Valentine’s Day was this week, and it’s a day officially designated for all things love – love for our partners, our families, our friends, our colleagues, our communities… What does it mean, however, to love “DEI-Style?”

For me, loving DEI-Style requires one to:

L – Learn:  Be willing to step outside of your comfort zone and really take the time to learn the essence of someone in your circle; carve out the time and space needed to make a true, meaningful connection with this person!

O – Own:  Be willing to own your fears and unconscious biases and accept the fact that you are a work in progress!

V – Voice:  Be willing to use your voice as a tool for allyship, empowerment, and change!

E – Experience:  Be willing to experience the joys of connection, recognizing that through the highs and the lows, love should always be the constant!

Humans love in many ways and in many forms, and in light of our most recent Valentine’s Day, I invite you to think about how you love and what love really means to you – how are you loving DEI-Style?