Amid Rising Discrimination in Global Pandemic, Open to All® and Leading Retailers Develop Inclusive Retail Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:

Calla Devlin Rongerude, Open to All, calla@opentoall.com

Ana Serafin Smith, Gap Inc., ana_serafin_smith@gap.com

Hollaback!, press@ihollaback.org, 347.889.5510

Melissa Murdock, Retail Industry Leaders Association, Melissa.Murdock@rila.org 

Groundbreaking Campaign Launches Customer Pledge, Tools and Resources to Promote Safety and Respect of Frontline Workers and Customers Alike

NEW YORK—June 7, 2021—As tensions run high and retailers are asked to enforce safety measures due to the global pandemic, frontline workers often can face the brunt of customer frustration, which can often manifest in racist or discriminatory ways. While retailers have long trained its employees to respect and serve a diverse customer base, now customers are being asked to join as part of the solution. Today, Open to All announced its groundbreaking initiative, Inclusive Retail, a campaign that puts tools and resources in the hands of businesses and customers alike to ensure the inclusion, safety, and acceptance of those on the frontlines of retail: floor staff and sales associates.

The project is a collaboration between Open to All and nonprofit partners Hollaback! and the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and corporate partners Ascena Retail, American Eagle Outfitters, Capri Holdings, DICK’S Sporting Goods, Gap Inc., H&M, Michaels, Movado Group, Ralph Lauren, Sephora, and Tiffany & Company.

“Retailers are seeing an alarming rise in discrimination where floor staff are being targeted for who they are when enforcing safety measures. Given the rise in hate violence—which is at an all-time high—frontline workers are more vulnerable than ever,” said Emily May, co-founder and executive director of Hollaback!  “We are working closely with businesses to address this crisis and we are thrilled to partner with Open to All to provide greater access to our resources.”

Open to All is a nonprofit nondiscrimination program that believes everyone should be welcome regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, immigration status, religion or disability.

“The pandemic has highlighted the invaluable role of frontline workers, who over the past year have kept the economy open at great personal risk,” said Calla Devlin Rongerude, director of Open to All. “Our Inclusive Retail campaign works to make retail environments welcoming, safe and inclusive for employees as well as customers. We are excited to debut the Customer Pledge and Customer Action Center and invite consumers to learn more about how we all can make retail spaces safe and inclusive for all.”

The initiative offers two new resources: The Customer Action Center and the Open to All Inclusive Retail Business Toolkit. These resources were developed to support frontline workers, who are being asked to enforce public health and safety measures at the risk of potential hostility or discrimination. This is especially prevalent if the worker is a woman, person of color, person with disabilities, person of minority faith, or lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT).

As one of the Inclusive Retail program’s closest collaborators, and a founding member of Open to All, Gap Inc. has worked closely with Open to All and other partners to develop the strategy, resources and policies used to shape the Inclusive Retail campaign.

“Our purpose at Gap Inc. is to be Inclusive, by Design, and this comes to life by actively creating an environment where everyone is welcome. We believe that when you decide that inclusion isn’t optional, not only do the gaps between us close, but a whole new world of possibilities opens,” Chris Nelson, Senior Vice President of Asset Protection at Gap Inc. “We aspire to bring this to life in all of our stores and facilities, and for Gap Inc. to be known as a safe, inclusive place for all. We also know that true change happens as a collective. That is why we supported Open to All in creating the Inclusive Retail Business Toolkit to help the entire retail industry to design experiences with inclusion in mind.”

The Customer Action Center features resources and tools that empower customers to practice bystander intervention and effective allyship if they see an employee receiving unjust treatment from another customer. The bystander intervention tools were created by Hollaback!, which designs and distributes trainings and campaigns against street harassment. Customers can also, for the first time, sign the Open to All Customer Pledge. Similar to Open to All’s business pledge, it allows customers to declare that they believe everyone—including employees, visitors, vendors, clients and other customers—should feel safe, respected, and accepted regardless of who they are.

The Inclusive Retail Business Toolkit contains resources and trainings to help retail environments create a culture of inclusion and belonging, including a sample Customer Belonging Policy, an “Allyship and Advocacy” training video co-produced with Ralph Lauren, and a series of allyship and de-escalation materials. The Inclusive Retail Business Toolkit will also incorporate Sephora’s landmark study on Racial Bias in Retail, which found shoppers are not the only ones subject to bias across the retail landscape. According to their findings, one in five retail employees have personally experienced unfair treatment at their place of work, leading Sephora to work in partnership with Open to All to implement tactics proven to mitigate racial bias in retail.

“Retailers are committed to creating an in-store experience that is welcoming and, most importantly, safe for all visitors,” said RILA’s Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility Erin Hiatt. “Maintaining an environment where customers and employees feel safe certainly includes adhering to health guidance like PPE or distancing—but it also means cultivating spaces free from discrimination of any kind. These new toolkits developed by Open to All will be valuable resources to support the industry’s commitment to both.”  

Inclusive Retail is a massive undertaking that provides businesses and customers with the tools necessary to create a welcoming environment for all while shedding light on the increased challenges retail workers face during this time of global pandemic. Through this project, Open to All and its partners affirm to floor staff and sales associates that they are seen and supported from corporate offices to those who walk into the store.

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About Gap Inc.

Gap Inc., a collection of purpose-led lifestyle brands, is the largest American specialty apparel company offering clothing, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, and children under the Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, and Athleta brands. The company uses omni-channel capabilities to bridge the digital world and physical stores to further enhance its shopping experience. Gap Inc. is guided by its purpose, Inclusive, by Design, and takes pride in creating products and experiences its customers love while doing right by its employees, communities, and planet. Gap Inc. products are available for purchase worldwide through company-operated stores, franchise stores, and e-commerce sites. Fiscal year 2020 net sales were $13.8 billion. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com. 

About Hollaback!

Hollaback! is a global, people-powered movement to end harassment. We work together to understand the problem, ignite public conversations, and develop innovative strategies that ensure equal access to public spaces. We leverage the very spaces where harassment happens – from online to the streets – to have each other’s back and build a world where we can all be who we are, wherever we are. For more information visit www.ihollaback.org

About Open to All

Open to All is one of the most significant public education efforts to date that unites and galvanizes national leaders in business, civic engagement, and the nonprofit sector to support the shared American values of fairness and equality. In addition to the 500,000 business members, Open to All includes more than 200 nonprofit members spanning civil rights and racial justice organizations; LGBTQ equality organizations; health and disability organizations; faith organizations; and more. Open to All members are committed to building awareness and understanding about the importance of nondiscrimination—and to defend the bedrock principle that when businesses open their doors to the public, they should be Open to All. www.opentoall.com

About RILA

RILA is the US trade association for leading retailers. We convene decision-makers, advocate for the industry, and promote operational excellence and innovation. Our aim is to reimagine and transform the retail ecosystem—and equip leading retailers to succeed in it.

RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs, and more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers domestically and abroad. www.rila.org

25 Leading Businesses Urge Action to Address Racial Disparities Exacerbated by the COVID-19 Global Pandemic

Leaders including fashion giants Gap Inc., Levi Strauss & Co., and American Eagle Outfitters Inc. and Open to All® call on corporations and businesses to combat racial disparities and fight anti-Asian racism

OAKLAND, CA, MAY 7, 2020—Twenty-five businesses from companies across the country have committed to addressing racial disparities by signing on to a letter from Open to All® urging the business community to examine and work to combat the disparities and discrimination that have caused the COVID-19 global crisis to disproportionately impact Black, Latinx/Hispanic, and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. The letter is in response to data that show COVID-19 is resulting in a sharp rise of anti-Asian racism and is killing far greater numbers of Black, Latinx/Hispanic people, as well as Pacific Islanders.

Led by Open to All®—the national nondiscrimination campaign that believes everyone should be welcome regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, immigration status, religion, or disability—the letter encourages all businesses and corporations who sign to work to combat racial disparities and denounce anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander racism in their communities.

“COVID-19 is not the ‘great equalizer,’ as some have called it,” said Open to All® Campaign Director Calla Rongerude. “Rather, it is a profound reminder of how inequalities continue to permeate all areas of life. While the pandemic’s impact has reached far and wide, communities of color have been hit with the greatest ferocity. There are many factors at play, but some of the most significant are inequities in employment, pay, and access to healthcare—areas in which the business community can make a real difference. While many of these companies are themselves reeling from the crisis, they recognize the need to come together, now more than ever, to address the racial inequities that have been laid bare by COVID-19, and we thank them for their leadership.”

The letter was signed by AEO Inc., which includes brands American Eagle and Aerie; Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream; Capri Holdings Limited, which includes brands Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors, and Versace; Gap Inc., which includes brands Athleta, Banana Republic, Gap, Hill City, Intermix, and Old Navy; H&M; Lacoste; Levi Strauss & Co.; Movado Group, Inc.; Ralph Lauren; Steve Madden; and Tapestry, Inc., which includes brands Coach, kate spade new york, and Stuart Weitzman.

While businesses have different capacities to weather this storm and are facing difficult decisions in the coming months, these leaders are taking necessary action in both the immediate and long terms to protect their workers, customers, and communities. Open to All® is encouraging consumers to support businesses large and small that are doing the right thing like following best-practice safety protocols as well as those that are offering services like delivery or online ordering. In partnership with Yelp, consumers can search for Open to All® businesses on Yelp.com. This allows customers to find businesses that have pledged to be a safe and welcoming place to everyone.

Open to All® has also launched a new resource page to support employees, protect the health and wellbeing of customers and communities, sustain businesses large and small, and combat racial disparities and anti-Asian and Pacific Islander racism. Click here for the Open to All® COVID-19 Resource page.

“No matter what we look like, where we live, or our socioeconomic status, this global pandemic reminds us that at our core we’re all just human. This virus has shown us that we are dependent on one another, and whether we’re Black or White, Latinx or Asian, working behind the scenes or on the front lines, it’s time to come together in support of each other,” said Rongerude.

Click here to read the sign-on letter.

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About Open to All®

Open to All® is one of the most significant public education efforts to date that unites and galvanizes national leaders in business, civic engagement, and the nonprofit sector to take a stand for shared American values of fairness and equality. In addition to the thousands of business members, Open to All® includes more than 200 nonprofit members spanning civil rights and racial justice organizations; LGBT equality organizations; health and disability organizations; faith organizations; and more. Open to All® members are committed to building awareness and understanding about the importance of nondiscrimination—and to defend the bedrock principle that when businesses open their doors to the public, they should be Open to All®.

Businesses that wish to join Open to All® can learn more and sign the pledge at http://www.opentoall.com/business-members/#business-pledge.

Open to All unveils fifth annual Holiday Gift Guide connecting customers with inclusive businesses

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT: Kassidy Braziel, Open to All | kassidy@opentoall.com | 954-296-5280


[BOULDER, CO] NOVEMBER 15, 2023 — Today, Open to All® released its Fifth Annual Holiday Gift Guide. For the past five years, Open to All’s Holiday Gift Guide has uplifted small businesses and iconic brands alike that understand the importance of crafting a culture of belonging this holiday season and year-round.

With items available in a wide price range from an array of inclusive retailers, the Holiday Gift Guide connects consumers with brands that value Open to All’s core principle of ensuring every customer feels safe and welcome—regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, immigration status, religion, or disability.

“This work is more important than ever. This summer, the United States Supreme Court issued
two harmful decisions: the affirmative action decision and 303 Creative v. Elenis, a case where a
business sought a license to discriminate, threatening nondiscrimination protections,” said Calla Devlin Rongerude, managing director of Open to All. “Every business, from small businesses on Main Street to large retail stores anchoring malls across America, should take these decisions as an urgent call to action, declaring their doors open for business—and closed to the misguided notion that free speech can or should nullify civil rights in America.”

The Open to All Holiday Gift Guide features companies that invest in customers and their communities. These brands include Bath & Body Works, Coach, Levi Strauss & Company, Michaels, Petco, Sephora, and many more. Over the past five years, we’ve brought together over 200 nonprofit organizations, 80 corporate partners, and nearly 700,000 businesses dedicated to sounding a loud and clear message: We will not return to a time when customers are told, “We don’t serve your kind here.”

This holiday season, Open to All is asking consumers to support the businesses that are working in partnership with us to create an authentic culture of belonging. The products in our gift guide include Hanukkah gifts, stocking stuffers, and office gifts. Consumers will also shop with the confidence that all these products come from small businesses and companies that are invested in their employees, customers, and communities.

Businesses around the country have already taken the pledge to maintain welcoming and safe environments for all employees, visitors, customers, vendors, and clients. You can find Open to All decals and placards in storefronts in cities and towns across the country. If you are looking to support Open to All businesses in your city, visit opentoall.com to search for businesses near you. From local restaurants to small businesses to mall stores, we have a wide range of inclusive businesses ready to welcome you. Businesses that wish to join Open to All can learn more and sign the pledge at http://www.opentoall.com/business-members/#business-pledge.

You can view the Open to All Holiday Gift Guide.

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ABOUT OPEN TO ALL: Open to All is a nondiscrimination program based around the idea that everyone should be welcomed, valued, and respected. Open to All is a growing coalition of more than 200 non-profits, including civil rights and racial justice organizations, disability groups, LGBTQ groups, faith organizations, and more. Open to All also unites thousands of large and small businesses across the country to defend the bedrock principle that when businesses open their doors to the public, they should be Open to All.

Open to All’s Impact Report Highlights the Power of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT: Kassidy Braziel, Open to All | kassidy@opentoall.com | 954-296-5280 


[BOULDER, CO] OCTOBER 26, 2023 — Open to All, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a thriving and inclusive nation, today announced the release of its inaugural Impact Report. Since the program’s start in 2017, Open to All has united over 70 corporate sponsors, 200 nonprofit partners, and 690,000 small businesses to send the message that everyone is welcome, valued, and respected.

The report assesses the program’s impact over the past five years, highlighting its growth, interactive programming, resources, and initiatives, such as the Mitigate Racial Bias in Retail Charter.

 “We know that building a stronger country means everyone should feel safe, respected, and accepted as they live, shop, and work. Yet far too often, we hear stories of discrimination,” said Calla Devlin Rongerude, Managing Director of Open to All. “At the core of changing our country, Open to All is a national nondiscrimination campaign based around the idea that everyone should be welcome and feel a sense of belonging. Our network of formidable nonprofit leaders and corporate partners develops innovative resources, trainings, and ongoing programming to best serve the populations in our pledge and support businesses large and small to be truly Open to All.” Open to All’s Impact Report is the result of extensive research, analysis, and interviews with key partners, offering a holistic overview of the key trends and challenges within the realm of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Open to All issued a survey to gauge the motivations of participating businesses, the nonprofit’s most popular offerings, and key areas for organizational growth.

Since the launch of Open to All, corporations, retailers, small businesses, and nonprofits alike have come together to proudly affirm that everyone should be welcome regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, immigration status, religion, or disability.

According to survey respondents, 52% of partners joined Open to All to share and learn best practices from other businesses, researchers, and Open to All resources. 17% of respondents indicated that they joined to drive change in experiences for both employees and customers. 24% wanted to make a collective impact at the industry level more broadly.

The program has seen rapid growth in small business engagement and corporate sponsorship over the past five years. Over 694,000 small businesses have declared themselves Open to All on Yelp. With about five million small businesses on Yelp nationwide, nearly 14% have indicated they are Open to All. Over the last five years, more than 70 large brands, ranging from Ben & Jerry’s to REI to Sephora, have joined Open to All’s corporate membership program.

The Impact Report is a testament to Open to All and their partners’ commitment to building a stronger country where everyone feels safe, respected, and accepted as they live, shop, and work. The full report can be downloaded from Open to All’s website at [web address]. For more information about the Open to All coalition or today’s announcement, please visit www.OpenToAll.com.

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Open to All logo

ABOUT OPEN TO ALL: Open to All is a nondiscrimination program based around the idea that everyone should be welcomed, valued, and respected. Open to All is a growing coalition of more than 200 non-profits, including civil rights and racial justice organizations, disability groups, LGBTQ groups, faith organizations, and more. Open to All also unites thousands of large and small businesses across the country to defend the bedrock principle that when businesses open their doors to the public, they should be Open to All.