Dear Friend,

We hope you are having a wonderful start to the unofficial beginning of summer. We at Lift Our Voices have been very busy over the past several months and wanted to update you on our progress.

IN HER OWN WORDS

Documentary studio XTR is producing a documentary called In Her Own Words about our personal experiences with non-disclosure agreements. As many of you know, due to stringent non-disclosure agreements, we have been unable to participate in the myriad of movies and stories made or written about the events that led to our involvement in these critical issues. This documentary will shine a spotlight on the ways organizations prevent women, people of color and others from discussing their experiences in the workplace. We hope to give you periodic updates as we commence filming in earnest this summer and to invite you to screenings once the documentary is released.

GOLDMAN SACHS AND SUNRUN

We are very pleased to report that our shareholder advocacy efforts continue to gain traction. In April, Gretchen spoke before the Goldman Sachs annual meeting, where she called upon shareholders to vote in favor of a measure requiring the bank to publish a report detailing the effects of mandatory arbitration on its staff. Though the proposal was narrowly defeated at the meeting, 49% of shareholders voted to support the measure – a decision that led Goldman Sachs to reverse its opposition and move forward on preparing a report on the effects of arbitration on its staff and its workplace.

Earlier this year, Lift Our Voices also joined Nia Impact Capital to ask Sunrun Inc., the nation's largest residential solar company, to issue a report about the effects of mandatory arbitration on its employees and workplace. Shareholders backed the resolution despite opposition by Sunrun, and the company will release the report in the coming months. 

STANFORD UNIVERSITY

Over the past several months, we have been working with Stanford University Law School students who are doing a Policy Lab class with us as well as the Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford to gain a better understanding of the use of forced arbitration and non-disclosure agreements. Through case studies and research, we hope to provide a clearer picture of the effect these practices have on corporate and organizational culture and on women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ communities and on other traditionally disenfranchised workers.

TIME’S UP FOUNDATION

This quarter, we would like to thank the Time’s Up Foundation for its generous multi-year support. Time’s Up has been doing critical work in the #metoo space for many years and we are honored to partner with this organization in eradicating sexual harassment and other toxic workplace practices.

CRAIG NEWMARK PHILANTHROPIES

We would also like to thank Craig Newmark Philanthropies for its continued support of our work. Craig Newmark, the founder of craigslist, was one of our earliest founding funders and continues to generously support our mission.

The support of our early funders has been critical to our mission. It will allow us to build out our infrastructure, plan for long-term projects and initiate research to determine the scope of toxic workplace practices, and help us develop remedies that will transform the American workplace.

We hope that you will consider donating to our efforts to make the American workplace safer for all. All contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permissible by law.

Thank you for your ongoing support and have a wonderful summer.

— Gretchen Carlson and Julie Roginsky | Co-Founders, Lift Our Voices