Takeaways
- The social justice ecosystem has different people with different skills, so collaboration is required for equitable progress.
- Individual, internalized work never stops.
- Have an equity goal and stick with the plan to achieve it.
Marnita S. Harris, the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Vice President of Economic Equity and Inclusion, discussed her journey leading collective equitable action in the corporate world during a panel at New Detroit’s annual Just Lead conference on Oct. 17.
The panel also included Bank of America’s Estrella (Star) Crawford, Lead DEI Consultant Freda G. Sampson, and Wayne State University’s Peter J. Hammer as moderator.
On Good and Bad Collaboration
Throughout the conversation, the panel talked about the number of good collaborations they have had throughout their careers and what everyone can do to improve the conversations between organizations or within one internally.
“The collaborations I’m most excited about are when we have the most voices at the table as possible. It’s absolutely centered on how we have communities and corporations sitting around and having the hard conversations,” Sampson said. “It’s not the performance of sitting at the table … it is the dynamic that all identities are around the table.”
“Having a goal and a plan to achieve the goal. You can’t do this alone. We all have to do this together,” Crawford said. “What I’ve learned from the Blueprint Group specifically is when we all share ideas … we’re going to be on the same track.”
“If you’re not in line [morally] with your organization … [find] ways to play well in the sandbox,” Harris said. “The most important part of being at a collective table [is that] you might not be the one to do it, but you can find someone who can.”
On Toggling or Code-switching
The panel also discussed their varying opinions and experiences of “toggling,” also known as code-switching in the workplace, which includes altering one’s behavior, speech, or identity based on the environment. While Sampson was indifferent about the concept, saying she sees it as a tool, Crawford said she toggles often based on the industry, conversations, and opportunities she is involved in.
“I’m not there because of me; I’m there representing my company,” Crawford said. “You just really have to think about being strategic. When you do raise those questions, you have to be professional about it.”
On the other hand, Harris said she does not believe in toggling, especially where she is currently in her career, because it could hinder progress toward the equitable work she is currently working on.
“If I’m in the room and something needs to be said to educate my executive team [then] I’m the voice that will speak up,” Harris said. “For me, toggling is straddling the fence … I don’t do that. Stradling is not something we can do in this work.”
Using the Past, Present, and Future to Keep Moving Forward
The panel also dove into their “why” and what keeps them going when times get tough, which all goes back to a passion for the work and honoring the past, present, and future plans of action.
“I believe in being strategic and managing my facts,” Crawford said. “When you have a plan, you have facts that you can follow…and then you can prioritize. If you think everything’s important, then nothing’s important.”
“My ‘why’ is based on the ecosystem where I live… how can I lift my people, all people? How can I be part of the solution?” Sampson asked.
“I have a responsibility from our ancestors,” Harris said. “My ‘why’ is centered on being a representation of what people before me fought for … because I stand on the shoulders of my ancestors, and I want to get the representation and make the changes that they wanted.”
