April is Diversity Month, Six Ways to Celebrate

“We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry, and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry are equal in value no matter what their color.” – Dr. Maya Angelou

April is Diversity Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the beautiful tapestry of our unique cultures, backgrounds and rich traditions that comprise us all. Now, in a virtual society, it is more important than ever to celebrate diversity. In times of crisis and extreme uncertainty, sometimes the knee-jerk reaction is to respond by surrounding ourselves with people who are like us, while intentionally distancing ourselves from those who are different. These behaviors can be attributed to fear, the media, or unconscious bias. 

As leaders, we must prioritize our commitment to diversity and inclusion. Creating meaningful interaction, opportunity and inclusion for all people, not just some. As a people, we are the intersectionality of race, ethnic origin and color, religion and creed, sexual orientation, age, ability, sizes, and shapes, to name but a few. We originate from a myriad of cultures, steeped in a multitude of beliefs systems and traditions.    

It is important that we find value in each other’s experiences, differences and unique characteristics as it enables us to respond with relevance, empathy and compassion. By celebrating and sharing our authentic selves, we gain a greater appreciation of each other and the diversity that surrounds us. Celebrating diversity not only boosts cultural awareness, but most importantly creates spaces of inclusion and fosters belonging where people feel valued. 

An appreciation and respect for differences can make the world a better place for everyone. Here are six ways you can do exactly that:

Celebrate diversity. Share your culture and heritage with a social media post. Some ideas for the post can be a photo in your cultural attire, an heirloom or even a family recipe. Celebrate your friends, family and colleagues by asking them to share their photo or special item during your next virtual staff meeting, coffee chat or happy hour.

Engage in learning opportunities. Expand your knowledge of diversity and inclusion related topics:

·      Brush up on your inclusive leader habits.

·      Sign up for a D&I course in LinkedIn Learning.

·      Watch the Corona Bias video and share with a colleague how you combat bias.

·      Virtually connect with a D&I group, organization and/or practitioner to share best practices.

·      Read a D&I publication - I highly recommend the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's 2019 diversity and inclusion report. :)

Support minority- and women-owned businesses. Minority- and women-owned businesses will be heavily impacted by the pandemic, therefore consider visiting or utilizing services from a diverse vendor to show your support for their business. The SBA small business database can be helpful in finding diverse suppliers in your area. 

Host a multicultural virtual movie night. Invite friends, family or colleagues to some multicultural and foreign films. You can even ask guests to bring a snack to represent a different country or culture to munch on. 

Attend a virtual cultural art exhibit. Many cities are home to international or cultural art exhibits. Learn more about other cultures through the lens of fine and contemporary art from museums around the world in the comfort of your own home.

Play music from around the world. Play music from around the world in your home. Celebrate your Celebrate your friends, family and colleagues by asking them to share examples of music from their own culture or heritage during your next virtual staff meeting, coffee chat or happy hour.

How will you celebrate diversity? Share your comments.