As someone fully engaged in the dynamics of our current presidential political season, I marvel at how our present field of candidates illustrate that America is finally ready for every voice in this country to be heard. For the first time in my 54 years, I am witnessing what happens when African American, White, Hispanic, and female candidates are actively considered for the chief executive job in this country. The most important outcome of this campaign has not been the political jostling between candidates; it’s the unprecedented turnout of people from all walks of life showing up at the polls and voting, many for the first time in their lives. Black, White, Asian, Hispanic, Native American, Arab American, young, old, gay, straight, conservative, liberal…Americans fully exercising their right to vote. Fully participating in the American process of choosing the next leader of our land.
To me, that represents America at its best, with multiculturalism center stage.
This dynamic era only illustrates why the business community must stand firm in their commitment to multiculturalism, global diversity, and inclusion. When these concepts are in full play, the people respond in force. In the political arena, the voter turnout in some states exploded with record turnout because of the excitement for the field of candidates. When people see themselves in the process, they get involved, take a stand, and become civically engaged.
Multiculturalism can change the workforce in the same engaging way, when applied equitably and judiciously across the landscape of our country. When people recognize that they matter, their contribution is of considerable value and they are respected for their skills and talents, they rise up and meet the challenge at hand. High expectations yield high net results. In that light, multiculturalism linked with high expectations will yield greater results, higher productivity, and organization achievements that far outweigh conventional wisdom.
It is in that spirit that I call on a renewed commitment to achieving multicultural excellence in organizations large and small throughout our country. I am so committed to this concept that I am launching a Multicultural Symposium Series in partnership with Bentley College on October 15-16, 2008 on the campus of Bentley in Waltham, Massachusetts. The launch of this series will provide an opportunity for a cross section of our society to not only discuss the important issues of the day, but to develop solutions and action plans through cross-cultural connections, mutual understanding, and greater expectations.
The Multicultural Symposium Series will create opportunities for academia, business, government, education, students, and the community at large to build new strategic alliances that will forge stronger relationships across the global divisions of ethnicity, race, gender, economics, age, religion, politics, class and ideological differences.
Unlike most conventions and conferences held on an annual basis, this initiative will be different from the start. Ongoing dialogue will be developed so that each symposium will not become a stand-alone event. Each event will be interconnected to the total framework of the Symposium Series by using technological resources: an interactive website with social networking capabilities, an electronic newsletter, list serv creation for a virtual online community, teleconferences and webinars. A four-color print magazine is on the drawing board for 2009-2010.
The Multicultural Symposium Series will bring our global community to the table like never before. An ongoing conversation where inclusion respects both difference and similarities at the same time. An opportunity for all people to have a stake at the future of our workplace. An opportunity for all people to have a stake at the future of our communities, our families, and ourselves.
We are looking for bold and courageous Sponsors to support this important initiative. If you want multiculturalism to become the standard bearer of the workforce and our society, sponsor our initiative by calling me at (508) 947-5755 or email me at Carole@TellCarole.com.
We’re living in a time of extraordinary historic value. The American voice of political activism is awakening the dreams of our youngest and oldest citizen. It is in that spirit that multiculturalism can represent the best our society has to offer both on and off the job. May we move forward to claim the best all of our people have to offer in a global marketplace poised for greater expectations, empowered excellence, and dynamically different global change.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Witch Hunt: Rev. Jeremiah Wright and The Church I Know
The public airwaves crank out truckloads of information on television, radio, and now through the Internet. Because our schedules are so hectic these days, it very easy to snap up a catchy headline, stay focused on a story for 2-3 minutes, form an opinion, and then go back to work. We believe the highly paid news anchors, political pundits, and opinion makers, just because. Just because they are there making certain that their opinion, perspective, sound byte, or line of questioning is hammered into our conscience like plaque clings to our teeth.
To question sources, motives, and hidden agendas can be tantamount to being unpatriotic. To dig deeper behind a news story doesn’t bode well to those who want you to believe everything you see, read, or hear by the media experts.
Which brings me back to the subject of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the battered retiring pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ and former pastor of Barack Obama. The opponents of Obama on the right and the left are having a field day with this story, replaying the sound bytes of selected sermons, finding new sound bytes to splash on the airwaves, displaying controversial passages from the church bulletin, and working overtime to paint a picture that depicts Trinity as a revolutionary anti-American hate machine masquerading as a house of worship.
Let me share some realities with you, my trusted Empowerment Today readers to help set the record straight. First, Trinity United Church of Christ is a modern day mega church plopped in an urban metropolis. With close to 8000 members, Rev. Wright led one of the largest churches in this mainstream, old line Protestant denomination.
The United Church of Christ is 99% white. That’s right. Most of the churches have white members in various congregations throughout the country. Many of their churches are located here in New England, and date back to the Pilgrims. The denomination has always been in the forefront of social justice issues. They were influential in helping free the Africans illegally captured in the Amistad case of the early 1800s.
The United Church of Christ is like so many church organizations…standing for truth, helping the poor, speaking out for those whose voices cannot be heard above the noise. Very often the ministers of these congregations are outspoken and use radical language to make their points.
This was undoubtedly the strategic position of Rev. Wright. Wake the apathetic up with strong language, visual content, and uncomfortable methods so that your message of hope, courage, and spirituality will be heard by the flock.
This is not uncommon in the black church. This preaching method can also be found in white houses of worship as well. The rhetoric of Rev. Wright was abrasive, but barely lifted an eyelid among my African American friends. We’ve heard it before. We understand why the language is used.
Undoubtedly, the witch hunt will continue. We’ll get drips and drabs of Rev. Wright straight to the general election. Americans love controversy like this. It’s lulls us to sleep and takes us away from the real issues facing our country and this world.
To question sources, motives, and hidden agendas can be tantamount to being unpatriotic. To dig deeper behind a news story doesn’t bode well to those who want you to believe everything you see, read, or hear by the media experts.
Which brings me back to the subject of Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the battered retiring pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ and former pastor of Barack Obama. The opponents of Obama on the right and the left are having a field day with this story, replaying the sound bytes of selected sermons, finding new sound bytes to splash on the airwaves, displaying controversial passages from the church bulletin, and working overtime to paint a picture that depicts Trinity as a revolutionary anti-American hate machine masquerading as a house of worship.
Let me share some realities with you, my trusted Empowerment Today readers to help set the record straight. First, Trinity United Church of Christ is a modern day mega church plopped in an urban metropolis. With close to 8000 members, Rev. Wright led one of the largest churches in this mainstream, old line Protestant denomination.
The United Church of Christ is 99% white. That’s right. Most of the churches have white members in various congregations throughout the country. Many of their churches are located here in New England, and date back to the Pilgrims. The denomination has always been in the forefront of social justice issues. They were influential in helping free the Africans illegally captured in the Amistad case of the early 1800s.
The United Church of Christ is like so many church organizations…standing for truth, helping the poor, speaking out for those whose voices cannot be heard above the noise. Very often the ministers of these congregations are outspoken and use radical language to make their points.
This was undoubtedly the strategic position of Rev. Wright. Wake the apathetic up with strong language, visual content, and uncomfortable methods so that your message of hope, courage, and spirituality will be heard by the flock.
This is not uncommon in the black church. This preaching method can also be found in white houses of worship as well. The rhetoric of Rev. Wright was abrasive, but barely lifted an eyelid among my African American friends. We’ve heard it before. We understand why the language is used.
Undoubtedly, the witch hunt will continue. We’ll get drips and drabs of Rev. Wright straight to the general election. Americans love controversy like this. It’s lulls us to sleep and takes us away from the real issues facing our country and this world.
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