Last year, we started on a journey to grow as an organization, and as individuals, by committing to equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging head-on.  Part of that commitment has been to work with Leadership Restores, a cooperative of Black, women-owned businesses that help organizations embrace and develop equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.

We want to celebrate Leadership Restores and the eye-opening work they’ve done to help the Food Bank grow. In honor of #BlackHistoryMonth, we asked Cynthia Butler and Dr. Linnie Carter some questions to celebrate their important work through Leadership Restores.

What motivates the two of you to help organizations like the Food Bank create Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging in its mission? 

Cynthia Butler (pictured above on the left) answers, “My motivation began as a child when people said I could not excel in a “white world.” I became the only African- American child in every one of my classes from kindergarten until I reached high school. I created and managed federal government diversity efforts across every level. I know this one thing: the EDIB journey is one in which you must purposefully impact at least one individual to sustain and grow a community that is intentional, impactful, and insistent, that each of us can make a difference.

Dr. Carter (pictured above on the right) answers, “What motivates me is knowing that I can help organizations to do and be better. This is knowledge-based and action-oriented work. It cannot be one or the other. It must be both. We must learn and then apply our newfound knowledge to creating cultures that embrace and reflect equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging.”

What or who has been your biggest inspiration? 

Cynthia Butler, “My maternal grandmother, Hattie Mae Ellis. She was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1911. She was part of the “Great Migration.” Ms. Hattie, as everyone called her, landed in Gary, Indiana.  With no more than a 6th grade education, she owned her own very successful bar-b-que restaurant. She was one of the first Black Avon ladies beauty care representatives in Gary. She went on to purchase an apartment building, where she rented rooms to new arrivals from the south. Her business and financial savings savvy made our family one of the first Black families to own our home in a predominantly white community in Gary. Hattie Ellis was indeed Black history!

Dr. Carter, “My beloved mom was my biggest inspiration. She passed away in June 2022. My family and I miss her terribly. She taught her children to embrace and celebrate different types of people, and she helped people from all walks of life. She was very caring and empathetic and advocated for people whose voice was not as strong as hers. That was one of many gifts she left to me, her  middle child.

What gives you hope for the future? 

Cynthia Butler, “I am currently mentoring a millennial entrepreneur group named MECCA. These persons are brilliant, community focused, kind, and caring – not only themselves but those around them.”

Dr. Carter, “My nieces and nephews give me hope for the future. They are being raised with a strong sense of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging. They are learning what equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging mean to them as Black people and what equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging mean for other members of historically underrepresented groups.”

Our commitment to EDIB is essential to helping us address the daunting issues our food insecure neighbors face. Joe Arthur, Executive Director explains, “Leadership Restores has been extremely effective in guiding our Board, Leadership Team, EDIB Action Team, and All Staff through a deep process to build a solid foundation of knowledge of EDIB principles throughout our organization. They have provided a wealth of resources to help us deepen our learning about and commitment to EDIB. They have helped our Board leaders and our Leadership Team to adopt an equity lens and to center the neighbors we serve, and to just be better leaders.”

We are forever grateful for the enlightening and important work Leadership Restores has done for the Food Bank and continues to do within their community and beyond. Equity, inclusion, diversity, and belonging are incredibly important to embrace as individuals and as an organization to create a better future for everyone.

To find out more about Leadership Restores and the work they do, visit their website https://www.leadershiprestores.net/