Tawnya Stewart
MLCV’s Chief People and Culture Officer
Hey, hey, hey, I’m Tawnya Stewart, Chief People and Culture Officer at Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures (MLCV). As we commemorate and celebrate Black History Month, I’m honored to share my thoughts on fostering inclusivity.
I find myself reflecting on my unique journey growing up as both Native American and African American. This dual heritage has been a source of pride, strength, and sometimes complexity, shaping me into the person I am today.
I share this story to help us better understand how to be more inclusive while allowing each of us to bring our true selves forward. Growing up, I internalized the mantra, “You are unique in all the world,” from The Little Prince—a powerful affirmation of individuality and self-worth that resonates with me. Navigating two distinct cultures can be challenging but also rewarding as it supplies a unique perspective on cultural ties and historical narratives. My African American heritage has taught me resilience in the face of adversity. The narratives of struggle, resistance, and triumph that are integral to African American history have been a source of inspiration throughout my life. Often highlighted during Black History Month, these stories remind me of the strength and perseverance that flow through my veins. The historic learnings have shaped my culture, traditions, and worldview into my Afro-indigenous identity.
While steering between two cultures has not always been easy, there have been moments of feeling “in-between.” However, this has only deepened my appreciation for the richness of my dual heritage. I also know that regardless of a person’s racial identity, being seen, heard, and included is human nature and a need we all have. When we make efforts to understand, see, and hear each other, we create and foster a sense of belonging, leading to a healthier and happier workplace and world.
Here are five steps that we can take to foster more inclusive conditions:
1. Rejoicing in Diversity: Our first step is to rejoice in diversity - race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, or anything else that makes us unique. Let's cherish the rich tapestry of creativity and innovation that a diverse team brings. We must be intentional in celebrating and seeing everyone.
2. Promoting Open Conversations: Let's continue to make room for open, honest conversations about race, unfairness, discrimination, and systematic oppression. Yes, it can be uncomfortable, but it's essential for growth. Let's create safe spaces for these discussions where everyone feels heard and respected. It may not always happen organically, but creating more community and understanding is necessary. We previously hosted "Brave Space," a virtual learning space to engage in this dialogue. May we continue to be brave and have compassion.
3. Learning and Growing: Knowledge truly is power. It is up to each of us to build our cultural competency. MLCV seeks to support more training programs, read books, and see movies that educate our team about unconscious biases and microaggressions. We should empower everyone to change behaviors and attitudes and live our values if we want a more accepting and adapting company.
4. Implementing Inclusive Policies: Let's revisit our company policies to ensure they are inclusive. This could mean rethinking some of our practices and ensuring an intentional approach. Invite others to meetings or events and pause to ask, "Who are we not thinking about?" when making decisions. Doing this sends a strong message that we are committed to fairness and equity.
5. Leading with Love: We are all leaders; what if we start to engage or create a human library to check out others who are not like us and get to know them and their stories? It could start to show our commitment to inclusion by continuing to take part in the human library.
Inclusivity is more than just a trendy term; it's a heartfelt commitment to creating an ecosystem where everyone feels valued and respected. Our society has taught us to place each other in a box, but I would challenge you to get to know each person individually. It's about acknowledging our shared humanity and celebrating what makes us unique. And if we lead with love, we can continue to build our incredible culture.
*I recently took part in an oral history project that tells more of my story. Feel free to check it out! https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/hennepin-history-museum/episodes/Episode-9---Tawnya-Stewart-e29ntrm/a-aaafhkj