As I write this it’s near the middle of June — just a few weeks from the May 25 murder of George Floyd that has galvanized a movement and a discussion on race and equity that has reached across the globe. Similar to the early days of COVID-19, (which now seem like a lifetime ago) once again my inbox has been flooded by statements from local businesses and organizations, but the message this time has been vastly different. With COVID-19, the messages were of shutdowns — of businesses announcing that they were temporarily closing or operating remotely, expressing concerns for their employees and the general public. There was so much fear and uncertainty but underneath that a palpable resolve, a “We’re all in this together and we will get through it.”
This time around the messages have been written in heartbreak, not fear, and with the intent to reach out and stand against hate. The most powerful, at least to me, were the messages crafted with a sense of real introspection and an acknowledgement that “We can do better,” along with a pledge to do just that.
With that in mind, I want to say that Biz New Orleans can do better. While we have made an effort from the first magazine to showcase the rich tapestry of businesses throughout this region — along with the incredible people and organizations that are the backbone of our community — I know we can do better. We can do better in reaching out to more organizations, more businesses that you may not typically hear about. We can, and will, do better in featuring and inviting a more diverse group of people to lend their voice to the magazine — and now, the podcast, Biz Talks — because we recognize that New Orleans, and this entire region, is like nowhere else on earth, and that is due entirely to our people — ALL our people.
As I’ve done since day one, I invite you to reach out to us. If there’s someone or something you want to see covered, some topic you’d like to see tackled, please let us know. I can be reached anytime at Kimberley@BizNewOrleans.com or (504) 830-7260.
This is a difficult time, but it’s in the difficult times that we learn and grow, and that gives me hope.
Stay safe and thank you for reading.
Kimberley Singletary, Managing Editor
