[Applause]
greetings my name is Bridget Howard
James I am a business and outreach
consultant and tonight I’d like to talk
to you about community inclusion and the
individual community what comes to mind
when you hear this word a place where
people live work and go to school
community why is it important
it creates an effective way to
disseminate ideas and information
community what does it represent a group
of unified individuals sharing a
collective vision
simply put community is a place where
people can connect develop and grow we
can all be a part of many different
communities community may even be your
tribe that group of people who are fully
invested in you the strength of
community is getting many different
individuals together engaged and working
for a common goal in our national
landscape where we’re divisions are
where our differences are being used to
create deepen the divisions among us ask
yourself how can we build on the
strength of our differences to create a
strong and inclusive community the
community is a key foundational
component of our society its cohesive
structure is dependent upon how well it
represents and cares for the people the
spirit of the community and its vision
are shaped by many subgroups the
community vision is born out of purpose
it defines what the community
having to become however if the
community’s visioned is confined to one
specific ideal it leaves room for the
its atmosphere of exclusion to develop
three things that undermine community
are limited vision a narrow identity and
unacknowledged bias a limited vision
sends a silent message to all its
members that they all should conform to
one mindset as a result a narrow
identity is formed based upon how its
members should look think and act
individuality is shunned creating an
atmosphere of unacknowledged
butwhere unacknowledged bias can thrive
when our first learned of the death of
trayvon martin i was heartsick as a
mother of five sons and one daughter i
knew the fear of this reality trayvon
story is not new it is all too common in
occurrence in the black community a fear
realized a young black teen returns from
the local convenience store wearing a
hooded sweatshirt a concerned citizen a
white man follows the team because he
did not appear to belong to the
neighborhood the man pursues the teen
armed with a gun convinced that he must
stop him a struggle ensues the teen is
shot and killed 16 year-old Trayvon
Martin paid the ultimate price this
outcome is the result of a narrow
identity limited vision and racial bias
those who are different become targets
to hatred and violence
why does inclusion matter communities
that embrace inclusion create positive
change in three areas in its environment
for among its people and for its future
inclusion fosters a supportive and
respectful environment it also embraces
diversity of thought and of people it
creates an atmosphere where open and
honest dialogue can occur yet
the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made
inclusion possible this act ended
segregation in public places and made
employment discrimination based upon
race color sex religion and national
origin illegal this Act established the
protected class subsequent laws address
issues such as voting rights fair
housing and expanded the definition of
protected class today many groups
benefit from this law however inclusion
will only be effective when we as a
community are willing to face the
fundamental truth that of racial
discrimination injustice and inequality
head-on ask yourself how can inclusion
bring us together as a community if we
are ignorant of the historical impact of
racial prejudice on our society in
modern times consider this slavery 271
years Jim Crow segregation 99 years mass
incarceration also known as the new Jim
Crow
sixty-four years and Counting consider
the impact of civil rights on American
history
for example voting rights the 15th and
19th amendment respectful respectively
guaranteed constitutional right of
African American men and women to vote
on May 26 1965 the Voting Rights Act
prohibits prohibits the practice of
discrimination against African American
men and women was signed into law today
we continue to tear down obstacles that
would suppress any citizens legal right
to vote also we continue to make strides
to make obtaining state identification
more accessible yet in the 21st century
discriminatory Skrim ination is still
occurring today it is known as voter
suppression ask yourself how will I
recognize discriminatory practices that
have a new face for example requiring
black voters to provide a birth
certificate prior to obtaining a ballot
to vote yes this happened in 2017 in
America who argue this is a question
that young adults asked to define who
they are and to uncover their purpose
adults ask the same question to
determine their value on the in relation
to where they’re headed in this journey
the common denominator this is a this
question is central to defining identity
our identity is shaped by those around
our community of origin is where our
values and beliefs are instilled also
our outlook is even affected or
influenced by the local community’s
culture I can remember being asked that
question when I was three years old my
response I am a Bridget I am Bridget I
was proud to be different I wore it as a
badge of honor
as I got older I realized an invisible
war was being waged against the color of
my skin
I was battle weary carrying the
invisible weight of the negative
connotations against the color of my
skin had taken its toll the only place I
felt safe and accepted was in my own
community yet I held on to the teachings
my father taught us be open be open to
love be open to people be open to change
perception is the lens in which we
collect and analyze and record our
attitudes and beliefs that are not
inclusive how can we challenge outdated
information we grew up believing was
right first lower your defenses this
will allow you to evaluate the
information you accept it as fact
without questioning its validity second
look within yourself this will allow you
to examine thoughts feelings and
attitudes that keep you blind to
unacknowledged bias
lastly shift your perspective
this will allow you to see how you
respond when confronted by
discrimination change is a process
creating a culture of change requires
that each individual make the choice to
be inclusive it is essential that you
actively choose to make and keep making
the decision to be willing and open to
learning about people who are racially
different each of us have a specific
ingredient that will determine how well
a community will thrive when we fail to
fulfill our individual purpose it
becomes difficult for the community to
adapt and to change when considering
your own role and impact in the
community ask yourself does my community
represent the people effectively does my
community leave room to represent a
changing demographic is my community
truly inclusive when to build on the
strength of our differences to create a
strong and inclusive community here are
a few recommendations redefine your
personal vision make inclusion a part of
your personal continuous improvement
plan second read about America’s racial
history by authors such as tuna he
seacoast
whose book is titled between the world
and me and by author Michelle Alexander
whose work is titled the new Jim Crow
mass incarceration in the age of
colorblindness and lastly contact local
organizations such as the ACLU or the
n-double-a-cp
to find out about legal rights issues
that undermine
inclusion finally I challenge you to add
your voice to speak out against racial
discrimination injustice and inequality
when you see someone not like me look
beyond the color of my skin if you don’t
you may miss out on a treasure within
thank you [Applause]
greetings my name is Bridget Howard
James I am a business and outreach
consultant and tonight I’d like to talk
to you about community inclusion and the
individual community what comes to mind
when you hear this word a place where
people live work and go to school
community why is it important
it creates an effective way to
disseminate ideas and information
community what does it represent a group
of unified individuals sharing a
collective vision
simply put community is a place where
people can connect develop and grow we
can all be a part of many different
communities community may even be your
tribe that group of people who are fully
invested in you the strength of
community is getting many different
individuals together engaged and working
for a common goal in our national
landscape where we’re divisions are
where our differences are being used to
create deepen the divisions among us ask
yourself how can we build on the
strength of our differences to create a
strong and inclusive community the
community is a key foundational
component of our society its cohesive
structure is dependent upon how well it
represents and cares for the people the
spirit of the community and its vision
are shaped by many subgroups the
community vision is born out of purpose
it defines what the community
having to become however if the
community’s visioned is confined to one
specific ideal it leaves room for the
its atmosphere of exclusion to develop
three things that undermine community
are limited vision a narrow identity and
unacknowledged bias a limited vision
sends a silent message to all its
members that they all should conform to
one mindset as a result a narrow
identity is formed based upon how its
members should look think and act
individuality is shunned creating an
atmosphere of unacknowledged
butwhere unacknowledged bias can thrive
when our first learned of the death of
trayvon martin i was heartsick as a
mother of five sons and one daughter i
knew the fear of this reality trayvon
story is not new it is all too common in
occurrence in the black community a fear
realized a young black teen returns from
the local convenience store wearing a
hooded sweatshirt a concerned citizen a
white man follows the team because he
did not appear to belong to the
neighborhood the man pursues the teen
armed with a gun convinced that he must
stop him a struggle ensues the teen is
shot and killed 16 year-old Trayvon
Martin paid the ultimate price this
outcome is the result of a narrow
identity limited vision and racial bias
those who are different become targets
to hatred and violence
why does inclusion matter communities
that embrace inclusion create positive
change in three areas in its environment
for among its people and for its future
inclusion fosters a supportive and
respectful environment it also embraces
diversity of thought and of people it
creates an atmosphere where open and
honest dialogue can occur yet
the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made
inclusion possible this act ended
segregation in public places and made
employment discrimination based upon
race color sex religion and national
origin illegal this Act established the
protected class subsequent laws address
issues such as voting rights fair
housing and expanded the definition of
protected class today many groups
benefit from this law however inclusion
will only be effective when we as a
community are willing to face the
fundamental truth that of racial
discrimination injustice and inequality
head-on ask yourself how can inclusion
bring us together as a community if we
are ignorant of the historical impact of
racial prejudice on our society in
modern times consider this slavery 271
years Jim Crow segregation 99 years mass
incarceration also known as the new Jim
Crow
sixty-four years and Counting consider
the impact of civil rights on American
history
for example voting rights the 15th and
19th amendment respectful respectively
guaranteed constitutional right of
African American men and women to vote
on May 26 1965 the Voting Rights Act
prohibits prohibits the practice of
discrimination against African American
men and women was signed into law today
we continue to tear down obstacles that
would suppress any citizens legal right
to vote also we continue to make strides
to make obtaining state identification
more accessible yet in the 21st century
discriminatory Skrim ination is still
occurring today it is known as voter
suppression ask yourself how will I
recognize discriminatory practices that
have a new face for example requiring
black voters to provide a birth
certificate prior to obtaining a ballot
to vote yes this happened in 2017 in
America who argue this is a question
that young adults asked to define who
they are and to uncover their purpose
adults ask the same question to
determine their value on the in relation
to where they’re headed in this journey
the common denominator this is a this
question is central to defining identity
our identity is shaped by those around
our community of origin is where our
values and beliefs are instilled also
our outlook is even affected or
influenced by the local community’s
culture I can remember being asked that
question when I was three years old my
response I am a Bridget I am Bridget I
was proud to be different I wore it as a
badge of honor
as I got older I realized an invisible
war was being waged against the color of
my skin
I was battle weary carrying the
invisible weight of the negative
connotations against the color of my
skin had taken its toll the only place I
felt safe and accepted was in my own
community yet I held on to the teachings
my father taught us be open be open to
love be open to people be open to change
perception is the lens in which we
collect and analyze and record our
attitudes and beliefs that are not
inclusive how can we challenge outdated
information we grew up believing was
right first lower your defenses this
will allow you to evaluate the
information you accept it as fact
without questioning its validity second
look within yourself this will allow you
to examine thoughts feelings and
attitudes that keep you blind to
unacknowledged bias
lastly shift your perspective
this will allow you to see how you
respond when confronted by
discrimination change is a process
creating a culture of change requires
that each individual make the choice to
be inclusive it is essential that you
actively choose to make and keep making
the decision to be willing and open to
learning about people who are racially
different each of us have a specific
ingredient that will determine how well
a community will thrive when we fail to
fulfill our individual purpose it
becomes difficult for the community to
adapt and to change when considering
your own role and impact in the
community ask yourself does my community
represent the people effectively does my
community leave room to represent a
changing demographic is my community
truly inclusive when to build on the
strength of our differences to create a
strong and inclusive community here are
a few recommendations redefine your
personal vision make inclusion a part of
your personal continuous improvement
plan second read about America’s racial
history by authors such as tuna he
seacoast
whose book is titled between the world
and me and by author Michelle Alexander
whose work is titled the new Jim Crow
mass incarceration in the age of
colorblindness and lastly contact local
organizations such as the ACLU or the
n-double-a-cp
to find out about legal rights issues
that undermine
inclusion finally I challenge you to add
your voice to speak out against racial
discrimination injustice and inequality
when you see someone not like me look
beyond the color of my skin if you don’t
you may miss out on a treasure within
thank you [Applause]
Please follow and like us: