Beacon hosts conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion with state, local leaders
Tessa Sutton, PhD, Karrah Herring, J.D. and Jackie Rucker
Written by R.J. Pales
Beacon Medial Relations Specialist
Diversity in the workplace is a journey, not just a destination. State leaders acknowledge that while many businesses are on that journey, progress still needs to be made toward creating corporate cultures that look and feel more inclusive of all associates.
Beacon Health System hosted a Conversation about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on Thursday, featuring Karrah Herring, J.D., Indiana’s first Chief Equity, Inclusion & Opportunity Officer. Many Beacon associates and community leaders attended the event in person, while many more Beacon associates attended virtually from our five hospital sites.
Herring discussed the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace with Jackie Rucker, Teacher’s Credit Union Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Tessa Sutton, PhD, South Bend School Corporation’s Assistant Superintendent of Equity Diversity & Inclusion.
Sutton, Herring, Kimberlie Warren and Rucker
In her state leadership role, Herring said her team is focused on improving access to educational advancement, economic opportunity and enhancing the workplace experience within the state government’s executive branch. “Inclusive and intentional leadership take work,” she said. “Intentionality means using your emotional intelligence to understand how you want to act toward people, and people to act toward you.”
Kimberlie Warren, Beacon’s Director of Diversity and Provider Well-Being, emphasized the importance of the business community engaging in these conversations to move the DEI needle in the workplace.
“It’s important that leaders at every level continue to open up, and engage in, dialogue around inclusive leadership,” said Warren, who served as panel moderator. “Continued and action-oriented dialogue will help to increase awareness and understanding of the diverse representation, and needs, of our community residents while offering opportunity to collaborate to better accommodate this diversity.”
Click here for more from the speakers in an ABC57 story about the panel discussion.
