As we embark on Black History Month and reflect on the achievements of African Americans, I want to share my own story and share three pieces of advice with the next generation of change-makers.
My name is Georgette “Gigi” Dixon, and I’ve had the pleasure of working with a company for the last 25 years that I dearly admire, Wells Fargo. I am grateful to be a part of this organization, and for their commitment to the African American community and trust in my vision for community engagement and collaboration to support critical work in diverse communities.
My hope is that the work that many others and I are a part of today will help shape the leaders of tomorrow, to empower and transform the future. Here are three life lessons I want to pass onto you.
First, consider your legacy
We all have a responsibility to pay blessings forward, because we stand on the shoulders of African ancestors who sacrificed for our destiny. 2020 is an election year — and the year of the US Census.
The importance of the 2020 Census is critical in determining how billions of dollars in federal funding get distributed into cities and communities, as well as the number of congressional seats per state. In addition, for the black community, it affects areas such as schools and education, health services, and small businesses.
But it also is a year in which we commemorate 150 years since the passage of the 15th Amendment granting African American men and other groups the right to vote, and 100 years since the passage of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote. In other words, it is a year of identity — as a nation and as Americans.