5 Things / inaugural edition
This week, the United States welcomed President Biden and Vice President Harris with an inauguration that was a masterclass in inclusion and representation. We can all learn from the thoughtfulness that went into the ceremony:
musical performances by Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, and Garth Brooks
the Pledge of Allegiance was delivered both in English and American Sign Language simultaneously by Georgia fire captain Andrea Hall.
the youngest inaugural poet in history, the astonishing Amanda Gorman, happens to be a young Black woman who was born with auditory and speech challenges.
These and many other decisions led to a ceremony and celebration that were a reflection of what America looks like. But remember, it's almost impossible to do this right if those in the room doing the planning all look the same and share similar perspectives.
To better serve your team / constituents / clients / customers / whomever, you need diversity. Full stop.
But as Patti and I discussed last week in our fireside chat, there are so many solutions to the "pipeline issue" / excuse for not having diverse talent. Next week, I'll send out a summary of what we discussed.
Here are some other good vibes I found this week:
The contact form on WhiteHouse.gov is now inviting people to share pronouns when they complete the form. This matters because it sends a powerful signal to LGBTQ people that they are seen, included, and supported by the new administration.
Dr. Rachel Levine has been nominated to serve as Assistant Secretary of Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If approved as expected, Dr. Levine will be the first transgender woman confirmed by the U.S. Senate and the highest ranking openly transgender person in U.S. history. This matters because, due to systemic discrimination, transgender people are often under-employed and don't always have positive possibility models.
This was a week of beautiful firsts. Inspiration is everywhere if we're ready for it. If we're ready to walk towards that light.
"There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it." - Amanda Gorman, The Hill We Climb
Image by: NBC 5 Dallas-Ft. Worth