Written by Vincent Kitirattragarn, Founder & CEO of Dang Foods

To be Asian in American is to be constantly reminded of one’s otherness, and I became even more aware of it when I joined the natural food industry, given its lack of racial diversity. It’s because of this that I’m writing to spread awareness about a horrific trend. 

Since March 2020, there has been a disturbing rise in Anti-Asian hate crimes, which increased 1900%. 3000 incidents have been reported and many more go unreported due to language barriers and mistrust of authorities. Worst of all, there’s targeting of vulnerable elderly populations including the murder of an 84 year old Thai grandfather out on a morning walk in SF on January 28. This could have been my father. 

Days ago, a 36-year-old Chinese man was stabbed in the back in NYC’s Chinatown, he’s now fighting for his life. This could have been me.

Asians have been spit on, poured acid on, and lit on fire, all because of their race and all to people minding their own business. 

I understand a lot of people are frustrated at COVID and many blame China for being the origin, but it’s ignorant to blame a global pandemic on Asians here in the US. 

Enough is enough, and I’m calling on our industry leaders to do something about it. Some things you can do to help:

1) Learn the basics of bystander intervention. This is the most powerful way to show alliance when something happens, but you have to be prepared. 

2) Have your companies take a stance. A written statement goes a long way. Use these hashtags:  #StopAsianHate #StopAAPIHate

3) Amplify Asian voices in your communities – in your company and in the industry. Check in with your Asian employees – making them feel seen can be a strong connector.

4) Support the cause financially. My recommendation would be Asian Pacific Fund’s Solidarity Fund which specifically goes to organizations working to address anti-Asian sentiment. 

My company Dang Foods has donated to Mr. Ratanapakee’s GoFundMe, and we encourage all allies to show up in ways that feel right to you. The natural food industry has welcomed me and made a part of something bigger than myself. My hope is it will step up in these challenging times to embrace my community the same way it embraced me.

The post Anti-Asian violence must end. Now. appeared first on One Step Closer.

In 2017, OSC launched the Rising Star Chapter for emerging, mission-driven Founders & CEO’s in the natural products industry. Together, this innovative group of leaders helped us establish how earlier-stage brands and their teams can better support each other and the larger community of environmentally and socially minded natural products companies. 

Recently, we celebrated the graduation of two Rising Star members, All Good, and PathWater, to the Core Chapter. We are now seeking nominations for new members to join the current crop of Rising Star brands, which include Beyond Broth, Imlak’esh Organics, Kuli Kuli, Nana Joes Granola, and The Town Kitchen, and Uncommon Cacao.

Scholarship opportunities are available for BIPOC and Latinx leaders.

To bolster the diversity of leadership in our industry, OSC has secured funding to underwrite 80% of the annual participation fees for BIPOC and Latinx founders and CEOs. 

Know someone who might be a good fit?

Send your nominations to Michael Anzalone, Rising Star Program Director (michael@osc2.org)

Or interested in participating yourself?

Contact Michael, by way of referral, expressing your interest.

Nomination Deadline: February 15, 2021

Download the OSC Rising Star Info Packet

About the Rising Star CEO Leadership Chapter

One Step Closer (OSC) is a trusted network of values aligned CEO’s and founders working together to support each other and address some of the greatest challenges facing food, agriculture, and our planet. Together, we work our business and industry challenges with a carefully facilitated agenda that involves thoughtful evaluation and meaningful connection.  

Our leadership chapters convene regularly to work through tough business and industry challenges with a carefully facilitated agenda that involves thoughtful evaluation and meaningful connection. Members also participate in committees across different chapters to inform future OSC programming and Collaboratives. A lot of the magic happens beyond these meetings with the ongoing growth of our community trust and connection. We continue to lean in to support each other and our impact work.

Member Benefits

• Monthly member meetings +  seasonal events & gatherings
• Custom development plan for each member
• Rotating ceo-founder buddy system with other RS members
• Present/attend OSC Core Member meetings
• Access to OSC University – continuing-education for you and your team
• Department Forums – online community for department specific connections (Sales, Marketing, Operations, Finance, HR/Admin)
• 6-month mentorship with a senior founder/CEO from the Core Chapter
• Ad-hoc advisement from Core Members 
• Preferred access to OSC events

Membership Criteria

• Leader currently engaged in the business. He/she must be a CEO, President, or C-level founder
• Leader models sustainable and/or J.E.D.I. values in their life and business
• Leader demonstrates high integrity, humility, and openness to giving/receiving constructive feedback
• Company is approx. $1-$10 mil in revenues (special considerations made for BIPOC and Latinx leaders)
• Company has a socially conscious and/or sustainability mission
• Presence in the natural products industry, CPG or other strong sustainable cause
• 100% non-GMO Food or agricultural products
• Organic or strategy to move toward organic
• Addressing a food system issue within the DNA of their company
• B-Corp’s preferred or on the path to it
• Non-competitive with other members – current members will validate

Annual Membership Fees

$3,500 – $4,500 per year, with no additional cost for a second founder. 

Scholarship opportunities are available for BIPOC and Latinx leaders. Approximately 80% of annual membership fees will be underwritten.

CONTACT: Michael Anzalone, Rising Star Program Director (michael@osc2.org)

The post OSC Now Accepting Nominations for its Rising Star Chapter appeared first on One Step Closer.

More than a third of registered voters have already voted in this year’s election

Originally article by: Ethan Cohen, Liz Stark and Adam Levy, CNN

Pre-Election Day voting is skyrocketing nationwide amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and states are reporting record-breaking turnout as voters are energized to vote by mail or early in person before November. As of Wednesday afternoon, over 35% of registered voters have cast ballots ahead of the Nov 3 election day.  Early estimates indicate that voter turnout could reach 150 mil+.

Notable stats include:

• Montana, Washington, and the state of Colorado maintain the highest early voting turnout
• In an additional 13 states, at least 40% of registered voters have also cast ballots.
• Besides Colorado — North Carolina (roughly 50%), Texas and Florida (both 48%) are seeing the highest turnout as a share of registered voters so far

The post Early Voting Tops 74 Million! #YourVoteCounts appeared first on One Step Closer.

We are excited to announce that we’ve recently completed a rebranding project! As part of the project, we updated our logo, our messaging and our website. 

From now on we’ll be known as One Step Closer or OSC. We decided to simplify the organization name and drop the two/squared but we won’t completely lose sight of it! – you’ll see it used in new creative ways. In updating our messaging, we wanted to accurately capture all that we do as an organization yet make it succinct and easy to articulate. As we updated the website, we wanted to both create a hub for current members and clarify for potential members or community partners who we are, what we do and how they can get involved.

We look forward to using this brand refresh as an opportunity to increase awareness of OSC in the industry!

A HUGE thank you to Guru for designing our new logo and helping us simplify our name and messaging. Their incredible team went above and beyond to help us reimagine our logo while keeping key elements that have been a part of our brand from the beginning. We landed on a hopeful, uplifting landscape crafted out of our O-S-C letters. Thank you thank you Guru crew!

Our website update was done by the awesome team at Thomas Digital. Thank you for helping us create a more comprehensive, user-friendly, easy to read site! It was no small project to take all of what we do at OSC and organize it so thoughtfully and creatively. Thank you thank you!

The post New Look. Same Stellar Community! appeared first on One Step Closer.

Think Globally. Vote Locally.

#YourVoteCounts

In response to recent social and environmental injustices across the nation, the OSC member community is encouraging all eligible voters to participate this November in Federal, State, AND Local elections.  As a community, we encourage thoughtful and purposeful choices at all levels. Let’s take the time before Nov 3 to educate ourselves, and each other, by way of conversation. #YourVoteCounts

Ballot Box Update.

Due to overwhelming popularity our special edition Ballot Boxes are all gone! But don’t worry, we’ve got a digital version, which will feature special offers from our member community.  Sign up HERE to receive yours.  There is no cost to participate.***

About the Campaign.

#YourVoteCounts is a nonpartisan voter turnout campaign organized by One Step Closer (OSC), and intended to increase voter turnout this November. OSC is a member-community of purpose-driven brands committed to tackling the toughest sustainability challenges facing our world.

The post Ballot Boxes are gone, but Digital Ballot Box available! appeared first on One Step Closer.

42 days and counting…

IT’S NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION DAY! ARE YOU READY TO VOTE?

Today is National Voter Registration Day, a day dedicated to making sure everyone has a chance to register to vote before the election this fall.

With help from our nonpartisan partners, Headcount.org, you can verify your voter registration status here. If you have moved recently, or need to update any information such as your name or party affiliation, you can do so here.

And if you’re not registered to vote, you can do it today! It takes less than 2 minutes.

REGISTER TO VOTE!

Fueling the Conversation

Sign up today to host a COVID-safe virtual Ballot Party in your community and you’ll automatically be entered to win a complimentary OSC Ballot Box stuffed with an assortment of epic products from OSC member brands.

Set a date with your friends & family and dig into your ballot with the help of some amazing nonpartisan resources like Headcount and BallotReady. You’ll have all the tools and support you need to make informed decisions on Nov 3.

Click Here to Learn More

#YourVoteCounts is powered in part by the generous support of Numi Tea, Nana Joes Granola, La Tourangelle, All Good, The Town Kitchen, Cannacraft, Kuli Kuli, Llano Seco, Dr. Bronner’s, Grove Collaborative, and Nutiva.

The post Fall kicks off with #YourVoteCounts appeared first on One Step Closer.

Think Globally/ Vote Locally

In response to recent social and environmental injustices across the nation, the OSC member community is encouraging all eligible voters to participate this November in Federal, State, AND Local elections.  As a community, we encourage thoughtful and purposeful choices at all levels. Let’s take the time before Nov 3 to educate ourselves and each other by way of conversation. Sign up to host a Ballot Party today! #YourVoteCounts

Fueling the Conversation. Eleven OSC member brands, including Numi Tea, Nana Joes Granola, La Tourangelle, All Good, The Town Kitchen, Cannacraft, Kuli Kuli, Rancho Llano Seco, Dr. Bronner’s, Grove Collaborative, and Nutiva,  will be giving away, 100 complimentary “Ballot Boxes”, which are  stuffed with an assortment of epic products valued at over $500. Sign up today to host a COVID-safe virtual ballot party in your community, and you’ll automatically be entered into the giveaway.

About the Campaign.#YourVoteCounts is a nonpartisan voter turnout campaign organized by One Step Closer (OSC), and intended to increase voter turnout this November.

For more information visit www.osc2.org/YVC

The post OSC member brands activate a non-partisan voter turnout campaign this fall appeared first on One Step Closer.

Regenerative Packaging – HowGood Innovation Online Series

The post Jane Franch, Numi Organic Tea, Featured in HowGood Innovation Online Series appeared first on One Step Closer.

OSC2: Hometown?
VK:  New York, NY

OSC2:  What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
VK: I aspire to be a kayak fisherman! The Bay Area, where I live, has an abundance of seafood and growing up in a Thai-Chinese American household, I really love my fresh seafood. Every year I go out on a boat and catch Dungeoness Crabs for Crabsgiving which has become a tradition.

OSC2: What is it about the mission of your company that really ignites you?
VK: We’re owning who we are as Asian-Americans and spreading our food culture with the US. Asian food tends to be plant-based, whole food, and low in sugar which is sorely needed here in the US. We’re helping people eat healthier and staying true to ourselves at the same time. We’ve had fans write in to say they cannot eat anything else except our coconut chips due to immune system issues, which is really powerful .

OSC2: What’s a favorite childhood memory of food that you have?
VK: In 4th grade we had to bring a dish from our culture into school to share with friends and their parents. I brought in chicken satay and was the first one to “sell out”. That’s when I knew Thai food in the US had potential as far as business.

OSC2: What’s one thing that keeps you up at night?
VK: Working with distributors and needing to balance the needs of our company with our partners’ needs. Sometimes terms are negotiated “out of partnership” but really it’s a grab for profit and doesn’t work in both parties’ favor.

Dang is on a mission to share their culture for a healthier and more flavorful world. Whether it be through sharing snacks, working with local farmers, or supporting organizations that aid refugees and people affected by natural disaster, they truly give a Dang.

Dang Foods was created to share uniquely Asian-American snacks with the flavors and ingredients that Vincent and his brother Andrew love, including their famous original Coconut Chips, Thai street snack-inspired Thai Rice Chips, and Keto Friendly Bars.

The post “5 in 5” with Vincent Kitirattragarn of Dang Foods appeared first on One Step Closer.

OSC2: Hometown?
LC:  Alameda, CA

OSC2:  What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?
LC: That I once spoke Swahili with President Obama.

OSC2: What is it about the mission of your company that really ignites you?
LC: Our mission to use nutrient-rich, climate-smart crops like moringa to improve nutrition and livelihoods for women around the world.

OSC2: What’s a favorite childhood memory of food that you have?
LC: I used to love going to my grandma’s house and picking berries and tomatoes off the vine from her wonderful garden.

OSC2: What’s one thing that keeps you up at night?
LC: I am constantly thinking about how I can be a better leader and what more I can do to support Kuli Kuli’s team and farmers. I never feel like I’m doing enough.

Kuli Kuli is the world’s leading moringa brand with the highest quality moringa on the market. Moringa is a leafy green more nutritious than kale that provides powerful anti-inflammatory benefits rivaling those of turmeric.

Their Moringa Superfood Bars, Pure Organic Moringa Powder, Moringa Green Tea Wellness Shots, and Organic Moringa Green Smoothie Mixes are made in the US with moringa sourced directly from women’s cooperatives and small family farmers around the world. By importing a portion of the moringa to the US for their products, they’ve created an international market for moringa and a sustainable livelihood for their farmers. 

The post “5 in 5” with Lisa Curtis of Kuli Kuli Foods appeared first on One Step Closer.