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Today's Takeaway with Florine Mark


Apr 25, 2022

With Darlene King, Executive Director of the National Diversity Council

 

One of the positive signs over the past few years has been the spotlight placed on racial, social, and gender inequality.  We’re seeing more women, people of color, and of different ethnic backgrounds hold leadership positions in the workplace and in politics.  Corporations are now embracing diversity awareness training.   A big part of diversity training is being sensitive to how others see themselves and learning to communicate properly by using the correct terms.  Positive changes are being made to ensure people are treated fairly and offered the same opportunities regardless of race, color, gender, or sexual preference.  We’re also seeing a much more diverse community being honored in the TV and Motion Picture industry.  As we make strides, we have an opportunity to learn and go forward.  Education is still the greatest single weapon that we have to fight racism and prejudice.  

 

My guest today, Darlene King, is the Executive Director of both the Michigan and National Diversity Council.  We talk to Darlene about social equity, inclusivity, and how we can all do our part to continue to support change in our society.  

 

What You’ll Hear on This Episode:

  • What is social justice?
  • What is the mission of the National Diversity Council?
  • Why has it taken so long to discuss diversity and inclusion?
  • What are some examples of discrimination and “hate” in communities?
  • What does it mean when someone has been marginalized?
  • How did Darlene begin her work for diversity and inclusion?
  • What is the current gender pay gap?
  • Who creates the material for diversity training and what is ESG?
  • Darlene covers some correct and preferred diverse terminology.
  • What does nonbinary mean?
  • What has been the most important progress for diversity?

 

Today’s Takeaway:  How can we do our part to embrace diversity?  For starters, we’ve heard that it’s important to respect and accept others simply for who they are regardless of race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity or religion.  A big part of diversity training is learning to communicate properly by using the correct terms and being respectful of others.  Remember that every single day is a gift.  The gift that we get from embracing our differences and learning from each other will only serve to make us healthier, stronger, and better versions of ourselves.  Future generations will all benefit from the work we do today.  We are a great country, but we can all do our part to make it the best it can be. I’m Florine Mark and that’s “Today’s Takeaway.”

 

Quotes:

  • “Social justice is really speaking to the relevance of distribution of wealth, opportunity, and equity.” - Darlene
  • “That’s what social justice is; it’s about how we get to a more equitable form of the distribution of wealth and opportunity.” - Darlene
  • “At the beginning and the end of the day, we are all human.” - Darlene
  • “We all have the right to freedoms, expression, opinions and thought processes.” - Darlene
  • “How do we eliminate hate from our conversation and from our day to day activities?” - Darlene
  • “How do we embrace each other regardless of our differences?” - Darlene 
  • “Marginalized usually refers to a group of people that have been treated insignificantly.” - Darlene
  • “It’s better to ask than to assume.” - Darlene
  • “More and more companies are concerned with creating an amazing environment and community where everyone feels that they belong.” - Darlene 
  • “We are making progress.” - Darlene 
  • “Be brave, be transparent, be vulnerable.” - Darlene 

 

Brought to You By:

Gardner White Furniture

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

National Diversity Council

Michigan Diversity Council