Cultivating Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice in the Workspace with Dr. Stanley Andrisse of P2P
December 5, 2023 - Written By Basia Skudrzyk
Dr. Stanley Andrisse performing research in his lab at Howard University
The importance of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) in creating a healthy and supportive workplace cannot be overstated. DEIJ initiatives contribute significantly to fostering a workplace environment that is not only fair and just but also enriching and supportive. In a diverse and inclusive workplace, individuals from various backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, and orientations feel valued and respected. This diversity brings a wide range of perspectives, ideas, and experiences, fostering creativity and innovation.
Working with subject matter experts who are close to the challenges that people face allow for solutions and voices to be heard to create inclusive career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. In this inaugural NASA Acres DEIJ blog, we will share perspectives from our featured partner, Dr. Stanley Andrisse, which speak to the importance of connection, belonging, and diversity. Dr. Andrisse had the opportunity to share his personal story at the most recent NASA Acres Kick Off Meeting in St. Louis. In this blog, he will share his passion for Haitian culture, people, and building evidence-based solutions for inclusive and successful work environments based on the challenging and successful experiences he has had as a person, scholar, mentor, colleague, and faculty member.
From Prison Cells to PhD
Dr. Stanley Andrisse is the Executive Director of From Prison Cells to Phd, an organization devoted to supporting and mentoring people who are reentering their communities from carceral settings. Andrisse wants others to have similar experiences, to feel supported, and to open opportunities for people who have not considered STEM education and careers due to exclusion. Together with his team, P2P is developing a training program with a variety of support services that focus on education, advocacy, and workforce development. These programs provide services like mentorship, training, and education that help employers build a welcoming culture and sense of belonging in their workspace. There is a tremendous stigma felt by marginalized populations who enter new spaces and have traditionally been silenced, misunderstood, and not supported by society. Dr. Andrisse and his team work tenaciously to break such unhealthy systems and thinking by opening access to education and careers in STEM and by providing critical training and education to leaders who have influence and can improve their workplace culture.
Everyone has conscious and unconscious bias. By discussing and understanding diversity and wanting to learn about our own collective biases, we can then move forward in the conversation by normalizing opportunities for people who have the skills, talent, and potential to succeed. As a person with lived carceral experience, Dr. Andrisse feels it is only right to give back, build, and share a pathway that allows others to be in spaces of success. He feels blessed to know that he has people and mentors who stand beside him and provide him with the tools and motivation to achieve his goals and to work through challenges. He is now an esteemed endocrinologist scientist and assistant professor at the Howard University College of Medicine. Andrisse knows he could not achieve his success alone. He is grateful to his family and the network he is a part of that allows people to find hope in themselves and the courage to develop the skills and talents that can be invested back into their families, community, and workplace.
“Creating a strong and healthy workplace culture starts with leadership,” shares Dr. Andrisse. He believes that, “As organizations discover the benefits of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in the workplace, many tout their commitment to DEIJ without concrete actions to support it. But we as academic and civic leaders need to remember that we can't just talk the talk; we have to walk the walk.”
Dr. Andrisse focuses on creating positive and inclusive work environments. By empowering people, he believes a culture of trust and collaboration are achieved which produces a sense of shared purpose and belonging. Research has shown that lacking a sense of belonging at work can be more distressing to employees than being harassed. An environment where workers feel uncomfortable being themselves can create trust issues, diminishing an employee's self-worth which erodes positive workplace culture.
A photo of Dr. Andrisse and his family taken in Haiti when he was a child
A large identity of Dr. Andrisse is his family and Haitian culture. Identity is a crucial aspect of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) because it encompasses the multifaceted dimensions that make individuals unique. Recognizing and valuing diverse identities, which can include factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, disability, and more, is fundamental to creating an inclusive and just environment. Andrisse shares his upbringing and the values his family has taught him to be intentional and mindful of the people he lives and works with. As we learn from our differences and experiences to find new opportunities of growth, trust, and sustainability it’s important to understand how we can create healthy and inclusive practices within our ecosystems and for the future by nurturing our relationships and providing the necessary respect and support to ensure people are growing and feeling they are welcome and part of the system. This is one of the reasons that Dr. Stanley Andrisse and his team have been selected to be part of the NASA Acres Consortium. The P2P team will be working on the DEIJ Strategic Plan with partners via training, toolkits, communications, creating a mentorship program, and developing an architectural plan that can stimulate new ideas of thinking and perspectives in creating structures that support people.
The P2P and NASA Acres Partnership
NASA Acres envisions a future in which our research and relationships help remove systemic barriers that limit access to opportunity. Through our work, we want to help empower and support people as agents of the change we seek. In this way our joint efforts deepen and sustain the impact we work to achieve collectively. To achieve this impact, we seek to foster a culture - both internally and externally with our broach community of farmers, practitioners, scholars, and researchers - where differences are seen and respected, voices are heard, and all individuals feel supported and valued for their authentic selves.
As P2P begins to work with NASA Acres partners to learn together to strengthen and develop workplace systems, there are a number of strategies that can be used to help create a more inclusive workplace:
Visible commitment: We need to articulate authentic commitment to diversity, challenge the status quo, hold everyone accountable, and make diversity and inclusion a personal priority.
Humility: Being modest about capabilities, admitting mistakes, and creating the space for others to contribute and feel empowered is important.
Awareness of bias: We need to show awareness of personal blind spots, as well as flaws in the system, and work hard to ensure a meritocracy.
Curiosity about others: By demonstrating an open mindset and deep curiosity about others, we can then listen without judgment, and seek with empathy to understand those around us.
Cultural intelligence: We are attentive to others’ cultures and adapt as required.
Effective collaboration: We empower others, pay attention to diversity of thinking and psychological safety, and focus on team cohesion.
This sounds like a laundry list, so it’s not surprising that Dr. Andrisse is regularly asked which is the most important trait. The answer depends on who is asking. If it’s the leader, commitment is the most critical, because without it, the other five attributes can’t be fully developed.
Acquiring new perspectives through dialogue and a lens for seeing stronger, safer, and more sustainable systems and solutions is a goal for NASA Acres. With the help of the P2P team, NASA Acres is developing and implementing a DEIJ Strategic Plan that has brought forward strategies including diverse recruitment, increasing diverse engagement, the establishment of a mentorship program, and the development of DEIJ training resources.
What We Can Learn from the Soil
Comparing soil and its diversification to DEIJ and the sense of belonging for people involves drawing parallels between the complexity and interdependence in both contexts. Just as soil provides the essential foundation and nutrients for plant growth, fostering a diverse and inclusive environment forms the foundation for a thriving community. Diversity serves as the nutrients that enrich the social fabric. Inclusion acts as the medium that ensures every individual receives the support they need to grow and contribute. A diverse range of microorganisms, plants, and animals contribute to the health of the soil ecosystem. Each organism plays a unique role in maintaining balance. A diverse community contributes to the overall health and vitality of society. Different perspectives, experiences, and talents enhance innovation, problem-solving, and cultural richness.
Different crops thrive in different types of soil. Proper care and attention to diversity lead to a bountiful harvest. Individuals flourish in environments where they feel a sense of belonging. When diverse talents and backgrounds are acknowledged and valued, individuals can reach their full potential. Sustainable agricultural practices focus on maintaining soil health for future generations. Building a culture of inclusion is an investment in a sustainable and equitable future. It involves creating a legacy of respect, understanding, and cooperation.
In both cases, recognizing the importance of diversity and fostering an inclusive and sustainable environment is crucial for long-term success and well-being. Just as healthy soil is essential for improving crop yields, a diverse and inclusive community is essential for a healthy and resilient society.
Looking Back to Look Forward
If the pandemic and recent wars have taught us anything, it’s the importance of social ties, education, and human connections that makes us more similar than different. Not only do we improve our emotional well-being by humanizing challenges, but we can create healthy physical benefits. Having nurturing relationships is protective of mental health and overall brain health. However, while positive relationships can boost health, the opposite is often true when it comes to problematic relationships. Dr. Andrisse feels that in order to create healthy systems, we have to begin with ourselves and our own self-reflection to create systems change.
Around the world, many people around the holidays will be sharing traditions stemming from culture and ritual practices that create connection, happiness, understanding, and belonging. As we move forward in the season, Dr. Andrisse encourages everyone to self-reflect and assess their own management and communication practices. Who were your mentors that led you to be where you are today? Who were people that made life difficult for you? What did you learn from those experiences? Dr. Andrisse and his team look forward to working with the NASA Acres Consortium partners in January. The goal is to develop new approaches and understanding as a Consortium for the New Year and years to come.
As people will be sharing favorite recipes and food at the table, Dr. Andrisse shares one of his favorite Haitian chicken recipes that he will be enjoying amongst family this holiday season; along with his family photo in Haiti built upon the roots and soil his ancestors have created for him. Haitian Stewed Chicken (Poule en Sauce) is a traditional recipe that is cooked using various methods. It is typically served with a side of rice. As he reflects on his ancestral wisdom, a Haitian proverb comes to mind that sits close to his heart. He shares it as it also supports the mission and effort he tries to create in the work and space he lives in each and every day.
Haitian proverb: Tout moun. se moun. – Everyone deserves to be treated as a human being.
More Details About Stanley Andrisse:
Andrisse’s experiences of incarceration have been chronicled in Nature magazine and recently on the PBS Nova science program. Andrisse also recently published a memoir on his experiences, From Prison Cells to PhD: It is Never Too Late to Do Good.
Media Contact:
Basia Skudrzyk
Program Coordinator, NASA Acres
skudrzyk@umd.edu