A Vision of Hope and Change from Don Polk
Many people, such as Don Polk, see a need for hard-hitting change in our communities and our society as a whole. The change that Don Polk sees has to do with the misconceptions that people develop about other people and groups that they do not understand. This is a huge problem in every community. Even people who have had horrible experiences with prejudice against them in their own lives will more than likely have some sort of prejudices against other people at some point, even if they don?t realize it. If Don Polk has his way, these misconceptions and stereotypes will begin to disappear as we see each other for who we truly are.
Don Polk is the founder and director of Don Polk & Companies, which is an advisory and advocacy firm for privately held companies, communities and nonprofit organizations including health, civil and economic equity groups. He is hoping to use his influence and resources to combat the dangerous habit of crating myths about the people and groups that we don’t understand. These beliefs and misconceptions are not only dangerous on an individual level, according to Don Polk; they are dangerous on a societal level. Just look at the Holocaust.
The paradigm that reflects Don Polk and his desire for the hard working people in the nation and around the world encompasses wealth, health, knowledge, wisdom, happiness and joy. Don Polk honestly believes that it is possible for everyone in the world who is willing to work hard and do the right thing to have these things. He believes it is possible to live in a world where communities are empowered, hope is inspired, despair is diminished, crime is a thing of the past, women are revered, children are respected, men are encouraged and all community members are supported.
In order for these things to be possible, Don Polk believes that human beings must first learn to break down the walls of stereotypes and misconceptions that separate us.