6/27/22 - Catalyst for an Equitable Workplace: Shalynne Jackson, City of Oklahoma City

Intro: As a Christian working woman, you have many roles from your responsibility with family and friends to community and work. How do you connect all that you do with all that you are, and still have your faith shine through? It's a challenge, but you are up to it. The, sheWorks4Him, podcast it at the gathering place to empower Christian working women, to live out their calling at work. By connecting them to God resources and each other through powerful faith stories from other working sisters in Christ. Welcome to sheWorks4Him.

Martha: You've tuned into, sheWorks4Him, where we connect Christian, working women to God resources, and one another. Welcome to our show today. And we are your host today. Martha Brangenberg and Catherine Gates. You can remember that we are always on YouTube. You can go there and subscribe. So you get notifications every time there's a new show, but we do release on Monday. So that is, that is kind of a, a good little thing to keep in your mind. But of course the beauty of technology is you can go back at any time and catch those shows that you might have missed.

And also share them with a friend because one of the things, you know, when I said we connect each other to God resources and one another. The resources part, you know, that's where God gives us the ability. We may see something. We, you know, it's one thing to see something on sale somewhere and tell a friend how much more value is there in sharing a God story with a friend and how that may be an impact to them. So stay connected with us and sheWorks4Him.com sign up for our weekly email. So you know when the next show is releasing and we are so glad, glad you're here with us for today.

Catherine: Thanks Martha, Hey, diversity, equity and inclusion or DEI as it's called, is a very frequent topic of discussion these days. It's such a big deal, actually, that there's been a significant increase in the number of senior exec executive positions created to oversee this focus for many companies, but are they focused on the right strategies? How do we create workplace cultures that are not only diverse but also value all employees, regardless of ethnicity, skin, color, gender, or diverse abilities?

Even for those doing it well, there is no easy all encompassing solution. All the more reason to press into it, deeply. Shalynne Jackson, didn't set out to have a career in diversity and inclusion. You could say it found her after years of working in the corporate world, Shalynne recognized the need and fell in love with DEI work.

Today, Shalynne is the chief diversity and inclusion officer for Oklahoma city. Her passion is to help organizations understand how to create truly equitable cultures in which everyone can thrive and do their jobs to the best of their abilities. Shalynne. Welcome to sheWorks4Him.

Shalynne Jackson: Thank you for having me. I'm so excited to be here.

Catherine: I'm so glad that this worked out and I'm so grateful that God brought our paths together. Yeah, thank you. You know, we want, definitely want to talk about how you connect your faith to your work, but first Shalynnee, can you tell us, how did you become a follower of Jesus?

Shalynne Jackson: Absolutely. So like many, I, I grew up in a home where, you know, Jesus, God Christian, a Christian home. And so I say like many many people, you know, your faith comes from your upbringing most times. That said I really became a follower of Christ on my, my own and really built my own relationship with God when I was going through a really tough time in college. So tough that I remember calling my grandparents and I was like, I don't know what to do.

And I was like, can you help? I don't know why I did this. So I was like, can you help me find a, a cross necklace? Because I just wanna know he's always with me and they went searching and we found the perfect one in J at JC Penney. And to be honest with you, I'm surprised I don't have it on today.

Cause most days I do. This one just goes with my outfit. Huh. But I say that because that was all the way in college, but that necklace has just always been a part of my story and I really do feel he carried, he carried me through that really hard time. I, I really had to pray my way through that time.

Hmm. And that's when I really, really felt the love of him. Jesus or the love of God just wrapped me, wrapped me through a really tough situation. And so that's when my own relationship developed outside of, you know, my, my grandparents and my, my mom.

Catherine: Mm. And that's so important that we do have our own relationship. Right. And he does use the hard circumstances to, to really, you know, cuz we. We just - we're so crazy. We don't go over there on our own do we? We, we need that push .

Shalynne Jackson: Yeah. And what fortunate for me, especially at that time was I always knew who he was, like I said, I grew up. But I do find myself that wasn't the only hard time I've ever been in.

And I often get upset with myself cause I'm like, That is when I see him the most is when I'm going through hard times and I'm like, you need to be consistent. Obviously I'm always a consistent follower, but you know, this like praying my way through it, like breakfast, lunch, and dinner all the time. It's like talk to him when you're good too.

Martha: Yeah.

Catherine: Yes. Yes. That's so good. That's so good. And during our Workday, right? Mm-hmm so, so Shalynne, when did you realize your work matters to God? How did God get your attention at work?

Shalynne Jackson: I will tell you. So I was already in the space and someone came to me and I'll just say, this was around June. So it's pride month.

And someone came to me and said, I know that you are a believer and you are a lover of Christ. And I need to know how can you be a Christian and also support the LGBTQ community. And I looked at that person and I said, God gave me one responsibility just to love. And that was it. , you know but later on she and I had more conversations over lunch and you know, but really I know that's me. It feels like I'm oversimplifying it. But to me, that is the answer. No matter the community, no matter what, He gave me one responsibility and I get to do that through my work.

Catherine: I love that so much because we are not called to judge other people. Right. We are called to love other people. How else are they going to know Jesus? I love that.

Shalynne Jackson: Yeah. I wanna want them to see his love and life through me.

 And

Martha: you get that opportunity in so many different ways, but we have 24 7 every day, every week to be the light of Christ everywhere that we go. And that includes our work. And we just keep, we just keep trying to verbalize that because so many of us, for whatever reason, segment that and keep it separate.

And that is not the way God intended. So Shalynne, as a Christian working woman, tell me what has been your biggest struggle? And you can emphasize whichever of those words, you know, is it because of being a Christian or working, working, or a woman but all together.

Shalynne Jackson: For you, I'll tell you that really none of my identity for me, I wanna be really clear that this is for me, but I think it's just how I view things and view what's supposed to be a challenge.

None of my identity is what holds me back now. I say now, because you can see, I have alopecia. Well you can say I'm bald and I'll tell you I'm bald because I have alopecia. And with alopecia, I guess you can say maybe it's the part about being a woman because growing up it was, society says your crown is your glory, right?

Your hair is your glory. You have to have hair to be pretty. You have to have hair to be successful. And so for the longest that's, what's helped me back. I wore wig. I kid, I covered again, wearing wigs is not a problem. It's whenever I didn't wanna wear wigs anymore, but I feel felt confined by them.

Because I felt that was the only way I was gonna succeed. And so I guess you can say that at that time as a, as a woman, it was hard because it was like, I wanna be able to walk in my truth. But the day that I did. Oh my goodness. It was so freeing. I remember that Thursday, like it was just yesterday and could go into that story another time.

But it was so freeing and, and now I look back and I truly, I used to feel like, you know, the devil gave me alopecia and I... this was supposed to be a part of my journey. I wouldn't have it any other way. Would it be nice to wear a ponytail one day? Maybe? I don't know, but I really wouldn't have it any other way because of really I'm a walking testimony.

People can look at me and not even talk to me and see strength. And I say that because people have told me that, like, I don't know why you're bald, but, you know, look to be so strong. And I, I hope to be able to do that one day - don't even know my story. Right. So really what people are able to see in me really I get to, to really be a walking testimony for him without ever talking to people.

Martha: Shalynne, do you also see that then as your biggest victory?

Shalynne Jackson: I would say that. And I also say when it comes to being Christian, especially in Oklahoma, I think that that is one of my biggest victories, because I'm able to leverage my privilege. A lot of times in the DEI space privilege is a trigger word for people and, and we use it to like beat people up with, and that is not how privilege should be seen, but you know, being in Oklahoma, many people, most people are Christian.

And so really I get to leverage my privilege of instantly connecting with other Christians to talk about my life. And to talk about the love of Christ and how I'm able to do that through my work, and then try to compel them to do the same because you don't have to be a DEI officer to make sure that everyone feels included, love, valued, respected. And so for me, my biggest victory is being Christian in my work.

Catherine: Wow. That amen to that. That's that's awesome. You just said a mouthful there. Well, we have to take a quick break, but you're listening to, sheWorks4Him with your host, Martha Brangenberg and Catherine Gates. And we will be right back to hear more from Shalynne Jackson.

Break: Did you know that God has a calling on your life? It's true. He's called you to bring Jesus to the world. For some that may look like a pulpit or a foreign mission field, but for most of us, it looks like a construction site, a cubicle, a hospital, or a classroom, wherever it is that you work, live, volunteer, and invest.

That is your mission field. To learn more about integrating your faith into your work in retirement. Check out our books. I work for him. sheWorks4Him and iRetire4Him by going to iWork4Him.com/bookstore.

Catherine: Welcome back to, sheWorks4Him with your host, Martha Brangenberg and Catherine Gates. We are talking to Shalynne Jackson and oh my gosh. Shalynne, I, I just can't wait to dive deeper into what you've been sharing. So, Martha, you had a question for Shalynne.

Martha: I do. So I'm really curious what you see as one of the biggest challenges of really making that equitable and inclusive culture inside organizations.

Shalynne Jackson: I am, it's gonna feel like I'm oversimplifying this work again, and it's not simple work. I wanna be really clear, but it's the lack of empathy. We really don't have empathy for people nowadays. If we were really sit and try to empathize and connect with people, the lack of the lack of connectedness we're not really wanting to connect with people to really understand each other to then when you care about someone it's really hard to exclude them. And in order to care, we have to, we have to try to develop that empathy for other people.

Catherine: That's so good. And it's one thing to say that, and I totally agree with you. But gosh, how can we help people understand that? What do we need to include in our DEI strategies so that they can be more successful and people can see, you know, more people can see their part in, in making that happen?

Shalynne Jackson: Well, one of the things is we need to start with the basics. We really, nowadays the world just wants to take people to tough stuff really quickly. And unfortunately it would be nice if we could do this fast, but you can take people too fast on this journey and you can go too slow for some. And so you gotta find the sweet spot.

And so you know, what is it that we can do? Start with the basics. Tell people in our organization, what are we trying to achieve with DEI? Mm. Because if you don't, they're gonna create their own narrative and their own story. And oftentimes that story is coming from the media or the news or whatever that is about how you should feel about inclusion.

I could go on and on even about how, when I got my role, people saying, you know, sending emails and you need to fire her because DEI is all about X, Y, Z, and it's like one, remember here goes the empathy. I'm a human on the other side of that. First of all , it's like, they're saying fire her and you don't even know me.

And, and it wasn't, I did also have to remember it wasn't me that they had a problem with. But it was the work. And so to your point, it's really connecting people to the basics of what are you trying to do here. Many people will get on board, which you can't just jump into the hard stuff.

Catherine: So that's a really good point. I mean, I do think everybody needs to take responsibility, right. And especially especially those of us who, who recognize like, you know, and, and the Christians in the workplace who recognize the importance of loving everyone. And so how can each person, what can each person do to participate? You know, aside from waiting for a certain, you know, policies to be passed or, you know, training to be implemented, what can, what can each of us do to participate in creating a more equitable culture?

Shalynne Jackson: I'm really glad that you said that. Cuz first of all, a lot of people do wait on what's the next thing that DEI, and or HR, depending on, you know, how it's structured in your organization, what are they gonna roll out? No, no, no, no, no. There are free trainings, podcasts like this, right? Go to YouTube. I see, go see what it is that people you know, are saying, go educate yourself so people can be educated themselves.

And then on top of that, when you talk about policies, be an advocate. Because a lot of times our leadership team, either isn't thinking about it because they're thinking about other things or they need to know that it's important to a lot of people. And so when we can be allies and advocates for, so I'll give you a quick example, men. Even though men sometimes feel they're not affected by parental leaves, even though they are, cuz parental leaves should say, the men can be home too for just as, as much as the mom, they feel they're not impacted by that.

Don't wait until you are impacted for it to matter to you. Be an advocate for it now. Because even if you never decide to have children or you don't wanna take a leave or whatever, if you're a people leader you're gonna be leading women, see what's important to your people. See what's important to other people, empathize and really lean into leading that chain and driving that policy. Like don't wait for someone else to be the reason the policy changes. You go talk to your leadership team.

Martha: Mm. So good. You know, there's so many things I'm sitting here going, oh, I wanna ask this, I wanna ask this. And you know, one of the things I have learned over the years, just in my own life is when I meet someone and I build a relationship with them and they have something that I've never experienced before, whether it is a, a brace on their leg because something doesn't work right.

Or whatever their thing, you know, is that they have to deal with it. I've never dealt with before. I always try to just think, man, what does their day look like? How does that affect you know, their every day. And I just think those little things in our head that we don't even think about, we just think, well, I don't understand why this person is walking slow in front of me.

Well, okay. Let's take a look at the situation, you know, and then go from there. And it could be those little things in life that help us with the bigger issues. I want you to imagine one of your toughest days at work, Shalynne and how, what does it look like for you to lean into God as you do your work on that toughest day?

Shalynne Jackson: Tell you on a really tough day from calling my favorite prayer warrior and it's my grandma. Just to be completely transparent. I will never be too old to call grandma .

Catherine: Yes, it's awesome.

Shalynne Jackson: But beyond that, I will say, first of all, when you go back to my privilege, I have the privilege of being able to have crosses in my office and just really have that visual reminder of like who I am who I am and why I'm here.

Right. I, so I just can always have the, you know, my necklace, my necklace and things like that. But beyond that, for me to be completely transparent with you, I remember my children. When I really need to dig down deep to be like, why am I doing this? Cause there's hard days. Okay. This work is not easy. People are mean people are nasty. I remember my children who I'm doing this for, and I really, really hope that when they're older, some of us we're talking about, we're not talking about it anymore.

Catherine: Amen.

Martha: Mm-hmm . That is a great dream. And you know, it's similar in the sense that that's why we do this podcast. We hope that there's a day where people it's, it, there's not a separation of our work and our faith, and we're not even needing to have that conversation because it's, we're living integrated lives. So Shalynne, where do you go to get encouragement for living out your faith at work? Whether it's an organization or a person, you know, I, I love that your grandma is such a big part of your foundation. Everybody needs a praying grandma like that. But where else do you go?

Shalynne Jackson: I'll, I'll tell you this one is, is kind of a little - the answer is not straightforward because what I like to say is I really feel that Jesus was the first DEI practitioner. He would go to places that other people wouldn't go. Oh, he would talk to people that other people wouldn't talk to.

I am not comparing myself to Jesus. I wanna be really clear. So I am human and all flesh. Right. But what I'm saying is I'm reminded oftentimes that, like you're doing the tough stuff. You're going to places that people wouldn't go and that, so some on the hard days when people misunderstand your work or whatever, you gotta give 'em grace.

You gotta really, now what I try to do y'all is in a situation like that, I'm like, we're gonna be best friends. We're gonna be best friends. Like, I really will say that to those that are close to me, I've even told my boss that like, it's no problem. We're gonna be best friends. And that really is my goal to be like, you're gonna love me.

And I already love you. and then don't try to force myself on people, but. I really try to, again, not oversimplify it or add too much humor, cuz it's not, you know, sometimes it's not, not a time to play, but really to just say there's something there, there's a reason why this person isn't connecting with this work.

There's a reason why this person is afraid or doesn't understand. And instead of discrediting this person, at some point, we're gonna connect. I make it my goal to connect with someone.

Catherine: Yes, yes. God's gonna honor that too. Right. I, I just love the image of Jesus. Really? He's the example to follow right?

To just keep thinking of him as the first DEI, the first true DEI, you know, leader. And I, I just, that that picture really resonates. Shalynne, thank you so much. We're gonna take a quick break. You're listening to, sheWorks4Him with your host, Martha Brangenberg and Catherine Gates, and our guest Shalynne Jackson will be right back.

Break: Hey listeners. One of the huge projects Martha and I have been working on for years is making it easy for every workplace believer to find all the voices speaking, encouragement, and equipping into the faith and work move. Presenting the Awaken Podcast Network online@AwakenPodcastNetwork.com with over 130 different podcast voices speaking truth into you. The workplace believer, including over 30 podcast, dedicated to Christian working women. Go online to Awaken Podcast Network.com that's awakened network.com.

Catherine: Welcome back to sheWorks4Him with your host, Martha Brangenberg and Catherine Gates. We're talking to Shalynne Jackson about what it really means to create a, an inclusive culture where everyone can feel valued and everyone can do their best and, and Shalynne just, I just, Ugh, I love again, that picture that you left us with of Jesus being the example and the encouragement, so, so good.

Martha: It really is. And You know what I am hearing from you, Shalynne, number one, I just wanna say, God, has you in the position he has you in on purpose for a purpose. My goodness. I love your heart. One of the, you know, several times you have said it's not easy, but it's simple. I'm gonna, you know, this may sound over simple, but isn't that the gospel, the gospel, it doesn't make all of life easy, but it's a simple mission. It is a simple gospel to to accept and to allow into your life. And so I love that approach because my goodness, I can't imagine on a daily basis, the kinds of things that you deal with, but the filter that your, of your heart for Jesus helps you. I'm guessing to do that each and every.

So let's talk about, so I just wanted to put that out there for you, but what does it look like in your work to love our neighbor?

Shalynne Jackson: Well, so I've said a lot of these words already, but grace respect, kindness, gentleness, empathy. Really while I don't like to say the golden rule because the golden rule is treat others how you wanna be treated.

And to me, it's the platinum rule, treat others how they wanna be treated. In order to treat others how they wanna be treated, I have to get to know them. I have to build relationships. And so what does it look like to love my neighbors? It's looks like relationships. And you know, you think about an actual neighbor in your neighborhood.

For me to best take care of my neighbor, I have to get out and talk to them. Mm-hmm right. Like I get out and speak to my neighbor. And so I challenge people to do that at work, especially people, especially people, leaders talk to your people, connect with your people, see what it is that your people need to succeed. Cuz we don't all need the same thing to succeed, to create that sense of belonging for them.

And watch how loyal they are to you. After that, watch the loyalty, watch the hard work, the productivity, the bottom line, the innovation, all of that. Be driven out of your willingness and desire to love them.

Martha: You know, you really just kind of listed what we call the, iWork4Him nation, which is about, you know, living that out, getting to know your coworkers, loving them where they're at, and, and then when they're having a tough day, who are they gonna go to?

They're gonna go where they've been loved and accepted and appreciated, and then you get the opportunity to be Jesus to them. So I just wanna put that out there because you can go to sheWorks4Him.com and learn more about that. It's not a club to join that you, you know, or anything like that, but it's just making that commitment in your work to do that and to pray for those coworkers each and every. Catherine. Why don't you wrap it up there?

Catherine: Yeah. You know Shalynne, what I hear in what you're sharing too is make it about them, make it about the other person, really get to know them and listen, listen. Right. So that's really key. Yep. So this has been so amazing and we do need to wrap up, which it is, gosh, this has gone so fast, but Shalynne, I'd love for you to leave our listeners with what verse from scripture that you, you think really sums up the purpose of your work?

Shalynne Jackson: Well, I keep saying this so I know they're probably like, you're gonna say this again, but Mark 12:31, love thy neighbor. Love thy neighbor. Full stop. Period. Not love thy neighbor if. Not love thy neighbor, but. Love thy neighbor.

Catherine: Yes. And your neighbor is whoever is in front of you, right? Whoever's in the next cubicle. Whoever's in the next, at the next desk. Whoever's yeah. Whoever you comes across your path. Yeah. Beautiful, beautiful Shalynne. Thank you so much. This has been so helpful and I, I really hope our listeners find it encouraging and, and, and empowering.

Right to, to have a sense of what they can do, what they can do to bring greater inclusiveness and equity into their, their cultures at work. So thank you so much. Shalynne you've been listening to, sheWorks4Him with your host, Martha Brangenberg and Catherine Gates. We're Christian working women, helping other Christian working women to live out their calling at work as sheWorks4Him.

Outro:As Christian women, we have many roles from daughter, sister, friend, wife, and mother to analyst, accountant, executive or educator. Is it possible to balance our roles at work and home in a way that honors God? The answer is yes. And our new book, sheWorks4Him will help show you how. Written to celebrate, encourage and equip women in the workforce. sheWorks4Him discusses the diverse experiences of today's Christian working woman. Pick up a copy by going to iWork4Him.com/bookstore.

You've been listening to the, sheWorks4Him podcast with your host, Catherine Gates, Nadya Dickson, and Martha Brangenberg. Please like us on Facebook and subscribe on YouTube under sheWorks4Him and to access any of the resources we mentioned on today's.

See the show notes at sheWorks4Him. Dot com that's she works the number four, him.com. This podcast was created to empower you to live out your calling at works. The world knows sheWorks4Him.