From left to right: Angel Askew, Family Support Tech; Jennifer Anthony, EHS Child Development Specialist; Adrienne Wilkerson, Communications Director; Angela Divinity, Head Start Teacher, Amanda Jackson, Training & HR Specialist, Rhonda Hillard, Staff Professional Development Mgr.; and Lenell Carter, Chief Financial Officer are all smiles underneath the new signage at ECS Headquarters in National City.
SAN DIEGO – February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate, acknowledge, and educate oneself on the impact and presence of the Black community on American history. But this education should not occur in February alone. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts should be made year-round. That is why, at ECS, DEI initiatives are a priority. So that all employees and clients feel welcomed and celebrated no matter their identity or background.
Lenell Carter, ECS’ chief financial officer (CFO), has been with ECS for just eight weeks and has already had a positive experience. “I know a lot of companies have started making changes… but when I was in for-profit, it was more bottom-line driven… [ECS] is not only [looking at] ‘how much money.’ It’s other things like the social impact, making relationships,” he said. “They walk the walk and talk the talk.”
Carter has even been inspired to pursue this change of mindset on an individual level. “I’m retraining myself to make sure I’m taking the human aspect or social aspect into all accounts when I’m making a decision, instead of ‘bottom-line says we should do X, Y, and Z,’ and that’s what we’re doing,” he said.
Rhonda Hilliard, staff professional development manager at Head Start, who has worked at ECS for 12 years, also expressed gratitude for the focus on inclusion. “I think working with a team who is multiculturally sensitive is very nice,” she said. “I’ve worked at other places where that wasn’t the case. I felt more isolated and didn’t really belong, but here, I do feel I’m equal with the team. It’s a good thing, it’s great being supported and understood.”
Carter agreed and echoed Hilliard’s comparisons to other places of employment. “I was that one different face, and it didn’t bother me. As I said, I actually had great mentors and great access to people that had phenomenal success. And to me, it would have been more comforting to see someone like you. You’ve got to cut that part out of you so that you can fit into those programs. And when you get in a program like [ECS] you don’t have to cut that part out of you. You can let it exist and see somebody like you and just be happy,” Carter said. “Now I’m in a place where I can give that knowledge to a more diverse group, so for me, it’s a win.”
Hilliard and Carter reflected on leadership and the importance of diversity in those spaces specifically. Hilliard expressed, “I was excited to see the organization move forward as far as diversity and inclusion. Until recently, there was a lack of diversity in our management and executive leaders, but now we’re starting to see more, which is exciting,” she said. “It makes me feel good to see someone like me in a higher position.”
That inclusion and diversity on the team affect more than just those within the workplace. It also makes a difference in the broader San Diego community. “I think it’s important when we reach out to the community to have people of color to relate to those people. I think it creates an opportunity for relationships,” Hilliard said.
February has been set aside as Black History Month, but it takes purposeful effort to make that time meaningful. “It’s exciting to see that it’s being done as an organization… To see it actually go out, even out into the community, showing that we’re promoting Black history, I think it’s important,” Hilliard said. “Black history is American history, so it’s important for everyone to learn about it, and if we understand our history, it can help us not make the same mistakes that have happened in the past.”
This month, take the time to explore resources that highlight Black History and the significance of the Black community that is too often overlooked. For more information on ECS’ DEI initiatives, visit https://www.ecscalifornia.org/dei.