Beginnings & Background

I find myself at the precipice of an amazing opportunity.

I am preparing to join the diversity committee at my place of work while simultaneously preparing to start a diversity and inclusion certificate program. Both of these opportunities are astounding and right up my alley, and come on the heels of many months of self-awareness and enlightenment.

I have decided to blog about my experiences with diversity, as I encounter its many forms in everyday life. Initially, I was jotting down my thoughts and experiences in a spiral-bound notebook, but I have since decided that this will be easier. (And more accessible. And more shareable. And more vulnerable.)

Time for some background.

I started working in my current position almost two years ago. (It will be two years next month.)

My place of employment is a counseling center, and I am on the front desk team. Once a month, the senior staff meets for two hours and talks about various diversity topics. Sometimes we watch, and then process, videos. Sometimes we have a group discussion. Sometimes we break into smaller groups and talk about topical things. It's always something different.

The folks on the diversity committee are asked to commit to a year of service in their role on the committee, and at the annual day-long diversity retreat, the call for service is put out there for anyone interested in joining the committee. I am fortunate to be among this year's cohort.

I feel challenged by the opportunity, as the other members of the committee have extensively more first-person experience with diversity than I do. I am also feeling a bit intimidated, as I am the first administrative (read: zero counseling experience) person to be on the team, and I am unsure of what my contributions will be, if there will be any. I hope to make a difference for the other front-desk team members, as we feel that we are oftentimes brushed aside and cannot contribute to the monthly diversity discussions because our jobs are so different than those of our comrades.

Not only will I be sharing my awkward stumblings through diversity and inclusion (my pitfalls and my gleaming beams) I will also be sharing my experiences (triumphs and challenges) that I encounter while on the diversity team. I also hope to write about my journey through the certificate program.

These next months will bring more self-exploration, more realizations of times when I've really stepped in mess, and more opportunities to change the way that inclusiveness becomes a part of my everyday.

Stay tuned -- awkwardness ahead.