On the topic of Diversity and Inclusion, the stage is broad and encompassing. But when we break down the issues close to us in our social environment and everyday lives, it becomes clear that all we need is a little bit of attention, awareness and empathy to create an inclusive society that has so much to go around. There is no need to compete and compare. Our judgmental nature is just a reflection of our own insecurities. And most times our lack of understanding, naiveté, fear of not knowing how to behave with the vulnerable often keep us from interacting with or including them into our circle of influence, our environments and our peer group. Be it elderly, underprivileged, vulnerable, different socioeconomic status, racial differences, gender differences, preference or people with special needs. Try your best to research, interact with and engage with these groups and communities, and you’ll see that they are just like you and me, with dreams and desires, fears and frustrations and so much more to give than we give them credit for. It is our responsibility to find a new perspective and way into their worlds, so that we may find ourselves living in a more diverse and inclusive society where we grow in empathy and love, growing into “Oneness”. Opposed to focusing on differences and comparisons, which in doing so involuntarily keeps us more separated and apart.
Look at the examples of elderly inclusion with the 360 immersive challenge (Please see the 360 challenge in our 360 Immersive section and Eugene’s section for more details.), Case-study of Singapore Fashion Runway from Eileen Yap, “Food for Love” challenge with Russ Neu, on the issues of care for our foreign workers living with us in our communities and so much more. You can choose to use them as themes or topics to showcase, promote or just as inspirational stories to find your own topic of focus which you feel strongly for in your own communities.
