The importance of diversity in organizations

On Betsie Gambel’s trip to South Africa earlier this year, she found its cultural issues are not dissimilar to ours. Take the Cape Town Press Club, in the news for electing an all-white, predominately male committee. With sentiment stirring that the group “mimicked the apartheid era,” people called for more diverse representation.

Shortly after, the first black co-chairperson, Joylene van Wyk, resigned, stating she had no confidence that an all-white committee could attract black journalists to be members. Serving as a cautionary tale, this situation emphasizes the importance of having every community member represented in local organizations.

– Dominique Becnel, Gambel Communications