Prismatic

Dictionary.com has one definition for the word “Prismatic” as “highly varied or faceted. And through a Google search, I found that Hou De Sousa has an art project called “ Prismatic “ — which is described as “a kaleidoscopic experience of light, color, and space that frames a myriad of perspectives.’ These both may also be good ways to describe the needs for inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA) in Emergency Management — both in terms of the people we serve (our constituents, stakeholders, etc.) and ourselves.

It’s quite obvious (and generally illegal) when there is discrimination in Emergency Management’s public support to people of different races, religions, orientation, familiar status, etc. There are volumes written on what not to do when it comes to past failures to safely and equitably support diverse populations, but when it comes to an Emergency Manager’s own color, creed, and possibly content of their character, it is a different story.

I fully support the idea that Emergency Managers should represent the communities they serve — and it really helps if they live and work there, too. Especially if they grew up there, too. And of course, I believe our field of Emergency Management is both a profession and a management style — one which should be staffed by someone who is fully vested and invested in its concepts, doctrine, policies, procedures, mantras, edicts, flexibility…