Detroit Businesses: Stepping Up to Fix Rape Kit Backlog

This is a story about a business community stepping up to help fix a shortcoming at a public agency. Plenty of fodder for discussion, here. Is this action an example of “CSR” (corporate social responsibility)? If so, in which sense? Is it a “responsibility” as in, these businesses have a responsibility (an actual obligation) to step up? Or is it just a case of “taking” responsibility for a problem that isn’t theirs? >>>

LINK: Detroit Businesswomen Team Up to Get Rape Kits Tested (by Claire Martin for NY Times)

…“The business community has rallied around us, particularly businesswomen who are saying this can’t happen here if we’re going to make this the city we’re all working to make it,” says Peg Tallet, who is chief community engagement officer of the Michigan Women’s Foundation, which has been leading the Enough SAID effort since it teamed with Ms. Worthy’s office and the Detroit Crime Commission in the summer of 2014.

Since then, spas, printing companies and other small businesses have donated services for fund-raisers. The female-run marketing agency Brogan & Partners has worked partly on a pro bono basis on tasks including naming and branding the Enough SAID campaign. And a group of African-American businesswomen has set a goal for their community to raise $657,090 by the end of 2016; the money will be used to test the remainder of the rape kits…..

What do you think?

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