Last Saturday I attended the United Way Diversity Volunteer Recognition breakfast at the invitation of one of my fellow Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership (SKL) Series classmates, Sonia Chen. I was excited to go because I’d recently taken over our firm’s diversity initiative, and I thought this would be a great opportunity to connect with others and see what was going on in the community.

My experience turned out to be so much more. Sonia introduced me to a lot of great people, particularly some of her fellow board members from the Asian American Alliance. But what I realized later was just how much my SKL experience had prepared me a year earlier for my new-found interest in diversity in the workplace and marketplace.

I’ve had the privilege of working in some diverse environments, but SKL helped me bond with some of our community’s up-and-coming leaders who have exposed me to different points of view and new ways of thinking. My classmates have also connected me to new experiences and new resources, a perfect example of which was Sonia’s invitation to breakfast.

So while Saturday’s breakfast was a celebration of diversity and of volunteerism in Indianapolis, for me, it was also a celebration of true community and connection, because it brought me in touch with people and ideas that I hadn’t considered before. Thanks, Sonia, for opening a door for me to see something new, and for reminding me why SKL is truly an experience that lasts for a lifetime.

I recently enjoyed two milestones pertaining to my time living in Indianapolis—my fifth year living here and a two-day invitation to explore the city and meet its present and future leaders through a program called Opportunity Indianapolis (OI), coordinated by the Lacy Leadership Association. Those milestones seemed a bit contradictory at their surface, but OI actually debunked a few myths that may come to mind as you get more comfortable with your surroundings.

• Myth #1: Indianapolis is a ‘small’ city. As a public relations professional, I am fortunate to have many opportunities to network and often see familiar faces at events. I suspected OI may be similar in that regard, but was pleasantly surprised. With the exception of my two Borshoff colleagues who participated—Ryan Noel and Bob Schultz, who did a fantastic job moderating the event— I didn’t know a single attendee. Better yet, I was delighted by the diversity of the organizations they represented—The Mind Trust, Jewish Community Center, U.S. Synchronized Swimming and the list goes on. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know more than 50 OI ‘classmates,’ as well as the exciting professional and community missions they support.
• Myth #2: The Super Bowl is the biggest thing ahead for Indianapolis. Hosting the 2012 Super Bowl will no doubt give Indianapolis a global stage and raise the city’s profile, as Allison Melangton of the Super Bowl Host Committee shared, yet the OI class had the privilege of hearing from other city leaders about the many more amazing things to come. To name just a few, Brian Payne of Central Indiana Community Foundation talked about the Cultural Trail and other urban developments that are putting Indianapolis on the map; David Harris of The Mind Trust and Dr. Eugene White of Indianapolis Public Schools discussed ideas and initiatives that will address the public education challenges we face; and Anne Shane of BioCrossroads, Mark Miles of Central Indiana Corporate Partnership, and Ron Gifford of Indy Partnership assessed the city’s economic outlook and leading entrepreneurial endeavors.
• Myth #3: I’ve been to marquee Indianapolis arts and sporting events, so I’ve seen the sights. Another primary benefit of OI was that nearly every session was held at a different venue. I was once again introduced to new things, places I’ve passed countless times but never visited—from the Skyline Club and Obsidian Conference and Catering Center, offering amazing views of the city, to Arsenal Technical High School and Ivy Tech Community College, showcasing Indy’s diverse educational offerings. In particular, I had the most memorable experiences at the Indiana War Memorial and IndyFringe, proving that both elaborate and humble surroundings can offer rich cultural experiences.

As my colleague and fellow OI classmate Ryan Noel said, OI was chance to ‘deepen our roots’ for those who have lived in Indy, and I think it’s an unbeatable way to introduce the new residents to the city. I’m proud that Borshoff sponsored this year’s event and hope Hoosier companies and residents will continue to support Opportunity Indianapolis and the Lacy Leadership Association.

The 2009 Opportunity Indianapolis class