14 Oct Global Diversity Awareness Month
We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of that tapestry are equal in value no matter their color. – Maya Angelou
October is Global Diversity Awareness Month — a time where we have the opportunity to celebrate as well as increase our awareness about the diversity of cultures and ethnicities. Our globalization and the advancement of technologies have made it easy to connect with one another regardless of our hemisphere, time zone or even language. At Scion Staffing, we believe diversity is the foundation of our business, culture and relationships. With that, we’ve put together a few thoughts and resources to help understand, appreciate, and champion diversity at your workplace and in our world. We hope you will come alongside us as we all learn and grow together.
Listen First
The easiest way to learn and understand concepts that are foreign to you is to listen regardless of the subject. To grow your understanding of diverse background, listen to life lessons and stories of those around you who are different than yourself. Perhaps this means that you take time to ask thoughtful questions of a co-worker who comes from a different background than yourself. Or, maybe you invite others to share their thoughts first- before you share yours in a meeting or at a presentation.
Spend Time Learning
Read, listen to podcasts and soak in the rich knowledge and life experiences that the diverse people in your workplace, neighborhood and life have to share with you. The more we learn, the more we’ll understand. Whether you take time to read a book from a diverse perspective yourself, join a book club, or perhaps engage with your community in a way that places you with others who are not like you, you’ll gain much understanding. If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few of our favorite resources. Ask a co-worker to join you in this pursuit!
Resources
Podcasts:
This Forbes article highlights five great Podcasts to grow your understanding of diversity and inclusion.
Books:
Tiffany Jana, Matthew Freeman, Overcoming Bias: Building Authentic Relationships across Differences. Berrett-Koehler Publishers (2016)
Ijeoma Oluo, So You Want to Talk About Race. Seal Press (2018)
Scott E. Page, The Difference: How the Power of Diversity Creates Better Groups, Firms, Schools, and Societies. Princeton University Press (2008). (This book provides empirical and statistical support for diversity with a viewpoint that diversity within groups is more powerful than individual excellence.)
Understand it takes both diversity and inclusion.
Diversity and inclusion go hand-in-hand. Diversity is more than just bringing folks from different backgrounds into one place: it’s integrating each person’s background, story, and culture into your company’s culture on a daily basis. It takes empathy, dedication and determination to include and amplify all voices. As we continue to work towards an understanding of diversity and inclusion, we hope that you will join us in our journey.
At Scion Staffing we are proud to have 57% of our team identify as LGTBQIA+ or from ethnically diverse backgrounds. To learn more about this pillar of our foundation, read about our Mission and Values. We take pride in partnering with Talent and Clients who also align with this value.
