so before I begin today I would like you to just take 10 seconds and look around
to just take 10 seconds and look around
to just take 10 seconds and look around you and say hi to the people around you
you and say hi to the people around you
you and say hi to the people around you go
great thanks for doing that it’s quite
great thanks for doing that it’s quite interesting actually being up here to
interesting actually being up here to
interesting actually being up here to see you all do that because I was a mix
see you all do that because I was a mix
see you all do that because I was a mix of waves handshakes some people are
of waves handshakes some people are
of waves handshakes some people are smiling and laughing so I want I want to
smiling and laughing so I want I want to
smiling and laughing so I want I want to ask you one thing
ask you one thing
ask you one thing what did you see did you notice what
what did you see did you notice what
what did you see did you notice what somebody was wearing their hair color
somebody was wearing their hair color
somebody was wearing their hair color probably their gender a couple of other
probably their gender a couple of other
probably their gender a couple of other things but what did you think of them
now look around you again and look at
now look around you again and look at that person don’t say anything you don’t
that person don’t say anything you don’t
that person don’t say anything you don’t have to tell them what you think of them
have to tell them what you think of them
have to tell them what you think of them I don’t want to embarrass you but I know
I don’t want to embarrass you but I know
I don’t want to embarrass you but I know you’re probably making decisions and
you’re probably making decisions and
you’re probably making decisions and conclusions about the people around you
conclusions about the people around you
conclusions about the people around you now all of that was to kind of stall to
now all of that was to kind of stall to
now all of that was to kind of stall to give you a chance to look at me and to
give you a chance to look at me and to
give you a chance to look at me and to make judgments about me I know you’re
make judgments about me I know you’re
make judgments about me I know you’re judging I would be too I can’t really
judging I would be too I can’t really
judging I would be too I can’t really see all of you clearly right now but I’d
see all of you clearly right now but I’d
see all of you clearly right now but I’d be judging you see it as these things
be judging you see it as these things
be judging you see it as these things that we do that help inform how we see
that we do that help inform how we see
that we do that help inform how we see each other and the conclusion of this
each other and the conclusion of this
each other and the conclusion of this experiment is something you probably
experiment is something you probably
experiment is something you probably already know we take on average about
already know we take on average about
already know we take on average about seven seconds to make impressions to
seven seconds to make impressions to
seven seconds to make impressions to others and to take in impressions of
others and to take in impressions of
others and to take in impressions of others we then take those impressions to
others we then take those impressions to
others we then take those impressions to make conclusions about one another and
make conclusions about one another and
make conclusions about one another and determinations so you probably saw I’m a
determinations so you probably saw I’m a
determinations so you probably saw I’m a woman great a black woman fantastic
woman great a black woman fantastic
woman great a black woman fantastic black hair color couple gray streaks in
black hair color couple gray streaks in
black hair color couple gray streaks in there can’t see my eye collar really
there can’t see my eye collar really
there can’t see my eye collar really from up here but I have brown eyes now I
from up here but I have brown eyes now I
from up here but I have brown eyes now I want to tell you a little bit about
want to tell you a little bit about
want to tell you a little bit about myself I was born in Kenya in Nairobi
myself I was born in Kenya in Nairobi
myself I was born in Kenya in Nairobi but I actually grew up in a small town
but I actually grew up in a small town
but I actually grew up in a small town outside of that because it’s really not
outside of that because it’s really not
outside of that because it’s really not small it’s its own town all the same
small it’s its own town all the same
small it’s its own town all the same called me arey I moved to Baltimore when
called me arey I moved to Baltimore when
called me arey I moved to Baltimore when I was ten years old with my family I’ve
I was ten years old with my family I’ve
I was ten years old with my family I’ve been in the US ever since I’ve been
been in the US ever since I’ve been
been in the US ever since I’ve been privileged to live and work in over
privileged to live and work in over
privileged to live and work in over three in three countries and traveled to
three in three countries and traveled to
three in three countries and traveled to dozens more places you see all of these
dozens more places you see all of these
dozens more places you see all of these things have influenced Who I am I’ve
things have influenced Who I am I’ve
things have influenced Who I am I’ve also been fortunate to have very diverse
also been fortunate to have very diverse
also been fortunate to have very diverse friends people from all walks of life
friends people from all walks of life
friends people from all walks of life different nationalities cultures and
different nationalities cultures and
different nationalities cultures and backgrounds you see that is these things
backgrounds you see that is these things
backgrounds you see that is these things that are hard to know within the first
that are hard to know within the first
that are hard to know within the first ten seconds that you meet somebody
ten seconds that you meet somebody
ten seconds that you meet somebody now if you look around this room again
now if you look around this room again
now if you look around this room again would you know who is in this room just
would you know who is in this room just
would you know who is in this room just by looking at them in the first seven to
by looking at them in the first seven to
by looking at them in the first seven to ten seconds would you have known all
ten seconds would you have known all
ten seconds would you have known all this about me
this about me
this about me probably not you see throughout my life
probably not you see throughout my life
probably not you see throughout my life culture and cultural diversity have been
culture and cultural diversity have been
culture and cultural diversity have been at the forefront again I’ve been
at the forefront again I’ve been
at the forefront again I’ve been fortunate to have such a wonderful group
fortunate to have such a wonderful group
fortunate to have such a wonderful group of friends and through our friendships
of friends and through our friendships
of friends and through our friendships we have taught each other about our
we have taught each other about our
we have taught each other about our traditions through shared meals
traditions through shared meals
traditions through shared meals celebrations and also by just having
celebrations and also by just having
celebrations and also by just having conversations with one another this is a
conversations with one another this is a
conversations with one another this is a picture that was taken a few years ago
picture that was taken a few years ago
picture that was taken a few years ago at a baby welcoming ceremony that in my
at a baby welcoming ceremony that in my
at a baby welcoming ceremony that in my culture we call Anita and these are my
culture we call Anita and these are my
culture we call Anita and these are my friends people would always question me
friends people would always question me
friends people would always question me about what these look like and I said
about what these look like and I said
about what these look like and I said one day why don’t you come and
one day why don’t you come and
one day why don’t you come and experience it and they did so this was
experience it and they did so this was
experience it and they did so this was all to show you just how diverse we all
all to show you just how diverse we all
all to show you just how diverse we all are now I imagine your life as a jigsaw
are now I imagine your life as a jigsaw
are now I imagine your life as a jigsaw puzzle what would be the pieces that
puzzle what would be the pieces that
puzzle what would be the pieces that make up who you are for me it would be
make up who you are for me it would be
make up who you are for me it would be my face my family my heritage my travels
my face my family my heritage my travels
my face my family my heritage my travels my favorite foods again I’m from
my favorite foods again I’m from
my favorite foods again I’m from Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore my friends my godson and my love for
my friends my godson and my love for
my friends my godson and my love for philanthropy education and the arts now
philanthropy education and the arts now
philanthropy education and the arts now if all these pieces make up little old
if all these pieces make up little old
if all these pieces make up little old me what would the pieces that make up
me what would the pieces that make up
me what would the pieces that make up this room today
this room today
this room today imagine the pieces that would fill up
imagine the pieces that would fill up
imagine the pieces that would fill up this room your workplaces your
this room your workplaces your
this room your workplaces your classrooms even your local coffee shop
so I’ve asked you who are you and what
so I’ve asked you who are you and what would your puzzle pieces be you see in
would your puzzle pieces be you see in
would your puzzle pieces be you see in today’s world we focus a lot on racial
today’s world we focus a lot on racial
today’s world we focus a lot on racial diversity and not so much on cultural
diversity and not so much on cultural
diversity and not so much on cultural diversity not so much on really who what
diversity not so much on really who what
diversity not so much on really who what makes up who we are you see sometimes we
makes up who we are you see sometimes we
makes up who we are you see sometimes we look at people and we say on the outside
look at people and we say on the outside
look at people and we say on the outside they look alike right but we don’t take
they look alike right but we don’t take
they look alike right but we don’t take into account that people see things very
into account that people see things very
into account that people see things very differently despite all other things
differently despite all other things
differently despite all other things looking alike
anybody remember this phenomenon so how
anybody remember this phenomenon so how many of you saw black and blue this is
many of you saw black and blue this is
many of you saw black and blue this is actually not rhetorical right how many
actually not rhetorical right how many
actually not rhetorical right how many of you saw white and gold
of you saw white and gold
of you saw white and gold I was waiting gold as well how many saw
I was waiting gold as well how many saw
I was waiting gold as well how many saw both is about five hands the point of
both is about five hands the point of
both is about five hands the point of this experiment which admittedly at
this experiment which admittedly at
this experiment which admittedly at first I had no idea what it was was that
first I had no idea what it was was that
first I had no idea what it was was that we all have preconceptions about what
we all have preconceptions about what
we all have preconceptions about what others see and I know of people who
others see and I know of people who
others see and I know of people who tried to convince others that they were
tried to convince others that they were
tried to convince others that they were wrong and that they should see it the
wrong and that they should see it the
wrong and that they should see it the way they saw it but the fact of the
way they saw it but the fact of the
way they saw it but the fact of the matter is everybody was right it was
matter is everybody was right it was
matter is everybody was right it was actually more about biology and how your
actually more about biology and how your
actually more about biology and how your eyes and your mind interpreted this
eyes and your mind interpreted this
eyes and your mind interpreted this image but it was also about the
image but it was also about the
image but it was also about the perspective of it where your eye focused
perspective of it where your eye focused
perspective of it where your eye focused first for me I looked right at address
first for me I looked right at address
first for me I looked right at address because we’re trained to perform to
because we’re trained to perform to
because we’re trained to perform to focus on the image that’s at the
focus on the image that’s at the
focus on the image that’s at the forefront but for those who focus their
forefront but for those who focus their
forefront but for those who focus their eye on the background color they
eye on the background color they
eye on the background color they actually saw a different color no matter
actually saw a different color no matter
actually saw a different color no matter how many times I tried I never saw black
how many times I tried I never saw black
how many times I tried I never saw black and blue now now that we’ve covered what
and blue now now that we’ve covered what
and blue now now that we’ve covered what people see on the outside is doesn’t
people see on the outside is doesn’t
people see on the outside is doesn’t always mirror what we see and what we
always mirror what we see and what we
always mirror what we see and what we know people are on the inside let’s go
know people are on the inside let’s go
know people are on the inside let’s go to the next topic go to diversity this
to the next topic go to diversity this
to the next topic go to diversity this concept is in everything and it’s
concept is in everything and it’s
concept is in everything and it’s everywhere today the concept of
everywhere today the concept of
everywhere today the concept of increasing diversity is all around us
increasing diversity is all around us
increasing diversity is all around us it’s in mission statements and value
it’s in mission statements and value
it’s in mission statements and value statements at corporations companies
statements at corporations companies
statements at corporations companies even have to have positions that are
even have to have positions that are
even have to have positions that are catered to helping increase diversity
catered to helping increase diversity
catered to helping increase diversity their diversity champions their
their diversity champions their
their diversity champions their diversity officers and if you’re Serena
diversity officers and if you’re Serena
diversity officers and if you’re Serena Williams you’re the newest board member
Williams you’re the newest board member
Williams you’re the newest board member of SurveyMonkey with a sole goal of
of SurveyMonkey with a sole goal of
of SurveyMonkey with a sole goal of increasing diversity not just in that
increasing diversity not just in that
increasing diversity not just in that corporation but also in the tech
corporation but also in the tech
corporation but also in the tech industry at large you see my point is
industry at large you see my point is
industry at large you see my point is not to discount diversity as a concept
not to discount diversity as a concept
not to discount diversity as a concept or belittle it or the contrary what I
or belittle it or the contrary what I
or belittle it or the contrary what I want to say to you today is that we
want to say to you today is that we
want to say to you today is that we should look beyond just who people are
should look beyond just who people are
should look beyond just who people are on the outside it’s not just about
on the outside it’s not just about
on the outside it’s not just about hiring more women or more people of
hiring more women or more people of
hiring more women or more people of color it’s about hiring people who have
color it’s about hiring people who have
color it’s about hiring people who have a diverse background diversity of
a diverse background diversity of
a diverse background diversity of perspectives
perspectives
perspectives we should ask more about what people go
we should ask more about what people go
we should ask more about what people go through by the time they come to a
through by the time they come to a
through by the time they come to a certain point in their life their
certain point in their life their
certain point in their life their adversities the triumphs and tragedies
adversities the triumphs and tragedies
adversities the triumphs and tragedies that they have experienced it is these
that they have experienced it is these
that they have experienced it is these things that really make up a true
things that really make up a true
things that really make up a true identity of who we are it’s quite easy
identity of who we are it’s quite easy
identity of who we are it’s quite easy to just say yes your woman yes you’re a
to just say yes your woman yes you’re a
to just say yes your woman yes you’re a man yes you’re this or yes you’re that
man yes you’re this or yes you’re that
man yes you’re this or yes you’re that we should move beyond just trying to
we should move beyond just trying to
we should move beyond just trying to send weaknesses and really ask those
send weaknesses and really ask those
send weaknesses and really ask those deep questions so I want you to think
deep questions so I want you to think
deep questions so I want you to think back again to the puzzle pieces that
back again to the puzzle pieces that
back again to the puzzle pieces that make up your life think about your work
make up your life think about your work
make up your life think about your work and your classrooms think about wherever
and your classrooms think about wherever
and your classrooms think about wherever it is that you spend most of your time
it is that you spend most of your time
it is that you spend most of your time do you know the people in those places I
do you know the people in those places I
do you know the people in those places I mean really know them do you know the
mean really know them do you know the
mean really know them do you know the pieces I make up their lives you see in
pieces I make up their lives you see in
pieces I make up their lives you see in this day and age again we make such
this day and age again we make such
this day and age again we make such quick determinations about one another
quick determinations about one another
quick determinations about one another without really giving much thought as to
without really giving much thought as to
without really giving much thought as to who people are we’ve stopped having deep
who people are we’ve stopped having deep
who people are we’ve stopped having deep conversations with one another all in
conversations with one another all in
conversations with one another all in favor of 140-character chats now you see
favor of 140-character chats now you see
favor of 140-character chats now you see people frequently calling each other
people frequently calling each other
people frequently calling each other friends and best friends on Facebook and
friends and best friends on Facebook and
friends and best friends on Facebook and celebrating anniversaries for things but
celebrating anniversaries for things but
celebrating anniversaries for things but truly people don’t know who we are and I
truly people don’t know who we are and I
truly people don’t know who we are and I can only come by us sharing our
can only come by us sharing our
can only come by us sharing our experiences a lot of times when we do
experiences a lot of times when we do
experiences a lot of times when we do ask these questions people think we’re
ask these questions people think we’re
ask these questions people think we’re prying or we’re just trying to get too
prying or we’re just trying to get too
prying or we’re just trying to get too close
close
close well my challenge to you today is that
well my challenge to you today is that
well my challenge to you today is that you should get close you should pry
you should get close you should pry
you should get close you should pry respectfully and genuinely because it’s
respectfully and genuinely because it’s
respectfully and genuinely because it’s nothing worse than prying disingenuously
nothing worse than prying disingenuously
nothing worse than prying disingenuously get to know one another
get to know one another
get to know one another you really will find that you have a lot
you really will find that you have a lot
you really will find that you have a lot in common with people that you otherwise
in common with people that you otherwise
in common with people that you otherwise might not even give a second glance to
might not even give a second glance to
might not even give a second glance to that quick hello you did today
that quick hello you did today
that quick hello you did today might even blossom into something more a
might even blossom into something more a
might even blossom into something more a friendship so please do take time after
friendship so please do take time after
friendship so please do take time after this to say hello to one another not
this to say hello to one another not
this to say hello to one another not just in 10 seconds but ask something
just in 10 seconds but ask something
just in 10 seconds but ask something else
else
else this brings me to my next point so as
this brings me to my next point so as
this brings me to my next point so as the person who introduced me mentioned I
the person who introduced me mentioned I
the person who introduced me mentioned I come from a policymaking background and
come from a policymaking background and
come from a policymaking background and throughout my experiences in this
throughout my experiences in this
throughout my experiences in this process
process
process I noticed that culture really didn’t
I noticed that culture really didn’t
I noticed that culture really didn’t play a whole lot
play a whole lot
play a whole lot into this and I often wondered why not a
into this and I often wondered why not a
into this and I often wondered why not a lot of times is there a cultural
lot of times is there a cultural
lot of times is there a cultural argument for or against or certain
argument for or against or certain
argument for or against or certain policy but there are times when it’s
policy but there are times when it’s
policy but there are times when it’s warranted and this usually surfaces in
warranted and this usually surfaces in
warranted and this usually surfaces in health policy because health care more
health policy because health care more
health policy because health care more than anything else serves at the heart
than anything else serves at the heart
than anything else serves at the heart of who we are and it does affect us
of who we are and it does affect us
of who we are and it does affect us directly you see health policy is not
directly you see health policy is not
directly you see health policy is not just black or white or as I like to call
just black or white or as I like to call
just black or white or as I like to call it chicken our beef if anything it’s
it chicken our beef if anything it’s
it chicken our beef if anything it’s more like a soup because once it’s said
more like a soup because once it’s said
more like a soup because once it’s said and done the things that factor in are
and done the things that factor in are
and done the things that factor in are more and we cannot even separate them
more and we cannot even separate them
more and we cannot even separate them afterwards we can’t take out the
afterwards we can’t take out the
afterwards we can’t take out the ingredients afterwards so I’ll give you
ingredients afterwards so I’ll give you
ingredients afterwards so I’ll give you another example so early on in my career
another example so early on in my career
another example so early on in my career I worked for a healthcare nonprofit that
I worked for a healthcare nonprofit that
I worked for a healthcare nonprofit that cater to Hispanic and Latino communities
cater to Hispanic and Latino communities
cater to Hispanic and Latino communities and my job was to work with other
and my job was to work with other
and my job was to work with other minority organizations to make sure that
minority organizations to make sure that
minority organizations to make sure that these groups were represented and our
these groups were represented and our
these groups were represented and our chief job was to educate lawmakers not
chief job was to educate lawmakers not
chief job was to educate lawmakers not just on these communities and their
just on these communities and their
just on these communities and their needs but on the why why would a certain
needs but on the why why would a certain
needs but on the why why would a certain policy or law disproportionately or
policy or law disproportionately or
policy or law disproportionately or negatively affect these communities but
negatively affect these communities but
negatively affect these communities but the biggest education was not in
the biggest education was not in
the biggest education was not in teaching these lawmakers that it was the
teaching these lawmakers that it was the
teaching these lawmakers that it was the education that I got not only did I
education that I got not only did I
education that I got not only did I learn how similar my culture was to the
learn how similar my culture was to the
learn how similar my culture was to the people that I served but as well I
people that I served but as well I
people that I served but as well I learned that I don’t have to be from
learned that I don’t have to be from
learned that I don’t have to be from these cultures or to be from these
these cultures or to be from these
these cultures or to be from these communities to understand them to
communities to understand them to
communities to understand them to emphasize with them to be sensitive to
emphasize with them to be sensitive to
emphasize with them to be sensitive to them and ultimately to represent them in
them and ultimately to represent them in
them and ultimately to represent them in discourse so what does this have to do
discourse so what does this have to do
discourse so what does this have to do with you in this lovely nation of ours
with you in this lovely nation of ours
with you in this lovely nation of ours we all have a voice but that voice in
we all have a voice but that voice in
we all have a voice but that voice in order for it to be heard you must be
order for it to be heard you must be
order for it to be heard you must be willing to share you must be willing to
willing to share you must be willing to
willing to share you must be willing to speak your experiences you must be
speak your experiences you must be
speak your experiences you must be willing to listen to other people’s
willing to listen to other people’s
willing to listen to other people’s experiences you must be able to ask the
experiences you must be able to ask the
experiences you must be able to ask the questions that elicit those experiences
questions that elicit those experiences
questions that elicit those experiences you see today policy is everywhere
you see today policy is everywhere
you see today policy is everywhere around us every day and every night
around us every day and every night
around us every day and every night we’re surrounded by decisions we’re
we’re surrounded by decisions we’re
we’re surrounded by decisions we’re surrounded by
surrounded by
surrounded by news about policies about laws about
news about policies about laws about
news about policies about laws about debates happening in Congress or even
debates happening in Congress or even
debates happening in Congress or even here in our own home states we all have
here in our own home states we all have
here in our own home states we all have a part to play in this
a part to play in this
a part to play in this like I said lawmakers are not experts
like I said lawmakers are not experts
like I said lawmakers are not experts and they too have to be educated on
and they too have to be educated on
and they too have to be educated on things and a lot of that happens only if
things and a lot of that happens only if
things and a lot of that happens only if we share our stories and our experiences
we share our stories and our experiences
we share our stories and our experiences so if you imagine again the voices that
so if you imagine again the voices that
so if you imagine again the voices that are in this room if we all about our
are in this room if we all about our
are in this room if we all about our perspectives to the table imagine what a
perspectives to the table imagine what a
perspectives to the table imagine what a beautiful and complete picture we could
beautiful and complete picture we could
beautiful and complete picture we could all paint about the experiences of this
all paint about the experiences of this
all paint about the experiences of this room today of our communities and our
room today of our communities and our
room today of our communities and our world at large so again I tell you to
world at large so again I tell you to
world at large so again I tell you to take advantage of all the diverse places
take advantage of all the diverse places
take advantage of all the diverse places that you walk through that you live in
that you walk through that you live in
that you walk through that you live in that you work in and that you go to
that you work in and that you go to
that you work in and that you go to school in because you just might find
school in because you just might find
school in because you just might find out again just how much in common you
out again just how much in common you
out again just how much in common you have with people you see I took for
have with people you see I took for
have with people you see I took for granted just a little bit not for most
granted just a little bit not for most
granted just a little bit not for most of my college career but just what a
of my college career but just what a
of my college career but just what a wonderful experience it was to be with
wonderful experience it was to be with
wonderful experience it was to be with people from all walks of life with all
people from all walks of life with all
people from all walks of life with all different experiences and as soon as I
different experiences and as soon as I
different experiences and as soon as I notice that I started to take advantage
notice that I started to take advantage
notice that I started to take advantage more you know of the people around me
more you know of the people around me
more you know of the people around me and I encourage you to do the same you
and I encourage you to do the same you
and I encourage you to do the same you see the biggest lesson that I have
see the biggest lesson that I have
see the biggest lesson that I have learned so far in my young life I’m not
learned so far in my young life I’m not
learned so far in my young life I’m not gonna say how old I am but anyway is
gonna say how old I am but anyway is
gonna say how old I am but anyway is that as I walk through life I don’t walk
that as I walk through life I don’t walk
that as I walk through life I don’t walk it alone
it alone
it alone I don’t just simply walk it as myself
I don’t just simply walk it as myself
I don’t just simply walk it as myself you see
you see
you see I walk it as me as a daughter a sister a
I walk it as me as a daughter a sister a
I walk it as me as a daughter a sister a Kenyan and an American a black woman a
Kenyan and an American a black woman a
Kenyan and an American a black woman a lawyer a philanthropist a godmother can
lawyer a philanthropist a godmother can
lawyer a philanthropist a godmother can you tell them a prime down mother and a
you tell them a prime down mother and a
you tell them a prime down mother and a friend you see these are the puzzle
friend you see these are the puzzle
friend you see these are the puzzle pieces that make up my life these are
pieces that make up my life these are
pieces that make up my life these are the people and things that make up the
the people and things that make up the
the people and things that make up the salad of Who I am they make me a reach a
salad of Who I am they make me a reach a
salad of Who I am they make me a reach a rich individual and they influence what
rich individual and they influence what
rich individual and they influence what I do in my life and how I react to
I do in my life and how I react to
I do in my life and how I react to events so yet again I ask you what makes
events so yet again I ask you what makes
events so yet again I ask you what makes you
you
you you see we all have a unique identity a
you see we all have a unique identity a
you see we all have a unique identity a unique perspective and we all have a
unique perspective and we all have a
unique perspective and we all have a voice to lend to make this world a
voice to lend to make this world a
voice to lend to make this world a better place so the last missing piece
better place so the last missing piece
better place so the last missing piece again can only be answered by the
again can only be answered by the
again can only be answered by the question who are you kind of like that
question who are you kind of like that
question who are you kind of like that CSI song who are you well I’m Hilda
CSI song who are you well I’m Hilda
CSI song who are you well I’m Hilda Morgan and I’m the sum of all my parts
Morgan and I’m the sum of all my parts
Morgan and I’m the sum of all my parts thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment