Mayor Brian Bowman reacted swiftly after a national news magazine article characterized Winnipeg as Canada’s most racist city.
As Winnipeg prepares to host a National Anti Racism Summit later this month (Sept. 17-18), the concept of ‘truth’ is top of mind.
When the Manitoba chapter of ASQ (American Society for Quality) was invited to attend the Summit, and event convenors asked for comments on our racial challenges, ASQ responded with the idea that ‘truth’ is our critical challenge as we have yet to recognize truth has no agenda. It is what it is!
Truth is at the authentic heart of our relationships, at the root cause of many of our difficulties, and is measurable.
Seeing the truth about anything, including racism, no matter how unbearable, is the first step to improve the sustainability and quality of our lives. Truth has one paramount trait and many quality characteristics; it saves costs, delivers value and minimizes our use of resources.
Not recognizing truth as our nations’ founding values, our organizations, citizens and society will continue to bear all the frustrations, violence and costs in its absence.
Truth is at the heart of our democracies; and the truth about racism needs to be acknowledged at the upcoming Winnipeg Mayor’s National Summit on Racial Inclusion.
ASQ Manitoba is participating in this event on behalf of its stakeholders and communities because ASQ members understand how grassroots voices of quality help sustain our society’s values of health, safety and well being.
“We welcome the opportunity to raise our small voice of quality at the Mayor’s Summit.” says Daniel Lamirande, Chair, ASQ Manitoba.
“Our delegate, Barry Colby, ASQ Fellow, is a seasoned member of our executive team with a considerable relationship with community and ASQ. He’s received congratulations and a thank you from the Society’s ASQ Chair, Cecilia Kimberlin for belonging to the ASQ global community and raising the voice of quality for the past 30 years,“ Lamirande adds.
“Quality is such an important part of all aspects of life,” says Cecilia Kimberlin, ASQ Chair. “It is how businesses and communities improve the products and services we rely on for our safety, health, and daily lives. As an ASQ member, (Barry Colby) has been a vital part in building the future of quality and investing in the ideas and tools that will help us meet tomorrow’s most critical challenges.”
Because the intent of the Summit is to get to the bottom of serious racial issues in our world, ASQ has identified this event as a contribution to World Quality Month 2015.
The diversity of the world’s citizens presents great challenges as well as tremendous opportunities. PHOTO: Kylene Avendano
When it comes to racism, we will never understand or know we have a problem until we experience the problem ourselves. We cannot change what we cannot control.
Realistic leadership is not about leading or following. It’s about the courage to be who we are, and to live our own truths. It’s about knowing ourselves and our identities, while practicing integrity and social responsibility by helping others to help themselves and others.
Another challenge is to recognize that racial inclusion does not exist. Our genetic similarity as humans is a factual, valid and verifiable truth that enhances the quality of all our lives.
What exist are many forms of oppression and suppression used as physical and socio-psychological methods of societal control. These are built into many system silos to ensure ongoing differentiation, (observed and felt as discrimination). Just “following the rules” creates an unequal and unjust advantage … usually by breaking the many wholes into parts of, rather than integrating the many parts into a whole “holistic” entity.
We stand ‘shoulder to shoulder’ and on the shoulders of many others in our communities. We learn, remember and perpetuate our values by living our legacies.
