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 By Stephen Reno In the wake of the November election, too often have I heard the call “to circle the wagons.” It’s a phrase deep in our American folklore and has come to represent a measure to be safe and secure. But the lessons of these past few weeks are that we need to do just the opposite; rather we need to engage in respectful conversation across difference but based in our common love for our country. Global Citizens Circle, now in its 50th year, has been doing just that, and so offers us all a model for how to do it and what it can lead to. And what it also offers — so desperately needed these days — is intergenerational conversation. As Pope Frances noted, “The elderly with their history are the roots and the young are the flowers and fruits.” Together we grow, recognizing difference, but also know our shared roots. Our country and our world so urgently need this approach. I am grateful for Global Citizens Circle and urge us all to ensure that its mission is an active verb. We hope you’ll register for our next Circle on Monday, December 2, from noon to 1pm. Historian and author Timothy Ryback, whose books and articles offer lessons for democracy, joins us for an important post-election circle event as we join in conversation to consider how to constructively move forward given the polarization of American citizenry. What lesson can we learn from others who’ve navigated similar polarization and found ways to work together for common good? You may register here. Stephen Reno is a retired professor of comparative religion, university administrator, and most recently, the former executive director of Leadership New Hampshire, a 30-year-old organization whose mission is “Building a community of informed and engaged leaders.” He lives in Hampton, New Hampshire, and serves on the advisory board of Global Citizens Circle. Please note: Each week, we invite members of the greater Global Citizens Circle community to contribute to GCC Voices. The views and opinions expressed in each blog post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Global Citizens Circle. We need to engage in respectful conversation across difference but based in our common love for our country.
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Global Citizen’s Circle’s Role in Pushing Back on the Pushback on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion11/13/2024  By James McKim, PMP, ITIL My experience helping a wide range of organizations improve their performance has resulted in a deep understanding of the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In contemporary discourse, DEI has emerged as critical focal points across various sectors, from corporate boardrooms to educational institutions and community settings. These initiatives aim to dismantle systemic barriers, promote equal opportunities, and foster environments where every individual feels valued and respected regardless of their background and can perform at their best. However, the journey towards living into DEI is often met with resistance, skepticism, and pushback from individuals or groups reluctant to embrace change. Being introduced to the Global Citizens Circle by current Board Chair Sean O’Kane, I saw an opportunity to join an organization that has had and has the great potential to have an even greater impact on how the pushback against DEI can be eliminated for the betterment of both organizations and society. So, just what is this pushback? The Pushback Against DEI Pushback against DEI may stem from a multitude of factors including fear of change, ideological differences, misconceptions about DEI, discomfort with confronting privilege and biases, or concerns about perceived threats to existing power structures. We can view the pushback as existing at 3 levels: interpersonal, group/systemic, and structural as shown in the figure.  At the interpersonal level, based on research by Gartner, pushback generally takes 3 forms in the context of culture – how we interact with each other in society writ large.  Image credit; Gartner https://www.gartner.com/en/articles/how-to-navigate-pushback-to-diversity-equity-and-inclusion-efforts
At the Group/Systemic (organizational/institutional) level, based on research by Forbes pushback generally takes the form of:
At the Structural level, based on research by Professor Tricia Rose of Brown, pushback generally takes the form of laws or best practices such as gender pay inequities or redlining that boost a particular industry at the expense of underrepresented individuals. Education impacts health, health impacts education. Both impact the ability for people to get good jobs to gain income to be able to pay for education, and health… see the vicious cycle?  Image credit: Axios https://www.axios.com/2024/04/02/dei-backlash-diversity The reality is that DEI is being discussed more than ever. As is reported in the Axios article “There are still companies committed to hiring people from diverse backgrounds, figuring out how to foster inclusive workplaces and treating people fairly. But they're less likely to use those initials.” Global Citizens Circle’s Role Global Citizens Circle (GCC) plays a significant role in countering the backlash against DEI efforts by fostering open dialogue and understanding among diverse groups. Since 1974, GCC has consistently brought together diverse groups of people, from world leaders to local activists, to engage in meaningful conversations on important social and global issues: including race relations in the US, Northern Ireland's troubles, South Africa's struggles, and women's rights. Want examples?
These discussions aim to inspire change by highlighting the importance of DEI in creating equitable opportunities and environments for all individuals, regardless of their background by encouraging intergenerational dialogue and empowering youth voices. This is how GCC helps sustain the momentum for DEI initiatives amidst growing opposition and helps create a world where we all can not only survive but thrive. I am proud to join GCC at this critical time in our world. Won’t you join us? James McKim is the managing partner of Organizational Ignition, a management consulting practice. He is a sought-after organizational performance speaker, coach, change manager, and author of the bestselling book "The Diversity Factor: Igniting Superior Organizational Performance." Over his 35+ year career, he has helped small and large organizations, for-profit and nonprofit, ignite efficiency and growth through the aligning of people, process, and technology. Mr. McKim is known internationally for his current focus on organizational and individual performance through diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). He is recognized by industry watchers such as Atd, Brandon Hall, Bersin Associates, Axelos, and PMI for his dedication to creating win-win situations between organizations and their employees. In addition to founding two companies, he has held senior leadership roles at or worked with organizations such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Fidelity, Dartmouth Hitchcock, and the Massachusetts Partnership for Diversity in Education in defining and executing strategic plans with an eye toward organizational performance. As the Chair of the Episcopal Church’s National Executive Council Committee Anti-Racism & Reconciliation, Mr. McKim was the principal writer of the church's guidelines on anti-racism and reconciliation. As President of the Manchester Branch of the NAACP, he works regularly with governments and businesses to eliminate discrimination. He is a frequent conference presenter, a guest on radio and television shows, serves as Chair of the Finance Committee of the NH PBS Board of Directors, serves on the board of Global Citizen Circle, and delights in being the vocalist for the jazz band The Episcocats. Please note: Each week, we invite members of the greater Global Citizens Circle community to contribute to GCC Voices. The views and opinions expressed in each blog post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Global Citizens Circle. GCC helps sustain the momentum for DEI initiatives amidst growing opposition and helps create a world where we all cannot only survive but thrive. I am proud to join GCC at this critical time in our world. Won’t you join us?  By Jerry Dunfey and Nadine Hack Editor's Note: Jerry Dunfey is the 1974 founding president of Global Citizens Circle (GCC).. Nadine Hack has been actively involved with GCC for 40 of its 50 years. They are fervent citizen activists. We asked them to share their views on the importance of voting. There is a Sweet Honey in the Rock song that we love. Its lyrics are: We who believe in freedom cannot rest We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes Until the killing of black men, black mothers' sons Is as important as the killing of white men, white mothers' sons That which touches me most is that I had a chance to work with people Passing on to others that which was passed on to me To me young people come first, they have the courage where we fail And if I can but shed some light as they carry us through the gale The older I get the better I know that the secret of my going on Is when the reins are in the hands of the young, who dare to run against the storm.  So many people dedicated their lives to the struggle for all Americans to have the right to vote. We were privileged to know many of them like Congressman John Lewis to whom in 2003 prior GCC board chairs Eleanor Dunfey and Tito Jackson presented the Global Citizens award. We love his anthem, ‘Make good trouble!’ It’s a struggle that continues today with too many people disenfranchised from the right to vote in the US and throughout the world. Lewis and his colleagues like Coretta Scott King who GCC honored with the same award at a 1999 Circle joined by GCC Honorary Chairs Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Ambassador Andrew Young. Lewis worked for the 1963 Voting Rights Act struck down in 2013 and being championed by a new act in Lewis’ name. Long-time GCC friend John Hume, fighter for the rights of all in Northern Ireland was there too. Hume led a 1978 Circle.   We were honored to present the Global Citizens Award to Nelson Mandela shortly after he was released from prison in 1990. Over the decades from the 1970s, GCC hosted many Circles anti-apartheid freedom fighters including Walter and Albertina Sisulu, Oliver and Adelaide Tambo, Desmond and Leah Tutu and other lesser-known champions of a free and just South Africa so every person regardless of their race or political view would have the opportunity to vote. In that country, as in the US, Northern Ireland and other places around the world people gave their lives for this right, murdered because of their activism. We must honor them and keep their legacies alive by ensuring that everyone who wants to vote can vote.  With so many having sacrificed so much, we feel a sacred obligation to ‘make good trouble’ and ensure that people take seriously their right to vote. This is why we were and are active in social justice movements throughout the world and why we campaign during every US election. Jerry began in 1952 and 1956 with ‘Madly for Adlai." Nadine began a decade later in the 1964 election. The two of us have campaigned in every election since, including Barack Obama in 2008 and now Kamala Harris in 2024. Regardless of your personal political perspectives, we encourage you to vote as it’s the price of democracy. We hope you vote for the person you believe will best protect democracy, a choice that’s clear to us; but whatever your persuasion, do not give up this hallowed responsibility to your nation.  From 1974 until the present, Global Citizens Circle has highlighted the voices of democracy activists from China, Afghanistan, Syria and countries throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. Coretta and Dr Martin Luther King’s granddaughter Yolanda Renee King co-led a 2019 Circle "In the Footsteps of Giants: Grounding and Growing the Dream." In 2020 then 22-year-old Jahnavi Rao founder New Voters and then 96-year-old Robert Jay Lifton National Book Award winner, life-long advocate of peaceful, socially just and an economically sustainable world co-led a Circle "Defending Democracy." We hope that our democracy comes through with flying colors in Tuesday’s election! Please note: Each week, we invite members of the greater Global Citizens Circle community to contribute to GCC Voices. The views and opinions expressed in each blog post are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Global Citizens Circle. Regardless of your personal political perspectives, we encourage you to vote as it’s the price of democracy. We hope you vote for the person you believe will best protect democracy, a choice that’s clear to us; but whatever your persuasion, do not give up this hallowed responsibility to your nation. |
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