Guest Blog: "Experiencing Inclusion: Sugar Cane Circles"

Guest Blog
By: Amira Barger
Resourcing Teams and Communicating

This week’s blog is guest-authored by Amira (Mira) Barger, MBA, CVA, CFRE – Cook Silverman’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Search Consultant.

I’m sure by now that many of you will have heard the expression that “Diversity is being invited to the party, Inclusion is being asked to dance.” I understand this as a simplified means of explanation for a broad, complex subject. Of course, I can’t help but think of several areas where this example becomes problematic. There is an implied authoritative structure where the only way in is to be allowed or deemed worthy by whoever is in power. It also doesn’t address who is being invited to dance by who. If those previously considered outsiders are only dancing with one another, then what real progress have you made? Also, what does the representation on the party planning committee look like? You get my point, but I didn’t actually come here to pick apart someone else’s analogy.

Instead, I wanted to share a childhood memory of mine that did a lot to shape how I think of inclusion. It is difficult, if not impossible, to completely break down such a complicated topic within this limited forum, and I don’t want to over-simplify or trivialize what is such an important and necessary discussion. That being said, I hope that you’ll stay with me as I tell you a story, that I promise, has a conclusion in inclusion. 

When I was 4 years old, my family moved to the tiny island of Guam USA, “where America’s day begins”. We lived well outside of the city limits, surrounded by walls of jungle, and shared a quaint little compound of 4 houses with some of our aunts, uncles, and cousins. We were poor – like, dirt poor. Mom and dad both worked, we didn’t have bikes to be able to leave and explore, and iPads would not be invented until much further into the future. There was not much to do once the bus dropped us off after school, but what we did have was time, imagination, and one another. 

Our afterschool escapades led to the discovery of a large area that had grown thick with sugar cane not far from our homes. And, viewing these vast fields of unexplored territory, we saw what kids have seen for generations - a fort! We had only the simplest of tools: a 2x4 and some old rope that we found, and copious amounts of elbow grease. Eventually, we managed to flatten out a circular area within the sugar cane, and even fashioned a “secret” entryway by completely flattening out one side. The circle within was just large enough for all of the cousins to pile in. We spent hours sharing snacks, chewing sugar cane, telling stories, fighting - as siblings and cousins do - and passing the time filled with the fierce socio-political debate that was prevalent in the elementary schools at that time.

There was a house at the end of the red dirt road that led to our family compound, where a family lived that happened to have two young siblings, brothers, that were about our age. We quickly became friends with the two boys and invited them over. However, in order to do so, it was necessary for us to make room for others to come in and share. As time went on, we introduced more new visitors to our circle. And so, the borders of our sugar cane fort continued to expand as more friends and family joined us through the years. 

There were no prerequisites or qualifications to joining the circle. You simply had to want in and be willing to share. However, the thing that really sticks out to me when I think of that time in my life is what I think is really applicable to us in the way we do business. When it came to expanding our circle, there were no real barriers or reasons not to, only perceived ones. It would have been easy to tell the brothers from down the road that there simply was no more room. Instead, we did the necessary work to allow them the space inside. And, truth be told, I cannot imagine a world in which we would have sat down, determined a set of impossible criteria for entry, and told the brothers “no”; we woke each morning with the posture and intent to welcome others - first, foremost and always. Even as small kids, we inherently knew that everyone had a place in our circle. 

Certainly, real-world application is more complex than simply knocking down some sugar cane. I am not suggesting building larger buildings or continuously hiring more and more people. That would be impractical at the very least. So what would the work of expanding the circle within your organization look like? Are there perceived barriers or systems in place that are prohibitive to inclusion? Is your organization intentional about being inclusive? Are you making room to bring in a more diverse set of voices to the decision making table? Being able to have answers to these questions will help you as you strive toward diversity, inclusion, and a seat for everyone inside the sugar cane.