Morgan, DE&I Sr. Director, GOJO Industries
“I first met Jason when our company hired him to develop and implement a DE&I program. His expertise, coupled with clear and practical advice, was instrumental in the development of our program. Diversity and Inclusion Matters is a much-needed roadmap for any corporation looking to implement a state-of-the-art DE&I program.”
—Beth Pauchnik, RN, JD, Senior Healthcare Executive
“Jason's approach to activating DE&I within an organization is spot on. In Diversity and Inclusion Matters he outlines concise and clear guidelines on how to implement DE&I and maintain and create transformational change. As an entrepreneur with a longtime career in team management and organizational development, I highly recommend this for any leader who wants to really embed DE&I into the DNA of their organizations.”
—Andrea Perdomo, Director, Economic Inequality Initiative, Uncharted
“As we all know, DE&I has been at the forefront of business as a differentiator, and yet there are almost no practical, real-world examples of how to implement an effective program. I liked the way Jason approached trying to change the organization culture by attending and speaking at comparable sporting organizations such as PGA, MLB, and the NFL.”
—John (JR) Register, Mindsight Warrior; Paralympic Silver Medalist
“I met Jason early on in my pharmacy career in 2003, and to this day, the positive impact he had on me as a person and professional is everlasting. Jason was always a safe place to ask questions regarding my position and the expectations. Jason was committed to diversity and inclusion before it became a buzzword, and he represents a wealth of knowledge and experience.”
—Leticia (Tisha) Smith, PharmD, BCACP, Assistant Director of Ambulatory Clinical Pharmacy, Denver Health
“The continued drive towards DE&I in health care is an imperative to our success and future. Jason always impresses with his unique approach and practical applications. His insights allow you to tailor a DE&I program that aligns with your company's culture. This book is an excellent tool for your team!”
—Avilla Williams, Vice President Clinical Services, Integris Health
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION MATTERS
TACTICS and TOOLS to INSPIRE EQUITY and GAME-CHANGING PERFORMANCE
JASON R. THOMPSON
Copyright © 2022 by Jason R. Thompson. All rights reserved.
Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Published simultaneously in Canada.
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Thompson, Jason (Professor), author.
Title: Diversity and inclusion matters : tactics and tools to inspire equity and game-changing performance / Jason Thompson.
Description: Hoboken, NJ : Wiley, [2022] | Includes index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021039751 (print) | LCCN 2021039752 (ebook) | ISBN 9781119799535 (Hardback) | ISBN 9781119799559 (epdf) | ISBN 9781119799542 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Diversity in the workplace. | Equality.
Classification: LCC HF5549.5.M5 T47 2022 (print) | LCC HF5549.5.M5 (ebook) | DDC 331.13/3—dc23/eng/20211007
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021039751
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021039752
COVER DESIGN: PAUL MCCARTHY
COVER ART: © JUSTUS THOMPSON
Preface
Telling Stories and Bridging the Disconnect
In order to make connections and foster understanding, we must cross bridges. Selma, Alabama, is the site of one of the most powerful bridge crossings in the history of the United States. On July 26, 2020, the body of civil rights leader and American statesmen John Robert Lewis was taken across Selma's Edmund Pettus Bridge one last time as his funeral procession made its way to the Alabama state capital. In 1965, Lewis had nearly lost his life during the Bloody Sunday march on that bridge, which peaceful Civil Rights demonstrators crossed in order to reach Alabama's state capital. In the decades that followed, Lewis worked tirelessly to make sure that bridge would remain open and crossable – both literally and figuratively – for everyone.
My work in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) in no way compares to Lewis's commitment or accomplishments, but I have
