Local Peer Group Grows into Community Impact Driver for Denver’s Legal Industry
Local Peer Group Grows into Community Impact Driver for Denver’s Legal Industry
In an industry often defined by individual practice, a shared commitment to giving back has created an ecosystem where local legal professionals can come together to address pressing community needs.
“There is a real access to justice issue in this country. The number of people who can’t afford to receive legal help is enormous,” said Jayme Ritchie, Director of Pro Bono and Community Impact at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. But Jayme has seen a rise in pro bono work in Denver, which encompasses any work an attorney does for a client at no charge.
Recap of Redefining Corporate Impact: Leading with Responsibility
We explored three different yet aligned approaches to corporate responsibility:
- The philosophy of “to whom much has been given, much is required,” stemming from a founder’s personal experience.
- A core vision focused on serving people and improving lives, which includes seeking feedback and understanding your industry’s impact on the community.
- Responsibility is being responsive.
Each of these approaches support people holistically and requires patience. Special thanks to Issac Schilling, Regional Director of Field Marketing for Lifetime Windows and Siding, for sharing the direct impact of Lifetime’s workforce development partnership with Stout Street Foundation.
Thank you to CoCo Criste, Pete Dignan, Mara Kelly and Karla Rodriguez for sharing their insights and expertise.
Small Business Spotlight: YellowDog
YellowDog, a design, print and marketing studio in Denver’s Clayton neighborhood, completed their first-ever period product drive, collecting more than 3,500 donations.
The 2023 State of the Period report found that nearly one quarter of teens and one third of adults struggle to afford period products, resulting in missed school days, lost wages, stress and embarrassment that no one should have to experience. YellowDog Office Manager Sara Lou Klein saw this need and felt driven to help. She had previously worked with the organization Period Kits and felt strongly about equipping people who menstruate with these basic necessities. Community is one of YellowDog’s core values, and owners Jenny and Dan Mulligan threw their full support behind the initiative.
Recap of Activate a Network of CSR Champions
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is sustainable and powerful when many people within an organization have a hand in creating positive social impact. Our speakers showed how you can develop teammates who will continue to make an impact wherever they go. They recommended building community impact metrics into your team’s annual goals and framing engagement as a means of professional development. They also reminded us that everyone has a cause they care about – by getting to know your teams, you can understand and tap into that care.
Thank you to Brooks Dozier, Kate Kleyman, Carla Patrick and Mary Van Jacobs for sharing their insights and expertise. Read More
Insights into Corporate Grantmaking: Strategies from B:CIVIC Investors
Corporate grant making is one tool for supporting communities and driving social impact. We spoke with three corporate foundations, COPIC Medical Foundation, IMA Foundation and Get Grounded Foundation of GFM|CenterTable, to understand the approaches of foundations of differing sizes, maturities and focus areas. There are several common themes across the foundations:
- Focus areas address critical community needs while aligning with business strategies
- The review process incorporates many voices.
- Extending engagement with grantees and leveraging your business assets to further support and amplify impact beyond the grant.
Keep reading below for more insights on building your grantmaking strategy.
The Workforce of the Future: Spanning Five Generations Recap
When it comes to authentically uplifting employees of different generations, our expert panelists recommended leading from a place of curiosity, having mentorship programs and developing processes to share institutional knowledge. They reminded us that while labels like “Boomers” and “Gen Z” can be helpful starting points for understanding, be mindful of stereotypes and recognize that someone’s generation is only one part of their identity.
Thank you to Gina Del Castillo, Polica Houston, Mara Olsen and Ashley Woodman for sharing their insights and expertise. Thank you to Liz Gardner for being our moderator.