W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Post

𝗡𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮 𝗗𝗮𝘆🇿🇦 Today is not only to celebrate 𝗡𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮’s life, but it is also a 𝘨𝘭𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 for people to recognize their ability to have a 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 effect on others around them✨ Millions of people and organizations take part in many activities to promote 𝗡𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗮 𝗗𝗮𝘆💙 How will you be making a positive impact today?💫

The March release of "Let's Talk". Instead of a monthly article, this is a speech I delivered at Arizona State University's Next Gen Service Corp Conference. The speech is titled "Permission to Believe in Better", aimed at helping you find your agency to change the world. I'd love to hear your thoughts and feedback. #dei #diversityandinclusion #activism #motivationalspeaker https://lnkd.in/grr46JDi

As we observe MLK Day, the timeless words of Dr. King resonate: "The time is always right to do what is right." This serves as a powerful reminder of our ongoing commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in our daily lives. In our team, we recognize that fostering an inclusive workplace is not an option but a continuous imperative. Embracing diversity means acknowledging the unique strengths and perspectives that each individual brings to the table. It's about creating an environment where everyone feels not just welcomed but truly valued. In the spirit of Dr. King's wisdom, "We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now." This emphasizes the shared responsibility we have in steering our workplace towards a more equitable future. DEI initiatives are not just checkboxes; they are pathways to understanding, empathy, and unity. "The time is always right" is a call to action—to dismantle barriers, amplify marginalized voices, and foster an environment where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive. Through robust diversity training, open dialogue, and intentional inclusion strategies, we strive to create a workplace where diversity isn't just celebrated on this day but is woven into the fabric of our organizational DNA. On this MLK Day, let's honor Dr. King's legacy by embracing the urgency of now—making meaningful strides in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that resonate far beyond this moment. #MLKDay #DiversityandInclusion #EquityMatters 🤝🌍

This MLK Day, we honor Dr. King's legacy of equality and social justice by amplifying important voices. In partnership with The Black Collective ERG, Propeller hosted another installment of our #PatientVoicesAmplified speaker series, where we heard directly from Black employees about their experiences navigating unequal treatment, implicit bias, and cultural misunderstandings in healthcare. By listening and bearing witness to these stories, we hope to build empathy, spark introspection, and guide our client work to advance health equity and empower patients to take control of their own healthcare journey. This is just one small act, but we believe that progress starts with understanding. By sharing these perspectives, we take a step toward Dr. King’s vision of racial equity and humanity. #MLKDay #healthequity #patientperspectives

Reflecting on MLK Day, I pondered the profound question of what it means to "Protect and Preserve the Dream." 💭 Delving into Dr. King's legacy of community engagement, empathetic listening, and unwavering activism, I realized the depth of this generation's responsibility. Now, more than ever we are meant to fiercely defend the dream. 🔥 While Dr.King began an important work, there is still so much to do. It is not meant for one to do alone, but rather in partnership with others. 🏢In my work at Takeda, I get the privilege to share the importance of dismantling the unseen barriers that block equitable access to healthcare. Like Dr. King, I am honored to go out into the community, and learn about the barriers that are most important to them. I liken this act of deep listening, as a way to fight the quiet battles against systemic oppression and defending the dream. ⏩As we move forward, let's remember that our actions, big and small, contribute to a larger movement of change. Each step we take in our professional roles, each conversation we have in our communities, and each barrier we strive to break down, brings us closer to realizing Dr. King's dream. It's a journey of continuous effort and unyielding commitment. #MLKDay #HealthEquity

2024: It's Here! Shall we cut the soul-crushing, spirit-smashing people from our lives? And celebrate - the people, the work, the thinking. (Especially the thinking, as social media has allowed us to disparage people with different thoughts.) Shall we celebrate what is working and what brings us together instead of what divides us? Celebrate the rebel-raisers, the world-changers. The folks like Bryan Hanson and Garrett Black and Brittney Hurst and Pat Balles and Robert Stafford and Drew Furney and Jason Harris and Hayden Anderl and Ryan Carley and the <insert your own and celebrate them>. Shall we give praise instead of stealing credit? Raise people instead of dragging them down. Shall we be open instead of being closed? Let's explore more and allow originality. (And if people stumble in being original, celebrate that!) Shall we be true to ourselves? Be yourself, and love others for being themselves. 2024: And it's going to be a ride. (Thanks Anthony Reeves for the words I needed to celebrate and launch 2024)

This is a post that reminds us of a history, that began with slavery. Each reference to racism takes us to images in our minds, from films portraying those times and other reminders of many incidents since then. The point is, that is not our history. It is a subsection of something much greater that has been concealed. The constant reference to it, as if it is our whole history obscures who we really are. This is not the first time we have seen high profile footballers speak of racism. However the publicity given to some, obscures the tenacity of the majority who don’t like racism, but have developed the “mental steel” to be unaffected by it. We talk of the power dynamic of racism, but the greater aspect of it is mental, as Bob Marley reminded us. We all have to recognise that there is only so much you can do about the ignorance of others. Most black police officers, who may have faced it on the streets, learned that we can rise above to be unaffected, by what we dislike. This is the perspective you can get from stories of people like Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King. In the most profound way, they remind all of the “truth of humanity”; that to think you are less, or that you are more, first requires your belief in it. Every one of us is born with the value of one; “one unique human being” and that never changes. Our growth is learning that information presented in this and other stories like it may influence your belief, but objective truth, never changes. You remain as “One” . We are starting to see the games that have been used to divide us, to make us think human worth goes up and down according to colour or caste or other identified “aspects” of differentiation". A reflection of the fact that we lack knowledge of how belief creates fiction and fiction is just a part of experience. Mindsmiththinking aims to empower people though education on the mind. Creating a better understanding of the influences on thinking and behaviour. We are beginning to realise, it is the route to individual and global unity. #One #diversity

Chicago Innovation is putting forth an effort to further combat ageism and promote a more inclusive society. Here is a snippet of my thoughts on this topic and the benefits that can result from Uniting Generations. I'd be curious to hear yours. #chicagoinnovations #agelessinnovators #heretoinspire #iamroberthazzardjr #goodrelationshipsmatter #combatageism #bettertogether

The last two sentences of this article resonated with me the most: "Neither a divisive, identitarian worldview nor a baby-out-with-the-bathwater nihilism will do. Today, let’s strive to clasp hands and walk together down a peaceful road to reconciliation." We can't continue to use divisive tactics to advocate and drive DEI programs. We need to take a more truly inclusive approach that identifies ways that all of us can benefit from these programs. #betterbizculture