Cinco de Mayo celebrations with sombreros, maracas and margaritas always make me sigh a little - for reasons a whole bunch of other blogs have been written about. Here’s the thing that gets me, celebrating a culture is different from appreciating a culture, and appreciating a culture is different from actively supporting equity for the people we “celebrate.” At Axiom we firmly believe in action…

As we actively shift toward a world focused on social justice, we want to offer opportunities to take action aligned with our values. One powerful way to make a difference is by consciously choosing where we spend our money.

Inspired by Colorado’s ShopBIPOC.com directory, our team partnered with NADI Marketing and The Program Labs to develop TIDALPAGES.com - an online directory of Black, Indigenous, Latine, Asian and Pacific Islander, and multicultural-owned businesses in San Diego County.

TIDAL PAGES empowers the community to support social impact by making it easy to find and support local BIPOC-owned businesses - (read more on WHY we should Support minority-owned businesses: essential for a thriving future). By choosing to shop with these businesses, we can be intentional with our spending. Here’s how:

Take advantage of values-aligned directories

BIPOC-owned business directories like TidalPages.com in San Diego and ShopBIPOC.com in Colorado make it easy to find businesses aligned with your values.

• Browse the directory: Explore the diverse range of businesses listed, from restaurants and shops to service providers and creative professionals.
• Find businesses aligned with your values: Check out their profile pages for more information on the company ownership, mission, and values.
• Discover new favorites: Find new businesses to support and experience the unique offerings of our diverse community.
• Spread the word: Share information with your friends, family, and colleagues, encouraging them to support these businesses as well.

By making conscious choices about where we spend our money, we can create a ripple effect of positive change. It’s time to turn the tide on equity, one purchase at a time.

If you are in San Diego, visit TidalPages.com today and if you are in Colorado, visit ShopBIPOC.com. Discover the power of your spending to make a difference.

One time we were reviewing some design work, trying to figure out why exactly the client did not appreciate it - and what we needed to do to improve it. We all tend to review pieces through our own cultural lenses. As women of color, we finally had to admit, this piece did not feel diverse. In fact, it felt exclusive. The “country club” vibe was not working for us because it didn’t reflect our experiences. And it was the starting point for a critical conversation - how do we make sure our design work is inclusive?

Inclusive design is more than just adding diverse photos or testing for accessibility (though those things are important, too!). It's about creating visual and interactive experiences that are welcoming and relevant, particularly when you consider race, sex, gender identity, age, ability, size, backgrounds, and cultural context.

At the heart of inclusive design lies empathy. It requires developing a deep understanding of the individual nature of human identity. When we step outside of our own perspectives and consider the needs and experiences of all our users, it shows in our creative work.

Here are eight key principles to guide your inclusive design journey:

By embracing these principles, you can create products and services that are truly inclusive and accessible to everyone. Inclusive design is not just about meeting legal requirements; it's about designing pieces that speak to people.

This blog is co-written with one of our valued partners in purpose:

Jess Cruz-Abalos is co-founder and Creative Director at That One Couple, a minority-owned creative agency providing branding, design and Webflow website development services, specializing in minority-owned, women-owned tech companies.

I must admit that sometimes, in our genuine pursuit of achieving positive impact through purpose-driven businesses, it's easy to forget that people are at the heart of it all.

While achieving our mission is essential, that doesn’t mean we should sacrifice the well-being and fulfillment of our team members in the process. It's easy to get swept up in the excitement of a noble cause and inadvertently prioritize the "purpose" over the "people." This can manifest in a variety of ways that we often see in both non-profits and purpose-driven businesses.

There’s the ever-present risk of burnout. Unrealistic hours, neglecting employee and self-care, and creating a culture of overwork leads to stress and high turnover. 

And even worse it can lead to disillusionment. If employees feel disconnected from the purpose or feel like it is no longer worthwhile because of all they have to sacrifice or feel that their contributions are not valued, they may become disillusioned and lose motivation.

So, how can we prioritize both people and purpose?

Prioritizing people and purpose is not about choosing one over the other. It's about finding the delicate balance that allows both to thrive. By creating a workplace where employees feel valued, empowered, and fulfilled, we can build truly sustainable and impactful businesses that leave a positive impact on the world.