Kelly Oppliger’s Post

Did you know?..."The first daytime parade in New Orleans took place in 1872, and as the Russian Grand Duke Alexis Romanoff was visiting at the time, it was decided to use the Romanoff family colours of purple, green and gold as the official colors of the Carnival. Purple stands for justice; gold for power; and green for faith." Learn more about the history of #MardiGras at https://lnkd.in/eeGgK3QK

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November is Native American Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich cultures, history and traditions of Native Americans. Learn more about NAR's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. http://spr.ly/6046utxOw

Some thoughts on the lessons we learned as a consequence of Operation OVERLORD and their relevance today...

As we celebrate the birth of our nation with friends and family this Fourth of July, we are reminded of the principles behind our nation's founding—freedom, opportunity, and the pursuit of happiness for all. These ideals are at the heart of TakeCharge's mission as we work to counter the common narrative that America is systemically racist. Last year, I wrote an Op-Ed (https://lnkd.in/gCFPpSxt) detailing why black Americans don't have to choose between Juneteenth and the Fourth of July - because without the Declaration of Independence, there would be no Juneteenth. And there would be no Juneteenth without the sacrifice of 350,000 white men of the Union Army from non-slave-holding states who died in the Civil War, leading to the Emancipation Proclamation. There are organizations using both holidays to divide the nation by insisting that America has been broken by systemic racism. And this helps no one — black or white. So, today, we honor the progress America has made and the strides we continue to take toward a more prosperous future for every American. Our commitment to ensuring that every individual, regardless of skin color, understands they have the opportunity to achieve the American dream remains unwavering. This Independence Day, we celebrate the American spirit and the promise it holds for the citizens of this nation - regardless of skin color. Wishing you a happy and safe Fourth of July. https://lnkd.in/gHU-uFEB

Learn more about the rich history of the banner that inspired our national anthem

There are hundreds of lessons we have learned from the Second World War, here are three important ones to reflect upon today as we commemorate the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. https://lnkd.in/dPPkHhRu

What was your most significant discovery or experience in the Black History Month? Mine was the emphasis of beauty and strength in diversity, highlighting the importance of practicing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). DEI begins with acknowledging the particularity of individuals within a team, organization, or society. It involves enabling fair and equal opportunities as well as establishing policies, developing culture, and creating an atmosphere that encourages individual and collective success.  DEI are crucial for effective leadership and organizational success because through the practice, team members achieve their highest potential, finding purpose and fulfillment while at it.   As the Black History Month comes to an end, the practice of DEI should not. Leaders must continue to lead by example, demonstrating accountability, active listening, and showing a genuine willingness to embrace, accommodate, and support diverse individuals as we collectively pursue our goals. Organizations must also continue to find ways to improve processes and encourage frameworks that promote DEI, knowing that it is an effective way to maximize workforce talent, encourage creativity, improve service, and achieve set financial goals.

As I reflect on our celebrations of Memorial Day and D-day, I am so humbled. Countless brave, selfless Americans sacrificed everything to protect our freedoms and the American way of life. I am so thankful. Today our freedoms are not being used to have robust debates to bring about positive change. Instead, they are being used to polarize, divide and tear our nation apart. You are either "for us" or "against us." If you are "against us" then you are the enemy. Instead of tolerance we have mocking, ridicule and outright hatred. Where is tolerance in this? Tolerance does not mean I accept, celebrate and endorse your view point or personal lifestyle choices. Rather, it means I can disagree with your view or choice and still respect you as a person and treat you with the common courtesy and respect that all deserve. Tolerance is a fundamental by-product of individual rights and freedoms, yet it is lacking in today's society. Our brave military sacrificed everything to preserve our way of life. Today we have people who have never served or sacrificed anything for anyone doing everything they can to destroy our way of life. What has happened to our nation? It must break the hearts of our veterans. May we as a nation reflect on this and relearn common courtesy, decency, tolerance for and respect of others. May we use our freedoms to make our communities and nation a better place to live for all, not worse.