DEI Is Under Fire: How We Build Belonging Anyway – ep.173

In a year where Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is facing growing political backlash and public scrutiny, this special solo episode of The Jali Podcast cuts through the noise with truth, intention, and heart. Host Melyssa Barrett reflects on over 100 episodes of conversations with changemakers—from CEOs and artists to educators and everyday heroes—and asks: What does it really take to build communities where everyone belongs, especially when DEI is under fire?

Melyssa Barrett: Welcome to the Jali Podcast. I’m your host, Melyssa Barrett. This podcast is for those who are interested in the conversation around equity, diversity, and inclusion. Each week I’ll be interviewing a guest who has something special to share or is actively part of building solutions in the space. Let’s get started. Welcome to the Jali Podcast, where we bring voices together to uncover the power of culture, courage, and connection. I’m your host, Melyssa Barrett, and if you’ve been riding with me since the beginning, you know this podcast is more than just interviews. It’s a movement, a place where we hold space for truth. We amplify voices and we challenge each other to be better. Today’s episode is one I’ve been wanting to record for a while. It’s personal, it’s reflective. It’s filled with lessons from the many incredible guests who have blessed this space. We’re talking about how to build better communities, not in theory, but in practice, in workplaces, in neighborhoods, in our families, and yes in ourselves.

Because diversity, equity, and inclusion aren’t just check boxes, their values, their tools, their commitments we make to each other to ensure every person has access, dignity, and belonging. Over the last a hundred plus episodes, I’ve had the honor of sitting with change makers, from nonprofit leaders, CEOs to educators, artists, entrepreneurs, and everyday heroes. Each conversation has carried a lesson from Stephanie Vetter. We learned that success isn’t just about hitting million dollar goals, it’s about alignment, family, and lifting others. As we rise from Christian. Chuck Wilma, we heard that wealth building must include behavioral coaching, generational planning, and trust building in our community. From Charlene Usher, we were reminded that estate planning isn’t just paperwork, it’s legacy protection, and love in action. Steve Naton in episode 75 reminded us that becoming socially conscious begins when we shift from combativeness to curiosity. He said, when you asked me that question, it fully dawned on me that I’m doing what I would want.

That’s the spark intentionality in how we show up. Monique Nelson, CEO of UWG, shared the need for future oriented thinking. She emphasized access, development and pathway building, not just representation for true belonging. Her leadership highlighted that equity isn’t a checkbox, it’s a journey with ups, downs, and forward momentum. Doug Freeman featured in a similar episode with Monique, brought civic imagination to the forefront using empathy, data and local collaboration to challenge norms and reimagine community power structures. All these voices grounded our work in story, not slogans. They reminded us that DEI lives in lived experience. So why does community matter now? More than ever, we face a world of fear and fragmentation, and yes, DEI is under pressure, the momentum dimmed. Yet, our need for belonging has only grown. Stronger community is both inheritance and resistance. When we create spaces where people are safe, seen and supported, we do more than survive.

We thrive, we heal, and we remember we belong to each other. This podcast began from that belief that storytelling builds bridges between individuals and cultures, generations and identities. Whether you lead a team or a local group, you have capacity to contribute to that culture of belonging. So how do we build inclusive communities? From the experiences shared across many episodes, we can identify five actionable pillars. Number one, listen deeply. Step beyond the words. Listen for emotion, history, and invitation. Number two, invite differently. Inclusion isn’t passive. It’s intentional. Ask, who’s missing here and why haven’t they returned? Follow Monique’s. Lead. Focus on access and retention. Number three, share power. Move beyond representation toward equitable participation and influence Doug’s vision, empathy, and data together. Reshape systems. Number four, tell real stories. Data tells what stories reveal why. Our jolly guests transform policy into personal stories, making parody palpable and unforgettable.

And number five, blend joy with accountability. Inclusion isn’t always solemn. It can be celebratory, cultural, soulful, and must be sustained. Host tough conversations with care. Celebrate wins with joy. You may know parts of my story, the losses, the boardroom solitude, the balancing of professional and personal roles, and through it all. I keep asking, am I showing up as I’m called to? Am I doing enough the truth? None of us have it. Perfect, and that’s okay. Our goal isn’t perfection. It’s continued presence. Show up, learn, adjust, try again. Every download, share, or reflection from this podcast. As a reminder, you’re part of this movement too. So if this episode resonates, here are three ways to lean in. Spark a conversation, revisit an episode, check it out, then discuss it with them. What did that story teach you? Support the voices. Follow. Engage their initiatives, donate, volunteer, collaborate.

It’s more than support. This is solidarity in action and create your own space. Whether it’s a podcast, a discussion group, a team huddle, and invite courageous stories. Honor lived experience. Give people real platforms to belong and beyond buzzwords, beyond programs. DEI is about how we live together. We’re all carriers of story. Story that can heal, connect, and transform. Every day. We choose to love over fear, equity over indifference, curiosity over judgment. We co-create belonging. That is the legacy of community. Thank you for being here. Thank you for listening, sharing, and building with me. Until next time, I’m Melyssa Barrett and this is the Jali Podcast. Thanks for joining me on the Jali Podcast. Please subscribe so you won’t miss an episode. See you next week.