Walking Tall
William Parker's approach to diversity training teaches schools and corporations how to "walk the talk."

When Dr. William Parker retired as Vice Chancellor of Minority Affairs at the University of Kentucky eight years ago, he "hit the ground running," as he says. He had long desired to go into business for himself, but raising seven children with his wife, Emily, was a responsibility that kept him from taking that risk. Now, as president of Parker & Parker Associates, a human resource development consulting firm, Parker, 73, is having a powerful and positive impact on the organizations with which he works. His client list includes SuperAmerica, four high schools in Kentucky, Georgia's state college system, a Georgia police department, and schools in Ohio and New York.

"We had done a very thorough job of raising the awareness of diversity among our employees," says Robert Voll, director of human resources at SuperAmerica. "but we weren't seeing an impact beyond people just being aware." In 1994 SuperAmerica brought in Dr. Parker to conduct more in-depth training. "He's helping us walk the talk," says Voll, speaking of the results of Parker's work. "Our discrimination charge numbers have dropped dramatically." SuperAmerica has an internal hotline for discrimination and harassment complaints, and Voll says there is less traffic on that line since Parker started his training programs with the company. "In general, our managers are more savvy," says Voll. "They are better equipped to handle the day-to-day problems."

In keeping with his approach to diversity training, Parker's presentations started with SuperAmerica's senior management – an unusual method in the corporate world, where such programs often start at the bottom of the organization. Voll says the program has been empowered by the understanding and endorsement by upper management.

In over 50 years of work, Parker has served as a public school teacher, public school administrator, college professor, college administrator, and management consultant. During his varied career in education, Parker has been a consultant to 20 Fortune 500 corporations, more than 800 colleges and universities, and 1,000 public and private school systems. More than 50,000 individuals worldwide have participated in his course, "How to Function Effectively in Corporate Environments."

Diversity training, designed to raise awareness and acceptance of the diverse cultural backgrounds that converge in our society, has always been a core concern in Parker's work.

"In about 1992," says Parker, "I realized that we who are in diversity training – and there are thousands of us – weren't having any impact on people anymore. Initially we had impact, because it was new, but I think in the last 10 years we had begun to regurgitate old stuff." He notes that some people have been taking mandatory annual diversity training programs in corporate settings for over 15 years. "We achieved the goal," says Parker. "We helped America accept the fact that diversity exists. I'm old enough to remember when the whole mood and culture of America suggested that everybody was to be alike. No diversity – just a melting pot." But beyond the raising of awareness, Parker saw that the same old problems were still taking their toll problems such as sexual harassment, racism, and discrimination against seniors.

"I come to a place and run diversity training and everybody likes it. The program gets all kinds of accolades and good evaluations. But in a month everybody is retrenched. Things are tried, they didn't work, so you back off. That's only human."

He saw the need to go beyond what diversity training had been offering. The Mandala Movement is what he calls his new approach – Mandala for the far eastern symbol of beauty and symmetry that represents balance and all-inclusiveness, and Movement, because the training is designed to continue expanding in the organization long after Parker has completed his role in it. He has been introducing the Mandala Movement into his work with SuperAmerica and various schools.

The "Mandala Movement" starts in an organization with a charter group of individuals selected for their leadership qualities. This core group goes through extensive training in three phases. They form a mission statement, and during their time together strong bonds will be made. The group expands its numbers each year by including more members from the host organization, be it a college, school, corporation or public service organization.

"The Mandala Movement vision is to train people to be diversity change agents," says Parker. "Leadership is probably the most vital point in the Mandala Movement. You have to have leadership that supports this physically and monetarily." At colleges and schools, presidents and principals become a part of the group and spend as much time in the meetings as their schedules allow.

Harold Fenderson, principal of Central High School in Louisville, speaks glowingly of Parker's work with the school over the last several years. "Dr. Parker is a glistening diamond, and people are just beginning to recognize his brilliance. Seniors as well as youth are benefiting from the light he brings to the table."

Central High has a highly diverse student population representing 25 nationalities. Fifty percent of the student body is African-American. "He's helped us get through some tough days by providing leadership to staff and students," says Fenderson. Evidence of changing attitudes at the school can be found in the greater diversity of students who are working together in student government and other student organizations. The recent homecoming had the most diverse selection of candidates for king and queen that Fenderson had ever seen at the school.

Principal Diana Woods, of Henry Clay High School in Lexington, became aware of Parker's work with schools in Louisville, Ashland, and Berea and contacted him about working with Henry Clay. Last fall the Mandala Movement started at Henry Clay with a core group of 17 students and eight teachers. Shirley Morton, program coordinator for the project, says that it arose out of concerns expressed by students about persistent divisions in the student body along racial lines.

"Dr. Parker is great," says Suzie Stammer, a Henry Clay science teacher who is participating in the program. "He is effective at helping create bonds amongst diverse groups – finding unity in diversity."

Campbell Wood is a staff writer for The Lane Report.

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