photo by steed media service

At a recent reception celebrating the International Civil Rights Museum’s Walk of Fame exhibit at Macy’s Herald Square during Black History Month, Edward Goldberg looked on with pride. Shaking hands with community movers and shakers like the exhibit’s creator, Xernona Clayton; and former New York City Mayor David Dinkins; Goldberg, Macy’s senior vice president of government affairs, paused to reflect on the moment’s significance. “The people that you saw here tonight are all living legends, but they’re also people that we know we can work together with to do things for the common good,” he noted.

Working with leaders of the African American community year-round is essential to the Macy’s brand for several reasons, Goldberg explains. “It’s important because we are merchants to all communities and today, you just don’t go into a community and take out,” he says. “You get involved in a community and do everything you can to provide the important things that make a difference, such as jobs and economic opportunity.”

Thanks to people like Goldberg, Macy’s commitment to giving back remains a top priority. Goldberg believes that in the end, both the corporation and the African American community can benefit from it. “Our philosophy is that when a community is healthy, then everybody’s going to be healthy,” he says. “We have an obligation as a large business to see to it that we do our part to make communities healthy. That’s just what good corporate responsibility is about today.” -ivory m. jones

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