We often speak about the culture at AMS Fulfillment, and how important it is to the company to hire a diverse workforce, reflecting the communities in which we operate, and opening the doors to individuals who face obstacles in entering the workforce. We offer education and training to the workforce, and equity in promotions not because it is ‘trendy’ and ‘looks good’ from a PR standpoint, but because that is who we are. We want a better world, and so we ‘B The Change,’ as a B Corporation.
What is going on at AMS reflects a much larger cultural change that we have watched take place across the United States and internationally over the past decades. On Monday, October 11th, eleven states celebrated Indigenous People’s Day, while nationally the holiday remained Columbus Day. This gradual cultural change is inspiring, as the American people become more aware of the injustices of the past and take steps to change the way we think about what has occurred, and what we want the future to look like.
In the History.com website we find information about how Columbus Day became a holiday: “Columbus Day is a U.S. holiday that commemorates the landing of Christopher Columbus in the Americas in 1492, and Columbus Day 2021 occurs on Monday, October 11. It was unofficially celebrated in a number of cities and states as early as the 18th century but did not become a federal holiday until 1937. For many, the holiday is a way of both honoring Columbus’ achievements and celebrating Italian-American heritage. But throughout its history, Columbus Day and the man who inspired it have generated controversy, and many alternatives to the holiday have proposed since the 1970s including Indigenous People’s Day, now celebrated in many U.S. states and cities.”
Also from the History website we find information on Indigenous People’s Day: “Since 1991, dozens of cities, several universities, and a growing number of states have adopted Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a holiday that celebrates the history and contributions of Native Americans. Not by coincidence, the occasion usually falls on Columbus Day, the second Monday in October, or replaces the holiday entirely. As of 2021, the holiday is observed or honored by states including Virginia, Maine, New Mexico, Vermont, Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Wisconsin, as well as South Dakota, which celebrates Native Americans’ Day, Hawaii, which celebrates Discoverers’ Day, and Alabama, which celebrates American Indian Heritage Day.”
For the first time, in 2021, the U.S. President issued a proclamation on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, stating, “Today, we recognize Indigenous peoples’ resilience and strength as well as the immeasurable positive impact that they have made on every aspect of American society.”
As a B Corporation AMS Fulfillment celebrates what we see as the maturing of the American consciousness in recognition of the experiences of all Peoples as the United States of America came into existence and grew into the multicultural powerhouse it is today. There are wrongs in the past, and we can’t deny that nor do we want to. By being the change we want to see in the world, we actually do change the world, one individual at a time.