, Murmur Creative has this copy on their job listings.

"At Murmur we believe that creativity thrives on diversity. We aim to encourage and empower employees, clients, and partners of all backgrounds including, but not limited to, race, color, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, citizenship, disability, or veteran status. We encourage applicants who are Black, Asian, Latinx, Native American, Pacific Islander and all other nationalities and races to apply. We encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community to apply. We are a safe place and our goal is to make the world safer along our journey. We are against hate and bigotry in all its forms. Black Lives Matter."

VTO (Volunteer Time Off)

Offer one day a year—or a certain number of hours a year—of paid time off to volunteer in the community.

Paid Holiday: Juneteenth

Close studio/offices for the day in recognition of Juneteenth. Ask your team to spend the day engaging in self-education, action, and activism. Stand in solidarity, and promise to uplift and amplify Black voices in the face of injustice and inequity.
June 19, 1865, known as Juneteenth, marks a pivotal point in Black history. Although Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation two and a half years earlier in 1863, it wasn't until this date that the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, TX were informed that slavery had been abolished. Juneteenth is a day for Black communities to celebrate this historical victory, but it is also a time for others to reflect on and acknowledge the deeply-rooted systemic racism that continues to pervade this country.

Yearly Pro Bono Budget for Working with Anti-Racist Nonprofits

Offer pro bono services in your area of expertise.

Rainbow Gradient Pro Bono Services Banner

Section 2: Pro Bono Services

Looking to offer pro bono services but unsure where to begin?

Add a page to your website for pro bono service submissions

List the pro bono services you offer, what your budget/limitations are, how to apply, and a timeline for project.

Section 3: Education & Training

Educational Experiences

Book a presentation, program, or workshop led by author and educator Walidah Imarisha. Participants will be guided through an interactive timeline of Black history in Oregon that speaks to the history of race, identity and power in this state and the nation.

DEI Training Organization

Workplace Change: a culturally progressive Human Resource firm that creates measurable change in America’s workplaces. Embedding Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Within Every HR Service.

person holding a pin that reads print to resist

Pursuit of Social Justice in Creative Spaces

Many organizations are taking action to pursue social justice – through new initiatives, campaigns, and movements – positive change is among us.

Below is a list of what steps friends of Agencies of Change are taking towards ending inequity and to facilitate inclusion within their community or events.

Filmed by Bike BIPoC Filmmaker Grant banner with illustrations of rotating gears

Filmed by Bike with Machines for Freedom has created a grant program to help bring more representation to the world of bike movies.

About the BIPOC Grant Program

Launched September 10, 2020
Grants of $1,500-$2,000
There is no fee to apply
Number of grants awarded will be determined by financial contributions to the BIPOC Grant Program

"We spend 8 months of the year looking for bicycle stories. The voices Black, Indigenous and All People of Color are significantly underrepresented. There are many barriers to filmmaking and funding is a major one. That's why we launched this new initiative to support Black, Indigenous and All People of Color in telling their stories. This is an on-going crowd-funded program - the more funding we receive, the more grants we can award every year." - Filmed by Bike

More Details

Murmur Creative with Agencies of Change (yes, that's us!) has created a initiative to amplify BIPoC voices.

About the Shirt Campaign

Launched June 2020
Featured Artist chooses the featured Nonprofit
Artist is compensated $200 for their design and involvement
There is no fee to apply
Number of featured artists will be determined by sponsors of the Shirt Campaign

"A series of shirts designed by various BIPOC artists, each shirt raising awareness for a particular nonprofit. 100% of the shirt proceeds will be donated to that featured nonprofit. We hope to call attention to nonprofits and the causes they fight for, elevate BIPOC artists' work, and harness the design community's power to create tangible change on an ongoing basis." - Agencies of Change