As the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging, (DEIB), I am very happy to announce that the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion (CMSC) has recently established a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Committee which is a standing committee of the CMSC Board Board of Directors.
The key objective of this committee is to advance the DEIB organizational needs, resources, opportunities, and outreach of global communities on behalf of those who have experienced social-cultural disparities and under-representation.
Members of this committee will focus upon developing important DEIB policies, procedures and initiatives. I have been appointed as the Chairperson of this important committee, and I would like to share the names of the dedicated members of our new committee as follows: Sade Ojuola, Gabriel Menegale Wilson, Dina Aish, Markus Bohlmann, LaTonia Clark-Chalmers, Lucy Chan, Dennis Emano, Cassondra Graff, Noriko Harth, Bill Johnson, Vesna Lakovic Van Kempen, Meera Murthi, Laila Narsi, and Oori Silberstein. I am extremely appreciative of their heart, soul and passion for this work. They are all working diligently to bring greater social and cultural inclusion and equity to CMSC.
I would also like to acknowledge and honor the American civil rights activist and leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This year, the annual celebration of his extraordinary life, advocacy and social justice achievements was held on January 17 in the United States. Here are two quotes that express Dr. King’s deep convictions about diversity, social equity, leadership and allyship:
“DARKNESS CANNOT DRIVE OUT DARKNESS; ONLY LIGHT CAN DO THAT. HATE CANNOT DRIVE OUT HATE; ONLY LOVE CAN DO THAT.”
“WHATEVER AFFECTS ONE DIRECTLY, AFFECTS ALL INDIRECTLY. I CAN NEVER BE WHAT I OUGHT TO BE UNTIL YOU ARE WHAT YOU OUGHT TO BE. THIS IS THE STRUCTURE OF REALITY.
