A warm welcome to my cozy, virtual space.
Hi there, it’s me, Manpreet! I am so glad you are here. Let’s call this little space I occupy on the interwebs my living room, mostly because that is literally where I do most of my writing – while sitting on the sofa next to my sweet forever-young little 15-year-old dog, Bobo.
Rewritten is a newsletter that came out of my work as an entrepreneur, educator, and social impact strategy advisor. I started my company, Art of Citizenry, years ago to help impact-driven businesses create sustainable systems for growth. Fast forward to now, I have had the opportunity to collaborate with + educate dozens (I feel weird saying hundreds, but that is likely more accurate) of businesses and social entrepreneurs globally over the years. I am excited to share all that I have learned, observed, and experienced so we can continue to work towards collaborative models for social, environmental, and economic resilience.
Why subscribe?
I believe the only way we can make the world and our relationships within it more restorative is by deconstructing the systems we each navigate on a daily basis. The world we are currently navigating is built on structural inequities. From international development to social entrepreneurship, often our approach to “fixing” causes more harm than good. To create sustainable change and build more just global economies, we need to have an intersectional approach.
Join my independent newsletter for nuanced and unfiltered insights exploring how we can together build a more just and equitable future. You won’t have to worry about missing anything. Every new edition of the newsletter goes directly to your inbox.
About Manpreet
Hi there! 👋🏽 I’m Manpreet Kaur Kalra (she/her), a development economics and legal scholar with a focus on Business and Human Rights. My research explores corporate accountability and impact communication, especially in their intersection with sustainable development policy.
As the founder of Art of Citizenry, I am a trusted advisor to social entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders doing their part to address complex problems. I collaborate with global social enterprises to co-create community-led solutions that emphasize economic, social, and climate justice, particularly within supply chains. My work involves developing impact strategy, measurement, communication, and reporting frameworks.
Previously, I served as the Chief Impact Officer for a certified B-Corp, where I facilitated the reporting process. I hold a Master of Jurisprudence in Sustainable International Development from the University of Washington School of Law. My academic and professional pursuits aim to bridge the gap between human rights and legal mechanisms to enhance corporate due diligence.
Currently, I am a Human Rights Law Fellow with Global Rights Advocacy and a Sustainable Business Law Fellow at the University of Washington School of Law. I also serve on the Fair Trade Federation's Fair Trade Alliance Board of Directors and the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee.
I have had the honor and privilege to led workshops, lecture at universities, and deliver keynotes at institutions and organizations around the world, including Cornell University, the University of Southern California Global Policy Institute, University of the Arts London, and the World Fair Trade Organization. My talks range from Ethical Storytelling and Informed Consent to Anti-racism in Global Development.
With a passion for creative storytelling as a tool for social change, I created a photo and poetry series called Artisans of Punjab, which explores the trauma of Partition through the evolution of Phulkari textiles. While pursuing my Bachelors at Boston University College of Communication, I founded Kaurista, the first online lifestyle magazine that provided Sikh women with a platform to feel represented and heard (circa 2009!).
As the granddaughter of refugees displaced during the partition of Punjab in the 1940s and the daughter of immigrants who survived the 1984 Sikh Genocide, my work speaks to the complexity of identity and generational trauma. Throughout my personal and academic journey, a significant portion of my research has focused on unpacking the deep-seated history of genocide and its impact on economic development.
I realize the internet is overflowing with content, so if you are still reading, I want you to know I appreciate you being here and sharing this small little space of the internet with me on Substack! ❤️
