By Tonya Odom
For as long as I can remember, I have been passionate about justice. I was invested in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) before DEI was considered a buzzword. It is why I went to law school. It’s why I served as a judge and why as a little girl, I was the one telling everyone around me what was and was not fair. It is why I am now proud to work for a company that puts DEI at the forefront of what we do.
At CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), we recognize that the way it is, is not how it should be. We have the tools to make a difference in our communities, and we’re doing just that. One way we affect change is by remembering to look back and see how far we have come. I have always been of the mindset to celebrate the wins but not lose sight of the destination. We still have a long way to go to advance health equity and reduce disparities in care, but it gives us hope to see that, as a company, we have intentionally shown up for our communities through volunteer efforts, interventions, and grant dollars.
I am honored that in our looking back, we are taking time to celebrate Juneteenth. This is our second year giving our employees the day off to celebrate the national Holiday. A day that amplifies the fact that a group of people in Galveston, Texas, were still being enslaved two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It is only by facing the hard truths of the past that we can do the work to rectify the inequities of today. Some people are of the mindset that systemic racism will just go away over time. I have lived long enough to know that systems that are built to negatively impact a group of people, will not just disappear. It takes those of us with a level of passion and intentionality to move the needle.
Creating working environments where all the employees come to work and feel safe and heard is paramount to progress. If we are to positively impact working outcomes, it must be part of our daily mission, values, and commitment. Supporting an enriched culture and environment of inclusion, equity and belonging across a richly diverse group of people of different ages, races, religions, ethnicities, cultures, abilities, economic statuses, identities, and sexual orientations makes us all see the world, its problems and ultimately, its solutions. I am truly proud to play a role in making sure that CareFirst continues to lead the way, as DEI is so much more than a buzz word.
About the Author: A. Tonya Odom is the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst). Tonya has over 25 years of experience in strategic diversity planning and leadership. As Director of DEI at CareFirst, Tonya leads the company’s continued commitment to recruiting, developing and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce to design innovative healthcare solutions for the people and communities CareFirst serves.
The post DEI, More than a Buzzword appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers .
