“The question is not what programs should we seek to enact; the question is whether we can find in our own midst and in our own hearts leadership of human purpose that will recognize the terrible truths of our existence”
-Robert F. Kennedy April 5, 1968
At a time when we are desperately trying to understand change, Kerry Kennedy stands as a figure of courage and an example of empathetic leadership. She embodies what it means to be an Impact Executive, carrying on her father’s legacy as a human rights activist committed to creating lasting change. Kennedy has dedicated her life to the pursuit of justice and currently serves as the president of RFK Human Rights. In a recent installment of the Courageous Leaders interviews, Kerry Kennedy shed light on the monumental challenges facing our world by drawing on her immense experience in the field of human rights.
A moving video compilation of the recent social unrest in the wake of highly publicized racial injustice, paired with audio from a very fitting RFK speech, sets the scene for the conversation.
Watch the video here.
Kennedy emphasizes the failure, and subsequent role, of the private sector in correcting broken systems.
- There is a 50% unemployment rate for Black Americans today.
- From 1992-2016 the net worth of college educated White people went up by 96%, while the net worth of college educated Black people declined by 10%.
She encourages us all to examine the way we conduct business and the way we treat each other.
RFK Human Rights is leading by example as they challenge the business and investment communities to take a series of steps in the pursuit of racial and economic justice. Kennedy expects love and compassion from business leaders today, saying “love, that’s the driving force…we need to love each other, we need to treat each other with compassion and dignity… we are in a time of extraordinary change and our willingness to accept this change will dictate how we emerge from this unprecedented time.”
Watch the full discussion here:
Find out more about the RFK Foundation and opportunities to get involved here