Everyday Choices, Not Big Moments: Lessons from Jane Fonda & JBC
"Would you have been brave enough to walk the bridge?"
We’re thrilled to welcome this week’s guest editor, Susan Meyer, JBC’s director of operations who has helped run JBC since day one. Susan has long been a passionate advocate for social change and a long-time admirer of activism, and for today’s post, she brings us a unique perspective inspired by Jane Fonda’s compelling SAG Awards speech. Oh, and she’s also Jenny’s mom. Thanks for all you do, Susan!
Hi all—
We don’t know about you, but we’ve been buzzing with inspiration all week ever since watching Jane Fonda’s recent SAG Awards speech, accepting her incredibly well-deserved lifetime achievement award. If you haven’t seen it yet, do yourself a favor and watch all eight minutes and 44 seconds immediately. The 87-year-old actor, activist, businesswoman, and philanthropist reminded us that staying involved and engaged with the world isn’t just a nice to do — it’s also our responsibility.
Her message hit home: In a moment when the world feels strange, dangerous, and overwhelming, it’s easy to scroll past important headlines in the interest of avoiding doomscrolling altogether. But Fonda encourages us to dig deeper and use our voices to stand up for what we believe in; every small action — be it supporting a local cause or having conversations with friends and family — contributes to meaningful change.
This quote is too good not to include in full:
“Would you have been brave enough to walk the bridge? Would you have been able to take the hoses and the batons and the dogs? We don’t have to wonder anymore because we are in our documentary moment. This is it. And it’s not a rehearsal. This is it. And we mustn’t for a moment kid ourselves about what’s happening. This is big-time serious, folks, so let’s be brave.”
Being engaged isn’t just about big moments, but our everyday choices. Fonda’s own journey from Hollywood icon to fierce activist proves that change often starts at the grassroots level. That's the essence of effective PR: storytelling that resonates. It’s about creating genuine connections that cut through the noise.
Let’s dig a little deeper into how we’ve been putting this into practice lately:
1. Swehl’s “Just Add Milk” Billboard
Remember that stunning billboard we launched with Swehl in Times Square featuring Molly Baz? It was all about lactation cookies, but it did so much more. When some content concerns came up, we saw it as a chance to challenge the conversation about women’s bodies and equality. The result? Nearly 10 million media impressions in just 48 hours, with major outlets like “Good Morning America” and Fast Company sharing our story. Talk about amplifying voices.
2. Standing Up with a Rebuttal: Harrison Butker’s Speech
Then there was that time Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker made some questionable comments at a commencement speech. We couldn't stand idly by, so we suggested that the founders of theSkimm delivered an empowering rebuttal. And guess what? The response was overwhelming — over 12,000 shares, hundreds of comments, and a fantastic feature on Fast Company. It was a beautiful reminder that standing up and speaking out really matters.
So take a cue from Fonda: Stay engaged, share your voice, and create change together.
Thanks for being here,
Susan, Jenny & Melissa