Culture Blog Archives

There are a lot of winter celebrations and holiday cheer this time of the year. As a result, I thought it might be fun to share how cultures throughout the world celebrate during the winter months.

Winter Solstice

The shortest day of the year.
Falls in mid-December for those in the Northern Hemisphere and June for those in the Southern Hemisphere.
At this time, half of the Earth is tilted furthest from the sun at this exact moment.
Fun Fact: Did you know that if you stand outside at noon on winter solstice and look at your shadow, it will be the longest shadow you cast the entire year?
Other similar celebrations include:
- The Yalda festival in Iran marking the day when Mithra, an angel of light, was thought to have been born.
- China’s Dongzhi festival celebrates winter’s darkness beginning to give way to light.
- Scandinavians gather for Juul, or Yule, a multi-day feast when ancient people would welcome the return of the sun god.

Hanukkah

A Jewish holiday honoring the Maccabee’s victory over King Antiochus in 165 B.C., a victory seen as a miracle of God.
Hanukkah is celebrated for eight nights with prayer, the lighting of the menorah, food, games, sing-a-longs, and gift exchanges.
The dates of Hanukkah change due to the lunar cycle but typically occur in late November or early December.

Christmas

A Christian holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ.
Traditions around the world include decorating a tree with lights and ornaments, hanging mistletoe, attending church services on Christmas Eve, and waiting for Santa Clause to arrive from the North Pole in time for Christmas morning (December 25^th).
Fun Fact: Santa’s arrival is different in many cultures: in Hawaii he arrives by boat, in Australia on water skies, and in Ghana he finds his way out of the jungle to leave gifts for children.

Kwanzaa

Commemorates African heritage, during which family and friends gather to exchange gifts and light a series of candles.
The candles symbolize the basic values of African American family life: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith
Kwanzaa occurs from December 26^th through January 1^st.

New Years Day

Takes place on January 1^st each year
The count down starts the night before and often fireworks are on display as the clock strikes midnight on the first day of the new year in the Gregorian calendar.
Black-eyed peas, collard greens and pork are commonly served on New Years Day in the southern United States.
Black-eyed peas are thought to bring luck and prosperity for the new year. Greens are considered a sign of wealth for the new year. Pork is a symbol of moving forward.

Epiphany, or Three Kings Day

Celebrated as the day the three wise men first see Jesus, bringing him their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
This celebration occurs in many different ways 12 days after Christmas. Examples include:
- In Puerto Rico, children leave a box with hay under their beds at night so the kings will leave presents.
- In France, kings’ cakes have hidden toys, jewels, or coins inside. The person who finds the trinket in their cake gets to wear a crown.

Chinese New Year

Considered the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays.
This holiday falls between January 21^st and February 20^th.
Family and friends celebrate together during this time to usher out the old year and bring forth the luck and prosperity of the new year.
Legend has it that thousands of years ago, a monster named Nian would attack villages at the beginning of each year. Loud noises, bright lights, and the color red scare the monster away. Today, the celebration uses fireworks, red clothes, and red decorations.

Las Posadas

Primarily celebrated in Mexico, Guatemala, and parts of the southwestern United States, Las Posadas is a 9-day celebration.
During this celebration, a procession of people moves from home to home with a candle inside a paper lamp, stopping at each home to sing and pray.
Eventually, the procession ends but the celebration continues with more singing, delicious food, and the breaking of a piñata.

Eid-ul-Adha

Celebrated worldwide in honor of the willingness of the prophet Abraham to sacrifice his first-born at God’s command.
Celebrated near the end of the calendar year but dates vary based on the Islamic lunar calendar.
Families gather together in a large congregation, dressed in their finest, and sacrifice their best halal domestic animals as a symbol of Abraham’s sacrifice. Friends, neighbors, and the poor share the meat to ensure no one goes without during the holiday feast.

Diwali

A five-day Hindu festival and official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar.
Diwali celebrates the attainment of nirvana by Mahavira (an Indian Sage), as well as the death of Swami Dayanand (a Hindu religious leader).
The holiday involves the lighting of small clay lamps to symbolize the victory of good over evil.

For visuals of these holidays, check out the following video:

This list doesn’t come close to covering all of the winter holidays celebrated around the world. There are others such as Boxing Day, Omisoka, St. Lucia Day, St. Nicholas Day, Ramadan, etc. However, we hope that no matter how you celebrate this winter, you’re able to safely celebrate with the people that matter most to you and remember the traditions that keep your spirit up from year to year.

Happy Holidays from your friends at FlexTrades!

The winter season up north may conjure images of icy roads and cold temperatures, but for FlexTrades’ Technicians, it presents a unique set of advantages. These advantages stem from the increased demand for winter-related products and the specialized skills required to meet the needs of the season. In this article, we’ll explore why FlexTrades Technicians should consider going on assignment up north during the winter months.

Increased Demand for Winter Products

Winter brings a surge in demand for items such as snowmobiles, winter clothing, and heating equipment. Manufacturing facilities up north ramp up production to meet this demand, creating numerous opportunities for FlexTrades Technicians.

Seasonal Spikes & Overtime Pay

Orders and demand tend to spike during the winter months for many manufacturing employers in northern regions. Generally, these spikes result in increased opportunities to work overtime hours (at increased payrates). This can substantially boost your per-project income, making it an economically advantageous choice for FlexTrades Technicians.

Stable Employment

Industries like agriculture or tourism often experience significant seasonal variation, but the manufacturing sector in northern regions tends to maintain more stable employment throughout the year. FlexTrades Technicians can rely on manufacturing jobs as a consistent source of income during the winter months.

Comfortable Indoor Facilities

Modern manufacturing facilities up north are equipped with well-insulated and heated indoor environments. This means that FlexTrades Technicians can work comfortably and safely, even in harsh winter conditions.

Skills Development

Winter manufacturing jobs often require specialized skills, such as working with cold-weather materials or winterizing products. FlexTrades Technicians can gain valuable experience and expertise in these areas, thus enhancing their skillset and gearing them up for future projects.

Networking Opportunities

Working up north during the winter season provides FlexTrades Technicians with opportunities to connect with industry professionals specializing in cold-weather manufacturing. These connections can be valuable for future projects and collaborations.

Adventure & Exploration

For those who enjoy winter sports and outdoor activities, working up north during the winter can be an opportunity to explore and experience the region’s unique winter culture and recreational opportunities during downtime.

Personal Growth

FlexTrades Technicians who embrace the challenges of working up north during the winter can develop valuable personal attributes such as resilience, adaptability, and the ability to thrive in diverse environments. These skills can be beneficial for both personal and professional growth.

Financial Security

The combination of higher pay rates, bonuses, and the potential for year-round employment can provide FlexTrades Technicians with financial security. This stability allows them to save, invest, or plan for their future with confidence.

The winter season up north offers FlexTrades Technicians a range of advantages, from increased income and job stability to skill development and personal growth. While it’s important to consider personal preferences and family commitments, working up north during the winter can be a rewarding choice for those seeking unique career opportunities and experiences in the world of manufacturing.

In recent years, the Clean Slate Initiative has emerged as a growing movement towards a policy shift in the United States. It aims to address the challenges faced by individuals with criminal records. This groundbreaking initiative offers both opportunities and challenges not only for those seeking a fresh start but also for employers. Let’s explore what the Clean Slate Initiative entails, its implications for both employers and employees, and how it varies from state to state.

What is the Clean Slate Initiative?

The Clean Slate Initiative is a progressive legal movement that seeks to automate the process of expunging certain criminal records and convictions. Its primary goal is to help people with past convictions reenter society as productive, law-abiding citizens. While the specifics vary by state, the initiative typically involves the automatic sealing or expungement of arrest and conviction records for minor, non-violent offenses after a predetermined period of good behavior.

What Does the Clean Slate Initiative Mean for Employees?

This initiative creates both challenges and opportunities for workers.

Opportunities:

Increased Employment Prospects: The Clean Slate Initiative removes barriers to employment for individuals with past convictions, expanding their job opportunities.
Economic Benefits: Gainful employment not only reduces recidivism rates but also boosts the economy by increasing tax revenue and decreasing reliance on social welfare programs.
Rehabilitation and Reintegration: The initiative supports the rehabilitation and reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals into society, reducing the cycle of crime.

Challenges:

Stigma and Bias: Despite legal changes, societal stigma may still affect job prospects and opportunities for those with criminal records.
Variations in Implementation: The initiative’s effectiveness depends on state-specific laws and resources, leading to disparities in outcomes for individuals.

What Does the Clean Slate Initiative Mean for Employers?

Companies hiring individuals will have their own opportunities and challenges to address too.

Opportunities:

Diverse Talent Pool: Employers can tap into a previously underutilized talent pool, potentially finding skilled workers.
Legal Protections: In some states, employers who hire individuals with expunged records may receive legal protections against liability related to their employees’ past convictions.

Challenges:

Risk Assessment: Employers must navigate the complexity of assessing the potential risks associated with hiring individuals with criminal histories.
Legal Compliance: The initiative’s legal requirements and implications can vary significantly from state to state, posing compliance challenges for businesses.

How Does the Clean Slate Initiative Differ by State?

Legislation and Eligibility: The Clean Slate Initiative’s implementation differs from state to state regarding the types of offenses eligible for expungement and the waiting periods required. Currently, 12 states across America have passed Clean Slate legislation.
Resources and Support: Some states allocate more resources to support individuals seeking record expungement, making the process more accessible and efficient.

The Clean Slate Initiative represents a transformative approach to criminal justice and rehabilitation in the United States. While it offers numerous opportunities for both employees and employers, it also presents its fair share of challenges. These opportunities and challenges vary significantly depending on the state, highlighting the importance of staying informed about local legislation and resources. As the Clean Slate Initiative continues to evolve, its impact on the lives of millions of Americans and the workforce as a whole remains a subject of great interest and importance.

We’ve all heard the joke regarding the Fitbit app where it’s like a Tamagotchi but the creature you’re trying to keep alive is yourself. In that same vein, I bring to you list of free self-care apps that are designed to help you thrive and live your best life in as fun and engaging a way as possible.

Finch

I downloaded Finch because I was going through a rough period and needed to focus on something else. I created an account and my finch, Ophelia, was born. As you complete and log various tasks like housework or self-care, you earn Rainbow Stones. These, in turn, can be used to purchase clothing for your finch to wear or furniture to decorate their home. Once you’ve fully evolved into an adult you can even travel outside of Finchie Forest to destinations like Bali, Paris, or Maui. Not to mention the adorable pets your finch is able to obtain. There is both a free and paid version of this app and, while I have the paid version, the free iteration of Finch is a full experience. Overall, this app was able to bring a semblance of order and routine to my work-from-home lifestyle while constantly bringing a smile to my face.

Lumosity

The process to create an account in Lumosity is simple, and the games they present you with to assess the areas of your mind you wish to exercise are straightforward. Some of the games were even challenging to the point that I started to get frustrated. This probably means it’s an app I need to keep on my phone!

Colorfy

If you’re on the road, you may be traveling light and not have room for coloring books or pencils. Thankfully, now you don’t have to. Introducing Colorfy, the app designed with you in mind. That is, if you’re the kind of person who finds coloring relaxing. I personally do not, but even I had to admit this app was helping me decompress. There’s a membership option for a fee but the free version was perfectly entertaining on its own.

Goblin Tools

This last one is, to the neurotypical passerby, quite bizarrely named. However, for my fellow ADHD warriors, you know all too well that we are all a bit of a goblin at times. Goblin Tools is an app that I purchased for a onetime fee of $0.99. However, after playing around with it, I would have happily paid ten times that. It takes any task you may be struggling to accomplish and breaks into tasks based on how much ADHD paralysis you are dealing with at the moment with a simple sliding scale. I will never be without this app on my phone and, should it ever be discontinued, I will surely perish.

Recently, the FlexTrades Marketing Team revamped and polished our brand personality, including the traits and archetypes that best align with our target audience. Any business that wants to make a meaningful connection to its audience should consider what their brand personality is. That includes billion-dollar, multi-national manufacturers who make the goods we all buy all the way down to the $1.00 lemonade stand at the corner in your neighborhood.

Brand personality is a set of human traits that helps to define a brand. Things like values, humor, candor, and sincerity. These traits are handpicked to build an emotional connection to a specific target audience with similar traits.

Building a brand personality can help any business with the following:

Resonate with the right target audience
Create an emotional connection and foster brand loyalty
Differentiate your brand
Increase brand equity

Now, I won’t be sharing the “secret sauce” of FlexTrades’ Brand Personality, but I will walk through the brand personality of my daughter’s lemonade stand. The steps below are the same basic steps any business can use to start this process.

Step 1: Who is your target audience?

Most people enjoy lemonade occasionally, but that’s far too wide of an audience. Our first target audience would be the parents who crack open their wallet or purse to purchase lemonade for their kids. Our second target audience are the kids who might pass by on their bikes, Razor scooters, or hover boards.

Step 2: What are your primary traits?

The most popular way to start building brand personality is by using the Aekers five-dimensional model. This model divides brands into primary traits of sincerity, excitement, competence, sophistication, and ruggedness. Brands focus on one or two major personality dimensions while balancing and complimenting the others.

For our lemonade stand’s first target audience, parents, we’ll focus on Sincerity and being honest, wholesome, and positive in our messaging. When I see a lemonade stand as a parent, I see little entrepreneurs making their first buck and building a community in my neighborhood.

For our second target audience, kids, we’ll focus on Excitement while being lively, exciting, and imaginative. When I was a kid, seeing a lemonade stand was like hearing the jingle of an ice cream truck or going to get a Happy Meal. It’s fun and exciting to do something you don’t get to do very often!

Step 3: What are your brand archetypes?

The key to nailing brand personality is to specify the target market archetype and directly align it to the brand archetype. This way, you can resonate with your intended audience and position your brand intentionally. In marketing, it is generally agreed that there are 12 brand archetypes that are rooted in psychology. Each one is a categorization of a basic (and primal) human desire.

For our target audience of parents, we’ll focus on a dual archetype of Everyman Caregiver. The Everyman archetype highlights the hard-working and sincere staff of our lemonade stand, who bring refreshment to our community. The Caregiver archetype highlights the service being provided to thirsty kids and parents who just need a break. Brands like Johnsons Baby, Walmart and Target use these archetypes.

For our target audience of kids, we’ll focus on the Jester archetype. The Jester archetype is fun-loving, playful, and focused on enjoyment. Brands like M&M’s and Ben & Jerry’s use this archetype.

Step 4: Build your brand guidelines!

Once you’ve gone through the work of determining your brand personality traits and archetypes, it’s important to make brand guidelines. Brand guidelines are a resource for everyone in the organization to use as a tool to maintain consistent brand standards and brand integrity.

These guidelines include things like:

Standard fonts and color schemes
Company logos
Voice, tone, and messaging
Templates for signage, email, or social media campaigns

For our lemonade stand, this may include using bright colors with handwritten fonts to identify with kids. Maybe a superhero, princess, or dinosaur theme to further lean on the Jester archetype. Our voice and tone may be cheerful and welcoming to lean into our Everyman Caregiver archetypes.

Conclusion

The process of building a brand personality can be exciting, but it does take a lot of creative energy to do it right. Our marketing team had “homework” assignments before each meeting so that we all came prepared with our thoughts and suggestions on each step. It’s important to go into this process with an open mind and be ready to run with the best ideas!

As mentioned at the beginning, a business with a well-defined brand personality can more easily:

Resonate with the right target audience
Create an emotional connection and foster brand loyalty
Differentiate your brand
Increase brand equity

I challenge you to check out our website www.flextrades.com, and watch our social media pages to see if you can determine what our brand personality is!

Check Out our Primary Social Media Channels:

A job that involves travel must account for a certain amount of downtime to be filled. Books, in my opinion, are the perfect remedy to the problem of free time! Consider one of these wonderful reads before you pick up your phone and doom-scroll on social media.

Fourth Wing

Attention Fantasy Romance readers, this one’s for you! I bought this book on Amazon and then read some reviews and cancelled my order. A few days later I saw a Tiktok covering the book and re-ordered it. Then cancelled after seeing several more videos bashing the book. I finally ordered and received the book almost a month after initially wanting it. I proceeded to devour it in three days and briefly considered re-reading it a week later. It is easily the best new fantasy novel I’ve read in 2023 and the idea that I must wait till fall for the next book in the series brings very real tears to my eyes.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

No this isn’t about OceanGate, nor does it have anything to do with the Titanic. This classic tale of nautical adventure by Jules Vern has stood the test of time since its publication in 1870, and for good reason. Without spoiling too much of the story, the main characters journey to find a sea monster and discover it’s not really a sea monster. At which point they are captured and end up seeing other, completely unrelated, sea monsters.

The Martian

If you enjoy meticulously researched sci-fi, humor, and F-bombs then this is the book for you! Imagine Castaway except you’re on Mars. While you journey far from home, consider joining astronaut and biologist Mark Watney as he struggles to survive on an inhospitable planet all alone. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll find yourself craving potato-based foods!

1984

In the mood for current events? I’ve got the book for you! Winston Smith lives in a futuristic society under the watchful eye of Big Brother but his natural curiosity and idealism regarding freedom lead to chaotic revelations regarding the supposedly benevolent government that watches all. This book is great for when you think you may be getting too comfortable with modern society and are looking for something that unnerves you to your very core!

The Greatest Beer Run Ever: A Memoir of Friendship, Loyalty, and War

You may have seen the movie that came out September 2022 starring Zac Efron but, if not, please consider delving into this book based on the events that took place when Jon Donohue decided to share some beers. What starts as an almost silly venture to track down his friends fighting in Vietnam quickly turns as he comes face to face with the realities of war. A good read for any history and war buffs.

The Road

Are you happy and don’t want to be? Well while you travel on the road, consider reading The Road. You may be familiar with the movie starring Viggo Mortesen but, if not, it’s a dystopian road trip (on foot) story about a father and son at the end of the world. Guaranteed to eliminate any of that pesky serotonin you want to rid yourself of!

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer

Whether you donned pink and saw Barbie or black to see Oppenheimer – or sat for five hours to watch both – there’s no denying the atomic success of both movies. Oppenheimer, in particular, brought to light a hugely important figure often forgotten by history. Oppenheimer’s life leading up to the successful completion and deployment of the atomic bomb, and the hearings that followed, make for a riveting story that any WW2 buff should have on their shelf.

And last but by far the least…

The Sword & Shield

That’s right folks, I don’t just write manufacturing themed blog posts, I’m also a published author! If you have any interest in an immunocompromised, cat-loving assassin who gets involved in various shenanigans then this fantasy novel is for you! Chock full of dark humor and found family, it has hundreds of five-star reviews and is – in my totally unbiased opinion – a good time! Is this a shameless plug of my own novel in the hopes that I gain more readers? Absolutely not! It is a humanitarian effort to enrich the lives of those around me by bringing them the word of Emma Khoury.

The days of manic rushing to Best Buy and Walmart before you’ve even had a chance to digest Thanksgiving dinner are over. In addition to Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we now have Amazon Prime Day. Amazon Prime Day is a two-day event typically held in July where the masses are able to converge online to score obscenely amazing deals, with free shipping to boot, if you’re an Amazon Prime member.

Amazon first held Prime Day on July 15, 2015, as a celebration of their 20^th anniversary. But, due to the staggering success of the event, it turned into an annual affair. You’d think such an event would be the busiest time of year for the massive shopping site but it actually only ranks in fourth place, after Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and the lead up to Christmas. Despite its ranking, 2022’s Prime day saw record sales of over $12 billion. Due to such a high demand, it only makes sense that behind the scenes things are being kicked into high gear.

The entire enterprise is a Swiss watch of moving parts. The scope of work doesn’t sound like much when you think about the fact that Amazon already does all this on a daily basis. However, when you factor in the massive uptick in quantity of items sold, therein lies the difficulty. On average, Amazon ships out roughly 1.6 million packages per day, a mere drop in the bucket compared to the more than 300 million items sold on Prime Day 2022. And the effects of this surge across their operations are a perfect case study to understand many of the factors impacting supply chain volatility across the larger economy. Doing so makes the risks and opportunities within this volatility much more obvious to other vendors of any kind.

Demand Fluctuations

Forecasting is key to any business. But the sales on Prime Day are unique and buying patterns are often spontaneous. This makes predictions precarious because both overestimations and underestimations can lead to dissatisfied customers and lost profits. Skillfully walking this tightrope is as much art as science and explains why experienced supply chain experts are so in demand.

Logistical Capabilities

Amazon typically averages a little over $1 billion in gross sales daily. This means that the numbers from 2022 were almost 10 times what happens during a “normal” day. Companies can’t increase their footprint by 10 times for just a day or two every year, so how do they handle surges like Prime Day or Black Friday? The answer is that sometimes they can’t. Websites crash, orders get backlogged, products sell out and that can’t be helped. Twitter revels in highlighting these struggles. But the goal is to avoid it at all costs and many companies do so with careful preparation and nimble planning. When facilities and workforces are well-prepared, and plans are closely monitored issues can be addressed appropriately in real time, consequences mitigated, and customers end up pleased.

Communication is Key

Whether you’re the scale of Amazon or just starting to scale up from a company of one, no business can handle a 10x increase in daily business alone. It takes great partners to do so successfully, and it takes great communication to get great partners. Amazon takes collaborative communication so seriously that it’s driven a lot of their other business research. Now every business doesn’t have to develop their own version of Amazon Web Services, but they should all invest in tools that make communicating with partners easier and more accurate.

There is much more that impacts the supply chain, for Amazon or any other business, than what has been covered in this article. But focusing on these three areas of emphasis has shed a little light on why some companies don’t survive supply chain disruptions while others, like Amazon, are able to thrive. If you’d like to learn more about supply chain resilience and how you can make it a reality at our company, you should read our recent blog about it too. Have other questions about supply chain? Send them to our Writing Team and keep your eyes out for future blogs.

Juneteenth (formally known as African American Freedom Day or Emancipation Day) is in representation of June 19th, 1865. This date marks the time when the enslaved African Americans in Confederate States were told they were no longer under the law and concept of being enslaved… two years AFTER the Emancipation Proclamation. Although January 1, 1863, is when the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, it was not yet implemented everywhere. The concept of enslaving humans was still protected under Confederate control in ten states.   However, on June 19, 1865, many Union troops made it to Galveston Bay, Texas. There they officially pronounced that over 250,000 enslaved African Americans in the state were no longer enslaved under this law.

Juneteenth has now become a well-known federal holiday and is to be celebrated all throughout the United States. June 19, 2023 is a historic date. What a time to be alive and see what is known as our second Independence Day! This day marks not only what is known as Freedom, but also union, hope, and another milestone for our country. This is a time to grow, build with other communities, and share our experiences and truths.

Born in the 80s and growing up in the 90s, I always knew I was considered a black girl. But I never acknowledged what that meant in America. I grew up in a predominantly Latino neighborhood where many of my classmates and friends did not have my hair texture, complexion, or home structure. They also had their own language, which their parents spoke, but my Puerto Rican friends and classmates spoke both English and Spanish. Still, I mainly saw more of what we had in common. Things like our style of clothing, music, and neighborhood culture. I noticed these things more than the things that were obviously different. Especially since black excellence was not being taught in our neighborhood schools. Growing up, in my old neighborhood, we did not learn much about black excellence in school. We were mostly taught about what I’d like to call the “Big Three”, Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and, of course, Harriet Tubman. But there were no lessons on any of the other African American history icons such as Malcolm X or Nat Turner. I did not get to learn about things like The Black Panther Party or Black Wall Street. With the busyness of work and staying on top of the lessons that were being taught, my mom never got deep into the history of our excellence either. Most of my information came from anecdotes my cousin would tell that she learned from her school. Because of this, I made sure to take Africa American Studies and Africa American History during my college years. Eventually, in my preteen years, I started to notice differences between races such as bi-racial people. I also learned about the Afro-Latin community and their culture. Essentially, I learned how amazing it was and is to be a Black woman in America! Now as an adult Black woman, or Woman of color, I have decided to further educate myself in the history of my people. I encourage you to do the same.

Take some time to learn ways to celebrate Juneteenth. Not sure how to do that? Here’s a hint, celebrate the same as you would on any other holiday- with family, friends, and food! I would also try shopping at and supporting Black Owned businesses and establishments. Help our community to rebuild, or to build, generational wealth. Give resources about financial literacy to People of Color (POC) that may need such information. Because, after all the fireworks and BBQs are gone, we still have a long way to go yet to reach our fullest potential as a group.

Here are other examples of things to do. Simply Google your city and state and find out what and where they are hosting Juneteenth festivals or events. Here’s few for consideration…

Chicago: Chance the Rapper’s Juneteenth – BBQ at the DuSable museum. 
 Atlanta: Parade & Music Festival 
 Houston: Houston Juneteenth Unbranded Takeover

You can always create your own annual event for you, your family, and friends too!

Google Black inventors and see all the amazing things that were created by Black Americans. Some examples to get you started:

Garrett Morgan: Inventor of the Three-Position Traffic Signal and the Gas Mask; saved countless lives.
Jesse Russell: Pioneer in the field of cellular and wireless communications.

And my personal favorite…

George Crum: Inventor (unintentionally) created the potato chip during the summer of 1853.

Final words: Find something local in your city or state and make this your annual celebration!

Celebrate responsibility!

Peace and many Blessings! Enjoy!

Happy JUNETEENTH, from my family to yours!

FlexTrades is all about manufacturing, and this industry is all about making things. However, we try to remember the people doing the making, and all the things that are important to them. Our families, careers, and histories deserve recognition beyond what we do when we’re “on the clock.” In that light, this article will gladly answer a question that we are hearing more and more often…

What is Juneteenth?

We’re thrilled to see awareness around this holiday grow every single year, and we’re very happy to answer the question above.

Juneteenth is observed annually on June 19^th and has been since 1865. It began in Galveston, Texas, following the Civil War, as African American Emancipation Day. In the 156 years since, the celebration has grown and spread beyond the United States and, sometimes, beyond the date. Today, Juneteenth is a day, a week, and in some areas even a month that commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement.

History

Juneteenth originated when Major General Gordon Granger landed with his regiment and brought news to Texas of Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation and General Robert E. Lee’s April 1865 surrender. This announcement “officially” freed the enslaved population of Texas with Granger’s General Order Number 3.

“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.”

Why Is Juneteenth Important Today?

Juneteenth today celebrates African American freedom and achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. But, as historian Henry Gates Jr says, today the day is “not only an opportunity to celebrate, but to speak out.”

As the holiday grows in a national — and even global — perspective, Juneteenth is becoming an increasingly symbolic event to not only recognize the achievements of the past but to also advocate for societal improvements in the future. In essence, we’re all collectively remembering where we came from while recommitting to what we want our future to be. How can you not celebrate that?

How Can I Celebrate?

In the Workplace:

Recognizing Juneteenth in the workplace doesn’t just support corporate diversity; it shows a true commitment to creating a diverse workforce and recognition of an increasingly diverse society. There are many ways this can be done, but bringing in a guest speaker is a great one.

In the Community:

If your community doesn’t already have a Juneteenth committee, forming one is a great first step. However, if it does, participating in events is all you really need to do. Whether attending a block party, hosting guest speakers, or watching a parade; the aim of the day is to remember, celebrate, encourage, and support freedom, unity, and improvement among all of us. There isn’t a wrong way to participate in that!

In the Home:

Plan a special meal and gather the family together to acknowledge Juneteenth. Decorate your table and/or door with a Juneteenth theme and discuss what the celebration of the day means. Emphasize the mandates of responsibility and striving to be the best you can be. Make specific pledges for the remainder of the year, ask for support in accomplishing your goals, and commit to supporting the goals of another.

Additional Resources

We hope this FAQ didn’t just answer your question but inspires you to more actively engage with Juneteenth this year. If you still have questions, there’s a lot more to learn about the holiday. You can always get other answers from us too. Just send your questions to our Writing Team and keep an eye out for future FAQ’s. We can’t wait to share our next answer with you!

June 5, 2023, marks the 50^th anniversary of World Environment Day. Each year, this passion project of the United Nations brings together more than 150 countries working toward one theme. The theme has been different every year, with this year’s theme being “Solutions to Plastic Pollution.” Consumers have many options when it comes to protecting the environment and reducing waste (recycling being the foremost). But what can manufacturers do? One of the biggest trends in manufacturing right now is going “green.”

Green Manufacturing

There are many ways to go green as a manufacturer including:

Implement an Environmental Management System (EMS) — With an EMS in place, manufacturers can store, organize, review, and evaluate their environmental impact and performance as it relates to regulatory requirements as well as internal objectives and goals related to compliance, pollution prevention, resource conservation as well as reduced costs and increased efficiencies too.
Leverage Renewable Energy — Renewable energy isn’t just solar power. There are many options for renewable resource options including rain, wind, ocean power, bio energy, etc. When utilized, all have the ability to reduce the use of non-renewable resources such as coal, oil, or gas.
Partner with Eco-Friendly Suppliers — Uniting with other eco-friendly companies not only promotes internal goals of going green but also promotes the business of the partners and suppliers with the same objective.
General Energy-Saving Practices — These are easier to implement and follow if going green as a manufacturer seems like a big chore.

Turn equipment off when not operating.
Open up windows and doors for natural light.
Switch to LED lights.
Make sure there are recycling options in lunch and breakrooms.
Consider implementing earlier work hours in the summer to avoid additional operating costs with the AC turned on.
Work to ensure predictive maintenance is a #1 goal for increasing the lifetime value and durability of production machinery.
Go digital. Auto deposit paychecks where possible or use electronic apps for internal messaging and communications.

Check out these manufacturers who have found ways to go green and are seeing the positive results from it!

SC Johnson closed down 2019 on a high when 100% of their factories sent zero waste to landfills.
Patagonia uses recycled materials in over 60% of their fabrics and is working to remove all nylon from their clothing since it’s made with petrochemicals.
Hudson Technologies “spent two years and over $2 million in research, development, capital costs, and training to ensure all our operations and products met stringent environmental standards” including replacing traditional chlorinated lubricants with biodegradable lubricants and removing solvent-based metal cleaners from their operations.
Bombardier has pledged over 50% of their R&D investments toward the goal of greener aircraft, among many other activities in their ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) plan.
New Belgium Brewing is a Certified B Corporation (cool!) who only uses sustainable vendors and ensures 99.9% of their waste doesn’t end up in a landfill.

We’re not the only ones talking about increased sustainability across the industry either. We heard so much about it at industry events over the last year that we’ve previously written about how early adopters are already reaping the benefits. The list goes on and on! Find more Green Manufacturers here and here!

Winter Solstice

Hanukkah

Christmas

Kwanzaa

New Years Day

Epiphany, or Three Kings Day

Chinese New Year

Las Posadas

Eid-ul-Adha

Diwali

Increased Demand for Winter Products

Seasonal Spikes & Overtime Pay

Stable Employment

Comfortable Indoor Facilities

Skills Development

Networking Opportunities

Adventure & Exploration

Personal Growth

Financial Security

What is the Clean Slate Initiative?

What Does the Clean Slate Initiative Mean for Employees?

Opportunities:

Challenges:

What Does the Clean Slate Initiative Mean for Employers?

Opportunities:

Challenges:

How Does the Clean Slate Initiative Differ by State?

Step 1: Who is your target audience?

Step 2: What are your primary traits?

Step 3: What are your brand archetypes?

Step 4: Build your brand guidelines!

Conclusion

Check Out our Primary Social Media Channels:

Demand Fluctuations

Logistical Capabilities

Communication is Key

What is Juneteenth?

History

Why Is Juneteenth Important Today?

How Can I Celebrate?

In the Workplace:

In the Community:

In the Home:

Additional Resources

Green Manufacturing

Follow us