Our global theme for July is Trust.

Trust is the invisible thread that weaves the fabric of our relationships and society together. But, in turbulent times, doubt can unravel our strengths.

So, go with your gut. Put your trust in a higher power, in our institutions, and in karma. Believe that people will do the right thing. Trust the process. And that your creativity is a well that will never run dry.

When we trust each other, we feel safe to share ideas, give feedback, and take risks. It requires vulnerability and a willingness to be open to the possibility of disappointment or betrayal. So, trust is not purely belief or faith. It is an active choice.

Trust is a gift. It must be given before it can be earned.

This month’s theme was chosen by our Islamabad chapter and illustrated by Ibrahim Nasir.

About the speaker:

Dr. Tiffany M. Griffin is the CEO, Co-Founder, and Co-Owner of Bright Black, a North Carolina-based social enterprise that pioneered the art of using scent to share positive stories about the beauty and brilliance of Blackness. Since launching in 2019, Bright Black has gained national and international notoriety, attracting the attention of Beyonce, Zendaya, Jordan Peele, Nike, and others.

Uniquely, Bright Black synthesizes cooperative economics theory with revenue-sharing practices to amplify their social and economic impact through strategic partnerships. These collaborations have included partners such as the NBA and WNBA, Michelle Obama’s When We All Vote, and the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth, and have resulted in over $30,000 in donations to social organizations working to improve the lives of Black people around the world.

Before founding Bright Black, Tiffany was a Strategic Advisor in the Center for Resilience at the US Agency for International Aid (USAID), where she helped to spearhead the Agency’s first resilience policy and corresponding programming and evaluation frameworks. Before her work at USAID, Tiffany was a health and safety nets policy staffer for Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico. Tiffany has a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor where she focused on decision-making as a conduit of racial discrimination. She also has dual BAs in Psychology and Communications from Boston College. Tiffany lives in Durham, NC with her husband Dariel and their daughter Elena. When not running Bright Black, you can find her developing recipes, dreaming about new vacation destinations or going on solo nature walks to decompress.