Sunrise Banks recently submitted a proposal to South by Southwest (SXSW) to conduct a featured panel session in the 2022 SXSW Conference—and we need your vote!

Founded in 1987, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of tech, film, music, education and culture. The SXSW Conference provides an opportunity for the global community of digital creatives to learn cutting-edge ideas, discover new interests, and network with other professionals who share a similar appetite for forward-focused experiences.

It is with this mission in mind that Sunrise Banks carefully considered how we might draw from our work as not only one of the most innovative banks empowering financial wellness, but also as a business focused on a triple bottom line—profit, planet and people. Our desire to spread the message that all businesses should commit to making a positive community and social impact is what drove our 2022 SXSW Conference panel proposal.

In May 2020, the devastating murder of George Floyd and its aftermath in Minneapolis thrust our city into the epicenter of the global conversation surrounding race and equity. In the midst of this tragedy, businesses needed to find ways to help. For some, this meant holding donation drives. For others it was pledging to increase their percentage of employees of color or to help spread awareness about racial injustices.

Over the years, Sunrise has positioned itself as a leader in corporate social responsibility. Today, however, we no longer believe that it is a “nice-to-have” quality in a corporation—it is a necessity.

What we learned in 2020 is that businesses must be part of the solution when it comes to pertinent social issues. Who better to facilitate and encourage this dialogue than Sunrise Banks and members of our business community who are at the forefront of corporate social responsibility?

In the Sunrise Banks SXSW panel proposal Off Site Link, we expand upon the virtual town hall we hosted on racial equity in December 2020, which featured local diversity and inclusion experts and thoughtful conversations on equality. The SXSW panel conversation highlights local business owners and the steps they continue to take to effect positive change in such a challenging and divisive time. We explore how businesses can be part of the solution, tangible steps businesses can take to support equity and inclusion, and ways to create brand authenticity surrounding social issues.

The panel will include Sunrise Banks CEO David Reiling, Pimento Jamaican Kitchen Co-founder Tomme Beevas and Mayyadda Munkunjae, a local musician who will perform during the event.

SXSW implements an interface called PanelPicker to allow for public voting on conference programming—including panels, presentations and workshops. Because community is at the heart of SXSW, PanelPicker enables creative professionals, informed consumers, and experienced experts from across the country and around the world to have a voice in the specific programming topics featured each year.

In an effort to formalize an input process that has always been an integral part of the conference experience, PanelPicker was launched in 2007. This platform for community voting has led to some of the most compelling sessions at SXSW.

This is where you come in!

Voting is quick and easy. In order to vote, you will need to take a brief moment to set up a free PanelPicker account Off Site Link. But don’t worry—your registration information will be kept completely confidential.

After you create your account, you can vote once per proposal. Just select “arrow up” for yes or “arrow down” for no. It’s as simple as that!

So, check out our panel proposal Off Site Link and watch our video that illustrates the importance in addressing racial equity during a time of crisis. This learning journey will take you to the site of Floyd’s murder—just blocks from one of Sunrise Banks’ branch locations in South Minneapolis—and showcase local businesses helping to elevate their communities in the aftermath of this tragic event.

We appreciate your vote—please be sure to tell your friends and colleagues to cast a vote as well. Thank you for helping us in our continued commitment to corporate social responsibility.