Celebrating Black History Month

Our Guiding Principles

As we embark on our journey, we're asking each of our employees to follow these guiding principles for DEI at Segal:

• Respect each other. Approach these uncomfortable conversations with respect.
• Challenge your assumptions. Think about assumptions you’ve made about cultures and backgrounds, as they may be inaccurate. Every person is different and has their own unique story.
• Let go of fear. Don’t let the fear of saying the “wrong thing” keep you from an opportunity for having a genuine conversation. Ask questions, solicit feedback and acknowledge mistakes.
• Be vulnerable. Vulnerability is the foundation of trust. When you build trust in a relationship, you’re more inclined to ask questions and have honest discussions.
• Take time to educate yourself. A good way to start would be to visit the websites listed below and take advantage of some of our recommendations that we’ll make throughout the month in the CIRcular.
• Lead by example. Words are important, but your actions are the best way to educate others.

Educating employees

As a learning organization, we know that growth comes from exploring new ideas, demonstrating curiosity, and acknowledging that there are many things we do not know. Our goal is for Segal to be safe space for asking hard questions and having challenging conversations.  

We're encouraging everyone at Segal to visit the following websites, which are good places to start to become more informed:

• ASALH (Association for the Study of African American Life and History)
• Black History Month Speakers Series sponsored by M&T Bank and Wilmington Trust
• Library of Congress webpage on African American History Month
• National Museum of African American History and Culture
• NYC Government Parks Black History Month Celebration

Throughout the month, we’re also providing recommendations on books, movies and cultural resources to support inquiry and reflection.