From the Readers

On Employee Appreciation Day

Dear Editor,

I wanted to follow up and see if you are working on any stories where the below findings and report could be a fit.

Ahead of Employee Appreciation Day on 3/1, TalentLMS, a learning management system backed by Epignosis, conducted a survey on how employees at U.S.-based companies view appreciation practices and their favorite ways of receiving recognition, as well as generational differences. Some of the survey findings include:

• 30% of Gen Z workers don’t feel appreciated at work

• 28% percent of workers rarely or never receive praise for their work from managers and 33% are recognized only sometimes

• 59% favor cash bonuses over PTO (48%) as a form of appreciation followed by gifts or gift cards (38%)

• 54% of workers said their company shows appreciation by investing in training and development opportunities

• 41% think AI-driven programs could enhance their company’s approach to employee recognition

I’d also be happy to connect you with an executive to learn more. What do you think?

Kristina Piersanti

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From `Public Narrative’

Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for your interest and/or attendance at last week’s webinar. Public Narrative’s work has afforded us an up close (and sometimes personal) experience with the jarring effects of change management. Though our preference for a more inclusive transfer process complete with focus groups, 1:1 meetings and an in-person gathering was overridden, we acknowledge our perceived part in the harm and mistrust caused by the lack of transparency. Public Narrative will lead the Chicago Independent Media Alliance (CIMA) in the series of activities we initially proposed at the start of our discussions with the Reader Institute for Community Journalism (RICJ).

Since RICJ invited Public Narrative to consider leading CIMA in August 2023, the PN team has scoured the available documentation extensively to research information exchanged during virtual and/or in-person CIMA gatherings.

Public Narrative wholeheartedly believes in the growth in store for our collaboration and its ability to advance the landscape. We wouldn’t have answered the call to steward CIMA if we didn’t. We will, indeed, lead CIMA to new heights. It is my hope we do that with its existing membership intact.

Our small but mighty team is excited to work with members, mutually open-minded and eager to explore this new chapter together. As we know, change can be difficult and can result in challenging conversations, spouting hateful rhetoric and harmful disruption will not be tolerated.

As a proven leader committed to establishing equity of voice, I remain excited about PN leading CIMA members and supporters in exploring a shared vision for the Alliance’s role and function in Chicago’s media ecosystem.

Together, we will chart CIMA’s path forward with dignity, respect and integrity. Your invaluable participation in the Alliance will allow us to co-create a feasible shared understanding and vision for CIMA’s future. We will establish a culture where CIMA administrators, members and supporters are safe, seen and supported.

Thank you and I look forward to connecting in the days ahead!

Jhmira Alexander

President and Exceutive Director Public Narrative

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Uniting Resilience

Dear Veronica,

My wife, Felipa, and I write to you today with heavy hearts. On Sunday night, we joined many others in LGBTQA+ and two-spirit communities across Turtle Island in holding a candlelight vigil to mourn the death of Nex Benedict. Nex, a 16-year-old non-binary person of Choctaw descent, died following a bullying incident at their school on the Cherokee Nation Reservation in Oklahoma last week.

Please watch our discussion with Lakota Law to get our thoughts on how we understand this tragedy. It’s beyond comprehension, and yet it seems to happen again and again: the hate we face, the passage of laws in conservative states like South Dakota and Oklahoma meant to keep us on the margins — which ultimately teach young people to continue fearing those they don’t understand, rather than seeking that understanding — and the violence that results.

Nex’s killing immediately brings to mind the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard in Wyoming, a chilling event which gave rise to the type of hate crime legislation Felipa and I have worked hard to pass on tribal nations throughout Lakota Country. We’ve told you before, but it bears repeating: over the course of our many years together, we’ve been called every name in the book and faced seemingly endless discrimination, both on and off the reservation.

It’s our life’s mission to change that — not just for ourselves, but for all people. At Uniting Resilience, we know that bullying and hate-based violence need to become things of the past in order to create an equitable future for every one of our wakanyeja, our precious children.

Our ribbon cutting will be followed by smudging and prayers, speakers, and lunch. On any other week, this would be a purely joyous occasion.

Wopila tanka — thank you for your understanding and acceptance! Muffie Mouseau

Uniting Resilience

Via the Lakota People’s Law Project