LIVE UNITED Y’All!

by Kelly Hutchinson, Donor Relationship Manager

Ok, I am not going to share a diatribe about the allegiance I feel for the University of Louisville Cardinals…we can save that for another post. I am talking literally about my blood. The blog-goddess aka Erin at Metro United Way suggested this month we share posts that reflect a commentary on diversity. Hence, I have given “diversity” a lot of thought. It’s posed a bit of challenge for me and I think I have come to figure out why. You see my inclination when I meet people is to readily start seeking ways we are similar and I strive to overlook or ignore differences. Whether it is race, religion, culture, politics, work styles…in my day to day life, like you, I encounter “diverse” people (aren’t we all?) everyday but actually seem to usually notice more quickly ways that we are alike rather than different.

This approach is pretty good for me usually but is not beneficial when it comes to blood. You see we do really ALL bleed red blood but, our diversity is in fact represented in our unique blood. In the blood-giving world diversity is truly very, very important and something that is not to be ignored. It is life-saving in fact.

Because we live in a diverse world there is also a need for that “diverse” red blood.  Certain blood types are unique to specific racial and ethnic groups. Therefore it is essential that a blood donor’s diversity match the patient diversity. For example, U-negative and Duffy-negative blood types are unique to the African American community. When blood is closely matched patients are at a lower risk for complications. For this reason, it is extremely important to increase the number of available blood donors in our community from all ethnic groups, minority and diverse populations.

If you would like to help make a difference, check in and see  for yourself if you bleed red blood too, then mark your calendar and spread the word. The American Red Cross bloodmobile will be hosted at PBI Bank on March 1^st from 11:30 am to 4:40 pm, at 2500 Eastpoint Parkway. This is one easy life-saving way to support a Metro United Way partnership where everyone wins and it will feel good to be a part of helping save lives – and add to a diverse supply of blood being available in our community. Bring a friend.  PBI Bank employees in our community LIVE UNITED by sharing the opportunity to give, advocate and volunteer and they are excited to support the community by hosting this upcoming blood drive.

Advocacy, Events, Giving, Health diversity, Donate Blood, PBI Bank, University of Louisville

by Judy Schroeder

If there were only one lesson that I have taken away from my teachers in the civil rights movement, it is the great charity and faith that believes real pride will welcome diversity.  Not “chauvinism,” which is that need to place yourself and one world view on top of all others. Legitimate pride builds real dignity and the confidence to keep working for justice and fairness.

It may seem odd, but I think the more I appreciate the sacrifices, coincidences and privileges of my own background, the more I’m able to listen to and learn something from the point of view of people who seem very different.

It’s a lesson I was actually taught by my first role models in the civil rights movement. African-American men and women, who raise their children with a strong sense of pride in who they are, inoculate those young people against fear and prejudice and small-mindedness.

Real pride welcomes diversity in thought and cultural expression because it prepares us to engage!  Seems like a conversation more of us should get into in these times when so much fear and blame is allowed to divide us.

Here’s a couple of thoughts from Metro United Way’s handbook:

di-ver-si-ty: (d-vurs-t,d-) n. pl. di-ver-si-ties: the quality of being different or unique at the individual or group level. This includes work style, parental status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, skin color, language, age, mental and physical abilities – and more. Even when people appear the same on the outside, they are different.

In-clu-sion: (n-klzhn) n.: a strategy to leverage diversity. Diversity always exists in social systems. Inclusion, on the other hand, must be created. In order to leverage diversity an environment must be created where people feel supported, listened to, and able to do their personal best.

How do you welcome diversity?

Advocacy, General diversity, inclusion, inclusiveness

Just about everyone I know loves ice cream.  There are an abundance of flavors to choose from, and each one has unique and wonderful qualities.  Sometimes I like plain vanilla, especially on top of a slice of warm Dutch Apple pie.  Other times, I prefer chocolate, or dulce de leche, or toffee, or Spumoni, or strawberry, or even black raspberry.  Come to think of it, there aren’t too many flavors of ice cream that I don’t like.

When I was a kid, the only flavor ice cream I ever wanted was vanilla, and not just as a topping on my pie.  You see, I had tried vanilla when I was really young, liked it, and figured I would never be disappointed as long as I had vanilla.

I think the first time I tried a different flavor was when a neighbor was making homemade ice cream and offered me some peach flavored ice cream.   I was pleasantly surprised how great this fruit-flavored cream tasted, and from that point forward, I wanted to try new flavors all the time!

If variety is the spice of life, ice cream proves how rich our palette can be once we are open to new experiences.

I guess the same can be said about people.  As we reflect on diversity and inclusion, I never cease to be surprised by people who look differently than me.  Often, I have some judgment that they must be unlike me.  In most cases I am right – and thankfully so!  How utterly boring would life be if everyone were the same – had the same viewpoints, interests, skills, manners of expression, etc.   I think our ability to learn would be severely hampered without diversity, since different perspectives offer us new opportunities for growth.

The last couple of years I have had the distinct pleasure of delivering Christmas gifts to immigrant families in our community with my two children.  What a rewarding experience it has been!  I have been impressed by the families I have met from Burma and Cuba , experiencing a bit of their cultures, and realizing how blessed I am to be part of a community that is growing its multicultural identity.

In my limited associations, some of what I have noticed is incredibly strong family connections, a relentless pursuit of growth, a strong work ethic, and a sense of gratitude to our country, while maintaining a sense of cultural pride.  Through these experiences, I find myself appreciating my life even more, taking more pride in our great melting pot, and getting off my duff to capitalize on those things that I formerly took for granted – like giving my voice to things I feel are important.

I am convinced that any time I get discouraged about what is possible for our community, all I need to do is talk with someone from a different culture, and I gain a new perspective that continues to pay dividends.

What opportunities do you see for learning from our growing multi-cultural community?

By the way, the next time I enter the ice cream parlor, I going for Superman!

General, Volunteering diversity, making a difference, multi-cultural, Volunteer

By Angela Champion

This time of the year, most likely because of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and African American Heritage Month, we hear a lot about diversity and inclusion. We hold community events on the topic or discuss diversity in the workplace and in our schools. I think most of us know what diversity means – usually it means something about race, ethnicity, gender, and all of those demographic categories we are familiar with. We think of ideas of cultural competence and multiculturalism. But, what is this other word we hear attached, almost as a contraction: inclusion?

What does it mean to be inclusive?

If you love Wikipedia like I do, you might run across entries referring to including individuals with phsyical and intellectual disabilities. But that doesn’t tell you how to be inclusive. More Googling will perhaps mention having gender neutral language – very hard to do in the English langugage without sounding just plain weird.  Let’s just say that for me, “Congressperson” does not roll off the tongue.

For me, inclusion refers to intentionally respecting all members of society. For others, it means being overly politically correct. For me, it means being conscious of not only words we KNOW portray negative stereotypes, but rethinking how sticks and stones aren’t the only things that really hurt people.  Words like gay and retarded. Or anything that is really an insult to a group…

So, I ask you to consider this quote (and I would love to know if anyone out there can find who the author is…):

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character;
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

What does inclusion mean to you?

General diversity, inclusion

In honor of Black History Month, Making Connections Louisville is inviting the youth of our community to the Making Connections Youth Film Festival, which will screen award winning films made by youth Network members. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the filmmakers and learn how to create their own film projects.

The screenings will take place every Friday in February from 4-6pm at our very own Metro United Way building located at 334 East Broadway. Stop by and meet our future leaders, have snacks, and participate in discussions for the following:

Civil Rights: February 6 & 27

Don’t Fall for the Okey Doke & My Hood: February 13

Young Black Voter: February 20

For more information, please visit http://www.makechangetogether.org/youth

Hope to see you there!

General Black History Month, diversity, film festival, inclusion