As you all know, I love my meetup group and have a splendid time meeting women close to my own age but one thing was bothering me, and I didn’t really know how to address the issue.
So far only white women showed up to our meetings. Beautiful black women and Mexican women signed up to join the meetup group but they never RSVP-ed, and never showed up at a meeting. I feared that the all “white” pictures of previous events might have sent the wrong message to them.
Now, more than ever before, do I want to make sure that my “Fabulous Women 50+” group will be diverse in color, as well as in beliefs.
I decided to ask a blogging friend, who happens to be a black man that many of you know as the “Militant Negro.” I knew, as charming as he can be, he would not sugarcoat anything. Sure enough, he told me, “Approach them, let them honestly know what you think.” Unfortunately, he didn’t provide me with the right wording.
I choose to be humorous in my writing style, while I tried to get my point across. I wrote an email to all 120 members, explained that I love our meetings, but that I dislike the fact that our meetings are just too light in color and rather PALE. I waited…and…nothing happened. Nobody emailed back.
Then, a few “new faces” RSVP-ed to our “Ladies night out” and I couldn’t help but smile.
On Friday, when I saw the first black woman coming toward me, I couldn’t help but had to hug her. We clicked instantly, and then another one showed up, and a Latino Lady joined us for the first time.
The new members were welcomed the same way we have welcomed everybody else, and they fit right in. Two tables full of joy, laughter and a shitload of menopausal sarcasm. It can’t get any better than that.
So, I am proud to announce that our meetings are now in “Black and White,” as they should be. Long live diversity!
I love your honesty here.
Well done!
You are just darn amazing, Bridget. The world needs more Bridgets! Congrats on making a difference! <3
Not sure if the world could handle more Bridgets LOL. But I think making a difference always starts small. In this case. I started the group and say, “My group, my rules.” Isn’t that something. 🙂
If everyone did their small part, that’s probably all we’d need 🙂
As usual, you took the bull by the horns 🙂
I too liked that expression ‘invited, but not necessarily welcome”. I suspect it exists all too often and bravo to you for addressing it.
I went to my Monday morning aquafit class this morning and realized for the first time what a mini United Nations we were in the pool … men, women, Black, White, Asian, East Indian, Sri Lankan … it made me smile 🙂
I was thinking about that expression for a long time last night. Perhaps that is answer to many things.I even thought about writing about it.
An Aquafit class, Gosh I wish we would have pool close by.
I started the aquafit classes last fall when I couldn’t do much else because of my shoulder. To my surprise, I LOVED it. It is much harder than it looks and a lot of fun.
Last week the surgeon removed all restrictions and I can do everything again … so I swam several laps after class this morning. My first swim in over 8 months. Woohoo 🙂
Makes me wish that I lived nearby and could join y’all. Being Native American, it would add yet another shade of color! As such, I will continue to follow here. It’s all good! Aho!
I wish you would love nearby as well. Welcome!
Well done
Thank you Derrick
This is wonderful, did you start the meetup, and did you create it for your local community? Wonderful idea!
Yes, I started this meetup group for women who live close to my area. It is so much fun.
Wonderful initiative!
Diversity makes us better!
well done Bridget!! Great that you cared enough to reach out and it made a difference!
Good to see you, I missed your post today and wondered if you were alright.
Good for you to take additional steps to get women of color to attend! It’s always much easier to just shrug and say, “Oh, well…” You made those women feel welcome, and hopefully they will keep attending and tell their friends!
One of them offered to be an “Event Organizer” and I gladly accepted. We will be a diverse group. (A middle finger salute to Trump)
You went the “extra mile” and it paid off. It takes this simetimes because, we often feel “invited but not necessarily welcomed”
“Invited but not necessarily welcomed.” This will stick with me to the rest of my life. It explains so much on so many levels. Now I am even more glad that I reached out. Thank you for your comment.
good for you for caring about diversity and embracing those who come… I can feel the inclusiveness from the post – and that food pic is yum too
I think diversity has never been more important than it is right now. As for the prime rib salad, that was my plate and it was outstanding.
🙂