Standout examples of our country at its best
I know it’s much more rewarding for some these days to put people down, wallow in other’s misfortunes and diminish their contributions and worth. But on the day of our nation’s birth, here are a few worthy local and national champions to celebrate.
Building Diversity Inside and
Out Award: Kudos to Massport for promoting Port Director Lisa Weiland to CEO, making her the second woman to hold that position. I am always filled with pride when women and minorities who have long labored and long been denied — despite their work and eminent qualifications — finally make it. But despite the fact that Weiland is immensely qualified and worked her way up the ladder, folks started spreading rumors that her lack of political relationships was a huge deficit. Actually considering all she brings to the table, that’s a relatively minor quibble, if I believed it. She obviously had to have some political chops to get where she is.
Where There’s a Will There’s
a Way Award: Shared by
Massport and Richard Taylor.
Earlier this year Massport announced a first of its kind, all-inclusive minority investment model assuring equity in a major new development.
Former transportation secretary under Bill Weld, Taylor was a major player in helping to develop and contribute to this model. A businessman (and founding director of the Center for Real Estate at Suffolk University), Taylor is well known for his service to community. His Fountain Hill Development project over 40 years ago was the first recipient of Councilor Bruce Bolling’s game-changing linkage legislation and funding designed to link downtown development to neighborhood affordablehousing development. Today, Fountain Hill remains a success story. Taylor works with New Boston Ventures, the South Endbased development team that counts the legendary Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative among past clients who sing their praises. Look out for Taylor’s exciting new initiative coming soon, aimed at helping to revitalize Roxbury’s Dudley Square.
Fighting the Good Fight Award: Some people feel that “bringing home the bacon” is all that counts for a legislator. Not so when there has been so much inattention to the needs of constituents. In this Congress, Ayanna Press
ley not only fights indignities and against systemic racism, she battles other injustices. A priority is transportation equity — something her predecessor Mike Capuano did not fight hard enough to achieve. Under his watch, billions went to the Green Line, yet next to nothing was done for the Red and Orange lines — a major reason they’re in the shape they’re in. My money is on U.S. Rep. Pressley to change all that as she advances her equity agenda.
The Good Sportsman Award: To Colin Kaepernick and Nike. I know all that some of you see is Kaepernick taking the knee during the national anthem, and some of you thought he “got his” by being “blackballed” by the NFL. But the black community appreciated his stand and understood his efforts to raise awareness of the many injustices done to people of color. So did Nike, and a winning partnership was formed.
Earlier this year, CNN reported that KKK boosters, in preparation for a rally in New York, wrapped messages of hate around candy emblazoned with the Betsy Ross flag — no doubt trying to recruit the next generation of the Klan. For many in the African American community, the Betsy Ross flag — which harkens back to the 13 original slave-holding colonies — is considered a stand-in for the Confederate flag.
So I ask you, what is a better lesson to our next generation — continue to promote unadulterated hate, or continue to work closing the gaps that divide us as a people? Nike got it. Social justice is a more important value to pursue than money. So when Kap explained it, they rightly dumped the new line of sneakers that carried the offending flag. As for Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, who responded by rescinding funding for a Nike headquarters: If you don’t want Nike in your state, there are plenty of other places only too willing to embrace and benefit from the international brand.
On this Independence Day, let’s recommit ourselves to working toward a more perfect union than presently exists by distancing ourselves from the vestiges of hate and by continuing to embrace the notions of fairness, justice and equality of opportunity for everyone as fundamental to the American way.