Diversity and Inclusion Matters

Chapter 6Plan your Program

The World's Park

People often ask me, “What is diversity?”

It is a walk in the world's park. I am sure this does not make much sense to you, but it might if you were a three-year-old riding in a stroller.

When my son was three and my daughter was one, we lived one house away from a park. My son, Justus, would beg every day to go for a walk in the park. Most days I would take him, but the walks were very frustrating endeavors. As soon as I would get to the park, Justus would want out of the stroller to look at or touch something. I would unstrap him, and Justus would jump down and look at something and explain to me that I should look too. I would say, “Okay, Justus, I have seen a dandelion before; please get back in the stroller. We are trying to take a walk.” Justus would get back in, and three steps later, he would want out again. I would let him out and he would say, “Look, Dad, a butterfly.” I would respond with, “Okay, Justus but I have seen a butterfly before. I thought you wanted to take a walk. Please get back in the stroller.”

Three more steps and the whole thing started over, but this time it would be a little dog. As you can imagine, these walks took forever in a very small park. Justus would point out everything from a ladybug to the swing set and even some of the neighbors. Justus pointed out some things to me three or four times. Justus could tell by my responses that I was not really taking in the wonder of a dandelion, so he would ...