In the age of the coronavirus, people in leadership are being called to step
up and navigate our institutions and organizations through uncertainty. In
Arianna Huffington’s 2020 article “The Eye of the Hurricane: Leadership in the
Age of COVID-19,” she cites survey results saying “people are craving strong
leadership and clear communication” (Huffington). As we continue to work
through COVID-19 and move forward with this “new normal”, it is imperative to
understand the importance of inclusivity. To be inclusive, one shows respect
and acceptance of others no matter who they are. With the recent events
surrounding xenophobia against Asians and Asian Americans due to the virus’
origins and police brutality against Black Americans, we need inclusive
leadership. When a leader is intentional with their actions and prioritizes
inclusivity, public confidence in our leadership in both local and national
environments will increase, strengthening our communities as a result.
People are more inclined to listen to leaders who are aware and accountable
for their actions and feel like their voices matter. For example, growing up,
I moved around because I am a part of a military family. Through Kindergarten
to 12th grade, my father was stationed at multiple Coast Guard bases on the
East and West coast. As anyone can imagine, moving was difficult. I didn’t
realize that the color of my skin and the culture I came from would impact the
way I interacted with people.
In general, I remember growing up being self-conscious about how dark my skin
could get. Since I played soccer, I was always in the sun and my tan got very
dark at times, unlike my fellow teammates. Even as I moved up to playing
competitively as a soccer player, my clubs were filled with girls who did not
look like me. It made me feel out of place when people mentioned how dark I
was, but my culture made me a victim as well. For example, in high school, one
of my coaches told me after I scored a goal: “That was good for a Filipino”. I
was floored. I had no idea what to say…so I didn’t say anything. When I moved
to the Bay Area in the middle of high school, I realized how much self-doubt I
had built up when I lived in an area where I was the only Filipino in my
school. Here in Vallejo, California, I still struggled with fitting in, but I
was surrounded by a Filipino community. I saw people who looked like me. I
made friends with similar morals. I started to feel like I belonged. In this
environment, my presence and voice was not cast aside but instead heard and
accepted, allowing for a better learning environment both in and out of the
classroom.
These experiences are why I believe diversity and inclusion should be on a
leader’s agenda. One feeling that prevailed through every move, including when
I moved to college, was the desire to feel like I belonged. I felt most
empowered when I felt like I mattered. It taught me why “belonging” is
important for success – not just as an individual, but as a community.
Inclusion is a way to show support of the historically underserved,
underrepresented, and marginalized communities around our nation. Inclusive
leadership will uplift communities affected by the current racial pandemic and
make better decisions for the sake of the whole community.
The first step to being more inclusive in leadership roles is to educate
oneself on their own history and then learn about the history of other
cultures. During an APAPA workshop with Solano County surrounding the “Wash
the Hate” movement, one of our presenters, Mel Orpilla, used the phrase “No
History, No Self; Know History, Know Self”. By learning about others’
backgrounds, one gains a new perspective by understanding where another’s
privilege and struggles come from. Through this historical understanding one
can empathize with one’s current struggles. Empathy is the driving force
behind inclusivity. It is understanding that the way one speaks impacts others
in different ways and one must be conscientious of all groups of people. With
this foundation, it is imperative to go beyond basic education. One must take
initiative to take classes or read books on ethnic studies. The writings of
Kimberlé Crenshaw and her coined term of intersectionality is one example of
the way I have expanded my knowledge on the intersection of different levels
of diversity that create everyone’s unique struggle as a marginalized
individual.
Inclusiveness begins with education. The reactions of the events of police
brutality, xenophobia around the coronavirus, and the targeting of several
people of color, show that our nation’s leaders and many citizens are lacking
in education of why diversity and inclusion are important for their roles in
society. As Huffington said, people need clear, strong leadership in these
uncertain times. Leaders in the local, state, and/or national scene need to
unify their respective communities, showing accountability for the failing
organizations that are plagued with discrimination, and leading by example by
protecting people’s inherent rights to be who they are. As the new generation
of leaders come into power, we must learn how to be inclusive and then teach
others the same thing.
I am starting with my college community. This past year, as a first-year in
college, I was a part of an organization called the Multicultural Business
Program. Through this program, I received a mentor that guided me through my
first college experiences academically, professionally, and socially. Being a
member of the API community, I am a part of the marginalized communities at
Cal Poly – SLO. However, with this program they showed how my culture is a
strength not a weakness. Their mission is “Matter, Belong, Persist.” Beginning
my second year at Cal Poly, I will hold a leadership position as a mentor and
intern for the organization. I plan to continue to advocate for diversity and
inclusion in all organizations with my voice and through my actions. APAPA has
given me the opportunity to speak out and share my ideas of what the future
leaders of our country need – inclusion. Now is the time to be a leader in
your own community, small or large, by teaching the importance of inclusion
and showing what it means to be inclusive through your own actions.
Malia Samonte is studying Business Administration at Cal Poly San Luis
Obispo. She is a mentor/intern for the Multicultural Business Program and is
the Co-Campus Life Chair for Cal Poly Relay for Life.
* This is an essay for APAPA’s “The Future of Leadership Symposium”.
Please attend the free online symposium on Monday, July 20, 2020 from 8pm ET
(5pm PT) through the link below or by clicking “Read More” at the left bottom
corner of this article. 请点击文末”阅读原文”链接进入下面的活动网站。https://www.apapa.org/future/
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