As I reflect on our first HCLA Class Day, I am filled with immense gratitude for the opportunity to learn from and alongside so many people who care so deeply about making Hamilton County a place of belonging for everyone who lives and works here. The passionate presentation by Mike Thibideau of Invest Hamilton County was jam-packed with data and stories of how that data is informing collaborations to meet the needs of employers and our steadily growing population. I found myself wanting to dig deeper into this data to more fully contribute in collaborations concerning challenges such as 28,500 households in Hamilton County being just one emergency away from poverty or homelessness.
After hearing Mike mention the importance of increasing local philanthropy as part of the solution for addressing these kinds of challenges, I appreciated learning more about the Hamilton County Community Foundation and all they do to convene, connect, and collaborate with local leaders, non-profit organizations and donors in our county. What a tremendous resource HCCF is for our county.
Another incredible resource I appreciated learning about was township trustees. Gaining a better understanding of how this “grassroots government” can react so quickly and efficiently to ensure the basic needs of local residents are met with such care and a commitment to equity was one of the highlights of the day for me.
Some of the most impactful learning for me occurred during the afternoon session with Andrew Adeniyi regarding DEAI – Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion. This session provided clarity around these topics and included activities that led to authentic and vulnerable discussions. I greatly appreciated having time at the end of this session for reflection and the creation of a single actionable goal as a next step.
Among my greatest takeaways from this first HCLA class day are:
- To keep equity, access, inclusion, and belonging at the forefront of decision-making, we need to seek diverse perspectives to minimize blind spots, generate more comprehensive solutions and yield better outcomes.
- Once we know what we are trying to accomplish, we can create solutions with equity in mind, which will entail asking everyone what they need and doing our best to meet those needs.
- Diversity is a Fact; Equity is a Choice; Inclusion is an Action; Belonging is an Outcome. (Arthur Chan)
The general consensus at the end of our class was diversity and belonging relate to everything we will be learning, so it was perfect to have this be the focus of our first class. I can’t wait for our next class, as I know the learning will be exponential and the relationships ever deepening. What a blessing it is to be a part of HCLA’s Class of 2025!