Author | Lightnews

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · 1d

Equity is an engine for growth and belonging.

When people have access to opportunity, they contribute their full creativity, insight, and potential. That’s how communities strengthen and economies grow from the inside out.

Workforce development grounded in equity builds jobs AND futures.

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · 3d

Betty Reid Soskin understands the power of story.

Her work has ensured women (especially women of color) are seen & remembered for their sacrifices during WWII.

Through her storytelling, she reframed what history includes and who it honors.

🌟 Help share Betty’s story: signmynametofreedom.com

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · 9d

I’ve been thinking a lot about what leadership really means in times of transition & growth, & it seems to boil down to this: Leadership is stewardship

Listening, guiding, & acting with integrity; every decision shapes culture. Board service asks us to lead with values that last beyond our tenure.

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Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · 11d

At 104, Betty Reid Soskin continues to live with purpose. From wartime work to civil rights, she has spent a lifetime documenting truth with courage and grace. Sign My Name to Freedom honors that legacy and the century of history her life continues to hold.

✨Donate here: signmynametofreedom.com

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · 15d

Before she was a park ranger, Betty Reid Soskin was a songwriter. Her lyrics captured the pulse of the Civil Rights era—spirituals, protest songs, and love letters to the community. Sign My Name to Freedom revives her voice. Learn more here: signmynametofreedom.com

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · 17d

Representation in the boardroom builds trust and accountability. When women of color hold leadership seats, their perspectives shape decisions that impact entire communities. Leadership grows stronger when every story has a place in the room.

What Do Women Bring to the Boardroom? Evidence from Corporate Environmental Performance

Rising interest in board gender diversity has spurred debates in both academia and the business world about what women bring to the boardroom table. ...

corpgov.law.harvard.edu

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · 25d

Betty Reid Soskin turned 104 last month. Her life, as an activist, park ranger, and artist, reminds us that history is personal. Help us honor her story through the upcoming documentary "Sign My Name to Freedom."

👉 Support the film and help us bring her story to the screen.

Sign My Name To Freedom

www.signmynametofreedom.com

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · 26d

Honored to produce the fundraising video for Girl Scouts of Western Washington’s Trailblazers Ball ✨
Storytelling helps power missions like this one. You can support GSWW here: https://www.girlscoutsww.org/en/support-us/ways-to-support-us/donate.html

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · Oct 2

High housing costs and limited job opportunities leave families stuck. Housing is a foundation of mobility. With stable homes, people can move toward jobs, education, and opportunity. The path forward depends on treating housing as a driver of growth.

Many Americans can’t buy homes, get jobs or move in this stuck economy

Many Americans feel stuck economically due to high borrowing costs, fewer job openings and uncertainty.

www.washingtonpost.com

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · Sep 30

We often talk about “the pipeline” for women of color in STEM. But entry is only the beginning. Thriving requires mentors, supportive systems, and real opportunities to lead.

Representation is about persistence, not just presence.

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · Sep 25

Children start forming a “STEM identity” by jr. high. Yet many girls don’t see STEM as an option.

Discussions about STEM at home shape whether young people see themselves there. Representation isn't just who shows up on our screens, but also who we see at home, in conversation, & the day-to-day.

Parents instrumental in helping children discover STEM interests

A new study finds parents’ STEM identity, especially among primary caregivers, strongly influences whether children see themselves in STEM careers.

finance-commerce.com

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · Sep 23

It’s easy to call yourself an ally when the cultural moment supports it. But even when leadership moves on, the gaps across industries stay behind.

It’s not a trend to adopt, but a value to hold. Anyone can echo a message when it’s popular. Allyship lives in the choices we make when it’s not.

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · Sep 22

Love this. When we talk about diversity in film, age is often left out. Older women are treated as if they’ve aged out of relevance. But age brings complexity, power, & perspective. Representation should reflect us all across identities AND generations.

Will definitely be giving this a watch.

Noelle Cook @noellecook.com · Sep 7

The Conspiracists won Best Feature Documentary at the Miami Women Film Festival. Grateful for the recognition.

“Films about women, made by women—particularly middle-aged women—are still far too rare given that we make up half the population.”
—Liz Smith

Still from The Conspiracists featuring Tammy, a middle-aged woman in braids wearing a pink “Make America Great” hat with two upright feathers. She sits on a couch, gesturing with one hand, backlit by a curtained window. Overlay text reads “The Conspiracists – A Liz Smith Film,” with five film festival laurels above, including “Winner: Miami Women Film Festival 2025.” Website URL appears at the bottom: theconspiracistsfilm.com.

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Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · Jun 26

California is making progress in increasing the supply of #AffordableHousing. The message of this article: while building more housing, issues of #HousingEquity cannot be ignored. We also need bills to protect low-income renters and disadvantaged communities. 🏠

Opinion: California Is Right to Build More Housing — But Equity Can’t Be an Afterthought - Davis Vanguard

California lawmakers are focusing on increasing housing supply, but neglecting the people suffering most from the housing crisis, and the powerful landlord lobby is preventing meaningful tenant protections.

davisvanguard.org

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Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · Jun 25

What are the consequences of DEI backlash? More than we might think.

According to a recent survey, some business leaders say "respect for LGBTQIA+ workers has declined since the fall presidential election," with an increase in anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiments, and less focus on hiring & inclusivity.

Business leaders say discrimination against LGBTQIA+ workers has become more common - The Business Journals

As the political climate shifts, many companies are reevaluating their approach to diversity and inclusion initiatives.

www.bizjournals.com

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · Jun 21

I am all for non-profits buying and preserving #AffordableHousing. This act would keep the buildings away from private equity groups that may enact predatory pricing. It's playing out successfully in Atlanta today. Let's get these initiatives into more cities all over the country!

##HousingEquity

A New Financing Model Could Help Nonprofits Buy Affordable Homes From Private Equity Investors

The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta created a flexible $100 million fund to help nonprofits purchase affordable homes from private investors. Experts say it’s a great start.

nextcity.org

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · Jun 20

We talk a lot about diversity, but how are we really thinking about it?

True diversity isn’t just about numbers. It’s about fostering environments where different perspectives can think independently together—where creativity, innovation, and inclusive leadership thrive.

An Old, Yet New, Look At Diversity In The Workplace

Malcolm Forbes famously said that "diversity is the art of thinking independently together." That's especially true in today's business landscape.

www.forbes.com

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · Jun 12

Did anyone make it to the Women+Film Festival in Denver? 🎬

I'm always excited to highlight events like this because they create the space for women in film to be together in support of one another— something we definitely need right now.

5 Films to Watch at This Year’s Women+Film Festival

1. My Favourite Cake 2. Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore 3. A Mother Apart 4. The Librarians 5. Time and Other Materials

www.5280.com

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · Jun 11

What does the future of STEM education look like in a world of rapid innovation and AI? It's no surprise that universities are trying to quickly figure out the best ways to approach AI in education, especially those with programs that focus on engineering, science, math, and tech.

#AIEducation

Comp Sci Education Expert Discusses AI, Women in STEM

Carla Brodley, who runs Northeastern’s Center for Inclusive Computing, answers five questions about her team’s efforts to make computer science more accessible to all students.

www.insidehighered.com

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Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · Jun 9

Many leaders are currently "adapting [and] embedding #DEI principles throughout their work and refusing to walk away."

Just because public-facing initiatives are stalling doesn't mean DEI is going away; it's just becoming more agile. It's refreshing to see this energy from leaders!

Still doing the work: How DEI leaders are adapting to political pushback

At Technical.ly’s Builders Conference, equity advocates discussed what it means to evolve — not abandon — DEI in the face of scrutiny, funding threats and culture war fatigue.

technical.ly

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · Jun 4

Huge props to Nicole Kidman for this effort! If we want to see more representation in film, it's up to industry leaders and those with influence to take a stand. This is a great example of women investing in other women. 🎬 #WomenInFilm

Nicole Kidman Has Now Worked With 27 Women Directors in 8 Years; She Urges ‘Financial Mentors’ to Invest in Unknown Female Filmmakers and ‘Take a Risk’

Nicole Kidman joined the Kering Women in Motion Talks and Cannes to discuss her commitment to uplifting women directors.

variety.com

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · May 28

Despite the headlines, "DEI remains a top priority for business leaders, employees, stakeholders and governments".

Practices and marketing have changed. Those remaining committed to DEI hold it as a strategic pillar in their business. 🎯 #InclusiveWorkplaces

The Path Forward For Workplace Diversity, Equity And Inclusion

The organizations that will thrive are those that recognize DEI as a fundamental aspect of business resilience, innovation and sustainable growth.

www.forbes.com

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Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · May 21

Education is our greatest tool. The first step in fighting for #HousingEquity is educating people on discrimination & rights.

This event by Fair Housing Center for Rights & Research educated attendees on discriminatory practices. I implore everyone to learn more about their rights & risks!

Nonprofit praised for educating about housing discrimination | Editorial

“We hold these events to ensure that the community knows about their fair housing rights,” Seaborn said. “We estimate that about 30,000 incidents of housing discrimination occur in Northeast Ohio a…

www.news-herald.com

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · May 8

#HousingEquity begins with structural change. So much of #HousingDiscrimination has its roots in redlining. Inequality in mortgage applicants by race still exists, even worse than a decade ago.

Equity needs to be considered in the financial practices surrounding #homeownership.

Keeping Housing Affordable Is Hard Enough. Unfair Taxes Make It Worse.

Shared equity models can help make homeownership accessible and address racial wealth gaps. Outdated tax policy shouldn’t stand in the way.

www.newamerica.org

Michelle Flowers-Taylor @micflotay.bsky.social · May 6

Everyone deserves #equity and #safety in the workplace. In Lansing, Michigan, the fifth annual #WorkplaceRightsWeek was a reminder of that. The priorities of the week: fair wages, freedom to organize and advocate, and safety.

More of this! Way to go, Michigan!

Michigan hosts Workplace Rights Week to promote safe and equitable workplaces for all

www.michigan.gov