From Our CEO

ON THE ROAD TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

At our 2020 Virtual Convention, our Diversity and Inclusion consultant shared an education session with us titled, “On the Road to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Navigating the Journey.” For those who have not had the opportunity to watch the session yet, let me introduce you to Justice Waidner Smith. I invited Justice to share a portion of that class with you, and I invite you to watch the entire class in the members-only section of our website. For instructions on how to view all education and other videos from the Virtual Convention, see page 14 of this issue.

Justice earned a B.A. in Social Identity Theory and Writing from Hampshire College in Massachusetts (USA) and a M.A. in Intercultural Leadership and Management from the School for International Training Graduate Institute in Vermont (USA).

She has been supporting organizations in their culture creation and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) work for nearly 20 years. She has experience crafting and implementing strategic diversity and inclusion initiatives; background in organizational development and change management; and is a subject matter expert on numerous diversity issues. In 2018, she was named one of Diversity MBA magazine’s Top 50 Emerging D&I Leaders.

Welcome Justice.

Sincerely,

Tammy Talbot, CEO

Iam so appreciative for the invitation to contribute to this edition of The Pitch Pipe. I’ve greatly enjoyed partnering with

Sweet Adelines International to support the International Board of Directors and staff as they navigate some very important aspects of the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Over our nine months working together, I’ve developed a deep gratitude for your leaders. They emanate a deep-seated, unwavering passion, commitment and care for Sweet Adelines. Just as they recognize that the diversity of our voices creates breathtaking harmonies, they also believe that our collective uniqueness is what makes us strong. This is the driving force behind their work toward diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging for all Sweet Adelines members.

This belief in the power of our differences is affirmed by the language Sweet Adelines use to describe two of your Guiding Principles – the Culture of Belonging and Diversity and Inclusion principles, which read in part,

We create harmony where every voice matters. We foster a culture that provides a joyful place to share our uniqueness within a global community united in song. We celebrate our differences as essential to the rich harmony that unites us.

The path to fully realizing these aspirations will take time and intention, as anything truly meaningful and worthwhile in life does. This collective journey we are on together will have ups and downs, wins and mistakes, celebrations and apologies. There are many steps to be taken. One vital one is recognition of harms that occur both in real time and in Sweet Adelines history, as it is only through naming past wounds that they can heal.

This is why it is so important for Sweet Adelines, as stated in the D&I Guiding Principle, to continue to recognize barbershop’s African American origins and learn from our exclusionary past toward women of color, as well as to reject discrimination and unwaveringly strive toward greater awareness, openness, and understanding of each other.

The question is, “How do we accomplish this most effectively?” While the answer will be comprised of a multitude of different facets, including the forthcoming Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Council and its subcommittees, there is one significant action each of us can take to support this work. We can be bridge builders – individuals who work to foster more constructive dialogue and understanding across lines of difference.

Each of us is part of our whole, and all Sweet Adelines have individual roles to play within SA circles of influence. To that end, we each can (re)commit to developing meaningful relationships across differences, practicing courageous conversations and continually developing the inter- and intrapersonal skills needed to more fully understand each other and build bridges.

By being involved with SA, each member is gifted with the unique opportunity to meaningfully connect with people whose lives, identities and experiences are different from their own. Each has the chance to fully welcome newcomers to choruses and to guarantee that fellow members feel valued for all of who they are and what they bring to the risers. We each have the opportunity to be a part of this effort to ensure that all Sweet Adelines have the opportunity to thrive within this vibrant organization. It is an exciting time for SA, and I can’t wait to see what the next 75 years brings to fruition.

— Justice Waidner Smith.