Mayor Curry - Diversity, Inclusion, Unity
Published - Florida Times-Union, October 12, 2015
Beyond Mayor Lenny Curry’s much discussed decisions on recent appointees lies a more significant challenge to Jacksonville’s Unity: the long overdue inclusion of a diverse, soon-to-be majority multi-ethnic human resources in the city’s planning and decision-making processes.
Achieving genuine unity requires bridging a decades’ old North-South economic chasm and opening doors to the intelligence and professional resources of the more than 100 ethnic/racial groups living in Jacksonville.
In the past 20 years, no mayor has attempted to systematically identify and activate the intellectual, professional and cultural talents of Jacksonville’s diverse Christian and non-Christian ethnic and racial minority communities.
Attend and celebrate diversity at ethnic events? Yes.
Move beyond tokenism to valuing and including these valuable, underused resources? Not quite.
Why is inclusion important?
In 2025, a decade ahead of the rest of the nation, African-Americans, Asian-Americans and a rapidly growing Hispanic population will out-number the now dominant white majority.
Ignoring or discounting this fact is not in the long-term interest of Jacksonville residents.
For the mayor, achieving a unity beyond the familiarities of his neighborhood, faith and political party is easier said than done.
Yet, in not actively valuing difference and building a more inclusive approach to information gathering, decision-making and marketing processes, we remain tied to truths that seemed to work in the 20th century, rather than adapting the more inclusive, dynamic strategies required for success in the 21st century.
Incorporating multi-cultural insights adds value to marketing and economic development.
In addition, without a greater sense of inclusion, many more of our elite, best-educated youth will exit for more welcoming cities.
Minus inclusion, attracting capital and talent from outside the region to leverage the city’s transportation, geographic and other strengths will be problematic.
Inclusive processes can’t be planned, created and rolled out in a month or a year.
Yet a committed mayor, City Council and JAX Chamber can bring the resources needed to achieve a unity and greatness that surpasses the dreams of their predecessors.
In valuing difference and inclusion, we lay the groundwork for Jacksonville becoming the Sunshine State’s most egalitarian and economically vibrant city.
Executive Director at City of Jacksonville Council on Elder Affairs (COEA) President/CEO & Founder of Making Strides For Autism, Inc.
7 年Very interesting post with valid points! I hope his plans for inclusion incorporated disabled community. I'm very interested in seeing how he incorporates more inclusion and diversity in Jacksonville.
Production Controller at Fleet Readiness Center Southeast
9 年Great points! Very forward thinking article.
Business Intelligence | Innovation Management | Finance & Analytics | Power BI | ORACLE EBS | PMP | CPMAI | #StandwithUkraine ????
9 年Interesting post and great points made.
New Atlanta Opportunity Search at Erick Dittus Seeking New Opportunities
9 年Probably the most important aspect of a"conversation" on INCLUSION is to define what it is not. It is not focused on compliance, although smart managers and leaders will push for it to happen in their organization. It is not affirmative action. Often both minority activists and majority managers have tried to put it ihat box. Affirmative action has more to do with correcting the past when culture, social and legal codes insured white male privelege. While that is still in part a reality in Jacksonville, increasingly only the best qualified white males are staying atop the power pyramid. Nepotism, frats and legacy are diminishing in functional linfluence. Diversity gives us a way to see the cultural, historical, ethnic, relegious and other ways that we are different through a positive lens. But inclusion, and the full utilization of human intellectual and spiritual resources that it provides, offers us a doorway to a more productive future for our city and nation. .
Writer and Editor
9 年Mr. Dittus makes important points in discussing the importance of incorporating and actively encouraging diversity. His points are correct for all the right reasons, and for the continued vitality of any 21st century city.