Update: The Response from the NBHWC

A few months ago I mentioned that I sent an email to the National Board for Health and Wellness Coaching (NBHWC). They did email me back and I went back and forth in my head on whether or not I should respond. Let me post the response and then I’ll tell you why:

Hi Shannon,

The NBHWC is aware that our board and supporting committees would benefit by having a more diverse group of leaders. As the field of subject matter experts has grown so has our ability to do this.

The Diversity & Inclusion Committee will be focused on this as well as many other initiatives.

Thank you for expressing your concerns. I do understand and concur.

I read this and I was concerned. I planned to reach back out to get clarification on whether or not the Executive Director of this wellness organization really meant to say that there weren’t any diverse candidates in this field before now and that’s why there wasn’t any representation on their board or advisory committee. Because that couldn’t be right…Right? I wanted to give them a chance to clarify this statement as well as mention who was on their Diversity and Inclusion Committee and what initiatives they planned to tackle.

In the end, I didn’t bother (maybe I'll change my mind) because I’ve found that the people that really care about diversity and inclusion (and there are many in all races), actually take steps to do something about it before it becomes trendy or before they are required to do so.

As I mentioned when the protests started, as someone that worked in communications for over a decade, I’m very well aware of talking points and the way that organizations have to respond during these times. If I sent another email, they’d say all the right things because they have to. But, it would be bullshit. Forming a Diversity and Inclusion committee isn’t progress. Instead of creating a committee, actually incorporate diverse voices into your board and office. It shouldn’t take an adjunct committee to tell you to do this. If diversity isn’t woven into the fabric of your organization, I can’t take you seriously. Especially when the topic is wellness.