Posted by Susie Roe on Apr 03, 2019
Phyllis Campbell, Chairwoman of all Northwest business of JP Morgan Chase, past president and CEO of The Seattle Foundation and heavily recruited board member (her board work has included both for-profit boards such as Alaska Airlines and Nordstrom and non-profit boards like PATH) addressed Seattle 4 on a subject she knows well - our community's journey to being a world-class city. Phyllis spoke of Seattle's vigorous civil spirit and can-do attitude she first noticed 30 years ago when she moved here from Spokane.  She felt this city would allow her to make a difference and, indeed, she has in her professional banking career and her work in the community.
 
 Another thing she noticed was the few people in positions of power who looked like her.  Rarely did she see a woman or a person of color in her activities and she frequently was the only woman or the only person of color in the board room or the business leadership ranks.   Now, she said, women constitute one-fifth of the board members for local publically traded companies while people of color hold only one-twentieth of the seats. A recent Brookings Institute publication, Metro Monitor, listed Seattle in the lowest 20 metropolitan areas in economic inclusion. 
 
Now that Seattle is on the global stage with its great economy, innovative concepts, and frequent inclusion on world-class city lists, Phyllis suggests we look to what we could improve.  She noted that although we rank high in many areas, including education and economy, we but are in the lowest quartile in being welcoming and inclusive.  This failure to include people who are diverse visually, physically or economically is our Achille's heel. She reiterated the recognition of a growing income gap in segments of the city.  Phyllis urged Seattle also to give a full hearing to those more diverse in thought and specifically mentioned the need in our civic, business and political arenas.  
 
Phyllis acknowledged that she still finds herself in situations where her voice, as a woman and a person of color, is not heard.  She chalks it up to unintentional bias but urges us to actively fight this bias. Before the interaction with the audience Phyllis stated her belief that if we Seattlites collectively lean into these issues, we can find the necessary new solutions that will result in a more advanced economy for all.  
 
Kelly Holm facilitated conversation among audience members and Phyllis which resulted in suggestions and comments on past successful strategies. Jon Bridge recommended active interaction within the community, Kela Hall urged participation in smaller, lesser-known non-profits, Jan Levy said the search for diversity must be intentional, Suzanne Griffin discussed the need to have role models who look like the underserved, and Mike Colbrese reminded us that leaders must step back to allow a new generation of success.   
 
Phyllis ended with a challenge to each Rotarian to act personally and intentionally to make a difference to increase diversity and to "thaw the Seattle freeze."
 
Trish Bostrom and Todd Summerfelt, both on guitars, strummed us to a fine rendition of This Land is Your Land before Fr. Steve Sundborg blessed us with a prayer for diversity.  Fr. Steve noted that a life free from diversity is a vapid, boring, and inhumane existence.  He prayed that we each be open to the enrichment of life that comes from welcoming diversity with respect and joy. 
 
We have two new Rotarians - Joel Paget introduced Bailee Neyland and John Steckler introduced Pierce Murphy.  Their full introductions are included in the Totem. 
 
Lillian Sherman thanked Seattle 4 and SRSF for its support of the farmers and small businesses who constitute the Pike Place Market business community.  With a nod to the late arrival of spring weather, Lillian brought bucketfuls of bright yellow, blooming daffodils for us all.  
 
Laurel James and Cathy Gibson handled the mics and Kela Hall gave us a preview of next week's speaker, County Executive Dow Constantine. 
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