As Ida B. Wells, the trailblazing journalist, sociologist, civil rights leader, and founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) once said, “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.” Yet, on January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order attempting to extinguish that light, terminating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs across the federal government. This action reinforced campaign rhetoric and put an exclamation mark on weeks of mounting backlash against DEI efforts in corporate and academic sectors leading up to his inauguration. Not only does the action attempt to dismantle initiatives aimed at addressing
systemic inequities but it also places federal employees working in DEI roles on paid leave, with plans for their dismissal.
The business community now faces a choice: either follow this regressive tide or reaffirm a commitment to equity. D&A chooses the latter.
Putting Equity First
The murder of George Floyd during the summer of 2020 served as the tipping point to confront ongoing police brutality against the Black community, sparking nationwide protests and a racial reckoning across America. This caused many companies to embrace DEI publicly, as organizations were compelled to examine their roles in perpetuating systemic inequities and take meaningful action toward change. However, the pendulum began swinging backward in 2023, when the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in higher education, sending a clear message that hard-won progress could be undone. But let’s be clear—equity is not expendable. It is both a moral and business imperative and the cost of inaction is too high.
According to the World Economic Forum, racial and ethnic inequality has cost the US economy $51 trillion in lost output since 1990.Gender inequities compound these disparities, as women of color face both racial and gender barriers in advancement, with Black women earning 63 cents for every dollar earned by White men. These economic inequities cascade through generations, affecting access to education, healthcare, housing, and economic mobility. According to the Center for American Progress, children born into low-income families are likely to remain there, perpetuating cycles of poverty that disproportionately affect communities of color. Beyond the economic toll, these disparities erode social cohesion, diminish innovation potential, and weaken our democracy’s foundation.
At D&A, we define ourselves as an equity-first communications agency. This means equity is not a buzzword, but the foundation of everything we do. Equity ensures individuals have access to opportunities and resources, regardless of their background.
Our belief is simple: equity benefits everyone. When organizations embrace equity, innovation flourishes through diverse perspectives, workplaces become more productive, and communities grow stronger. And as more organizations embrace the values of inclusivity and fairness, we have an opportunity to make these ideals the standard, not the exception. Our approach involves:
✅ Amplifying underrepresented voices;
✅ Crafting culturally competent campaigns;
✅ Connecting with multicultural communities through targeted community engagement initiatives;
and
✅ Fostering environments where diversity can thrive.
While equity is often discussed in the context of racial justice, it extends to anyone facing systemic barriers to opportunity, including women in male-dominated fields, individuals with disabilities, people from low-income backgrounds, rural residents, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrants, refugees, and Indigenous populations.
When you walk into a room, and you’re the only one of something—the only woman or the only African American—that immediate feeling of loneliness happens.
– Stacy Brown-Philpot, Former CEO of TaskRabbit and member of the Board of Directors of HP, Noom, Nordstrom, and StockX and founding member of SoftBank’s Opportunity Fund.
Equity demands we address these inequalities head-on, tailoring solutions to meet the unique needs of those most affected—what we call equity in action.
Equity in Action: Real Impact, Real Change
Despite the current political climate, we applaud the organizations that continue to champion DEI initiatives, including:
- Costco: Faced with boycott threats, Costco upheld its DEI commitments, demonstrating resilience and dedication to fostering an inclusive workplace.
- Apple: The tech giant has urged shareholders to reject an anti-DEI proposal put forth by a conservative think tank.
- Delta: Delta reinforced its commitment to DEI and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) policies, underscoring how critical they are to business.
At D&A, we have seen firsthand how equity initiatives improve business outcomes and strengthen communities. Here are just a few examples:
Transportation Equity: When the Water Emergency Transit Authority (WETA), better known as the San Francisco Bay Ferry, discovered equity gaps in Hispanic ridership, D&A led an influencer campaign that expanded its reach and increased engagement in underrepresented communities. Buoyed by its success, we expanded the program to Black communities, helping the ferry system recover 90% of its pre-pandemic ridership recovery—far outpacing other Bay Area transit agencies. We also recently completed a rider survey for AC Transit to inform efforts to improve rider safety and reduce street harassment. To ensure representative insights, we conducted multilingual outreach across diverse demographics, including race, ethnicity, gender, income levels, and sexual orientation—making our findings truly reflective of the ridership community.
Workplace Equity: Creating an equitable waterfront for everyone is a key part of the Port of San Francisco strategic plan. In collaboration with D&A, the Port created the Clued Into Culture and Culture, History, Art, and Technology (CHAT) Speaker Series programs for its employees. D&A helped bring these programs to life via inspiring content and events, resulting in increased cross-departmental collaboration and strengthened workplace culture.
Financial, Arts, and Education Equity: D&A partnered with San Francisco’s Office of the Treasurer & Tax Collector to advance its marquee programs fostering economic security and access for historically excluded communities, including:
- The Financial Justice Project: Through a multilingual campaign, we brought relatable, real-life stories to light, helping thousands of low-income residents see how fines and fees disproportionately affect their lives—and where they could find relief.
- SF Museums for All: We launched the award-winning “Free Family Fun” campaign, using targeted media and influencer outreach to ensure equitable access to arts and culture for all San Franciscans. Participating museums reported a significant improvement in the racial and economic diversity of their visitors as a result of SF Museums for All. This increased access matters because exposure to arts and culture enhances educational outcomes, builds cultural understanding, and creates opportunities for shared experiences across communities—breaking down barriers that often divide our city.
- Kindergarten to College (K2C): For the nation’s first universal Children’s Savings Account program, D&A revamped branding, created accessible outreach materials, and launched a refreshed website to encourage account sign-ups that increased college enrollment by 6%, with even greater gains among Black, Hispanic, Filipino, Pacific Islander, and Indigenous students.
Equity is Good for Business & Essential for Progress
Beyond being the right thing to do, equity strengthens businesses in measurable ways:
- Innovation: Diverse teams bring varied perspectives, fostering creativity and problem-solving.
- Financial Growth: Companies prioritizing DEI outperform their competitors by 36% in profitability—as inclusivity attracts top talent and appeals to a broader customer base.
- Consumer Trust: Today’s consumers support brands that demonstrate a commitment to equity and inclusion.
Organizations that scale back their equity commitments risk falling behind in talent retention, consumer loyalty, and market relevance. According to McKinsey, narrowing the gender gap could add $12 trillion to global GDP by 2025, while financial inclusion efforts could generate $2 billion in additional revenue for businesses serving Black Americans.
The Challenge Ahead
Equity is not a trend—it is the foundation of a just society and a thriving economy. The path forward requires courage, intention, and action.
At D&A, we are committed to ensuring equity remains a priority, regardless of political shifts. Stay tuned for more insights on how to turn equity into action—even in the face of adversity.
Join us in putting equity first. Together, we can create lasting change.
End Notes
