We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Marlene Godsey. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Marlene below.

Marlene, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s kick things off with talking about how you serve the underserved, because in our view this is one of the most important things the small business community does for society – by serving those who the giant corporations ignore, small business helps create a more inclusive and just world for all of us.

I am a cultural inclusivity trainer. I work with public and private professionals, and I teach them how to master the art of creating relationships with culturally diverse communities and organizations. This work is so important because without professionals learning how to adapt and adjust to do this work. They will avoid this work altogether, and in turn, culturally diverse communities will be left out of program’s events, community society in general.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

After spending seven years in aryan nation territory, I decided that during my college years, I would focus on inclusion services and DEI. Once I graduated college, I started working in arts and culture, special events, specifically with underrepresented groups. I spent the next ten years navigating governmental systems to create initiatives and campaign.He’s serving our culturally diverse communities and creating a space and programming where everybody was included safe and welcome.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I’ve had to unlearn the thought that if people aren’t doing the work, they don’t care. In my research, I found that many people care about diversity equity and inquiry conclusion, but they lack the skills in training to make tangible progress and change. Paper fear the unknown, they fear making a mistake or doing the wrong thing, and they are uncomfortable being uncomfortable. Due to this knowledge, i’ve learned to adjust my approach and meet people where they are to help them gain the skills to do this work. Being angry at others for not being more inclusive doesn’t help anyone, but helping people learn the skills to adapt helps everybody in the end.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

During my seven years in aryan nation territory, I had to learn how to adapt and adjust to keep myself safe and navigate an area that really wasn’t welcoming of someone like myself. I decided rather than let the hate and discrimination destroy me. I would let it empower me to make a difference. Since I was able to get what I needed and move on. I worked my way through college and the day I graduated.I moved out of the small town and to a larger city again. I immediately started working in arts and culture and special events to create initiatives and roll out campaign supporting the needs that were in front of me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Marlenegodsey.com
• Instagram: @Marlenegodsey
• Facebook: Unity in Diversity
• Linkedin: Marlene Godsey