How has building community played a role in your experiences today?
In my opinion, we need to feel rooted before we branch out. When the offices opened after the worst years of the COVID-19 pandemic, I went in to make connections. I tried to be a chameleon again, but this time, only to meet people I could be myself around. I reached out to people, especially those from underrepresented communities because I know what it feels like to assimilate. I’ve networked to find people at the firm with similar experiences or backgrounds, and together we’ve carved out a space where we can be comfortable and candid about the experiences we navigate. Emotional support is essential.
I believe investing in helping underrepresented professionals find community will play a big role in our firm’s focus on retention. Many of us have experienced similar issues in a different flavor, and we must build bridges instead of burning them. The problems in our world that affect us all, no matter our background, are primarily systemic. We all need to break down barriers and better connect without losing the message in our pain or someone else’s hate.
That’s why I advocate for interculturalism. When my colleagues tell me they’d like to have Jordanian food catered at our next event or want to visit Jordan because of what they’ve learned from knowing me, it makes me smile. I’m proud when my background has gone from something I was ashamed of to a beacon of light for me and others.
To me, that’s visibility. That’s how we come together. Integrating our many different strengths is what the United States is all about.