*Note: An earlier version of this column appeared in your inbox inadvertently. This is the correct Letter from the Editor for Thursday, September 26.
Readers: Our company, like most in America, is committed to principles of diversity and inclusiveness in our work force, work environment and our journalism. Today’s column is written by Bob Johnson, an editor in Saginaw who has taken an important new role for MLive. – John Hiner, MLive president.
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I recently stepped into a role in our company as the statewide DEI editor and will focus on building, initiating and incorporating our DEI practices.
While I’ve received congratulatory comments from most people, many people seemed perplexed at the mention of DEI.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion or DEI. You’ve probably heard these words thrown around a lot lately. But after some of the not-so-excited conversations, I’ve noticed DEI seems to be getting dragged into the same conversation as Affirmative Action, as if it’s a tool to force companies to check off some diversity box.
I went to the theater to watch the new Ben Shapiro-produced mockumentary “Am I Racist?”
Matt Walsh was hilarious in his attempt to point out how people are making money by keeping white people in constant fear that they may be racist – even if they are not.
That day I watched the movie was the same day I stepped into my new role. A few seats down from me was a white woman. She and I were the only two in the theater.
We laughed during most of the show and developed an odd bond in which we were communicating and agreeing with one other without actually directly looking at or speaking to each other.
Afterward, I introduced myself and told her I wanted to watch the movie because of my new role at MLive.
And there it was. She had an awkward look, which prompted me to ask her how she felt about DEI.
She told me she felt like DEI is being forced and stated her concern that we have to center things around race.
It really hit when I told a fellow coworker about my new role and they voiced the same sentiments. It was at that moment I realized that DEI has an image problem and my new role was going to be an uphill battle.
Let’s set the record straight: DEI is not Affirmative Action and not about lowering the bar or handing out jobs based on race, gender or any other category.
It’s about making sure everyone gets an equal shot to be seen, heard and considered — no matter where they come from, how they look or identify, or what physical or mental differences they may have.
I’ll summarize a great example a mentor shared with me.
She told me to look at DEI like planning a party. Diversity is making sure you invite people from different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to the party. Equity is making sure everyone has a fair chance to enjoy the party by being accommodating to their needs. And inclusion is making sure no one is left standing awkwardly in a corner, wondering why they were even invited.
In simple terms, DEI is about opening the door wide enough for everyone and making sure that once they’re through it, they have a fair shot at success, and not about handing out participation trophies.
I was granted an internship from MLive in 2010 while I was completing an associate’s degree. At the time, internships were only offered to those pursuing undergraduate degrees. Someone opened a door for me that might not have been opened had they continued with the same thinking and processes they have always used.
I was able to bring different perspectives to the newsroom and even won some significant awards.
This opened a door for a photographer — who also was pursuing an associate’s degree — to intern for us as well. That photographer has now traveled across the country and held some impressive jobs.
DEI isn’t about checking boxes or giving out jobs just to “look good” on paper. It’s about recognizing that our differences bring value — innovation, creativity and new ideas that help organizations grow.
Where Affirmative Action was about creating opportunities for certain people in opportunities they were actively shut out of, DEI is about creating inclusive environments where everyone feels like they belong and invisible barriers don’t limit opportunities.
In this new role, I hope we find that the best ideas will come from the voices we haven’t heard yet.
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