Читать книгу Diversity and Inclusion Matters - Jason R. Thompson - Страница 9

In order to make connections and foster understanding, we must cross bridges. Selma, Alabama, is the site of one of the most powerful bridge crossings in the history of the United States. On July 26, 2020, the body of civil rights leader and American statesmen John Robert Lewis was taken across Selma's Edmund Pettus Bridge one last time as his funeral procession made its way to the Alabama state capital. In 1965, Lewis had nearly lost his life during the Bloody Sunday march on that bridge, which peaceful Civil Rights demonstrators crossed in order to reach Alabama's state capital. In the decades that followed, Lewis worked tirelessly to make sure that bridge would remain open and crossable – both literally and figuratively – for everyone.

My work in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) in no way compares to Lewis's commitment or accomplishments, but I have endeavored to honor the importance of his historic crossing. I feel strongly that the more we can bridge the divides that separate us, the better we can make this world. As a DE&I professional, building bridges is fundamental to my work.

Over the last 25 years of working on DE&I programs for the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), major sports organizations, institutions of higher education, and large corporations, I have developed a reputation for telling stories that help people build and cross bridges. People often tell me they enjoy my simple stories, and some even go as far as to tell me I have a gift. If I have a gift, it is as a motivator to help people bridge divides, create new understandings, and collaborate – not despite their differences but because of their differences.