Salzburg Global Fellow Réka M. Cristian explains how American drama and theater can shape the perception of global cultural boundaries
This op-ed was written by Réka M. Cristian, who attended the Salzburg Global American Studies program "Beyond the Nation-State? Borders, Boundaries, and the Future of Democratic Pluralism" from September 19 to 23, 2023.
In terms of cultural borders and borders in culture, American drama and theater are important loci for understanding boundaries through shaping one’s idea of outer and inner thresholds. Theater as a social art, and as the most comprehensive art form, has always been a complex realm of various border-crossings, fostering many intradiegetic (that is, within the literary text having its internal boundaries) and extradiegetic (such as actors, stage design, backstage, pit, acting methods, casting, directing, light and effects, dance, music, props, technical device, audiences, criticism, adaptation, etc.) connections and even more transgressions of various boundaries due to its performative nature.
Dramas, in essence, have had similar cross-boundary properties as the textual base of theatrical performances. American drama, in particular, enjoyed a special niche with its transgressive presence, or rather absence, in the American literary canon. Considered a “bastard art” until the 1990s, American dramatic literature finally overcame the lack of attention and the critical bias in academic and critical circles by becoming an important paradigm in literary studies and beyond its primary discipline. For example, in 1979, Gene Wise employed a dramatic metaphor in his seminal essay which mapped the cultural and institutional history of American Studies as a movement. Here the author employed the concept of milestone “representative acts” as “paradigm dramas” in the field of American Studies through a series of “trans-actional interplay[s] in doing cultural history”; this emphasizes the practical, interdisciplinary potential of the dramatic environment as a useful paradigm in charting and interpreting essential events, publications, phenomena, people, etc. that shaped the field of American Studies in becoming the discipline known today. In a similar manner, previously, sociologist Ervin Goffman adopted the theatrical metaphor of “dramaturgical action” to describe the performative nature of human interaction using it successfully in a sociological perspective in the 1950s.
The versatility of interdisciplinary boundary-crossings is quite imminent, especially in the case of modern American dramas, with a considerable number of plays that were adapted to the silver screen, with film adaptations disseminated globally and making them part of the international cultural canon with profound impact on audiences across the world.
With its ritualistic roots, drama and theater are typical cultural habitats for trespasses on liminality, and for rites of passage and contact zones (Arnold van Gennep, Victor Turner, Mircea Eliade, Michel Foucault, Mary Louise Pratt) that have provided distinct representational grounds for many social, economic, political, and cultural issues of individuals and groups of people. By encapsulating and intersecting multitudes of identities both on stage and beyond, modern American drama has contributed to pushing the boundaries of understanding the construction of various identities.
Moreover, the boundary-pushing potential of contemporary drama concerning the employment of metatheatrical devices, as shown in the example of Thornton Wilder’s 1941 play The Skin of Our Teeth, has enabled the proliferation of the most current subgenre of the so-called climate change plays. This is further enhanced through the collaborative and participatory potential the dramatic text offers, including improvisational performances and the alienation effect that breaks the fourth or the fifth wall. These climate change plays involve a great number of texts written by Indigenous peoples in North America but also from other parts of the world; this corpus of works includes dramas regardless of nation boundaries that reflect the dynamics and anxieties of various societies living across political boundaries.
What Shelley Fisher Fishkin envisaged in her 2004 ASA presidential speech on “Crossroads of Cultures” as “the transnational turn” in American Studies was anchored in practice also in the dramatic arts. This was particularly done by the aforementioned climate change dramas which, due to the global topic they discuss, adhere completely to a transnational strategy. Further pioneering initiatives beyond the borders in this context are, to give just two examples, the Arts and Climate Initiative and the Climate Change Theater Action, which are platforms managing the dissemination of information and texts on climate change plays and performances, as well as reviews and criticism on the topic. These dynamically proliferating sites foster dialogue between professionals and non-professionals about the global climate crisis, through which they create “an empowering vision of the future and inspire people to take act” by breaking the boundary between fiction and non-fiction to build bridges among people and groups of people. As a result, as Christophe Sohn puts it, the action theater opens a cutting-edge territory where boundaries are seen more as resources than dividing elements, actively disseminating knowledge and building social awareness, thus engaging people in the process, and serving as a practical bridge between entertainment and learning.
Réka M. Cristian is an associate professor of American studies at the University of Szeged, Hungary. She is the author of Cultural Vistas and Sites of Identity: Literature, Film and American Studies (2012) and co-authored (with Zoltán Dragon) Encounters of the Filmic Kind: Guidebook to Film Theories (2008). She founded and is general and editor of AMERICANA e-Journal of American Studies in Hungary.
Réka attended the Salzburg Global American Studies program on “Beyond the Nation-State? Borders, Boundaries, and the Future of Democratic Pluralism” from September 19-23, 2023. The 2023 Salzburg Global American Studies Program focused on the contestations and renegotiations of boundaries beyond the nation-state, and how they are changing the representation of democratic pluralism.
A conversation with Jens Eskelund on the challenges, misperceptions, and changing conditions for foreign companies in China
Jens Eskelund has been president of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China since May 2023. His present role is Chief Representative for Maersk in the Greater China Area and North-East Asia. He has lived and worked in China since 1998 and held various positions for Maersk in China throughout his career. He is also the former chairman of the Danish Chamber of Commerce in China as well as the Maritime Working Group of the EU Chamber of Commerce in China.
Audrey Plimpton, Salzburg Global Communications Associate: What are the biggest challenges facing European companies operating in China today?
Jens Eskelund, President of the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China: I think not just for European companies, but for the foreign business community, the largest challenge right now is that the predictability and reliability that were a defining feature of China when companies were making investment decisions have more or less disappeared. Many of us feel that there's a very short line of sight and a high degree of unpredictability in terms of the regulatory environment, and that creates a bit of hesitation.
On top of that, you may add a dose of geopolitical tension. What Covid told us was that there is a certain risk attached to putting too many eggs in one basket and that you simply cannot focus just on cost efficiency, but that you would need to find ways to strengthen resilience and be prepared when black swan events happen, as it did with Covid and as it did with Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
AP: Having lived and worked in China for over 25 years, how have the conditions for foreign companies conducting business there changed?
JE: When I arrived in China back in 1998, the GDP per capita in China was around 1,000 US dollars, and today it exceeds 12,000 US dollars. It's a vastly different country. It was a country that was learning how to deal with foreign companies, but there was an air of optimism. China had begun talks on WTO accession, and it became clear fairly early that China was on the path to accession to the WTO. Those possibly were the golden years in terms of China's engagement with the world in the period from its accession to WTO in 2001 until the global financial crisis. These were fantastic years where everything was possible. After the global financial crisis, [China] was brought down to earth again.
Today, we again find ourselves in a situation where there is a bit of unpredictability. We can feel that change is underway. We don't know quite what it will look like, but I think many of us feel that at the present point in time, the risk is probably primarily on the downside.
AP: Are there any misperceptions regarding China or doing business there that you would like to address?
JE: A misperception is that the market is automatically rigged against foreign companies. I think you will find that in some industries, certainly strategic industries, they are receiving ample policy support and privileged access to the market relative to European companies. But by and large, what we are seeing is that many Chinese companies are simply just very, very good, and that oftentimes it's a matter of European companies recognizing the nature of the competition and bringing their best game to China to succeed. In the EU Chamber of Commerce, we have characterized China as a fitness club for European companies.
AP: Is there a disconnect between foreign companies’ perspectives of China and those of their governments? If so, what are the sources of disconnect and how should we address that?
JE: What we are seeing now is that it is becoming less obvious that what is good for European companies and China is also good for Europe as a whole. There has always been an element of European companies having activities in China, [which] is also creating value in their home markets. But what we are seeing now, is that European economies are under pressure and some European companies are manufacturing in China for export into Europe. Some will argue that the value created for Europe by European companies in China is perhaps not as high as it has been in the past. One thing is the continued value being created for shareholders by companies in China. The other question is how that is being perceived in Europe, where perhaps communities have experienced that manufacturing facilities have closed and moved out for cost or other reasons.
I think it's important that European companies in China, and European companies in general, work to find ways where it becomes clearer exactly where the value is that is being created, not just for European companies in China, but also for Europe. That value proposition needs to be clearly articulated.
AP: What do you hope changes within European discussions about conducting business in China?
JE: I think a common misperception is that subsidies are a very big part of the problem. When European companies are losing competitiveness, I think there's perhaps too little focus on some of the systemic issues that create advantages for Chinese companies, and which will be nearly impossible for European companies to address…
European workers have been striving for 150 years to improve their [working] conditions. It cannot be that it becomes a race to the bottom where you try to compete, and the cost of that competition is that you roll back what have been real advantages achieved. There must be other ways. The discussion we must have with China is how it will be possible to develop a functioning relationship that allows a viable European industrial structure without having to roll back and cause great harm to the European way of life.
Jens Eskelund attended the Salzburg Global Pathways to Peace Initiative titled “Crossing New Rivers by Feeling the Stones? Aspirations, Expectations, and China's Role in the 21st Century” from February 18 to 21, 2024. This program was a forward-looking opportunity to debate and understand the future of global engagement with a rising China. The forum assembled an intergenerational, international, and interdisciplinary group from government, the private sector, and civil society to engage in off-the-record conversations to evaluate sources of misunderstanding between China and the globe, to explore state and non-state mechanisms through which to productively engage China, and to identify risk-mitigating pathways.
Representatives from global organizations agree that care and caregiving requires universal commitment reflected in public policies
In July 2023, the United Nations General Assembly designated October 29 as the International Day of Care and Support. To celebrate this milestone Salzburg Global Seminar has joined the World Health Organization (WHO) Europe in a much-anticipated discussion on recognizing the invisible value and contribution of unpaid care worldwide. The message from a panel of leaders in the field was clear that addressing and overcoming gender inequality and measuring the data gap of unpaid care is fundamental to building resilient and sustainable care systems that ultimately contribute to thriving and inclusive societies.
The online discussion took place last October and included representatives from international organizations, such as the United Nations Partnership for the Rights of People with Disabilities (UNPRPD), American University in Cairo, the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), Eurocarers, the London School of Economics (LSE) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) Europe Office.
Stefania Ilinca, Technical Advisor for Long-Term Care at WHO Europe moderated the discussion. Stefania is one of the leaders behind the development in October 2022 of the “Salzburg Statement on the Value of Care and Caregiving”, a call to action ignited by the Salzburg Global Fellows, who identified priorities and specific recommendations for policy changes and actions needed to ensure fairness, inclusion, and equity in care systems. This statement was a result of a program led by Salzburg Global Seminar and supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on the topic of Health and Economic Well-being: Gender Equity in Post-Pandemic Rebuilding. Following endorsements by representatives from key international organizations, research institutions and public health associations, the Statement currently serves as a roadmap for global movement towards recognition of unpaid caregivers.
Mary Helen Pombo, Program Director for Health at Salzburg Global Seminar, echoing the Statement went on to stress that the COVID-19 pandemic particularly reflected inequality in caregiving as responsibilities of unpaid care for sick family members or staying at home with children primarily fell to women. Pombo emphasized that the Salzburg Statement and the UN’s recognition of care and caregivers is an opportunity to unite, accelerate, and expand cross-system collaborations that place gender equity at the center.
Dr. Hania Sholkamy, Co-chair of the Care Work Taskforce of the National Council for Women of Egypt, Associate Professor at The American University in Cairo, and a co-leader of the Salzburg Statement emphasized the importance of recognizing care and caregiving as a moral and intellectual responsibility. She pointed out that care is difficult to define and since it is an act of selflessness, it is affected by the lack of dignity, social welfare, and protection.
According to data published by the International Labour Organization, women around the world perform three-quarters of unpaid care work. Jolanta Reingarde from the European Institute for Gender Equality pointed out that closing the gap in statistical data of unpaid care is fundamental to recognition of gender disparity in care and addressing the social and economic benefits of care. Reingarde continued that women bear the economic price since they dominate the care workforce and informal care.
The need for using scientific data in enhancing quality and recognition of care was also emphasized by Adelina Comas-Herrera, Director at Global Observatory of Long-term Care (GoLTC) at the Care Policy and Evaluation Centre at London School of Economics and Political Science. Adelina stressed that, in the context of the current global landscape of rapid demographic change and challenging events linked to pandemics, conflicts and climate change, it is particularly important to have resilient long-term care systems. She went to emphasize that supporting cross-national learning and sharing experiences is key to strengthening care systems. “The COVID-19 pandemic showed that few countries have resilient Long-Term Care systems able to respond to emergencies, and that in most cases what went wrong was linked to structural problems in governance, financing and workforce capacity. It is urgent that countries ensure that they have Long-Term Care systems able to respond not just to unexpected events, but also to the well-known reality that more people are living longer with needs for care and support. International collaboration is vital to support countries in this process,” said Adelina.
As over 70 participants shared information about initiatives and efforts in driving the agenda for the recognition of unpaid care forward, it was clear that the International Day of Care and Support is a milestone step and it will require continued abention, investment, and collaborative effort.
Fellows from this third cohort are based in 16 different European countries and represent 25 nationalities
Salzburg Global Seminar and The Walt Disney Company are thrilled to unveil the third cohort of Public Policy New Voices Europe.
32 Fellows have been chosen to participate in the year-long fellowship program, which seeks to empower diverse leadership, cultivate inclusive democracy, address systemic inequalities, and create a network for change. The program is aimed at students, graduates, and early career professionals based in Europe wishing to understand more about opportunities to affect change through public policy.
This year’s topic of “Inclusive Democracy” will focus on empowering and nurturing diverse leaders aspiring to work in public policy in Europe who will champion inclusive governance, foster equity, and uphold democratic values.
Through a series of engaging workshops, thought-provoking panel discussions, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities, Fellows will gain valuable insights, knowledge, and skills necessary to navigate the intricacies of a career in public policy.
Faye Hobson, program director for Culture, noted, "This year we received an overwhelming number of high-quality applications, which made the selection process all the more challenging but very rewarding.
“To see the widening reach of this program and the high interest from people all around Europe is a testament to the excellent legacy of the work of previous cohorts and reinforces how thankful Salzburg Global is to The Walt Disney Company, The LEGO Group, Squire Patton Boggs, and the Robert Bosch Stiftung for their support of this third cohort of the program.”
The fellowship will take place between March and November 2024, during which time Fellows will attend several virtual meetings and an in-person program at Schloss Leopoldskron in Salzburg.
Fellows in the third cohort are based in 16 different European countries and represent 25 nationalities. These Fellows include:
Find out more about Public Policy New Voices Europe.
Salzburg Global Fellow Ana Mª Manzanas Calvo explores how words can reshape geopolitical and epistemic boundaries
This op-ed was written by Ana Mª Manzanas Calvo, who attended the Salzburg Global American Studies program "Beyond the Nation-State? Borders, Boundaries, and the Future of Democratic Pluralism" from September 19 to 23, 2023.
The border, the fence, the wall, the line,"herida abierta", the open wound... There are so many ways to refer to the geopolitical boundary as a mechanism that divides and separates; there are many different ways of looking at it, depending on which side one is standing on, and perhaps more importantly, on who the crosser is. An insurmountable barrier or just an easy pass, the line seems to have the ability to mutate right under one’s gaze. Yet, and as a caveat, it is essential to establish that whatever particular perspective we assume cannot distract us from the fact that people die trying to cross to the other side every day, be it in the Mexican-American borderlands, the liquid line that separates Africa from Europe, or one of the many other instances.
But the boundary is not only the geopolitical line, that presumably clearly demarcated contour that separates one country from another, this side from that side, here from there, order from chaos, law from lawlessness, and citizen from “illegal alien”; this open series reminds us that "order" is part of the word "border". Those clearly defined lines that we see on maps cannot equivocate us into believing that once you are on the other side, you are in. As Etienne Balibar says, the border is no longer, or rather, not only, at the border. The reason is that the border is much more than a traceable boundary. As an epistemic tool, Sandro Mezzadra and Brett Neilson claim that the border structures the way we look at the “Other”, at whoever does not look, sound, or speak like us. The border creates meaning as it separates, labels, and transforms people into categories that depersonalize individuals. The power of this classification is clear in Mary Pat Brady’s words, as the border “functions as more than a site, a metaphor, a location, an image, or a fantasy”. For Brady, the border mechanism resembles an abjection machine that carries out its own border “alchemy” as it transforms people into “‘aliens,’ ‘illegals,’ ‘wetbacks,’ or ‘undocumented,’ thereby rendering them unintelligible (and unintelligent), ontologically impossible, outside the real and the human”.
Amid these geopolitical and epistemic structures that allocate individuals, cultures, and languages to particular groups, sides, locales, warehouses, detention centers, or camps, the issue is what role literature and culture can play. Words have proven their incantatory power in creating catchy phrases such as “build the wall”. As Jessy Bloom claimed in another context, “we embrace stories that have simple plots, good and bad characters” and the “build the wall” refrain provides limits, definitions, clearcut divisions, and alliances. As integral parts of our political imaginary, walls and boundaries are not just state artifacts but also potent symbols, claim Reece Jones and Corey Johnson. Yet, words can also allow us to see other bodies and hear other voices and languages. Words and images may have the ability to dismantle the order of the border, not only as it creates meaning for those on the other side of the boundary, but also as it resignifies us, on this side, in relation to that separation. Words can also create “hope spaces”, places that are not partitioned by the border or by any other epistemological attempts at “creating” different orders that are reminiscent of the same old structures of meaning.
One of the most eloquent ways of illustrating what literature and culture can do has been expressed by Toni Morrison in an interview: “I stood at the border, stood at the edge, and claimed it as central. And let the rest of the world move over to where I was.” That is the hope, that just as words create narratives that separate and discriminate, they can also create instances for exchange, understanding, and for putting ourselves in the place of whoever is on the other side.
Ana Mª Manzanas Calvo is a professor of American literature and culture at Universidad de Salamanca. Her publications have appeared in journals such as South Atlantic Quarterly, Journal of Modern Literature, Canadian Literature, and publishers such as MLA, Cambridge UP, Brill, Oxford UP and Peter Lang.
Ana attended the Salzburg Global American Studies program on “Beyond the Nation-State? Borders, Boundaries, and the Future of Democratic Pluralism” from September 19-23, 2023. The 2023 Salzburg Global American Studies Program focused on the contestations and renegotiations of boundaries beyond the nation-state, and how they are changing the representation of democratic pluralism.
Salzburg Global Fellow Rina Komiya advocates for Japanese schools offering meal options that foster inclusive learning environments
This op-ed was written by Rina Komiya, a Salzburg Global Fellow of the second cohort of the Japan-India Transformative Technology Network.
In Japan, where formal religious classes are absent, understanding diverse practices and beliefs presents a challenge for educators and students alike. This absence of religious education exacerbates the difficulty in accommodating dietary restrictions within the public school system.
School lunches in Japan have a history of being introduced for poverty alleviation and nutritional purposes, providing nutritious food at inexpensive prices. All pupils in Japan consume the same set of food at the same time in each classroom. School lunch programs in Japan are highly regarded for their nutrition planning and education. However, Japan's public school lunch system faces a challenge. The system, which offers the same menu to all students in each classroom simultaneously, encounters hurdles when some students, often referred to as "food minorities," cannot partake in the communal meal.
Among these students are children from the Muslim community, whose dietary requirements, deeply rooted in religious beliefs, call for a genuinely inclusive school lunch experience. However, Japanese public school lunches often include ingredients such as pork, pork-based seasonings, and alcohol like mirin and sake, which are incompatible with Islamic dietary laws. The dual nature of school lunches, serving as both creating a communal spirit through commensality and exclusionary spaces by excluding those who cannot share the same food, becomes apparent as Muslim children are often compelled to bring their own meals, disrupting the spirit of communal dining.
Despite commendable efforts to address allergies, including the formulation of the 2015 Guidelines for Food Allergies in School Lunches after the tragic death of a pupil with an allergy in 2012, a noticeable gap persists in meeting the needs of Muslim pupils within Japan's public school lunch system. The absence of standardized guidelines tailored to accommodate religious dietary requirements places undue pressure on individual schools, leaving Muslim children to bring meals from home.
Current solutions within the Muslim community offer individual remedies, such as mothers preparing lunch boxes daily. However, they fall short of addressing the public nature of school lunches. All pupils have the constitutional right to access school lunches without discrimination. Despite the prevailing notion in Japan that religious food restrictions are less critical than allergies, religious teachings, including dietary restrictions, hold significant importance in the daily lives and identities of many individuals. Broadening the discourse beyond mere nutrition is essential, emphasizing the imperative to accommodate diverse religious practices within public school meal frameworks.
According to a Sisa Weekly article from November 2020, the Human Rights Commission of Korea is considering alternative meal options for Muslim children. Taking inspiration from South Korea's positive example, Japan should explore similar inclusive approaches.
With Japan's Muslim population projected to grow, fostering a diverse and multicultural society is imperative. Schools and society at large must engage in open discussions on accommodating the needs of children from various backgrounds.
As research progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that Japan stands at a pivotal juncture. The rising Muslim population signals a pressing need for proactive measures to ensure that schools are adequately equipped to embrace this cultural diversity. It's not just about adjusting menus but creating an environment where every child feels a genuine sense of belonging.
The disparity between the Japanese government's focus on the halal industry for international markets and its seeming disregard for the daily challenges faced by Muslim immigrants within Japan has prompted the investigation.
School lunches serve as a vital space for fostering bonds and understanding among peers, and they must be inclusive of all dietary needs and cultural backgrounds. With thoughtful consideration and proactive measures, Japan can lead the way in nurturing a truly inclusive educational environment for all its students.
Rina Komiya is a human rights researcher specializing in refugees and immigrants. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. program, she conducts several research projects, including studies on school meals and the Rohingya community in Japan. With a focus on promoting inclusivity and understanding cultural diversity, Rina's work aims to address the challenges faced by marginalized populations and advocate for their rights within the Japanese context.
Salzburg Global's DEI Strategic Specialist Litha Sokutu reflects on Public Policy New Voices Europe and DEI conversations
Salzburg Global’s Public Policy New Voices Europe (PPNVE) last program in September 2023 brought together a cohort of emerging policymakers under the theme of Advancing Together: Empowering Diverse Leadership in Public Policy.
Within the program design team, the theme inspired us to take the opportunity to come together with partners, funders, and facilitators of the PPNVE program and discuss diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policymaking. The program and its thematic focus were opportune: Salzburg Global was in the process of publishing its first DEI report, which aimed to look over our 76-year history to highlight how the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging have been part of our institutional fabric.
Due to high interest from participants, we decided to hold two sessions with senior individuals of various sectors to discuss off-the-record the state of their DEI activities, honestly and authentically. The sessions spanned over three and a half hours, and participants discussed the challenges they face on topics ranging from recruiting for skill, social mobility for underrepresented employees, to the political and legal constraints that curtail the success of DEI efforts. Participant profiles ranged from vice presidents of multinational corporations, leaders within NGOs, senior researchers of foundations with a global impact footprint, and several DEI practitioners operating in Europe.
Below are key insights from the two conversations, grouped by theme and anonymized under the Chatham House Rule:
The conversation delved into the importance of an organization's history and perceived legacy and how these influence a DEI approach. Participants from NGOs and corporations alike highlighted the significance of referring back to the founding principles of your institution and crafting DEI initiatives that align with the organization's values.
Being tied to legacy can also hinder creating future-fit DEI goals and missions. One of the participants from a global foundation discussed how leadership too tied to certain entrenched, historical behaviors can lead to organizational stasis and that when new, fresh leaders unhindered by the weight of history come in, notable cultural shifts can occur. One participant reflected that when new senior leadership arrived, it was the right time to assemble a team dedicated to understanding what was required to begin the organization's DEI journey. This enabling leadership, combined with the upswell of justice-related global movements, prompted this participant to put their hand up and assemble a DEI team.
Two participants involved in HR and recruitment reflected on the pressures of hiring managers. A question that repeatedly came up from others in the conversation was, "How do HR teams limit their biases in the recruitment processes?"
The discussion from various sectoral and geographical standpoints highlighted the complexity of the question. An HR strategy that all parties agreed upon was this: Increasing the chances of getting diverse hires involves ensuring diverse teams are included in every part of the recruitment value chain, to minimize blind spots.
One of the terms reiterated by a participant is the importance of "recruiting for skill" – competence manifests differently for different roles and may not follow a linear path like a university qualification but a potential candidate may have acquired the necessary competencies through other means. Consequently, organizations must expand and challenge their thinking about what an ideal “candidate profile” is. Factoring in different career journeys is a tactic that may strengthen team diversity in several ways.
In both groups, a recurring question that participants would ask one another was, "How do you define success?" Participants offered a range of perspectives:
Participants highlighted the various inhibitors to the long-term implementation of DEI efforts; factors such as inadequate funding, political movements, internal burnout and unpaid labor were all cited during the two sessions. Solutions to these included baking in billable hours for DEI-related work and developing incentives such as donation matching for employees who contribute to DEI-related philanthropy. In situations where a specific political climate makes it difficult to speak about DEI efforts (i.e., race-conscious activism, LGBTQI+ advocacy), participants talked about how courageous leadership and doubling down on the organizational values, particularly in times of socio-political strife, pays dividends in the long run.