The first time I ever took part in diversity training was in the late 1990’s. It was a 3-day diversity seminar as part of my training as an Assistant Resident Director at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The experience changed my heart, changed my career path, and changed my life. On the first day, facilitators Lillian Roybal Rose and Nanci Luna Jimenez, had us break out into dyads and for 6 minutes each, share our stories with a partner. It was uncomfortable (what was I going to say for 6 minutes?!), eye-opening, and life-changing. I had never been asked to share my story in that way. I found myself opening up to someone I barely knew about things I had never really talked about, and wondering where the 6 minutes went. Throughout the 3 days, we engaged in self-reflection, shared further experiences, and learned how oppression impacts all of us. The experience overall gave me voice, made me feel heard, and empowered me with a purpose to provide similar spaces for those with whom I would work in the future.
After embarking on a career as a diversity director, trainer, facilitator and consultant over the course of about 20 years, it was an honor to be recognized as a 2020 Leader in Diversity by the Baltimore Business Journal.