#PassTheMic: Our Social-Media Initiative for Positive Change

Sep 28, 2020

The #PassTheMic social media effort transforms Groupon’s social media platform into an amplifier of prominent voices in Black communities. We’re partnering with leaders in Black communities and allies for change, and amplifying those voices to our audience of 22MM+ social-media followers. Do you know a voice for positive change that needs to be heard? Take the mic at passthemic@groupon.com.

Featured Voice: Dr. Jewel Jackson

Dr. Jewel is a passionate leader, artist, educator and advocate for the development of positive self-imaging and leadership in the African-American community. In 2018, she earned a doctorate in Educational Leadership from the California State Polytechnical University. She plans to open a school for at-risk youth within the next five years.

She began studying the culture of her ancestors in 1990, and in 1998 she founded African Soul International, a non-profit Arts and Education organization whose mission is to preserve and present the rich history and culture of the African and African-American experience through the rhythms, songs, stories and movements that represent the dynamic legacies of resilience, strength and ingenuity of African people.

On June 22, Dr. Jewel took over Groupon’s social media accounts to talk about the current state of America and encourage all of us to use our creative voices to imagine and shape a new world.

See What Dr. Jewel Jackson Posted During Her Takeover

Facebook Teaser; Day 1 Post 1 and Post 2; Day 2 Post 1 and Post 2; Day 3 Post 1 and Post 2
Instagram Teaser; Day 1 Post 1 and Post 2; Day 2 Post 1 and Post 2; Day 3 Post 1 and Post 2
Instagram Stories (coming soon)
Twitter Day 1 Thread 1, Thread 2, Thread 3, Thread 4, Thread 5; Day 2 Thread 1, Thread 2, Thread 3, Thread 4, Thread 5; Day 3 Thread 1, Thread 2, Thread 3, Thread 4, Thread 5

Follow Dr. Jewel on Medium, Instagram, and Twitter

Featured Voice: Troy LaRaviere

Troy LaRaviere is a relentless advocate for public policies and investments aimed at realizing all human potential. He was the principal of Blaine Elementary, Chicago’s #1 ranked neighborhood school (2016), and Chicago’s most awarded principal (2013 - 2015). He is in his second term as President of the Chicago Principals and Administrators Association; a post he was elected to in 2016.

Starting June 17, Troy LaRaviere took over Groupon’s social media accounts for three days to teach a tweet-by-tweet and post-by-post mini-course on Dismantling Racism, with the course culminating on Juneteenth. An excerpted version of his course is available through social media. This page features the complete course.

See What Troy LaRaviere Posted During His Takeover

#PassTheMic with Troy LaRaviere: A Course on Dismantling Racism

Follow Troy LaRaviere on Medium, Instagram,and Twitter

Featured Voice: Alexa Rae Caves

Alexa Rae Caves owns and operates her own business, LexaRae Beauty in Chicago. On June 9^th 2020, Alexa took over Groupon’s social media to share how to talk to kids about race. “Growing up biracial, I felt at a very young age that I didn’t belong to any group or community. I went to a school with all white kids who picked on me for my big hair and brown skin. And I didn’t look like my Black cousins or kids in my neighborhood. […] Now, I have two biracial nieces and talking about race with them as they grow up will be a priority to me. I don’t want them to feel the way that I did.”

See What Alexa Rae Caves Posted During Her Takeover

Facebook Teaser and Post
Instagram Post and Story
Twitter Thread

Follow Alexa Rae Caves on Instagram

Featured Voice: Clarkisha Kent

Clarkisha Kent is a Nigerian-American writer and cultural critic whose writing has been featured in AFROPUNK, Essence, and The Root. “My writing POV comes from the perspective of me being Black, Nigerian-American, fat, bisexual, and disabled (this latter one is something I am still coming to terms with).” On June 4^th, 2020, Clarkisha took over Groupon’s social media to speak about the silencing and omission of Black women, and to amplify petitions and calls for justice.