Resources

Start a conversation with someone you've never really talked to.

You know who I mean. The neighbor two houses down. The person at the community pool who's always there but you've never asked their name. The family that just moved in three streets over.

Notice who's standing alone and include them.

Every gathering has someone on the edge. Most people assume someone else will talk to them. What if you're the someone else?

Speak up about something unkind.

You hear a comment about someone's accent. Someone makes an assumption about a group of people. A joke lands that wasn't funny. You know it's not okay. Silence teaches people their comment was fine. Speaking up teaches something different.

Eat lunch with someone from a different department or background.

You probably stick with your people at work. It's comfortable. But it's also how we stay separate. Actively choose one person from somewhere else in your workplace and invite them to lunch.

Hire and promote with intention.

If you're in any position to recommend someone for a job or a promotion, look beyond the people who remind you of yourself.

Stand with someone who's being excluded or overlooked.

People with different backgrounds often experience workplaces differently. If you notice someone being treated unfairly, say something.

Talk to a family you don't know.

Pickup line. School event. Parking lot. Say hello to a parent you don't know. Ask them a real question.

Ask questions about curriculum that affects your kids.

If your school is teaching history that doesn't include everyone's story, say something. If books in the library don't represent your community's diversity, ask why.

Volunteer for something that puts you alongside families different from yours.

Look for opportunities where you're actually working with other families, not just your own kid.

Learn about someone else's faith tradition.

Read something. Go to an event. Talk to someone. Do it to understand, not to convert.

Question assumptions you hold about other religions.

What do you actually know about Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, atheism? Do you know because you've learned from people in those communities, or because you've absorbed stereotypes?

Speak up if your community is excluding people.

If your faith community is making assumptions about who belongs based on race, sexuality, immigration status, or anything else, that's a problem. Say something.