What I missed in my editing and publishing of the “Infiltrating Worcester’s inner circle” story was the very obvious fact that underrepresented groups – people of color, women, LGBTQ+ and others – are still struggling to be heard within circles of power, despite what the people within them may say.
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In the March 21 print edition of WBJ, I published the story with my poorly written headline “Infiltrating Worcester’s inner circle”. Initially pitched as a story about the unofficial gatherings of the region’s powerbrokers, the completed article turned into an optimistic portrayal of civic engagement, encouraging WBJ readers to join in the discussions shaping the region by reaching out to the leaders of these gatherings.
While the story is reflective of the reality faced by people who want to join civic discussion, what was missed in my editing and publishing was the very obvious fact that underrepresented groups – people of color, women, LGBTQ+ and others – are still struggling to be heard within circles of power, despite what the people within them may say. The story conflated groups like Worcester Together, which is actively trying to be inclusive and serve disadvantaged populations, with those organizations who have been exclusionary. The reaction from marginalized groups to the article was visceral and completely justified. For that, I sincerely apologize.
The positive side of all this is the community began to have more eye-opening discussions about how certain people have been excluded by those in power, which helped to enlighten the previously ignorant, including me. I firmly believe the economy cannot achieve its full potential until people of all talents and backgrounds are given equal opportunity, and that value has shaped WBJ’s content since the police murder of George Floyd. These are important conversations, and WBJ is committed to having them, continuing in the latest print edition, which came out Monday.
In this edition, business owner Dani Babineau in her “What Worcester’s elite fail to understand about inclusion” opinion column dispels the notion that powerbrokers can just hang an “All Are Welcome” sign and expect marginalized groups to come flocking. WBJ correspondent Giselle Rivera-Flores details in her article “Unheard by the inner circle” the story of four professionals who still feel like outsiders, despite attempts to be heard inside Worcester’s power structure. These are powerful voices who are speaking up despite fear of retribution, and I applaud their bravery.
Lastly, Staff Writer Katherine Hamilton in her “Continuing the fight for diversity” story concludes her deep dive into the problems plaguing chief diversity officers’ ability to make meaningful change in the region’s businesses and power structure, despite the commitments made two years ago after Floyd’s murder. Some progress has been made, but we still have a long way to go.
