Black Lives Matter Statement

We at Channel Partners and Channel Futures are strong supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement. We stand with those seeking social justice, both in the United States and throughout the world. We believe that George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Philandro Castile, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin and countless others who have lost their lives due to systemic racism matter.

We know people look to us as leaders in the channel community, so it’s important for us to take a stand.

We also know it takes much more than words to express not only our dedication to equality, but also to inclusion and diversity in the technology industry and the channel as a whole. To that end, we have been working hard to create sustainable programs both in the short and long term that are ongoing, impactful and sensitive.

Beginning immediately, we are creating a coalition of vendors and distributors, analysts and consultants, partners and our own team members to serve in an advisory capacity and bring a diverse set of voices together to address these issues. The Allies of the Channel Council will help us develop editorial content, event programming, community discussion and other initiatives dedicated to advocating for diversity, inclusion and basic human rights. If you are interested in sitting on the ACC, email senior content director Kris Blackmon at [email protected].

These efforts will live under our new Allyship Program, and we have already put wheels in motion. In addition to the ACC, we have committed to content on racial diversity at our events. These events – the Channel Partners Conference & Expo, Channel Partners Evolution, Channel Evolution Europe and our virtual events – are places where we welcome a diversity of ideas. We are constantly looking for speakers, exhibitors and attendees who can bring different perspectives to the fore. This fall at CP Virtual, Sept. 8-10, we will feature educational breakout sessions and keynote talks that will highlight our commitment to making the channel a place where everyone feels safe and included.

On our media sites, Channel Partners Online and Channel Futures, we are taking action to further this concept. In the coming months, look for a special section on diversity, which will include minority voices in our community. It’s important not only to hear those voices, but to help attract a more diverse base of partners and organizations that will keep the channel thriving for years to come.

Moving into the fourth quarter, we will embark upon several initiatives under this program, including a new market intelligence research project, a digital issue devoted to these issues, webinars in our Channel Educational Series around sensitivity training and recruiting/hiring practices, and video and podcast content to promote discussions of diversity in the channel, with a particular emphasis on racial equality.

We know we can’t go it alone. Channel Partners and Channel Futures are making plans to team up with groups in our community that know a lot more about this topic than we do. Together, we can create a safe and inclusive place for the exchange of ideas and actions that will create a stronger channel.