The Obama Inauguration – A Place at the Table of Ideas
When President-elect Barack Obama and Vice President-elect Joseph Biden take their Oaths of Office today, it will begin a new era – not only for our nation, but for our belief in the promise of diversity and inclusion – and the dawning of its coming of age in our national psyche.
President Obama’s election reflects a milestone in our progress towards understanding that everyone counts, and every individual’s unique perspectives and experience can contribute to the enrichment of our communities and our environment. As a nation, we all expect a place at the table of ideas. As Americans, we have a long heritage of reaching beyond our initial unfamiliarity, and collaborating to innovate and strengthen the fabric of our society.
The diversity of Mr. Obama’s Cabinet appointees – from Sen. Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, to Cecilia Munoz, his appointee for Director of Intergovernmental Affairs – reflects his willingness to gather together a diverse leadership team, to share and debate new ideas.
Kodak – long a leader in growing a diverse, inclusive, and innovative global business – has a special role model within the Obama Administration. Eric H. Holder, Jr., the U.S. Attorney General-designee, has been a champion of diversity and inclusion, long before his current appointment. Mr. Holder served as the chairman of the external diversity advisory panel convened by Kodak leadership in 2001. That panel, which undertook a two-year analysis of Kodak’s diversity and inclusion efforts, continues to re-engage with Kodak leadership, at the invitation of Chairman and CEO Antonio M. Perez, to review our progress.
Kodak’s external diversity advisory panel fostered an understanding in our organization that diversity and inclusion is an ongoing journey. And, while we continue on our journey within Kodak, we are heartened to see our country, our communities, and our brothers and sisters take steps on our national journey to become more inclusive.
President Obama and his team take office in an era of unprecedented uncertainty. Change is inevitable, and while we hunger for change, we don’t know where it will lead us. But, by moving with focus, accountability, simplicity, and trust – what we at Kodak call our FAST Principles – our new national leadership has already begun building a new era of inclusion, collaboration, and innovation.
So, we embrace change – and we look to draw strength from it. Regardless of our short-term economic woes, Mr. Obama’s Presidency will empower us to set aside our uncertainties, and move forward to become a stronger nation today, united in our commitment to seek new solutions and re-energize each other.
Essie L. Calhoun is Chief Diversity Officer, Director of Community Affairs, and Vice President at the Eastman Kodak Company.
