Ben & Jerry’s Has An ‘Activism Manager’ That Helps Them With Social Justice Campaigns
Last week, Ben & Jerry's released a powerful statement in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, in which the brand called for action toward dismantling white supremacy. This statement wasn't the first time Ben & Jerry's sounded off about human rights issues unapologetically. Part of the reason the company is able to do so is because they have an Activism Manager dedicated to these campaigns.
When you log onto the Ben & Jerry's website, along with photos of their new flavors and products, there's a dashboard of blog posts and news stories about things like climate change and white supremacy. At the time of publication, the news stories on their homepage included an explanation of reparations, a list of ways to eradicate white supremacy, a roundup of ways to avoid turning climate change into the next global crisis, and a post titled "Silence is not an option."
Turns out, standing up for issues such as these is all part of the Ben & Jerry's business model. There's an entire page of their site dedicated to social issues they care about like racial justice, climate justice, LGBTQ+ equality, refugees, GMO labeling, and more.
The ice cream brand has even released special edition flavors, like Justice Remix'd, where a portion of the proceeds goes to the Advancement Project National Office and other relevant organizations. Their values are also reflected in how they make their products, like sourcing brownies from a bakery that hires people who were homeless or previously incarcerated, according to Fast Company.
All of these things are possible not only because of the values of the founders, but also because Ben & Jerry's has that "Activism Manager." Chris Miller, who currently holds the title in the United States, had previously worked with Greenpeace.
Those who hold this position are required to have experience within the NGO, charity, or grassroots movement-building space, according to a job posting for the position in Paris. While companies are finding ways to actively improve their representation and inclusivity, it seems like some brands have had no problem doing just that.
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