Empowering the Community
Dashers to take control of how and when they earn extra income. Nearly all Dashers based in Colorado agree that dashing allows them to control their time and earning opportunities–92% of Dashers
By SARAH SIMON
As we celebrate Black History Month, I took the opportunity to reflect on what empowerment means to me as a Black professional. As the West Region Public Engagement Manager at DoorDash, I have witnessed how my company has put so many in the driver’s seat of their economic futures and earning potential. By providing flexible work opportunities, fostering entrepreneurship, and supporting local communities, DoorDash strives to be a catalyst for economic empowerment in the Black community. At DoorDash, our mission is to power local economies and support local communities. We were founded as a platform to help grow and empower local businesses and do this through a three-tiered approach: • Giving merchants access to the logistics and platform to connect with new customers and grow their business • Connecting consumers with their favorite local businesses • Providing Dashers with an opportunity to earn income on their own schedules and around their own needs Through this approach, we’ve been able to play a small part in driving economic empowerment in Colorado’s Black community. Our system helps foster a more equitable marketplace, with
agree it provides flexibility in their schedule. DoorDash accommodates a diverse range of schedules and circumstances by allowing individuals to access flexible earning opportunities to work when they can. This flexibility can be instrumental in achieving financial stability and pursuing other aspirations, whether it’s further education, investing in a business, or saving for the future. In fact, 80% of Colorado Dashers have other income or responsibilities—this includes Dashers who have full or part-time jobs, are self- employed, students, stay-at-home caregivers or retired. This means that dashing empowers people to pursue their education, take care of loved ones, or go after their passions and long- term goals. We believe communities thrive when economic opportunity is readily available, which is why we are proud that dashing is available to so many Coloradans without significant barriers to entry. As a company, one of our goals is to help support economic progress in the Black community. That is why we sponsored the “Gaining Ground in the Colorado Black Community” Summit hosted by the Colorado Black Round Table last fall. The event convened Colorado’s top leaders and emphasized the importance of applying the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion to policy discussions. We are proud to support organizations like the Colorado Black Round Table that are helping to ensure Black Sarah Simon (Photo: DoorDash
over one-third of Dasher earnings on the platform in Colorado going to dashers living in communities of color —totaling over $90 million in earnings in the year ending in September 2023.
The best part? Dashing allows
DoorDash at a local business. (Photo: DoorDash)
38 The Acumen
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