This weekend we witnessed many events that are disturbing, heartbreaking, and haunt us to our core. It has never been more apparent how divided many of us are regarding political and race relations. The lack of insight and maturity of how viewpoints are being discussed is shocking and the hateful and hurtful language that was being spewed by some in our industry made us embarrassed for our industry as a whole. The one thing we do know for sure is that the way to combat negativity is to empower our members to take a stand and to create change and standards of what we want for our industry as we relate to each other and what we will accept from our peers and leaders, and to hold those accountable of their own actions.
RESA was founded on the core values of Unity, Diversity, and Integrity. However, Unity, Diversity, and Integrity are not enough as a tagline. We feel a strong sense of urgency and responsibility to take immediate action, as opposed to being silent. We would like feedback from our members on forming a Diversity and Racial Relations Committee immediately. The goal of the committee will be to create strong messaging on RESA’s position on diversity and inclusion in our industry, as it relates to a person’s race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or disability, to find ways to encourage more people of color to participate in leadership and to create a strategy to ensure that members of RESA are educated on the racial sensitivities they may face in their day-to-day personal and business relationships.
If you are interested in serving on this committee, please fill out this form.
While this committee will not solve the world’s racial and political differences, it is perhaps one small step that we as an industry can take so we can all be better educated in order to do our part as individuals. This is not about who you voted for in the last election or who you are going to vote for in the next election, but rather it is about all of us taking personal responsibility to educate ourselves, and to live our lives by treating each other with kindness, respect, and dignity.
Dr. Martin Luther King once said, “The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy.” We at RESA stand in solidarity in the fight against racism, antisemitism, homophobia, discrimination, bigotry, and injustice of every nature. We understand this is a trying time in society, we see you, we hear you, we support you, we stand with you.
RESA remains committed to unity, diversity, and integrity.
Courtney Schomburg, Chairperson, RESA Board of Directors
Bobbie McGrath, Secretary, RESA Board of Directors
Ryan Marsh, Treasurer, RESA Board of Directors
Richard Kline, Director, RESA Board of Directors
Christine Rae, Director, RESA Board of Directors
Shell Brodnax, RESA CEO
Gina Vierra, RESA Vice President of Operations
Felicia Pulley, Creative Director
Vanessa Roach, Chapter Coordinator
Joanna Fraley, Marketing Assistant
- Announcing Our First RESA Ambassador - October 5, 2021
- Diversity is being invited to the party; Inclusion is being asked to dance - October 5, 2020
- An Open Letter From RESA Leader Yolanda Tillman - September 25, 2020
