The opening session of the ASAE Annual Meeting this year focused on diversity. They had a panel conversation with experts in the diversity field, and it was really exciting to see this conversation on that stage at this time. Although the conversation didn’t go quite as deep as I would have liked, it still put this issue out there, front and center, where it needs to be.
The best person on the panel–by far in my opinion, was Patti Digh. While most of the rest of the panel focused on the issue of the business case for diversity (important, but not the big issue in my opinion), Patti put the issue to all of us more directly. She made the point that water follows the form of the land. You can recruit and bring in "diverse" people into your organization, but unless you change the existing structure and culture, nothing will change. She also said that the biggest challenge in diversity is not even in the structure or culture, but within each of us individually. Everyone needs to better understand what role they play in the perpetuation of a system based on inequity.
She then recommended an article by Peggy McIntosh that explores the notion of "white privilege." It is a great article–a must-read, particularly for white people, but it is relevant to everyone. So here is a link to the article. Read it and think about it, and do share any comments or insights you have.