This Black History Month, we’re celebrating past and present Black leaders. At Aveanna, one of our very own Black leaders is Janiece Edwards, IT User Provisioning Specialist. Today, we’re excited to share some of Janiece’s journey.
I am a 30-year-old Black woman, and I proudly celebrate the journey to reach for career opportunities that were once denied to black predecessors. The cliché of ‘paving the way’ is common, but when I reference the stories of my great-grandfather owning his own business and giving to his community in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the phrase is a prompt for me to obtain the same pioneering spirit and choose unchartered paths for future generations to continue.
I grew up in 1990s San Jose, CA, and my dolls, cartoon heroines, teachers, and friends did not look like me. Other than living in a home with loving parents, I found it difficult to appreciate features of my identity without the desire to mimic someone else. When I was 5 years old, my father would oftentimes emphasize, ‘You are an African American leader!’ Although I thought he was completely insane at the time, I realize that he was sowing a thought in my mind. He was encouraging me to take pride and lead by example as an African American. I desire to convey the message that Black people have a significant presence in communities, and we will strive to make profound contributions that will lead all people to a more inclusive world.
By definition, inclusion is the willingness to provide equal access to opportunities and accept diverse groups of people regardless of skin color, age, gender, sexual orientation, or disability, but I like to take this definition a step further. Inclusion is a setting where authenticity and uniqueness are combined and welcomed. People tend to do their best when they are understood and free to be their true selves. If we want to see change in our workplace or other communities, we must give room for others to exist as they are.
Due to recent political polarization in the U.S., it has become increasingly difficult to respectfully argue my stance concerning race relations. I believe arguments have a purpose of revealing one’s true self, and when I find that my peers or friends opt to ignore or ridicule my statements without a credible rebuttal, I know that my level of acceptance among those groups are low. As a lesson learned, I challenge myself to hear others’ opinions and communicate my value of others’ voices. I may not always agree, but productive conversations yield understanding and change.