Step in and act where the government won't
It's been made clear in the past few months that the uncertainty we're facing as a country has impacted almost every level of society. And it's not lost on me that there is an overwhelming amount of pressure on our state leaders in the current political and economic environment. Unfortunately, I'm not confident that these leaders are using their power to tackle the deep-rooted issues that our country continues to face—like the growing wealth gap.
In my home base of Albany, New York there are over 1,000 abandoned properties with the number of unhoused people rising 38% since 2022. Governor Hochul claims to have plans to reinvent New York City, the Finger Lakes and the Hudson Valley—recently announcing a $412 million proposal —but despite budget approvals, we've yet to see a concrete plan and timeline that will move the investment forward.
Take it a step further. The wealth gap in America isn't just growing, it's accelerating. And the reality is, we can do something about this. According to the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, from 1981 to 2021, income for the top 20% of earners in the U.S. jumped 165%. For the middle and lowest earners? Just 33% and 38%.
Why leaders should be frustrated
I've grown tired of waiting for government leaders to step up and fight. I no longer expect sweeping reform from the top. So, I've focused on what I can do from the ground up. Four years ago, my wife Lisa and I started Business for Good in New York's Capital Region. Our mission is to close the wealth gap. We invest directly in communities: supporting small businesses, affordable housing, offering marketing and HR resources, mentoring entrepreneurs, and creating ecosystems that allow people to rise—and stay—out of poverty.
It's working. But it's not enough. Not unless more of us get off the sidelines. That's why I'm calling on other leaders to join me in replicating the model that we've used for Business for Good. All it takes is simple, powerful steps that any business leader can follow to use their privilege for good. These are not theoretical—they work. And they're built on a belief that I hold deeply: Privilege can be shared, but only by those who have it. The courage to act is contagious.
Here's where we start
Change starts with one simple but powerful action: listening. We must be willing to actively hear from those who are directly impacted by the growing rise of uncertainty and inequity.
Next, do your homework. Deepen your understanding of inequities and the impacts of rising uncertainty and systemic exclusion. Be courageous, as individual learning and growth is required to drive real change.
Then, confront—and speak up. Acknowledge your own biases as well as share information and resources. If you have a platform, use it—your voice, your company, your community, social media, etc. Remember that if words matter, actions speak louder.
We also need to partner with local government leaders and policy makers who are committed to dismantling barriers and fighting for each and every member of our communities. For us, at Business for Good, we work with local leaders in the Albany/New York Capital Region as part of our pilot program.
Showing up matters. Leverage your privilege for good by sharing your opinion, engaging in activities that support belonging, starting a conversation, and connecting within your local community.
Engagement is key. That means having hard conversations with colleagues, friends, and family. Be brave enough to speak up. We each have a role to play in breaking the silence and building awareness.
Finally, invest. Real impact takes resources.
Actionable ways to drive change
At Business for Good, we've put our money where our mission is, fighting for our neighbors and communities. We've invested over $1 million to help create the Albany Black Chamber of Commerce—a hub for community leaders, entrepreneurs, and small businesses to thrive. We've supported a local community center focused on improving the lives of those in need from youngest to oldest. We're working with like-minded leaders in the private sector to tackle issues that our local government is not: housing and employment to name a few.
Other leaders and cities can and should take this approach to replicate the progress we've seen in our community.
I recently read a set of community values posted in Dubai. And while this was halfway across the world and it wasn't my own community, one message struck me: A successful society is one that lifts everyone up. Let's bring that idea home.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
a minute ago
- Bloomberg
Crypto Still ‘Super Risky': Allison Schrager
Bloomberg Crypto Show With President Trump paving the way for alternative retirement investing, Bloomberg Opinion Columnist Allison Schrager says crypto is a 'super risky' asset and would not advise people adding it to their 401(k). She speaks with Katie Greifeld on 'Bloomberg Crypto.' (Source: Bloomberg)
Bloomberg
a minute ago
- Bloomberg
China Is Playing the Long Game on Trade. It's Working.
President Donald Trump's trade war was meant to rebalance global power in America's favor. Instead, China is playing the long game, enduring short-term economic pain to shape any eventual deal to its advantage. The strategy appears to be working — for now. On Monday, Washington granted Beijing another 90-day reprieve, extending a pause on tariffs through Nov. 10. China announced it would do the same. Markets welcomed the move, which offered some relief after months of tension. The delay will give President Xi Jinping's policymakers more time to plan their next move.
Associated Press
a minute ago
- Associated Press
Trump administration calls out human rights records of some nations accepting deported migrants
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Tuesday released human rights reports for countries worldwide, which eliminate mentions of discrimination faced by LGBTQ people, reduce a previous focus on reproductive rights and criticize restrictions on political speech by U.S. allies in Europe that American officials believe target right-wing politicians. The reports, which cover 2024 before President Donald Trump took office, reflect his administration's focus on free speech and protecting the lives of the unborn. However, the reports also offer a glimpse into the administration's view of dire human rights conditions in some countries that have agreed to accept migrants deported from the United States under Trump's immigration crackdown. 'This year's reports were streamlined for better utility and accessibility in the field and by partners,' the State Department said. The congressionally mandated reports in the past have been frequently used for reference and cited by lawmakers, policymakers, academic researchers and others investigating potential asylum claims or looking into conditions in specific countries. The reports were delayed by the Trump administration's changes The reports had been due to be released in March. The State Department said in an overview that the delay occurred because the Trump administration decided in March to 'adjust' the reports, which had been compiled during the Biden administration. Among other deletions, the reports do not include accounts from individual abuse survivors or witnesses. 'Frequently, eyewitnesses are intimidated or prevented from reporting what they know,' the overview said. 'On the other hand, individuals and groups opposed to a government may have incentive to exaggerate or fabricate abuses. In similar fashion, some governments may distort or exaggerate abuses attributed to opposition groups.' Human rights groups decried the changes in focus and omissions of certain categories of discrimination and potential abuse. The new reports 'reveal a disturbing effort by the Trump administration to purposefully fail to fully capture the alarming and growing attacks on human rights in certain countries around the globe,' Amnesty International said in a statement. The reports do follow previous practices in criticizing widespread human rights abuses in China, Iran, North Korea and Russia. Laying out the poor human rights records of countries accepting migrant deportees Although such deportations did not begin until after Trump took office, the reports, with one notable exception, detail general poor human rights conditions in many of the countries that have agreed to accept migrants, even if they are not citizens of that nation. The exception is El Salvador, which was the first of several countries in Latin America and Africa to agree to accept non-citizen migrant deportees from the U.S. Despite claims from rights advocates to the contrary, the report about the country says 'there were no credible reports of significant human rights abuses' in El Salvador in 2024 and that 'the government took credible steps to identify and punish officials who committed human rights abuses.' Human rights groups have accused authorities of abuses, including at a notorious prison where many migrants are sent. However, for Eswatini — a small country in Africa formerly known as Swaziland — South Sudan and Rwanda, the reports paint a grimmer picture. All have agreed to accept third-country deportees from the United States. In all three countries, the reports noted 'significant human rights issues included credible reports of arbitrary or unlawful killings, torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment … serious restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom, prohibiting independent trade unions or significant or systematic restrictions on workers' freedom of association.' Those governments 'did not take credible steps or action to identify and punish officials who committed human rights abuses,' the reports said. Singling out the treatment of white South Africans South Africa was also singled out for its human rights situation 'significantly worsening.' The report pointed to unfair treatment of white Afrikaners following the signing of major land reforms that the Trump administration has said discriminate against that minority, which ran the country's apartheid government. That system brutally enforced racial segregation, which oppressed the Black majority, for 50 years before ending in 1994. With the signing of that law in December, the report said that 'South Africa took a substantially worrying step towards land expropriation of Afrikaners and further abuses against racial minorities in the country.' It also said the government 'did not take credible steps to investigate, prosecute and punish officials who committed human rights abuses, including inflammatory racial rhetoric against Afrikaners and other racial minorities, or violence against racial minorities.' This year, the administration admitted as refugees some groups of white Afrikaners. Accusations of European allies restricting right-wing speech The reports take issue with what the Trump administration believes are restrictions on free speech imposed against generally right-wing voices in the United Kingdom, France and Germany. The reports use identical language to say that human rights conditions in each of the three NATO allies 'worsened during the year.' The executive summaries for each of the three reports say 'significant human rights issues included credible reports of serious restrictions on freedom of expression, including enforcement of or threat of criminal or civil laws in order to limit expression; and crimes, violence, or threats of violence motivated by antisemitism.' These governments have rejected such assertions that have been made by senior U.S. officials, including Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Targeting Brazil over allegations of restricting Bolsonaro's speech Similar freedom-of-speech issues were raised in Brazil, which has more recently provoked Trump's ire by prosecuting his ally — former right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro — and led to the imposition of massive U.S. tariffs and sanctions against Brazil's Supreme Court chief justice. 'The human rights situation in Brazil declined during the year,' the report said. 'The courts took broad and disproportionate action to undermine freedom of speech and internet freedom by blocking millions of users' access to information on a major social media platform in response to a case of harassment.' It added that the government 'undermined democratic debate by restricting access to online content deemed to undermine democracy' and specifically mentioned suppressing the speech of Bolsonaro and his supporters.
