what do we really know about diversity what can we share with others about
what can we share with others about
what can we share with others about inclusion are these two topics that you
inclusion are these two topics that you
inclusion are these two topics that you think about every day do they inspire
think about every day do they inspire
think about every day do they inspire you do they scare you do they empower
you do they scare you do they empower
you do they scare you do they empower you do they dictate who your friends are
you do they dictate who your friends are
you do they dictate who your friends are does it tell you what kind of leader
does it tell you what kind of leader
does it tell you what kind of leader you’re going to be tonight I hope to
you’re going to be tonight I hope to
you’re going to be tonight I hope to touch your hearts I hope to be able to
touch your hearts I hope to be able to
touch your hearts I hope to be able to give you some tools to look within
give you some tools to look within
give you some tools to look within yourself and recognize diversity and
yourself and recognize diversity and
yourself and recognize diversity and understand inclusion and I think the
understand inclusion and I think the
understand inclusion and I think the best way to do that is to poke a little
best way to do that is to poke a little
best way to do that is to poke a little fun at myself and tell some personal
fun at myself and tell some personal
fun at myself and tell some personal stories that’ll probably help you get
stories that’ll probably help you get
stories that’ll probably help you get along with your life and understand a
along with your life and understand a
along with your life and understand a little bit about diversity and inclusion
little bit about diversity and inclusion
little bit about diversity and inclusion I was born in New York City and raised
I was born in New York City and raised
I was born in New York City and raised there for my summers and spent my time
there for my summers and spent my time
there for my summers and spent my time amongst eight million souls so it’s safe
amongst eight million souls so it’s safe
amongst eight million souls so it’s safe to say diversity makes that city hum
to say diversity makes that city hum
to say diversity makes that city hum right I moved to Florida and spent my
right I moved to Florida and spent my
right I moved to Florida and spent my time being raised in Miami with hundreds
time being raised in Miami with hundreds
time being raised in Miami with hundreds and thousands of people stirring the
and thousands of people stirring the
and thousands of people stirring the cultural melting pot and then in my
cultural melting pot and then in my
cultural melting pot and then in my mid-20s I decided to move to a little
mid-20s I decided to move to a little
mid-20s I decided to move to a little capital city known as Tallahassee
capital city known as Tallahassee
capital city known as Tallahassee Florida
Florida
Florida to start my career in state government
to start my career in state government
to start my career in state government and to complete my master’s degree in
and to complete my master’s degree in
and to complete my master’s degree in criminology sorry I’m a little nervous
my blended family is a hotbed of
my blended family is a hotbed of diversity that gives ancestry.com a run
diversity that gives ancestry.com a run
diversity that gives ancestry.com a run for its money in short I’ll paint you a
for its money in short I’ll paint you a
for its money in short I’ll paint you a picture on my mother’s side of the
picture on my mother’s side of the
picture on my mother’s side of the family I was born from Argentinian
family I was born from Argentinian
family I was born from Argentinian parents who are here in the crowd this
parents who are here in the crowd this
parents who are here in the crowd this evening and that makes me a hundred
evening and that makes me a hundred
evening and that makes me a hundred percent Hispanic and a first-generation
percent Hispanic and a first-generation
percent Hispanic and a first-generation American the rest of my family is Greek
American the rest of my family is Greek
American the rest of my family is Greek by marriage
by marriage
by marriage when I say they’re Greek by marriage I
when I say they’re Greek by marriage I
when I say they’re Greek by marriage I mean that they give the characters in My
mean that they give the characters in My
mean that they give the characters in My Big Fat Greek Wedding a run for their
Big Fat Greek Wedding a run for their
Big Fat Greek Wedding a run for their money
money
money a hundred percent they put them to shame
a hundred percent they put them to shame
a hundred percent they put them to shame like the movie my family also has a lot
like the movie my family also has a lot
like the movie my family also has a lot of similarities to the characters my
of similarities to the characters my
of similarities to the characters my family has an eco an Angelo and a
family has an eco an Angelo and a
family has an eco an Angelo and a Dimitri
Dimitri
Dimitri my uncle believes that children should
my uncle believes that children should
my uncle believes that children should be reading The Odyssey in the Iliad and
be reading The Odyssey in the Iliad and
be reading The Odyssey in the Iliad and that dr. Seuss is a hack the rest of the
that dr. Seuss is a hack the rest of the
that dr. Seuss is a hack the rest of the family is very strong with familial ties
family is very strong with familial ties
family is very strong with familial ties to african-american culture Irish
to african-american culture Irish
to african-american culture Irish culture and even Jewish roots if I was
culture and even Jewish roots if I was
culture and even Jewish roots if I was to paint you a picture of what our
to paint you a picture of what our
to paint you a picture of what our family tree looks like it looks like a
family tree looks like it looks like a
family tree looks like it looks like a three-ring circus without the show
three-ring circus without the show
three-ring circus without the show ponies and the tent everyone in our
ponies and the tent everyone in our
ponies and the tent everyone in our family is opinionated loud and proud we
family is opinionated loud and proud we
family is opinionated loud and proud we are hashtag diversity strong and all of
are hashtag diversity strong and all of
are hashtag diversity strong and all of us believe in inclusion which was an
us believe in inclusion which was an
us believe in inclusion which was an example my grandmother set for us in
example my grandmother set for us in
example my grandmother set for us in essence she didn’t care who you were if
essence she didn’t care who you were if
essence she didn’t care who you were if you were hungry and you needed to be fed
you were hungry and you needed to be fed
you were hungry and you needed to be fed you were welcomed at our table no
you were welcomed at our table no
you were welcomed at our table no questions asked
questions asked
questions asked the only question was B probably does
the only question was B probably does
the only question was B probably does the meal a nice I need more salt but
the meal a nice I need more salt but
the meal a nice I need more salt but that was it my grandmother set the
that was it my grandmother set the
that was it my grandmother set the example of inclusion which to this day I
example of inclusion which to this day I
example of inclusion which to this day I carry very very close to my heart so at
carry very very close to my heart so at
carry very very close to my heart so at that point when family find out when
that point when family find out when
that point when family find out when people find out that half of my family
people find out that half of my family
people find out that half of my family is Greek the majority of the time I get
is Greek the majority of the time I get
is Greek the majority of the time I get asked because they’ve seen it in a movie
asked because they’ve seen it in a movie
asked because they’ve seen it in a movie so it has to be true right does your
so it has to be true right does your
so it has to be true right does your family use Windex for everything let me
family use Windex for everything let me
family use Windex for everything let me dispel that rumor for you now
dispel that rumor for you now
dispel that rumor for you now no no they don’t we use Vicks VapoRub
no no they don’t we use Vicks VapoRub
no no they don’t we use Vicks VapoRub duh that’s that’s just how we roll so
duh that’s that’s just how we roll so
duh that’s that’s just how we roll so knowing that what I have come to learn
knowing that what I have come to learn
knowing that what I have come to learn is that the movie created what I like to
is that the movie created what I like to
is that the movie created what I like to call a little unconscious bias monster
call a little unconscious bias monster
call a little unconscious bias monster anyone who is
anyone who is
anyone who is familiar with Greek culture will
familiar with Greek culture will
familiar with Greek culture will automatically assume that because my
automatically assume that because my
automatically assume that because my family is Greek they use Windex for
family is Greek they use Windex for
family is Greek they use Windex for everything and that’s just not the case
everything and that’s just not the case
everything and that’s just not the case but if we look at that situation we
but if we look at that situation we
but if we look at that situation we realize that whether we believe we’re do
realize that whether we believe we’re do
realize that whether we believe we’re do it or not we uh nicely commit these
it or not we uh nicely commit these
it or not we uh nicely commit these little unconscious bias monster moments
little unconscious bias monster moments
little unconscious bias monster moments where we associate stereotypes to
where we associate stereotypes to
where we associate stereotypes to cultures and even religions the little a
cultures and even religions the little a
cultures and even religions the little a bias monster lives inside of all of us
bias monster lives inside of all of us
bias monster lives inside of all of us and that’s the bad news the good news is
and that’s the bad news the good news is
and that’s the bad news the good news is that you can learn to silence that
that you can learn to silence that
that you can learn to silence that little unconscious bias monster your
little unconscious bias monster your
little unconscious bias monster your weapons to do that would be diversity
weapons to do that would be diversity
weapons to do that would be diversity and inclusion now I’m sure you’re
and inclusion now I’m sure you’re
and inclusion now I’m sure you’re sitting there asking yourself but what
sitting there asking yourself but what
sitting there asking yourself but what does that mean I asked myself those same
does that mean I asked myself those same
does that mean I asked myself those same questions as I said I moved to
questions as I said I moved to
questions as I said I moved to Tallahassee in my mid-20s and I finished
Tallahassee in my mid-20s and I finished
Tallahassee in my mid-20s and I finished up my master’s degree I started working
up my master’s degree I started working
up my master’s degree I started working for the state at that time the buzzwords
for the state at that time the buzzwords
for the state at that time the buzzwords of diversity and inclusion
of diversity and inclusion
of diversity and inclusion were literally thrown around the
were literally thrown around the
were literally thrown around the workplace like confetti and I needed to
workplace like confetti and I needed to
workplace like confetti and I needed to understand what that meant I would often
understand what that meant I would often
understand what that meant I would often ask individuals who were in leadership
ask individuals who were in leadership
ask individuals who were in leadership roles who hailed from other generations
roles who hailed from other generations
roles who hailed from other generations what the terms diversity and inclusion
what the terms diversity and inclusion
what the terms diversity and inclusion meant to them as an employee I wanted to
meant to them as an employee I wanted to
meant to them as an employee I wanted to do the right thing and I wanted to
do the right thing and I wanted to
do the right thing and I wanted to figure out how those two concepts were
figure out how those two concepts were
figure out how those two concepts were supposed to fit the landscape of the
supposed to fit the landscape of the
supposed to fit the landscape of the workplace and how I was supposed to use
workplace and how I was supposed to use
workplace and how I was supposed to use them to mold me occasionally I would get
them to mold me occasionally I would get
them to mold me occasionally I would get half-hearted responses from the most
half-hearted responses from the most
half-hearted responses from the most recent memo that floated across
recent memo that floated across
recent memo that floated across someone’s desk I would be sent to
someone’s desk I would be sent to
someone’s desk I would be sent to another training or my least favorite
another training or my least favorite
another training or my least favorite response you Millennials always asking
response you Millennials always asking
response you Millennials always asking what and why
what and why
what and why there it was that little unconscious
there it was that little unconscious
there it was that little unconscious bias monster let me tell you something I
bias monster let me tell you something I
bias monster let me tell you something I would rather run in my stilettos down a
would rather run in my stilettos down a
would rather run in my stilettos down a beach in a hundred degree weather then
beach in a hundred degree weather then
beach in a hundred degree weather then be pigeonholed as a millennial in the
be pigeonholed as a millennial in the
be pigeonholed as a millennial in the workplace not because I’m not proud to
workplace not because I’m not proud to
workplace not because I’m not proud to be a millennial but because being one
be a millennial but because being one
be a millennial but because being one had inevitably come with the
had inevitably come with the
had inevitably come with the preconceived notion about me as a person
preconceived notion about me as a person
preconceived notion about me as a person and an employee that just was not true
and an employee that just was not true
and an employee that just was not true no matter how hard I worked to overcome
no matter how hard I worked to overcome
no matter how hard I worked to overcome that stigma that can also be said
that stigma that can also be said
that stigma that can also be said unfortunately about every
unfortunately about every
unfortunately about every multi-generational workplace those
multi-generational workplace those
multi-generational workplace those stereotypes of oh he’s too old or she’s
stereotypes of oh he’s too old or she’s
stereotypes of oh he’s too old or she’s too old they don’t know how to use word
too old they don’t know how to use word
too old they don’t know how to use word that is offensive in the workplace from
that is offensive in the workplace from
that is offensive in the workplace from that point on it got me thinking why do
that point on it got me thinking why do
that point on it got me thinking why do we hear that diversity is a buzzword
we hear that diversity is a buzzword
we hear that diversity is a buzzword used in a boardroom and not a
used in a boardroom and not a
used in a boardroom and not a celebration of potential how often are
celebration of potential how often are
celebration of potential how often are we overlooking potential because of a
we overlooking potential because of a
we overlooking potential because of a label like millennial how often in our
label like millennial how often in our
label like millennial how often in our day-to-day lives are we quick to
day-to-day lives are we quick to
day-to-day lives are we quick to stereotype others because they’re
stereotype others because they’re
stereotype others because they’re different and how quick are we to write
different and how quick are we to write
different and how quick are we to write them off because of those differences
them off because of those differences
them off because of those differences what could we as a human race be missing
what could we as a human race be missing
what could we as a human race be missing out on because that little unconscious
out on because that little unconscious
out on because that little unconscious bias monster that lives inside of all of
bias monster that lives inside of all of
bias monster that lives inside of all of us saddled us to our comfort zones how
us saddled us to our comfort zones how
us saddled us to our comfort zones how are we truly going to innovate and
are we truly going to innovate and
are we truly going to innovate and evolve if we don’t seek to understand
evolve if we don’t seek to understand
evolve if we don’t seek to understand the differences that people have or what
the differences that people have or what
the differences that people have or what that can bring to the table or bring to
that can bring to the table or bring to
that can bring to the table or bring to the light it wasn’t until I started
the light it wasn’t until I started
the light it wasn’t until I started working at the Florida Department of
working at the Florida Department of
working at the Florida Department of Corrections that the concepts of
Corrections that the concepts of
Corrections that the concepts of diversity and inclusion fit together
diversity and inclusion fit together
diversity and inclusion fit together like a puzzle and everything made sense
like a puzzle and everything made sense
like a puzzle and everything made sense shockingly at a correction at a
shockingly at a correction at a
shockingly at a correction at a correctional career move at that point
correctional career move at that point
correctional career move at that point what I learned was that diversity had
what I learned was that diversity had
what I learned was that diversity had nothing to do with me checking the boxes
nothing to do with me checking the boxes
nothing to do with me checking the boxes of female college-educated millennial
of female college-educated millennial
of female college-educated millennial good luck in in the workplace okay it
good luck in in the workplace okay it
good luck in in the workplace okay it had everything to do with what I’m about
had everything to do with what I’m about
had everything to do with what I’m about to share with you right now this what
to share with you right now this what
to share with you right now this what I’m about to share is the secret of how
I’m about to share is the secret of how
I’m about to share is the secret of how to slay the little unconscious bias
to slay the little unconscious bias
to slay the little unconscious bias monster are you ready I’m ready
monster are you ready I’m ready
monster are you ready I’m ready treat everyone as an equal equal mind
treat everyone as an equal equal mind
treat everyone as an equal equal mind that’s it that’s all you have to do
that’s it that’s all you have to do
that’s it that’s all you have to do treat each other as equals ladies and
treat each other as equals ladies and
treat each other as equals ladies and gentlemen this is not a novel concept
gentlemen this is not a novel concept
gentlemen this is not a novel concept America was founded on the idea that
America was founded on the idea that
America was founded on the idea that from many we are better as one okay
from many we are better as one okay
from many we are better as one okay treating each other as equal has
treating each other as equal has
treating each other as equal has historically been what America is about
historically been what America is about
historically been what America is about diversity is how we built this country
diversity is how we built this country
diversity is how we built this country we have gone leaps and bounds in the
we have gone leaps and bounds in the
we have gone leaps and bounds in the fight for equality and the fight will
fight for equality and the fight will
fight for equality and the fight will continue and it will rage on until each
continue and it will rage on until each
continue and it will rage on until each and every one of those little
and every one of those little
and every one of those little unconscious bias monsters has been laid
unconscious bias monsters has been laid
unconscious bias monsters has been laid to rest the terms diversity and
to rest the terms diversity and
to rest the terms diversity and inclusion in fact are different just as
inclusion in fact are different just as
inclusion in fact are different just as you and I are different diversity is our
you and I are different diversity is our
you and I are different diversity is our spice of life it is the things that make
spice of life it is the things that make
spice of life it is the things that make up our characteristics it’s what makes
up our characteristics it’s what makes
up our characteristics it’s what makes us special it’s what makes us completely
us special it’s what makes us completely
us special it’s what makes us completely unique inclusion is the acceptance and
unique inclusion is the acceptance and
unique inclusion is the acceptance and the use of those differences even if you
the use of those differences even if you
the use of those differences even if you don’t agree with them for the greater
don’t agree with them for the greater
don’t agree with them for the greater good at hand I know it is so much easier
good at hand I know it is so much easier
good at hand I know it is so much easier said than done
said than done
said than done to look around and say we’re all equal I
to look around and say we’re all equal I
to look around and say we’re all equal I get that
get that
get that just as Marley had said this is a ladder
just as Marley had said this is a ladder
just as Marley had said this is a ladder and we are all in this together climbing
and we are all in this together climbing
and we are all in this together climbing together okay it’s so much easier said
together okay it’s so much easier said
together okay it’s so much easier said than done but you’re here now and you’re
than done but you’re here now and you’re
than done but you’re here now and you’re here today and we can start today if you
here today and we can start today if you
here today and we can start today if you just take one second to do this exercise
just take one second to do this exercise
just take one second to do this exercise with me I promise you it’ll change your
with me I promise you it’ll change your
with me I promise you it’ll change your perspective okay
perspective okay
perspective okay you don’t even have to break a sweat
you don’t even have to break a sweat
you don’t even have to break a sweat take a second and look around the room
take a second and look around the room
take a second and look around the room recognize that no one here is the same
recognize that no one here is the same
recognize that no one here is the same now think to yourself what do you really
now think to yourself what do you really
now think to yourself what do you really see from where I’m standing what I see
see from where I’m standing what I see
see from where I’m standing what I see is that every single one of you has
is that every single one of you has
is that every single one of you has something to bring to the table and that
something to bring to the table and that
something to bring to the table and that makes each and every one of you worth
makes each and every one of you worth
makes each and every one of you worth something okay if this is similar to
something okay if this is similar to
something okay if this is similar to what you told yourself then you are on
what you told yourself then you are on
what you told yourself then you are on the right truck and pat yourself on the
the right truck and pat yourself on the
the right truck and pat yourself on the back if you looked around and that
back if you looked around and that
back if you looked around and that wasn’t the first idea you had that’s
wasn’t the first idea you had that’s
wasn’t the first idea you had that’s okay – practice makes perfect and Rome
okay – practice makes perfect and Rome
okay – practice makes perfect and Rome was not built in a day if I can leave
was not built in a day if I can leave
was not built in a day if I can leave you with anything this evening to close
you with anything this evening to close
you with anything this evening to close out this event I would truly hope that
out this event I would truly hope that
out this event I would truly hope that you remember and believe that we are the
you remember and believe that we are the
you remember and believe that we are the population forget being the generation
population forget being the generation
population forget being the generation because this is truly a team effort
because this is truly a team effort
because this is truly a team effort a humanitarian effort regardless of age
a humanitarian effort regardless of age
a humanitarian effort regardless of age gender race sexual orientation forget
gender race sexual orientation forget
gender race sexual orientation forget all of those things we are the
all of those things we are the
all of those things we are the population that can be the change not
population that can be the change not
population that can be the change not just say it be it we all have it in us
just say it be it we all have it in us
just say it be it we all have it in us to recognize diversity and take it a
to recognize diversity and take it a
to recognize diversity and take it a step further by promoting inclusion
step further by promoting inclusion
step further by promoting inclusion through equality let what you heard from
through equality let what you heard from
through equality let what you heard from me and the rest of our speakers today
me and the rest of our speakers today
me and the rest of our speakers today inspire you how you treat your friends
inspire you how you treat your friends
inspire you how you treat your friends how you interact in the workplace let
how you interact in the workplace let
how you interact in the workplace let that be the ideas and the movement
that be the ideas and the movement
that be the ideas and the movement forward in your life to treat everyone
forward in your life to treat everyone
forward in your life to treat everyone just as you would want to be treated our
just as you would want to be treated our
just as you would want to be treated our potential is absolutely limitless when
potential is absolutely limitless when
potential is absolutely limitless when we can accept that individually we’re
we can accept that individually we’re
we can accept that individually we’re smart but collectively as a human race
smart but collectively as a human race
smart but collectively as a human race we have all of the makings to be
we have all of the makings to be
we have all of the makings to be absolutely brilliant thank you
absolutely brilliant thank you
absolutely brilliant thank you [Applause]
”
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