My Greek Heritage
This post is inspired by both Greek-American Heritage Month, and the topic of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). ??
If asked to describe myself succinctly, here's my answer:
I am introspective and value life-long learning.? Additionally, I am of what my dad would have called “of Greek descent.”?
In the spirit of Greek-American Heritage Month, it is my wish to tell my dad’s story as a way of explaining my personal and professional values.? For me, understanding my dad’s experiences is the way that I interpret EDI.
Georgiadis Michaelis Papadagianis
My dad, Mike Maureas, was born Georgiadis Michaelis Papadagianis in Chicago, Illinois in 1932.??Unfortunately, he passed away at the age of 75 in 2007 in Long Beach, California, so he is not around to ask about his history.? Through context, deduction, or reflection, I have synthesized my dad’s life and how it impacts my principles.
For the purposes of this post, I will refer to my dad as “Mike.”? Mike was a man that I felt like I knew well, however, as I became older, I realized that I did not completely understand him until I became more mature. ?
The more I learned about Mike, the more I shared with others in my professional settings, and I felt more pride that he was my dad. As I go through life, Mike Maureas is my hero in terms of perseverance, having the grit to survive hardship, in being courageous.
Sharing Experiences
Recently, I was able to speak at work about Mike’s experiences as a WWII refugee, as an orphan coming to American without knowing English, and being unhoused for about twenty years.? The purpose of sharing Mike's story was to demonstrate the impact of hospitality, the Greek word Philoxenia (love for the traveler, the stranger), and what it meant to be excluded from the "norm."
Mike saw himself as an outsider, and the person who demonstrated the true meaning of Philoxenia was my mom.? My mom was an amazing person, as evidenced by having married an individual (my dad) who was unhoused when they first met.
In one instance of this sharing exercise, this prompted an employee of mine to share their story as a refugee of civil war, which was cathartic.? This is why it is so rewarding to have the courage to be vulnerable as a leader.
Greek Diaspora
As I grew up, the one thing feel that I missed out on was being part of a Greek community, something called a Diaspora (a dispersion of a people from a homeland). ?To this day, I feel embarrassment when a Greek speaks to me, because I do not know how to speak the language.? I feel shame and regret that I have never visited Greece.
My knowledge of other Greeks began during a tour of food establishments where I grew up.? When my dad drove around where we lived in Orange County, California, he pointed out all the food establishments, AKA diners, his term was “Greek Hamburger Stands,” which were owned by Greeks.?
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For Mike, his identity was "Greek."? He called himself Greek or of "Greek Descent." The idea was that a Greek is Greek, the location did not supplant that.? Mike Maureas defined himself as an individual, with a sense of dignity, and he was proud of who he was.
My Greek Identify
My name, Constantine, is my main signifier of Greek identity.? I was in kindergarten twice, for some reason I am still not aware of.? Yes, I flunked kindergarten.
The first time I was in kindergarten, I was called Johnny.? My middle name is Yiannis which translates to John. Then in the second year I was in kindergarten, my name was Constantine, my first name, my Greek name.?
Having the name Constantine in Orange County during the 1980s was something else, and I often felt singled out.? The other kids had a lot to say about my name and it was often a source of jokes and ridicule.?
Like the Johnny Cash song, “A Boy Named Sue,” having the name I had taught me to be resilient, courageous, and proud of who I was.? I decided a long time ago that I was who I was, and I did not need to justify it to anyone else.? This was the first lesson that helped me to empathize with the feeling of being different.
Regardless of how other kids treated me for being unique, name-wise, I realized that was nothing compared to what my dad had endured.? I recognized much later that Mike had suffered from PTSD, depression, loss, and impermanence.?
Back to the Future
My Greek grandfather worked in Chicago restaurants in the 1920s, to save money for his future, which the family had required before he could marry.? He then met a Swedish food server in Chicago, and the rest is history.? Almost eighty years later, that's basically how I started my adult life.
After Mike was born in 1932, my grandfather moved back to Athens to start a business and to return to the family.? My dad grew up with the Nazi occupation, and then lived in the Greek Civil War.? Since my dad was born in Chicago, the Greek Orthodox Church brought my dad to America after his parents had died.
Conclusion
This is just part of my dad’s history.? By explaining this, this is my method of expressing that while I know that I have privileges that others do not, I am sensitive to what it feels like to feel excluded. ?Just as important, my mother is an example of compassion and hospitality.? This is the basis of my attitude towards hospitality and how I think of the importance of EDI in the workplace.
Thank you.