Vision 2025 originally created a "diversity" vision for the next 25 years. As the vision was reviewed, it became apparent that the vision for diversity is actually a vision for "inclusion." This is because "inclusion" is the opposite of "exclusion."
If Greenville is going to be a community that is welcoming to all people, it must learn to include all people regardless of skin color, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, economic status, or political affiliation.
The inclusion vision is that in 2025, Greenville County public and private sector leaders and residents welcome and integrate all its residents into a unified community whose diverse members and populations have full equality.
Greenville County educators, nonprofit and business leaders foster diversity awareness. They create learning environments that help residents of all ages build skills needed to engage, interact and work with residents of various cultural backgrounds.
All residents have equal protection rights and opportunities available to them without discrimination or denial based on color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, or other identity-based features.
Residents of all ages are engaged in cross-cultural exchanges that result in effective education, respect for cultural differences, affirmation of their own values and traditions, and lawful expression of individuality and difference without fear of retribution.
The arts, including visual art, theater, music, and festivals, reflect the diversity of Greenville residents.
The diversification of our neighborhoods result in the diversificaiton of our cities and towns.
All residents, including the poor, the elderly, and people with physical or mental disabilities have access to all services in Greenville County.
Cross-cultural competence is a leadership train in all key business, education, civic and political leaders in Greenville County.
Race Matters Survey. In 1948, Greenville conducted a study of the state of race relations in Greenville. In partnership with Beyond Differences and other organizations, Greenville Forward conducted a replication of this study, with some additions, to explore how race relations have changed in Greenville County over the generations. Dialogues about the findings are happening in the next few months. Although race relations have improved, we still have some work to do. Read the GreenvilleOnline assessment.
Diversity Leaders Institute at Furman.Recognizing an urgent need for diversity-related programming, the Riley Institute, then in cooperation with the American Institute for Managing Diversity (AIMD), launched a unique program that encouraged community leaders to consider the challenges and opportunities presented by the many facets of diversity in our state, including among others, differences in cultural background, language, gender, and physical ability.
Since its inception in 2003 in the upstate of South Carolina, the Riley Institute Diversity Leaders Initiative (DLI) (formerly Diversity Leadership Academy (DLA)) now operates statewide, adding classes in the South Carolina Lowcountry (2005) and midlands (2006). Over 400 CEOs of corporations, mayors, city and county council members, legislators, school superintendents, pastors and rabbis, non-profit heads, chamber of commerce directors, and community leaders have graduated from the program.
Mix it Up Day. Youth Leadership Greenville, a program we helped facilitate, is partnering with the one of the classes from Diversity Leadership Institute (championed by Greenville Forward Board Member Allen Hamada) to take on Mix It Up Day. This is a day where students are encouraged to build diverse relationships by having lunch with kids at their school they would not otherwise.
Challenge Day. Another one of the Diversity Leadership Groups is facilitating "Challenge Day" at Greenville High School. During the day, high schoolers address diversity and stereotypes head on.
Keep Learning and Talking
A good friend, Juan Johnson from the Riley Institute, suggested a series of movies which address diversity tensions and are good dialogue starters. Here is Juan's list of movies all diversity aware people need to see. Go to Blockbuster this weekend and start a conversion with your family.
