NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY PANAMA CITY — The Naval Surface Warfare Center hosted the base's first Diversity Day Wednesday, but the event will be held twice a year going forward and will replace events that celebrate cultures.
The event replaces individual ceremonies for groups from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds and instead celebrates any culture that wants to be included. Wednesday's event featured booths displaying cultural aspects of black and African American, Hispanic culture, Asian and Pacific Islander and American Indian and Alaskan Native groups.
Organizers on the Diversity Council thought holding Diversity Day events that last for several hours would make the events more accessible to employees who might not be able to attend what had previously been shorter, monthly events, said Diversity Council Chairman Pete Hamilton.
"I think it's important that we honor them, and we take the time to celebrate what they contribute to our society because a lot of the things that we take advantage of today we wouldn't have if their cultures didn't provide for our country," Hamilton said.
By holding an event that celebrates diversity itself rather than several events focused on a specific culture, the base can show members of each community that they are a valued employee. That's important for employee retention and overall morale, Hamilton said.
"We've got to take the time to do this, because we've got to make people want to be here," Hamilton said.
Wednesday's event celebrated ethnic cultures with examples of their various cuisines, attires and festivities, but diversity is a much broader concept than race or ethnicity, Deputy Equal Employment Opportunity Officer Don Lancaster said. Diversity is evident in the socioeconomic status, education level, physical ability, beliefs and values of members of a group, he said.
And when you bring a group of people from diverse backgrounds together on a project the result is diversity of thought, said Federal Women's Program Manager and Diversity Council member Zena Le.
"Fostering communication instead of checking the box," Le said, lets people think outside the box.