Corporate Social Responsibility
We are dedicated to corporate social responsibility.
At Parallel, we focus on corporate social responsibility through meaningful action and partnerships that positively impact the communities where we live and work, as well as the industry at large. We recognize there is more to do, and we will continue to take positive steps that make a difference.
Social Equity
Our initial areas of focus are in support of social equity for Women, Black Lives, and Latinx communities.
Internally, we've created Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to ensure diversity and inclusion initiatives reflect the desires of employees as well as provide input on ways we can reflect different perspectives in the way we operate Our ERGs include:
- Black Empowerment Network
- Pride at Parallel
- Women's Impact Network
We focus on continued education and awareness in these areas and more; in 2020 we launched a Get Out to Vote campaign, providing employees tools and resources to exercise their civic duty safely.
We have partnered with many organizations like CultivatED in Massachusetts, where we participated in panel discussions.
We are an active community partner in our markets.
We've partnered with many impactful organizations, including Cannaclusive, the leading national organization created to facilitate inclusion for both business owners and consumers in the cannabis industry.
We're a member of the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA). Together we're planning an expungement event in Pennsylvania and a program to create employment opportunities for minorities in our industry.
We are collaborating with CannabisLAB to create educational content for business leaders in the cannabis industry, as well as communication and media opportunities for industry professionals.
We recently announced a Security Equipment Grant to provide financial support for a social equity certified applicant in Massachusetts to help lower cost barriers related to security equipment in cannabis.
Across our organization we are building upon the best practices in community relations as well that our Massachusetts market has led through our NETACares program.
Giving and Volunteering
In 2020, we launched Parallel Cares, an employee-centric Corporate Social Responsibility giving and volunteering platform designed that supports both the varied personal interests of our diverse employee population and our company’s values-based causes. Employees can use the platform to give – and receive company matching – to the causes that matter the most to them.
Our associates strive to enrich our communities in many ways. Annual food and clothing drives are organized around the holidays to help give back to those in need. We have "Green Teams" that support community sustainability efforts.
We also have supported our communities through giving and volunteering focused around disaster relief, veterans, hunger and homelessness, medical causes, and social cause awareness building initiatives.
