What is a community? It’s not a place, or an organization, or even a neighborhood. A community is a feeling, a commonality, a shared vision, or set of goals. It’s friends, colleagues, and so much more. Community is a collective rooted in mutual respect, support, and collaboration. Stanford Social Innovation Review describes it as fundamental, and community members have a “sense of trust, belonging, safety, and caring for each other.”
Last week Diversity Woman Media, a member of the Women Connect4Good community, released a statement condemning the recent Supreme Court rulings that “struck down two pillars of democracy in America.” The statement concerned two rulings – one that overturned affirmative action in higher education, and another that invalidated a Colorado anti-discrimination law that protected the rights of LGBTQ individuals. While they may have been expected, both are alarming.
These rulings challenge the heart of Diversity Woman Media’s mission to advance women, in particular women of color, into leadership, and to “promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in the business sector.” They also counter Women Connect4Good’s work to ensure that all women have the opportunity to reach their full potential. This includes access to education, healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities.
The impact of these decisions will be felt far and wide, and like many of the longtime precedents the Court has overturned in the past year, will serve stark reminders of the backslide in our collective pursuit of equality. However, our friends at Diversity Woman Media remain focused. “These hurdles, while daunting, will not stop us. We have faced many obstacles before, and we know how to stay true, stay strong, and persevere. Long before these rulings, organizations across the country, in every sector, were mobilizing for this day. Not only will Diversity Woman Media stand tall with our countless allies, we will stay steadfastly committed to our purpose, and not miss a step in building a stronger, more diverse and inclusive workforce in which women can thrive in.”
These rulings renew our commitment to advocating for policies that reflect our collective values of justice, fairness, and equality, and along with the Diversity Woman statement, remind us of the importance of standing together as a community with Diversity Woman Media in this new fight where, “Together, we can leverage the innovative tools and approaches we have already developed and successfully implemented, to develop new strategies to continue our upward trajectory, and fulfill our quest to build a more diverse and inclusive America.” With this shared vision, we must reach out to all who feel marginalized by these rulings and continue advocating for social justice.
While these decisions may shape the law, they cannot define our communities – and they cannot stop the real work of creating a fair and just society. Equality is about so much more than everyone being treated the same, it’s about acknowledging our differences, respecting our histories, and ensuring everyone gets what they need to thrive, and most importantly to reach their full potential. Supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion and creating workplaces and communities where every woman (and man) can succeed is more important than ever, and we believe it is the key to creating a better future for us all.