Reflections on the impact of the movie ‘Crash’ ― the recent Academy Award Winner for Best Picture ― in challenging viewers to acknowledge and question their own prejudices, was a focus of a recent Diversity Forum hosted by SSM Health Care–St. Louis (SSMHC).

The forum, held April 25 at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel, also featured a panel of area business leaders discussing why diversity is important, how to achieve it, how to maintain it, and how to make it happen. The forum is an SSMHC-sponsored event that meets semi-annually to enhance career development of persons of color, different ethnic backgrounds and persons with disabilities within SSMHC.

‘Crash’ was chosen as a focus for this year’s forum because it has been widely viewed as a film that challenges viewers to acknowledge and question their own prejudices and stereotypes, explained Mary Calcaterra, a member of the Diversity Forum planning committee.

“The movie shows the profound impact on people who judge others or are the recipient of stereotypical judgments ― and the damage that results in everyone’s lives,” she said. “We all have prejudices. Once we acknowledge that, it is the responsibility of everyone committed to diversity to react when we witness injustice, when we see or hear something that is contrary to SSMHC’s mission and values.  By not saying anything, you’ve condoned an inappropriate act.” Calcaterra said the open discussion about the movie was powerful, and participants agreed.

“What I found enlightening was the open exchange of feelings and emotion between those at my table, which was a mix of races and cultures and nationalities,” said Homer Robinson, a human resources generalist at SSM DePaul Health Center, who is African-American. “What was a concern was that we needed the big screen to showcase what is right in front of our eyes, every moment of every day.”

The dialogue session about the movie was preceded by the panel discussion. Panel members included: Mark Burkhart, president/CEO of Colliers International Turley Martin Tucker; Arnold Donald, president of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; Brenda Newberry, CEO of the Newberry Group; and Bob McCoole, retired president of Alberici Construction. Ronald J. Levy, president/CEO of SSM Health Care-St. Louis, moderated the panel discussion.

McCoole began the morning with a presentation entitled "Diversity in the St. Louis Business Community Through the Eyes of the CEO.”  In the presentation he highlighted experiences from Project Action, a St. Louis Regional Business Council pilot project on diversity.  The goal of Project Action is to increase the number of diverse managers and professionals in the participating companies, and to increase the dollars spent with regional minority vendors. SSMHC is an active participant in Project Action.

Burkhart emphasized how the absolute commitment of the individual “at the top” of any organization was imperative in making diversity work in that workplace. Donald, an African-American who has served in executive positions at several companies, commented that at each business he has made diversity a priority and has achieved successes.  But at each location, those advances and the commitment to diversity faded soon after he left.

For Calcaterra, the key takeaway from the discussion was the constant focus an organization must place on diversity education and action.

“Diversity is a goal that you must continually work at, and stay attentive to, even after you’ve achieved some success,” she said. “You can never get lulled into a sense of complacency.”