Gifts that Give Back

This year many of us will be spending the holidays differently. I think it’s a great time to start thinking about how we give gifts differently too. With all the political unrest, the pandemic and the looming risks of climate change, I thought this would be a great year to do a gift guide focused on gifts that give back. This guide includes gifts to support local businesses, black owned businesses, the travel industry, and gifts that are less wasteful and better for the environment.

Support Small Businesses

Many small businesses are suffering this year, so supporting local and small businesses is a great way to give gifts and give back.

Etsy - A great place to support small businesses from around the world with unique, often handmade, items

Made Trade - I just discovered this website recently; they have artisan goods from women owned, black owned, USA made, and many other types of small businesses

Support local restaurants - Buy a gift card to your favorite local spot, or even for a food delivery service

Support your favorite gift shops - Here are a few of mine:

My favorite small shop in Nuremberg: Fachmarie

In Boston: Gifted, Brookline Booksmith, Trident Booksellers & Cafe, Olives and Grace

Support Black Owned Businesses

This year has been major for breaking down barriers in racism. Now is a great time to keep the momentum going by supporting black owned businesses. As so many people have already put together guides on this I’m linking a few of my favorites below:

Black Owned Businesses in Boston

Black Owned Small Businesses You can Support From Anywhere

Black Owned Businesses to Support From Oprah’s Favorite Things List

With Love Caila’s Holiday Guide to Black Owned Businesses

Cooking at Home

This has been a big year for home cooking. Since many of us are forced to eat at home more, gifting a cookbook is a great way to help loved ones create new, tasty recipes. A few of my favorites are:

Half Baked Harvest - She has two great cookbooks to choose from

The Forest Feast - She has four options to choose from; The Mediterranean one is my favorite

A subscription to NYTimes Cooking - gift them an annual subscription

Eco Friendly Ideas

Let’s eliminate the idea of the re-gift - stop giving people junk they don’t want or need. If you really like to give a physical gift, I suggest opting for something more sustainable. Here are a few ideas:

Shop clean beauty at places like Follain, Credo and Detox Market

Closed Loop Cooking’s plant-based, low waste, ethical holiday gift guide - This is by far my favorite gift guide that I’ve come across this year

Thrift - Support your local thrift shop with a gift card or hand picked item. ThreadUp also offers gift cards that people can use form anywhere

Give them reusables - The Package Free Shop is a great place to buy items that can be reused or made for a zero waste lifestyle

Make a donation in their name - Don’t give them any gift at all, instead make a donation in their name to your charity of choice, or one that you know is close to their heart

For when we can finally travel again

Some day, we will be able to travel again. The tourism industry has been severely hurt this year, so supporting them is a great way to give back.

Buy an airline or hotel gift card - If you know the person has a preferred airline or hotel chain, this is a great and easy gift.

AirBnb Giftcard - I have my parents gift me this because I know I will definitely be using them

Tinggly - This company allows you to buy and gift travel experiences

No matter where you spend the holidays this year, I hope you have a happy and safe holiday season, and that this guide helps you find the perfect gift that also gives back.

It's time to speak out.

Once again I find myself watching a moment in history for my country from abroad. While racism is certainly a global issue and there have been protests across the world, the US is by far experiencing more movement at the moment. I am sad to say I didn’t realize the capacity of all that had recently happened until I started looking through my social media after a weekend away and then quickly got myself up to speed. The fact that I went a few days without noticing shows how privileged I am as a white person living abroad. At first I was in shock, but quickly realized that it was time for needed change.

While many have criticized the riots and looting that have come along with this uprising, I think it’s worth it to share this list of times white people have rioted for no reason (like their sports team WINNING) here. When emotions are high, everyone reacts differently. I recently read an amazing feature article on Urban Grape in response to their business being broken into during riots, “Windows are not lives,” they say. They also happen to to be a black owned business, and my favorite wine shop in Boston, conveniently located across the street from my old apartment. This article covers their story and feelings on being impacted by the riots; it’s perfectly written and eye opening.

I’ve taken the past week to read, listen and watch stories on the realities of the lives of people of color in America. While I feel like I am well educated on the issues, I will never understand the experience of being black in America. And even though I feel I’ve made an effort to educate myself and give back to my local community, I feel there is a large amount of space to do more. When Trump got elected, I donated money to many organizations and joined the Big Sister organization to make a change. Today, I have taken similar actions yet again. But it shouldn’t take times like this to make a change, and for that, as an ally, I am sorry. I hope that this will not be a blip in history as it has been so many other times when the call for equality has been made. This time, we need to not only keep the conversation going, but keep the change moving.

I’m taking the time to better educate myself and recognize internal biases I may not even have known existed, purely due to the environment I grew up in. I am understanding how the framework of our systems are failing this group of people and working to find ways I can help to change that. I’ve always been passionate about change and supporting my community; eventually, I’d like to make a career of it. In the mean time, I try to do what I can, but I know there’s always more work to be done. The biggest thing I’ve taken from this is to use my voice more. Speak out when I read an article of travel bloggers and see no people of color on the list. Encourage more diversity in the workplace. Make sure there is inclusion in anyway I can. It’s not enough to say you’re not a racist, we need to become anti racist. Anyone with a single follower has a platform to speak out and talk about change. While everyone is taking action now, we need to keep this fire alive. Change does not come from complacency.

A few years ago I read the book “Small Great Things,” which focuses on the story of a black nurse who works in the delivery room, and is told a white supremacist couple doesn’t want her to care for their child. The baby dies in her care, and thus begins an eye opening story on race and human kind. The title of the book is inspired by a quote by Martin Luther King, Jr., which I think is the perfect note to inspire change: “If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way." We can all make small changes today to lead to a bigger change tomorrow.

I’ve listed some great resources I’ve come across below to help you get started. Here are my own small, personal goals at the moment: watch 13th on Netflix, read a new book related to the issues at hand, find black owned businesses to support, and to use my voice whenever I can.

Change Starts Here

• This is a great video to start with; systematic racism explained in a five minute clip

• Educate yourself through Podcasts, Short Videos, Books, More Books, Shows, and Anti Racist Accounts to Follow

• Support black owned restaurants and find ones near you here

• Speak out and get uncomfortable. Call out racial biases when you see of hear them.

• Donate money if you can. I’ve donated to The Bail Project and local bail funds.

• March if you can, if not, find other ways to help

• Watch this video on loop; the ad money will all be donated to organizations supporting people of color

• Help change the police system with Campaign Zero

• Sign the petitions

• Engage elected officials in conversation

• Support black owned businesses like the ones listed here and here

• Test yourself for hidden biases you may have internally

• VOTE! and find out if you’re registered here

• Keep the conversation going.