Start Your New Year with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Mind

Happy New Year!A new year brings on many thoughts surrounding where you were in the previous year; goals you have of where you want to be in the coming year and the development of a strategy to meet those goals.Is this the year you desire to expand your knowledge of others thoughts and values? Is this the year you desire to be more open to differing opinions and voices? Is this the year you desire to open your palate to new and exciting foods and cultures?Starting a new year can be such an exciting time! A time to learn and grow in many ways.This blog is dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion with the goal of everyone feeling that they belong.How are you showing up in this space? How are you appreciating differing thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors? Do you listen when someone comes to you with an opposing thought, belief, or behavior? This does not mean that you must get in line with the way they think, as one way is not more correct than another way.

This means you acknowledge that differences do exist, and these differences are the attributes that make each of us unique and important to the lives of the people we interact with every day.Given the various ways that people live their lives, it is very important to be able to appreciate how race, culture, age, gender, sexual orientation, language, spiritual beliefs, ability, and social economic status shapes us all.As you move towards this goal, we are sharing ideas that were posted last January in our blog.We feel that a reminder of these ideas at the beginning of the new year may prove valuable as we move more freely in our community, visit with family and friends, and travel to new and exciting places.RememberEveryone has a voice.

When people feel like they have a voice, theyre more likely to share their opinions with others, even if they are different.Everyone wants to feel that they belong.A persons sense of connection to their family/community is built on belonging the feeling that youre a part of an environment that knows and values you.To celebrate a sense of uniqueness.Just like people need a sense of belonging and connection, they also need to feel unique among their peers; that their family/community cares about their individual strengths and experiences.That everyone wants to have the feeling of being valued.

When a person feels that their voice and unique self are appreciated, theres a greater sense of value and satisfaction.The goal is for everyone to feel that they belong.They do not want to be a label.They do not want to be an addition to a number goal or limited to their zip code.As you begin this new year, look to make your space one in which differences are accepted and you create an environment that is made of unique talents and outcomes.

That is our goal as well.Happy 2023!