Posted on June 2, 2020
Black Lives Matter: A Letter from CREDO
We write to you today with a very heavy heart. We are saddened but also so angry at the murder of George Floyd by a White Minneapolis police officer. It once again serves as a stark reminder of the ways White supremacy and systemic racism stack the deck of the criminal justice system against Black people.
As we watch the protests unfold across the country — including the callous and violent escalations by police and military forces — we can’t help but think about what Dr. Martin Luther King said in 1967:
“A riot is the language of the unheard. And what is it that America has failed to hear? It has failed to hear that the promises of freedom and justice have not been met. And it has failed to hear that large segments of white society are more concerned about tranquility and the status quo than about justice and humanity.”
Right now, Black communities are feeling so much pain and anguish, from the coronavirus pandemic that is falling disproportionately on them to a failing healthcare system that ignores them and shuts them out. Now, as Black and Brown people who have had their voices systematically silenced for hundreds of years are again crying out for change in the wake of another racist murder, our leaders are trying to silence them once again.
We need justice and accountability for George Floyd, as well as Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Freddie Gray, Laquan McDonald, Philando Castile, O’Shae Terry, Michael Brown, and the thousands of other Black people whose names we do not know who have been killed by the hands of a brutal policing system.
Ultimately, while we have fought alongside our allies for decades in the pursuit of civil rights and equality, our company can’t change the centuries of oppression, racism and White supremacy that have taken Black lives and erased their histories. But we will always support Black people and do what we can to end the war on Black lives.
Yet, we don’t have all the answers. We won’t offer platitudes or words of comfort, because there’s nothing we can say right now that will change how you and we are feeling. CREDO has always stood for progress, justice and equality, and we’re more committed now than ever to live these values for our employees and our customers. Over the last 35 years, our members have helped us donate more than $28 million to groups fighting for civil rights, and we will continue funding our allies in the Black Lives Matter movement and our civil rights grantees like NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the ACLU.
We will also be donating an additional $50,000 to our long-time allies at Color Of Change to continue their critical work fighting injustice in all its forms.
This summer and fall, we will aggressively work to ensure more people register to vote, have access to the ballot — despite attempts at voter suppression, especially in communities of color — and make their voices heard in our elections. Because our only hope to change this deeply unequal system will come, in part, when we change the leaders in charge who stoke violence, promote hate and continue the institutionalized racism so pervasive today.
But voting isn’t the only solution, and our members have asked us what they can do right now. For starters, we can not — we must not — stay silent. We urge you, too, to speak out. If you’re a White person, you must truly understand your privilege, learn to be a better ally and listen to Black people to understand what they are feeling.
We’ve also compiled a short list of resources and actions you can take right now, including donating to groups on the front lines of this movement, ways to speak out from home and information if you decide to join a protest. This is by no means comprehensive, and we apologize ahead of time if an organization, call to action or another resource hasn’t been included. Please tweet us at @CREDOMobile, and we’ll do our best to lift up your voice.
- Sign the #JusticeForFloyd petition from our allies at Color Of Change, or the Justice for George Floyd petition from allies at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund
- Donate to the National Bail Fund Network or contribute to a local bail fund in this community-created Google doc, updated daily.
- Donate to the Official George Floyd Memorial Fund
- Urgent policy solutions to end police violence, from Campaign Zero
- Additional ways to take action in solidarity with Minneapolis, from Indivisible
- Resources about White Supremacy Culture, from Showing up for Racial Justice
- Black People Need Stronger White Allies — Here’s How You Can Be One, from Refinery 29
- What You Can Do to Support the Protests Right Now: A Guide, from TESA Collective
- How to Protest Safely During a Pandemic, from VICE
- Know your rights as a protester, from the ACLU
- Download the ACLU’s Mobile Justice app, to automatically upload your recording of police conduct to your local ACLU chapter
Sincerely,
Ray Morris, CREDO
Posted on June 2, 2020
Our May grantees thank you for your support
Each month, CREDO members vote on how we distribute funding to three incredible nonprofits. Those small actions add up – with one click, you can help fund groups fighting for gun violence prevention, clean water and peace. In May, over 55,000 CREDO members voted to distribute our monthly donation to March for Our Lives, Water.org and Win Without War.
These donations are made possible by CREDO customers and the revenue they generate by using our services. The distribution depends entirely on the votes of CREDO members like you. And for that, our May grant recipients thank you.
March for Our Lives
$51,944
“Thank you for believing in our youth-led movement to save lives! CREDO members enable us to mobilize our 250+ chapters nationwide and ensure gun violence is front of mind for lawmakers and Americans from all walks of life until we end this epidemic.” -Alexis Confer, Executive Director, March for Our Lives
To learn more, visit marchforourlives.com.
Water.org
$52,795
“Thank you for changing lives with safe water! CREDO members like you will help make it possible to empower families around the world with lasting access to safe water, and the hope, health and opportunity that flow from it.” – Jennifer Schorsch, President, Water.org
To learn more, visit water.org.
Win Without War
$45,261
“For over 17 years, CREDO members like you have fueled Win Without War’s fight and helped us mobilize thousands of activists to restrain an out-of-control foreign policy and hold our leaders accountable. Thank you for working for peace!” – Stephen Miles, Executive Director
To learn more, visit winwithoutwar.org.
Now check out the three groups we are funding in June, and cast your vote to help distribute our donations.
CREDO members who use our products are the reason why we are able to make these donations each month. Learn more about CREDO Mobile, the carrier with a conscience.
Posted on June 1, 2020
Vote for Economic Policy Institute, League of Conservation Voters and The Trevor Project this June
Every month, CREDO members vote to distribute our monthly donation to three incredible progressive causes – and every vote makes a difference. This June, you can support groups fighting for economic equality, climate justice, and LGBTQ rights by voting to fund the Economic Policy Institute, League of Conservation Voters and The Trevor Project.
Economic Policy Institute
The Economic Policy Institute lifts up the voices of working people in the fight for economic justice. EPI’s vital research and policy analysis demonstrate the importance of workers’ rights, worker protections, and a strong social safety net.
Funding from CREDO members will help EPI quickly respond to critical policy debates with credible research and analysis that supports the economic justice movement and defends the most vulnerable members of society.
League of Conservation Voters
LCV influences policy, holds politicians accountable, and wins elections. This is how LCV fights to build a world with clean air, clean water, public lands, and a safe climate that are protected by a just and equitable democracy.
Funding from CREDO members will ensure LCV can drive environmental policy in Washington, hold our elected leaders accountable, and elect leaders who truly represent their communities and are committed to fighting climate change.
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ youth. Its TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, and TrevorChat services provide free and confidential life-saving counseling to LGBTQ young people 24/7.
Funding from CREDO will help sustain The Trevor Project’s crisis counseling services: TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, and TrevorChat. Every year, these programs provide 24/7 support for tens of thousands of LGBTQ youth experiencing a crisis.
Your vote this month will determine how we divide our monthly donation among these three progressive groups. Be sure to cast your vote to support one, two or all three by June 30.
CREDO members who use our products and services everyday are the reason we are able to make these donations each month. Learn more about CREDO Mobile and CREDO Energy and join our movement.
Posted on May 28, 2020
How to unlock your phone using Face ID while wearing a face mask
We all know that wearing a face mask during the pandemic is important. It keeps everyone safer and reduces virus transmission. The CDC recently released updated guidance recommending that everyone wear a face mask in public places, in addition to maintaining social distancing. Wearing a mask is also an act of love and shows respect for your community, health care workers and vulnerable populations.
But wearing a face mask can pose a unique problem: unlocking your Face ID-enabled phone.
Since much of your lower face is covered with your mask, your device might have a difficult time recognizing you and unlocking itself. Here are some tips to unlock your phone while wearing a face mask.
Preferred: Update your iOS version
You could remove your mask every time you want to unlock your phone (we don’t recommend this), but since users unlock their phones 80 times per day on average, removing your mask in public and repeatedly touching your face that many times is probably out of the question.
So how can you use Face ID in public without removing your face mask? Well, Apple recently updated its iOS operating system to help solve the problem. Prior to the update, users would need multiple failure attempts to unlock their devices with Face ID before receiving a prompt to enter a passcode.
With the iOS 13.5 update, Apple included an automatic mask detection feature to help you unlock your phone. If your device recognizes that you’re wearing a mask, it will prompt you to swipe up so you can enter your pass code. This new “swipe up” feature is also available if your device does not recognize that you’re wearing a mask, too.
To update your device to the most recent iOS version, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Quick note: You may have also seen some conspiracy theories floating around the internet about another feature included in iOS 13.5, the COVID-19 Exposure API, stating that Apple is sending your private information to government entities. This feature is currently disabled in your device and will only be available if and when public health officials or governments create contact tracing apps in the future that you choose to download and use.
Alternate: Train your phone to recognize your mask (maybe)
You can try to reset your Face ID settings or set up an alternate appearance with your mask on, but you might get an error message saying that your face is obstructed. Researchers in China discovered a half-face/half-mask method that could work, but others have not found it very reliable.
We haven’t tried this method for ourselves, so we can’t vouch for its effectiveness. The folks at 9to5mac detail some possible steps you can take if you’d like to reset your Face ID or set up an alternate appearance using this half-and-half method.
While neither of these solutions are perfect, the first option is the most reliable method right now if you’d like to safely unlock your phone with Face ID without removing your face mask in public.
Have you tried these methods or do you have other ideas to use Face ID while wearing a face mask? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Posted on May 26, 2020
How March for Our Lives is Creating a Safer America
March For Our Lives was created by students in the days following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida just over two years ago. The youth-led movement organizes young people in all 50 states to enact lifesaving gun violence prevention policies and record-breaking youth voter turnout. In 2018, March For Our Lives made history by organizing the nation’s largest protest against gun violence and mobilizing an unprecedented young voter turnout in the midterm election. With this critical contribution from CREDO, we can do it again in 2020.
On March 24th, 2018, young people organized over 800 marches in cities worldwide, calling attention to the solvable gun violence epidemic in the United States. The day of action marked the largest protest against gun violence in our nation’s history, and the tsunami of activism that created and followed it became known as the largest youth movement since the Vietnam War era. March For Our Lives forever changed the conversation about guns in America, raising awareness for a critical issue that had been largely ignored in politics.
In the summer of 2018, March For Our Lives led the Road To Change, a 60 day bus tour visiting 80 communities in 24 different states, with the goal of registering and mobilizing young people to vote. Students from communities across the country including Chicago, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Houston, Newtown, and others joined Parkland survivors on the bus tour, recognizing that a movement combatting an intersectional issue like gun violence deserves intersectional representation. The results were astronomical.
2018 was all about making noise and drumming up enthusiasm for civic engagement and life saving policies. In 2019, MFOL focused on training and strengthening our chapter organizations across the nation- laying the groundwork for an even bigger impact in the 2020 election. But we can’t do it alone. That’s why we need your help!
We don’t have to remind you that things are far from normal. March For Our Lives, like everyone else, has had to restructure some of our 2020 plans for civic engagement to accommodate virtual tactics for mobilization. Luckily, digital organizing has always been one of March For Our Lives’ greatest strengths. Generous CREDO funding has helped MFOL achieve great heights and create meaningful social, political and cultural change before. With your help, we can make an even bigger splash in the critical months to come.
Thanks in part to the last donation from CREDO, MFOL has made huge strides in the gun violence prevention movement in recent months. Some major highlights include:
- Launched Our Power, MFOL’s 2020 campaign to start the next chapter of our journey; sharpening our focus, harnessing our intersectionality and giving meaning to enough is enough.
- Organized the 2020 Gun Safety Forum, a historic forum in Las Vegas, NV featuring every leading Democratic presidential candidate’s discussion on the policies they think will end this nation’s gun violence epidemic.
- Filed an amicus brief in a Supreme Court case that could have expanded gun rights and invalidated lifesaving laws already on the books. We rallied outside the Supreme Court to proclaim our right to not be shot, and we won- the court dismissed the case just a few weeks ago.
We’re not slowing down, either. March For Our Lives is still committed to leading a record-breaking youth voter turnout in the 2020 election, while remaining responsible and safe during the pandemic. We’ve organized a series of digital hubs, inclusive online spaces and virtual rallies, directly engaging with young voters across the country to ensure a safe, fair, and historic election is top of mind. Our Digital Hubs have hosted a number of exciting special guests to commend the inspiring work MFOL activists are managing to do while at home, including March For Our Lives founders, elected officials who are championing the gun violence prevention movement, as well as musical artists and entertainment. The hubs are packed with programming for young activists and people looking to make a change from their own living rooms. Activities like phone banking, workshops, trainings and even yoga and mindfulness exercises are all offered as part of the program!
March For Our Lives has the people, platform and plans to make big things happen in the future, but it requires all hands on deck. The unfortunate reality is that one public health crisis does not stop for another, which is why we’re doubling down now to create necessary change. With your help, we can ensure a safer America.
Posted on May 18, 2020
5 great shows and movies to stream today on Apple TV+
If you’re like a lot of us here at CREDO, you’re probably watching a lot of streaming TV these days. With the current stay-at-home guidelines in place to keep everyone safe, you might be catching up on a lot of series, documentaries and movies that you missed before the pandemic.
With all the streaming options now available, there’s a lot of great content to choose from. And we’d like to suggest a newer service you should consider, too: Apple TV+, the company’s long-awaited streaming service, which launched late last year.
Priced at a competitive $4.99 a month and available across Apple devices, smart TVs and other streaming media, Apple TV+ hosts a bundle of original programming for all your streaming needs, with the company adding more new content weekly. We’ve compiled a few great shows and movies available right now on Apple TV+.
Little America
According to Apple TV+, Little America is an “anthology series that observes the funny, romantic, heartfelt, inspiring, and surprising stories of immigrant America.” The series tells the funny and sometimes heartbreaking stories of eight immigrants to the United States, based on real-life biographies collected by Epic magazine. The Guardian calls Little America Apple TV+’s best show yet.
Watch Little America on Apple TV+ here.
Oprah’s Book Club
If you’re living life in quarantine, you may have joined a book club. We even suggested a few tips to start your own. You’ve probably also heard of Oprah’s famous and long-running book club that elevated the works and careers of dozens of authors. In Apple TV+’s rendition, Oprah again handpicks the books and conducts one-on-one interviews with famous authors about their lives and recent works. The first episode, American Dirt, “ignited a backlash” after Oprah decided to move forward with her interview, despite the author and book receiving harsh criticism for portraying racist stereotypes of immigrants.
Watch Oprah’s Book Club on Apple TV+ here.
Hala
A different kind of coming of age drama we hardly see portrayed, “Hala”, the title character played by Geraldine Viswanathan, follows the story of a seventeen-year old Muslim American high school senior, her relationship with her Pakistani-American parents and her self-discovery in and outside her family. The Los Angeles Times calls Hala “a culturally specific tale with universal appeal,” and Rolling Stone says it’s a “beautifully personal portrait of growing pains.” The film is rated R and runs for 1 hour and 34 minutes.
The Elephant Queen
This beautiful and riveting documentary follows Athena, the “queen” elephant whose tusk can reach the ground, and her herd of elephants across the savanna in Kenya, raising a family and searching for water during a drought. While the film is meant for a younger audience, it’s definitely an all-ages documentary and scores an impressive 90% on Rotten Tomatoes. Directed by wildlife documentarians Victoria Stone and Mark Deeble and narrated by Oscar-nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Watch The Elephant Queen on Apple TV+ here.
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth
Based on the New York Times best-selling children’s book by Oliver Jeffers, this heartwarming animated short, narrated by Meryl Streep, follows a curious young boy on the eve of Earth Day discovering the natural wonders of the Earth and the bonds between parents and children. Recommended for people ages 4 and up and runs for 30 minutes.
Watch Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth on Apple TV+ here.
Posted on May 11, 2020
CREDO donates to groups fighting hunger on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic
Millions of Americans face food insecurity every day, and unfortunately, it’s getting a lot worse during the coronavirus pandemic.
Before the crisis, more than 37 million people were living with food insecurity. Now, another 17 million could face hunger in the coming months. More than 18 million children — 1 out of every 4 — could be food insecure. Food banks and the federal SNAP program (formerly food stamps) are overwhelmed, and with unemployment at historic levels, the numbers of hungry Americans will continue to rise.
That’s why CREDO is extending our COVID-19 relief donations to three additional, community-based organizations fighting hunger on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic: Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, and Citymeals on Wheels (in NY).
These donations to frontline hunger organizations — an additional $5,000 each week for three weeks — are above and beyond our monthly giving to nonprofit groups. Last month, we established a COVID-19 Relief Fund with a $75,000 donation split between Mercy Corps, National Domestic Workers Alliance and World Central Kitchen. These donations are thanks to CREDO members who use our products and services every day. And like all our donations, these gifts are given at no extra cost to our customers.
Here’s a little bit more about these three great groups helping to fight hunger and food insecurity during this crisis:
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
One in five people face food insecurity in Los Angeles County, and coronavirus is disproportionately impacting lower-income communities. School closures, changes in work schedules and social isolation are layering extra burdens on our neighbors throughout Los Angeles County. The LA Regional Food Bank is working hard to meet the needs of those impacted by coronavirus, as well as individuals who typically need assistance.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana
Hundreds of thousands of Louisianans have filed unemployment claims in recent weeks, and many of them are seeking emergency food assistance, often for the first time. The immediate need for food has increased by more than 40 percent. According to the organization, the response will go on for months, and the economic impacts could last for long after the pandemic subsides.
Citymeals on Wheels (in NY)
As the designated emergency responder for New York City’s seniors, Citymeals is delivering 450,000 meals in response to the Coronavirus outbreak. Donations will help guarantee a continuous lifeline of nourishing meals during this crisis to more than 18,000 homebound elderly New Yorkers.
Posted on May 4, 2020
Vote for March for Our Lives, Water.org and Win Without War this May
Every month, CREDO members vote to distribute our monthly donation to three incredible progressive causes – and every vote makes a difference. This May, you can support groups fighting for gun violence prevention, clean water and peace by voting to fund March for Our Lives, Water.org and Win Without War.
March for Our Lives organizes young people in all 50 states to enact lifesaving gun violence prevention policies, to bring accountability to the gun industry and complacent lawmakers, and to transform the debate around guns in America.
Funding from CREDO will help MFOL to do digital and on-the-ground organizing to engage young people in the civic process and to educate stakeholders on MFOL’s Peace Plan for a Safer America, its policy platform to halve gun deaths in ten years.
1 in 9 people lack access to safe water. Water.org exists to change this. Water.org empowers people in need with access to small, affordable loans for water and sanitation solutions at home – unlocking education, economic opportunity and improved health.
Support from CREDO will help fuel Water.org’s smart solutions and expand its impact so together we can change more lives with access to safe water and sanitation – giving women hope, children health and families a bright future.
Win Without War is building a global movement for change, rooted in solidarity and our shared values of justice, equality, and security for all through a diverse network of activists and organizations.
No matter who is in the White House, the threats are deep and multifaceted. A grant from CREDO will help Win Without War plan, build, and meet these challenges by growing the power of progressives to win on foreign policy and national security.
Your vote this month will determine how we divide our monthly donation among these three progressive groups. Be sure to cast your vote to support one, two or all three by May 31.
CREDO members who use our products and services everyday are the reason we are able to make these donations each month. Learn more about CREDO Mobile and CREDO Energy and join our movement.