What is Diversity to Me?

By Fredda Shere-Valenti (January 2010 EEODM News article)

Many years ago, Paul Robeson (and later Frank Sinatra) sang a beautiful song written by Lewis Allen (aka Abel Meeropol) entitled, “The House I Live In”.  I’d like to quote a stanza from that song.  “The town I live in; the street, the house, the room; the pavement of the city; or a garden all in bloom; the church, the school, the clubhouse, the million lights I see; especially the people; that’s America to me.”  For years, the word diversity has been over-used and I personally feel it has lost its true meaning.  So, here is my challenge to you, FDA employees:  Please contact your Diversity Council representative and let them know what “Diversity Is To You.”  In order for the Diversity Council to address the needs of its constituency, you (the FDA employee) need to let the Diversity Council know what diversity means to you.  As with America, FDA is about the diversity of its people. Thank you all for your service.

2009 Diversity Council Representatives by Center (management and non-management representatives respectively)

CBER               Leslie D. Wheelock      Jane Brown
 
CDER               Abebayo Laniyonu       Robert O. Kumi                  
 
CFSAN             Denise Riley               Evaristus Enongene
 
CDRH               Collin L. Figueroa        Fiad Ali, Co-chair
                                              
CVM                Mary Allen, Co-Chair    Bharati Dhruva  
 
ORA/HQ            Brenda Holman           Harriet Gerber
 
ORA/Field          Brenda Holman           Atricia Irons
 
NCTR                Beverly Lyn-Cook       Cynthia Davis
 
OC                   L’Tonya Davis            Dynna Bigby