Yesterday I came across a poster entitled How to Build Community (created by the Syracuse Cultural Workers 1999). The last 2 lines made me stop and pause, so I’d like to share one of them today.
“No one is silent, but many are not heard – work to change this.”
Powerful, isn’t it?
Think about it: we all have something to say; we have experiences and perspectives to share that could be valuable, help us to connect, inspire someone, or lead to change or innovation (for example). But not everyone is heard.
In fact, we often hear from the same people over and over again. Sometimes these are the people who are simply the loudest. Sometimes in organizations it’s about position and responsibility. Sometimes it is because of who we are, and the privilege and power our identities carry.
Here is the challenge for all of us: let’s take a look around today and notice who is taking up space – in our meetings, in the copy room, in the subway, in the coffee shop, at our dinner table – and then let’s take a look at those who are not being heard, ask ourselves what we might be missing, and make some space to listen.
See more.
Copyright 2011 Annemarie Shrouder
author, speaker and facilitator on issues of diversity and inclusion
www.beeing.ca
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