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Carl W. Kenney II is an award winning columnist and novelist. He is committed to engaging readers into a meaningful discussion related to matters that impact faith and society. He grapples with pondering the impact faith has on public space while seeking to understand how public space both hinders and enhances the walk of faith.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Hampton University business school bans locs and cornrows
64 comments:
- AnonymousAugust 23, 2012 at 11:27 AM
Hamilton's B School is not in the business of social engineering, it's in the business of positioning its graduates to succeed in a business career.ReplyDelete
NC Central is educating some of its students in appropriate dress code and grooming too. Is that racial?
Think for a moment about a hiring authority, whose mission it is to find people who will help make him or her and the company successful. One interviewee appears dressed in a business suit and is well groomed, and the other, with equal skills, comes in jeans and if male, hair to his shoulders, or braided. "Who would better represent the company?" is the question the hiring authority might ask. You know the answer.
We who have been fortunate enough to be able to hire people, are not looking for social justice, we are looking for people who will help us succeed. A B School had better be teaching students how to provide that impression. If I was an administrator in a business school I'd be looking to admit students who were on a mission to learn how to succeed, not on a mission to send a message.
There are other schools for that.
- AnonymousAugust 23, 2012 at 3:38 PM
I remember my trip to HAMPTON as a high school junior as part of a tour of all the HBCUs on the east coast from PA to FL. I still recall the feeling I got when visiting it's campus. It was similar to the feeling I would get when I was sitting in the front pew of The First Baptist Church as a little girl with my grandma and rest of the deaconess board. Sit up straight, you must wear pantyhose, cross your legs at the ankle, and your skirt should hit no higher than your knee. Being expected to spout bible verses and black history at any given time. I was raised by a generation of Black people who were obsessed with Black excellence which was often right in line with total assimilation. There was absolutely no room for error because your sentiments, remarks,values, and most importantly your ACTIONS were a direct reflection of every Black person in America. I remember being given the rundown about the strict dress code, prompt schedule, etc and I was scared to death. It seemed to me that Hampton held the same belief as my grandparents that to be Black and successful in America one must be twice as good overly congenial and let everyone you know that you're not one of THOSE Black people.Delete
In that same church at eleven or twelve years old I was asked "Why don't you have a perm yet?!" As if chemically processing my hair was the last step in my rites of passage to becoming an upstanding Black woman. I was confused and rightly so. My mother whose hair was silky and straight often would adore me and my sister for our fluffy tresses saying "I wish I could get my hair like that." I was taught that my hair texture, skin tone, and features were beautiful. Little did I know that my hair had been a point of contention between my mother and grandma since I sprouted my baby puff. She couldn't wait to get her hands on this nappy head.
I have worn my hair straight, cropped, in braids, weaved and ultimately in locs which I often call my crown of glory. Through my hair journey my appearance has certainly changed. Although, my level of education, social skills, confidence, communication, experience, network and professionalism did not suddenly diminish because my hair reverted back to its natural texture. I think it is high time for Black people to realize that these issues with our hair are ours alone. Empires have been built on the Black hair care industry for what I consider an identity crises. Is it more "extreme" for me to wear my hair as it naturally twists and coils from my scalp or to submit myself to chemicals that can cause permanent bodily harm, pulling, burning, sewing, not to mention wearing THE HAIR OF ANOTHER WOMAN/CHILD on top of my head?!?
- AnonymousAugust 24, 2012 at 8:14 AM
HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND? THIS IS JUST ANOTHER PLOY TO DEFINE WHAT SUCCESS SHOULD LOOK LIKE. THE LOCS DO NOT MAKE ONE PERSON LESS ABLE TO PERFORM. THE BRAIN UNDERNEATH THE LOCS WORKS JUST AS WELL, IF NOT BETTER, THAN A SCALP COVERED WITH BLOND HAIR, OR STRAIGHT HAIR. YOU WHITE PEOPLE BELIEVE YOU OWN AND DEFINE EVERYTHING, AND ULTIMATELY, THIS IGNORANCE WILL CAUSE YOUR OWN DOWNFALL. STOP SCREAMING AT THE WORLD TO NOTICE YOU, BECAUSE WE DO, AND NOTMANY PEOPLE LIKE WHAT THEY'RE LOOKIN' AT!Delete
- AnonymousAugust 24, 2012 at 9:54 AM
The question was not in the dress, it was in the hair on the person's head. Who would you like to have working at your company a dumb blond, very well tanned without a clue of business or a well dressed and professionally attired africian american woman with locs? The question is of the 75 professional, what is the age range and how did they get started in business.Delete
To the first anonymous,Delete
Sir or Mame, I question your analogy. Why does person B in your hypothetical situation have to have both an "extreme" hair style and be inadequately dressed? What about "Locks", braids, or afros is synonymous with improper attire? If someone has a very pedestrian hairstyle and walks into an interview inappropriately dressed, they too will be denied employment. You came to a conclusion based on the wrong premise. Being proud of the texture of your hair, being confident in your color, and being secure with who you are as a person, is far more beneficial to your success than a hair style choice. Those who have been brow-beaten into a theoretical mold they will never fit struggle mightily to find security, happiness, and contentment solely because they are not being true to themselves. If I do not get the job because of my natural, undyed, well manicured, well groomed, non chemical laden hairstyle, then maybe that particular job was not for me to begin with.
- C.CamilleThompsonAugust 24, 2012 at 2:37 PM
Just as we as a people come in all different shades and sizes, we should not be limited by our personal preference of hair styles. How we wear our hair is one of the many facets that make us so versitile. We've been forced to look down upon our selves for what makes us different. We were told for years that our "big" lips were ugly, that is until botox shots became popular. We are the race that everyone chooses to belittle and make fun of. We have to hold on to what makes us who we are...a diverse group that has overcome many obstacles. We must embrace our heritage and teach our children how truly rich, beautiful, and dynamic we are as a people. In the Bible, Sampson was destroyed when his locs were cut. His strength was in his hair and that is a battle we're still fighting. Change only occurs when we refuse to be silenced!Delete
- AnonymousAugust 25, 2012 at 12:04 AM
Just one more reason why you/me/us need to create our own jobs locx on a women beautiful, they shold ban perms how the hell can you tell someone to change how there hair grows...Delete
- AnonymousAugust 25, 2012 at 4:46 AM
A person with locs can wear a business suit too and look professional. Male or female can have cornrow braids or twisted natural and still work in a business environment. Many successful brilliant black women have natural hair, some are even from Africa. Hair does not define the way you behave. A person can have low cut hair wearing an Armani suit and not have any class whatsoever business or otherwise. We need to know how to look deeper and see the mind and a person's abilities.Delete
I love to see well groom ethnic looks, wonderful diversity and individuality in a business environment. Hampton needs to change that policy and antiquated way of thinking. Go visit some of the young billion dollar corporations like Google, Facebook and several other companies and you would throw all those antiquated rules out the window except good honest, hard, intelligent dedicated workers.
Hampton go order some new business books. Some of us have always been our worst enemies. Our people were made to feel inferior about everything that we have that is also very beautiful. I am so happy that the young people are going back to natural hair. We need to stop killing ourselves with chemicals and messing up our beautiful God given hair and skin color. We should embrace who we are with pride. Hair does not define who we are – we are a beautiful group of people with all types of hair and hair styles – from braids and locs to straight and curly. Just be the best that You can be in the world - in and out of the office.
- Love LocsAugust 25, 2012 at 7:00 AM
Wowwww! As a black male with an 12 year old daughter, it pisses me off that I have to tell her to keep getting a relaxer until all of your naturally beautiful hair is burned to the scalp. She received her first relaxer at five years old. It hurt me to see those chemicals in her hair, but her mom said this is what society expects. Crazy thing is my daughters mom has been growing her locs for 2 years now. My sister has been growing locs for 15 years and my girlfriend who is a recent graduate of Howard University has been growing her locs for over 10 years. And for the record, my girlfriend has her doctorate degree in education. The point I am trying to make is what do I tell my daughter about her hair? I do know that I will tell her not to attend Hampton University....Delete
- AnonymousAugust 25, 2012 at 9:58 AM
The issues at hand is society never expected black folks to make it as a succesful and educated race. This post is not targeted at the whole of society rather the large majority that focuses on putting people in boxes and unable to identify the different qualities in individuals. We black folks are being told "you've been through so much" or "you're so beutiful" these things are often said in hopes to minimize the black individual while attempting to inforce yet another limitation. The natural hair is not accepted and makes me sad to see such a regression in the thought process of so many individuals. The black community poses a threat and are yet again being forced into unacceptable expectation and that's is still racism in my book...just saying.Delete
Hampton? Howard? And then Hamilton? (Is there such an HBCU?) Get it straight (no pun intended). This article introduces the term "Howard" in one paragraph even though the title says "Hampton." All our schools are not alike. Get it right. Then the one response refers to "Hamilton." What is that?ReplyDelete
The main concern, however, is that just like in the names, we are NOT all alike; we have varying belief systems, agendas, and goals that should be respected. I think it is fine for all business schools to teach appropriate dress that is most successful for corporate selection; however, to require that students dress or look a certain way in order to study in a particular program is going "over the top." This should be considered an abridgement of student and even human rights. Everyone who works toward a business degree may not be aspiring for the corporate world. There may be some who plan to go into entrepreneurship on their own. They deserve a right to be free to receive a degree from a qualified institution of higher learning to be able to do that. I feel sure that no one would require that of any Orthodox Jewish student, Sikh or other tradition-clad individual if the opportunity presented itself. Some exception would have to be made.
Although I am not a deep fan of the dred look, although I do admire the neatest type, I still cannot accept a society that limits the freedom of self-expression in personal appearance, particularly when done from a cultural or religious perspective. Each individual should have the opportunity to decide for him or herself what is best for his or her occupational goals. That is only right. So I could not uphold the college's requirement to ban specific hair styles.
- AnonymousAugust 23, 2012 at 3:26 PM
If a woman or man is a genius in business ,whether they have locs or not is irrelevant. If you want to argue that it is NOT racial, you must admit that it is quite superficial. It seems that the business school is the one who is sending the message. The message is:ReplyDelete
- if u want to make money to survive u better look how the world wants u to look.
I don't like that people believe that they can tell others what is appropriate or professional. If u have locs, these type of policies hold your career and SURVIVAL hostage .........unless you conform ofcourse.
MLeeza, Howard is never mentioned in the blog, but comments have been made regarding Howard and other HBCU's.ReplyDeleteReplies
- AnonymousAugust 23, 2012 at 5:09 PM
There is a reference to Howard ..."Hair is a reminder that a black person can't make it in the "real world" by being overly black. What Credie and the administration at Howard ..."Delete
- AnonymousAugust 24, 2012 at 2:41 PM
@Anonymous, The reference was Hampton and not Howard(Real HU).Delete
- AnonymousAugust 23, 2012 at 4:30 PM
Actually Howard is mentioned in the 7th paragraph..."What Credie and the administration at Howard assert is an unspoken expectation that their policy confirms – stop being black. Get rid of that nasty, dreadful hair and act white."ReplyDelete
I don't believe white people think about our hair as much as we do. If you had an interview with a white and a black human resource director, the white one would take note that you are black while the black one would take note that you are black AND take note of your hair style...sad but true
- AnonymousAugust 23, 2012 at 5:46 PM
Hair is a reminder that a black person can't make it in the "real world" by being overly black. What Credie and the administration at Howard assert is an unspoken expectation that their policy confirms – stop being black. Get rid of that nasty, dreadful hair and act white. The top 75 black folks in the world of business don't look like that, so play by the rules son. Get with the program girlfriend.ReplyDelete
Copy and pasted for your review. Howard is mentioned in the blog.Replies
You are correct. I fixed the mistake. Sorry for the typoDelete
Uh, Check That Mess?ReplyDelete
Dreadful comment.
I hear a lot of old unevolved ideals on both sides of the argument.I think the first thing we have to do is put the race card down for just a moment. I am a 30 year old entrepreneur with locs. I should say that I am an in the artist and business end of the business. Since music is an arts based industry which does allow more room for individual expression. Now a lot of the people in the industry are ex-musicians and thus have tattoos, piercings, extreme hair cuts, and all other forms of body modifications and art. These were the kids that were told that they would never find a job looking and dressing they way they do, but here they are.ReplyDelete
Now granted this is the music industry, but body art is starting to show up all over the place. The fact is that old generations die and new ones take over. Certain things may be taboo now but if you open your eyes you can already start to see the tide changing. I feel like the old generation has no right or say to the future the new generation. Teach them well and then allow them to rise above all the chains that hold you down.
I have a slight gripe with the comment made stating that people who don't understand the tradition of locs should be lectured and have them cut. I get that it was kind of an expression rather than something you would actually do (I hope). My question is why is someone else' expression only valid if they assign the meaning you believe that expression should carry? How can you expect people to rise above the past if you keep chaining them to it? I am not an Afrocentric person. I am marrying a black woman who wears her hair natural but that is the least of the reasons why she is so wonderful. Don't think for a moment that I don't respect my elders and appreciate all the things the have fought to give us. I am sorry that they had to struggle. My struggles are different. I have to ignore struggles of the past so that i don't manifest them in my future. Thank you elders, now get out of the way.Replies
- AnonymousAugust 23, 2012 at 9:32 PM
Thank you Aaron for expressing my initial thoughts when I read the post. How hypocritical to have disdain for the university's new policy while suggesting that the writer somehow has some right to have an opinion on the validity of an individual's reasonings for their own hair choice.Delete
As someone else stated above, it is black people that have a problem with black folks hair. As usual, projecting our own insecurities on others does nothing to move us forward to deal with much more pressing issues in our community.
You hit it on the nail with your comment Aaron. Yes, it is incredibly hypocritical of me to judge those who loc their hair while failing to abide by my expectation. It was my personal confession to reflect how deep this hair thing goes. There is a bias when it comes to those who decide to go natural (both men and women) that lends to a bit of arrogance. My point was to expose how wrong that is. Glad you called me on it. I was hoping someone would.Delete
- AnonymousAugust 23, 2012 at 8:45 PM
Black People named them "Dread Locks", not White people!! Get your history and facts straight:-) the first ime I saw a Rasta Man was 1974 in in Ochos Rios Jamaica....the cab driver explained their history to me.......they (dreadlocks) looked dreadful and they were dreadful because they were not washed or oiled, and was down right dirty and nasty looking as I recall. Some people wash and oil and keep their hair healthy....then you have the others who don't........THAT looks dreadful and IS DREADFUL!!!!ReplyDeleteReplies
The book "Dreads" tells the history of dreadlocks dating back over 2,000 years. The name "dreadlock" was given by slave traders when the witnessed slaves from Africa come off the ships with uncombed (locked) hair. This was long before the beginning of the Rastafarian movement in Jamaica which began with Haile Selassie in the 1930s. The Rastafari gave new meaning to dreadlocks at that timeDelete
Go here if you are interested in the book "Dreads" http://www.amazon.com/Dreads-Francesco-Mastalia/dp/157965150XDelete
- AnonymousAugust 24, 2012 at 7:49 AM
Dont argue with people that have no understanding about a global world view. The US is so backwards when it comes to what is approprite or not. See the Chinese does not care ehat your hair look like, Chileans dont care. My point is it depends on the type of industry you go into. Globally they want to know you understand your craft and your going to make money. For the record, I am a HR person folk will judge you about everything when your a black person. I am not saying you cant make it but it is STILL racist out there people. Be yourself because people respect you when you are yourself! Keep the locks go to another school. Shame on Hampton.Delete
- AnonymousAugust 23, 2012 at 8:49 PM
You may want to consider this. Being hired in the private sector means your employer had bet that you will succeed. How big a bet? Well, over the course of the first half year you'll probably have used up a person month of your supervisor's time (and therefore salary) and six months of your own, and for most professional positions that probably for a good hire means maybe 4 months of productivity.ReplyDelete
That's the bet. If the new hire doesn't work out that money is lost, and so is opportunity for the employer.
Now, suppose for a moment you're the person making the hiring decision. I would submit in the real world you'd use every clue you could concerning a prospect's likelihood of success -- BFOQ's (Bona Fide Occupational Qualifications) for sure and everything else that may serve to differentiate among the applicants.
The question to ask yourself as a prospective employee is how do you want to present yourself? First impressions matter, more than we may want to admit. Are you going to be defined and remembered because of an extreme hair style? It may work for some jobs, probably not for others. Let me say it differently. If I was coaching someone on how to succeed on an interview and my subject was wearing an extreme hair style, UNLESS I KNEW THE HIRING AUTHORITY WOULD BE FAVORABLY IMPRESSED BY THAT, I would advise moderation.
It's up to you. If you want to cause a social change you may want to position yourself so your chances of getting a good position first are high. If you don't? My candidate, who may be no more competent than you, will probably walk away with the offer more often than you do.
It's a roll of the dice, but the dice are loaded. Be sure you're betting on the side of the loaded dice. How big an advantage to you want to give the other candidates?
Point well taken! So, could a school that's not an HBCU get away with this policy?Delete
- AnonymousAugust 23, 2012 at 10:54 PM
People go to colleges for different reasons but if you're going to a business school, you have a right to expect that school is going to groom you to succeed in business. If it isn't you should get your money back, HBCU or not.Delete
I can't make it more clear than this: in many circumstances, (but of course not all) other candidates who are interviewing for a job that requires an MBA would rejoice if they saw someone interviewing for the same position with locs to his shoulders or his blond hair in a long pony tail, or in ratty clothes if the job was related to being part of the public face of the company.
Here's a real world consideration. There's lots of competition for jobs, and a hiring authority or such a person's assistant is looking for reasons NOT to interview a candidate. A resume with typos will not get you in the door. An extreme appearance may not get you past the HR's office, and he (or she) is NOT the decision maker on who to hire, but does screening to save the decision maker time.
You can say it's not right every minute until next year, but if you make it easy to be rejected as a serious candidate you're saving the hiring authority time.
Again, this is from the point of view of the employer. There are two mistakes one can make in hiring. The first mistake is to reject someone who can do the job. The second is to hire someone who can't. Someone with the authority to make a hiring decision is willing to make a lot of mistakes of the first kind in order to avoid making one of the second kind. Don't make it too easy for the decision maker to make a mistake of the first kind with you.
I've described aspects of my real world. Yours may be different.
Anyone who looks at a beautiful head of cornrows and sees something negative is not someone I would want to work for. Period. What you suggest is that black men and women buckle down and start up a healthy neurosis (conflict between interior and exterior self) in order to make hiring easier for someone who has a perception problem. I think that that is terrible advice.Delete
And I certainly don't think that any organization that puts itself forward as a place of education should be encouraging negative stereotyping. Period.
My apologizes for the reference to Howard in the blog. It was a typo that has been corrected. Sorry for the confusion.ReplyDelete
many years there was a lawsuit with Hyatt Hotels in the Washington Dc area connected to the use of cornrows as a hairstyle. The person's name was Cheryl Tatum. This was when Natural Hairstyles had just made a breakthrough in this city almost 30 years ago. Review lawsuits because that person did win and was even on National Television in the Oprah show and other talk shows. is interesting how it feels like we are going backwards.
- AnonymousAugust 24, 2012 at 1:27 AM
I am a proud graduate of Hampton's B-School.My first job was in the financial sector on Wall Street; I have been an Executive at a Brooklyn, NY based non-profit social services agency; presently,I am an attorney at one of NJ's largest law firms. Clarification: the "no dreadlocks and cornrows" rule is applied to the males in the program…It is a gross mischaracterization of HU's policy to state that it sends the message that "a black person can't make it in the "real world" by being overly black" or that one has to "stop being black" to be successful in Corporate America.This view is myopic and potentially insulting as it suggests that one's "blackness" is defined by a hairstyle.The policy is part of a comprehensive educational approach designed to prepare business students for entre into the Corporate world. This is done based on the prevailing standards in that arena- standards that are rooted in Anglo-Saxon ideals/traditions. The reality is there is a uniform/dress code that persist in Corporate America and that standard is not very accepting of extremes- including locks and cornrows; but before we completely racialize this issue, take note that so-called extremes hairstyles are not the norm across the board, as you will not see mainstream TV personalities, CEOs, etc. of any race/ethnicity with "extreme" hairstyles (when was the last time you saw a white male news anchor with some "punk rocker" hairdo or a long mane like hairstyle like a biker or grunge artist?).Gaining entre into Corporate America is similar to joining the armed forces in that regardless of one's race/ethnicity, if you choose to be in that arena you will have to abide by the established standards of dress and grooming (everyone has to cut their hair down in the armed forces, not just black people).Another way of looking at it is: getting a job- especially one's first job- in Corporate America is like auditioning for a particular role; if you want the role, then you have to look, dress & act the part. Ultimately, that's what being in Corporate America is- a role one plays for 8-10 hours a day/5 days a week.In a perfect world hairstyle wouldn't matter, but that's not the world we live in. Especially in the business world, it's about the bottom line. If one's identity as black person is so inextricably linked to wearing a certain "ethnic hairstyle" then that person should not be looking to gain entre into Corporate America where the standards and rules are based on Anglo-Saxon ideals and traditions, often to the exclusion of other ethnic norms. Finally, the real critique should not be of the HU's policy. The real question is why haven't HBCUs, black churches, i.e., Black America produced enough blacks who have enough successful businesses so that brothers and sisters graduating from college would not have to depend exclusively on "the white establishment" for viable employment? If there was a critical mass of successful black owned business hiring college graduates then we could create new standards/rules or we could dictate that the standards/rules be more inclusive. Thus, the challenge is for those with a problem with the current standards to create equal or better alternatives for new college grads.If black companies that didn't have an aversion to "extreme hairstyles" were interviewing & hiring Hampton grads, then the B-School policy would reflect that reality. Until then, Hampton is doing what it must to prepare those who choose to "play the corporate role" for that role based on the prevailing standards.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 24, 2012 at 8:52 AM
I say don't go to Hampton University and find another institution that shows respect for black people's diversity. They are assimilationist in Hampton likened to the house negro. The type of business that they are teaching is an attempt to copy the white standard. Too bad you can't really change your skin color which is also an extreme when it is dark in the standard white business world. Extreme hairstyle...really? They are just one example of a lost people at that particular school. As a people who are healing from slavery and discrimination and plain old terrorism we cannot support such ways of thinking or we will remain mentally enslaved. How about making a course that speaks on how you can be true to yourself and values without hiding and still being successful. How about building the future leaders of the world.ReplyDelete
As white people read this they are laughing or shaking their heads. I would never send my children or students to this school just because of that policy. They can keep that.Replies
Your disguest/frustration w/Hampton's B-School policy is misplaced toward the university. The policy reflects the reality of the standards that persist in Corporate America. It is not Hampton that doesn't respect our diversity, it is the corporate world that largely does not accept or embrace our diversity. The Hampton B-School policy is simply a response to that reality. Students in the MBA program are paying/borrowing a lot of money and therefore, cannot afford- literally & figuratively- to be placed at an unnecessary disadvantage when attempting to land their first job in Corporate America. If you have a problem it is with the mainstream that created and maintains certain standards/preferences, not with an institution that is real & honest enough to prepare its MBA students for the realities they will encounter when trying to enter the corporate world.Delete
Disclaimer: I am a proud graduate of Hampton's B-School. My first job was in the financial sector on Wall Street; I have been an Executive at a Brooklyn, NY based non-profit social services agency; presently, I am an attorney at one of NJ's largest law firms…It is a gross mischaracterization of HU's policy to state that it sends the message that "a black person can't make it in the "real world" by being overly black"or that one has to "stop being black" to be successful in Corporate America. This view is myopic and potentially insulting as it suggests that one's level of "blackness" is defined by wearing or not wearing a particular hairstyle. Nonetheless, HU's B-School policy is part of a comprehensive educational approach designed to afford its students the best chance at gaining entre into the Corporate world. This is done based on the prevailing standards, standards that are rooted in Anglo-Saxon ideals/traditions. The reality is there is a uniform/dress code that persist in Corporate America that is not very accepting of extremes- including but not limited to locks/cornrows; but before completely racializing this issue, take note that so-called "extreme hairstyles" are excluded across the board, as you will not see mainstream TV personalities, CEOs, etc. of any race/ethnicity with "extreme hairstyles"(you will not see a white male news anchor, Fortune 500 executive, etc. with a "punk rocker" hairdo or a long mane-like hairstyle like a biker or grunge artist). Entering Corporate America is similar to joining the armed forces in that regardless of one's race/ethnicity, ifyou choose to be in that arena you will have to abide by the established standards of dress and grooming (all men must maintain a simple, "neat" hairstyle in the armed forces, not just blacks). Getting one's first job in the corporate world is perhaps best viewed like auditioning for a particular role; if you want the role, then you have to look, dress & act the part. Ultimately, that's what being in Corporate America is-playing a role for 8-12 hours a day (or more). In a perfect world hairstyle wouldn't matter, but that's not the world we live in. Especially in the business world, it's about the bottom line. If one's identity as a black person is so inextricably linked to wearing a certain "ethnic hairstyle" then perhaps one should not be looking to gain entre into Corporate America where the standards and rules are based on Anglo-Saxon ideals and traditions,often to the exclusion of other ethnic norms. There are other pathways to success that do not require "compromising one's blackness," to the extent that one believes his/her blackness is linked to a particular hairstyle. Finally, the real critique should not be of the HU B-School policy. The deeper more consequential question is why haven't HBCUs, black churches, etc. i.e., Black America as a whole produced enough blacks who have developed enough successful businesses so that brothers and sisters graduating from college would not have to depend exclusively on "the white establishment" for viable employment? If there was a critical mass of successful black owned business interviewing and hiring college graduates then we could create new standards/rules and/or we could dictate that the prevailing standards be more inclusive. Thus, the challenge is for those who have a problem with the current standards to create equal or better alternatives for young brothers and sisters. If black-owned companies (that presumably would not regard locks/cornrows as "extreme hairstyles") were interviewing & hiring Hampton grads, then HU's B-School policy would reflect that reality. Until then, Hampton is doing what it must to prepare those who choose to "play the corporate role" for that role based on the prevailing standards.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 24, 2012 at 2:11 PM
This is exactly why students and young professionals should choose there schools wisely. All of these universities are not the same. You have choices as a black professional. You can choose to go to Hampton b-school and be told to limit you self expression or you can choose Howard b-school and be praised for your differences. Take what you learn from these programs and become an entrepreneur. Make changes that allow any young black person to be who they choose. We are a great people by nature and no perm, dreadlock, or cornrow is going to change that.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 24, 2012 at 6:36 PM
Simply choose the school and program that meets your objectives. Is it training for a career? If so a B school with a good placement record for its graduates is the right choice, placement successes suggest its training is spot on. Most know how many offers on average a graduate got. For that matter, that would be a good question to ask no matter what career path you're considering.Delete
I was happy to see NCCU work at making its students present themselves better. Others may feel it infringes on the students' right of self expression. If someone's 'self expression' places that person at a disadvantage it reflects most directly on the individual and secondarily on the institution he came from.
Loc is a form of self expression. If extremely done IN THE EYES OF THE HIRING AUTHORITY it places that person at a disadvantage. It's as simple as that.
Look, at least for me a major purpose of going on a job interview was to get an offer so that I got to make a yes or no decision and with an offer in hand it opened the door to ask other questions about the opportunity.
Others may have a different objective, but if your objective is to have a position offered to you don't shoot yourself in the foot by offering a self image inconsistent with that of the target company.
It's not about being black or white, but about demonstrating you'd be a good fit. the company in general is NOT going to bend to your whims unless you're exceptional (in the eyes of the decision maker).
If you choose to present yourself differently you're placing yourself at a disadvantage. If your 'presentation' is that important to you you'll have to find a company that is in sync with your values.
Good luck in any event.
- LadyInRedAugust 24, 2012 at 2:42 PM
What if a student does not want to go to Corporate America? Not everyone is trying to get into a cubicle and work 9 to 5. There are some who may want the degree and be their own boss. It is a small majority but they are in college also. Grad student could be there to get it and start their own business or even teach at the collegiate level. Same with an undergrad.ReplyDelete
I find this whole discussion about the "real world" so freaking disgusting and uninformed. First of all, WE are the ones who have all those damn hangups about OUR hair, white people don't give a shit! Seriously take a poll and ask them, how many of them really care about how a person wears their hair in their hiring process, as long as it's clean and neat. This is not about jobs, its about self-loathing. Secondly, where do these uppity negroes get off classifying what comes from us naturally as somehow inferior? I guess they would rather these women perm their hair till it falls out and they have permanent scarring all over their scalps. It's sickening and these people need real psychological help.ReplyDelete
The writer lost me (for real). To reason that "Hampton had to do it" is the exact opposite of good sense. Black Colleges should be thee last to even think about outlawing afro-centric hairstyles. Hampton just opened the door for other races to reject afro-centric style.ReplyDelete
And Gabby Douglass' hair was fine...do you know why? Answer - Well, the only opinion that really mattered was that of the judges, & they don't quibble over trivial non-essentials. So Gabby won.
Also, to think everyone wearing locks needs a history lesson is arrogant, & your personal preferences are a non-factor when it comes to hairstyles. The so-called "history" lesson always leads to some rubbish about how the locking of hair can transform a person.
Transformed into what? ...for what? I'll just let God transform me into the image of Jesus, & wear my hair however I like. WORD
It is SAD to see progress moving backward.there is no "mistake" with my hair. It is neither dreadful or nappy or unkept. It is curly and strong and unique and beautiful just like every other texture of hair. Hampton will soon see a letter from the ACLU, i'm almost certain.ReplyDelete
How much is The Corporation paying you to be their shill?ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 24, 2012 at 7:18 PM
Not sure why this is even a disscusion! With this type of idiocracy, HBCU's will soon be irrelevant so this may soon be irrelevant. Let's stop the race card..there is a reason its called corporate "America" and not white or black America. Perhaps if we stopped following hip hop as a religion then maybe we could stop making such superficial discussions like this relevant. Grow up, its the American way!ReplyDelete
The "leadership" at most HBCUs has always had a problem with the thinking, attitude and dress of the students. The students of the civil rights era were shunned by admin because they were active in the streets against second class citizenship. Today HBCU students who wear their hair in it's natural state are unemcumbered with the sense of self hatred related to African hair. To ban locs and fros is to say very loudly that the Hampton SOB (school of business) still believe in the myth of African inferiority and the superiority of the European Business world. Like the brother said, "elders, we love you but get out of the way!". HAPPY 2BNAPPYReplyDelete
- LadyBehindTheMaskAugust 24, 2012 at 10:28 PM
I'm hearing echoes of conversations with a white female friend who had a successful corporate career and described her morning routine as "putting on the uniform" and "putting on my game face." Without attempting to make any comment on Hampton's rigid posture, since I'm an outsider, I can only say that white women have been recasting themselves for the corporate game for a long time. It seems like anyone perceived as "from the outside" has to do this ... and then will become an outsider in both the new world and their original group.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 25, 2012 at 12:01 AM
To all of you "Afrocentric" Christians and Muslims, you all are hypocrites. Christianity and Islam were forced on blacks by white settlers from Northern Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. My ancestors had their own religions before they were sold to the white man in slavery, they had their own Gods and faiths that have since been destroyed and forgotten.ReplyDelete
You eat up the white man's religion just like he wants you to. He destroyed your ancestors myths and legends, stories, and religions. And they gave us their white saviour. Bullshit.
I'm going to keep this simple. As an entrepreneur and someone close to employment into a federal agency the context in which this rule was presented is careless and offensive to those who do have the subjective 'extreme hairdo.' I guarantee you as someone who has my foot in the entertainment industry and in the corporate world, the common denominator has always been presentation. Generally, companies have an autonomous stance on what they view as professional dress and grooming. Rules and guidelines on the subject differ from one to the next.ReplyDelete
I say if they are going to enforce such a rule at this institution then they need to make it clear that this is none more than a generalized stance on successful access into the corporate world as a whole, not just black-owned and operated businesses. There are organizations that look for all-around professionalism in prospects in comparison to noticing a certain hairdo. Corn-rows, box braids, twists, locs, afros have been worn by many a professional and entrepreneur (in certain industries) throughout the course of history. Have many others played it 'safe' to avoid a setback? yes but we would be fools to deny the successes of those who 'didn't.'
- AnonymousAugust 25, 2012 at 9:57 AM
Coming from a West Indian family that has both Christians and Rastafarians I find their ban disrespectful and insulting. There are people who wear locs for religious purposes, in addition I myself wear Braids because I decided to embrace natural black hair. It is disheartening when your own black people lose sight of what's important, dictating that I perm my hair that's a problem. Black people seem to be more disturbed by black ppl who wear their actual hair i.e the actress from the Help, big uproar because she didn't have a horses tail on her head. I wish my people would stop trying to fit into white Americas view of what's beautiful and acceptable. The message I'm getting from a black college is if it ain't white it ain't right. I'm sorry but I love the skin I'm in and I love my black hair.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousAugust 25, 2012 at 7:25 PM
As a former banking professional with locks, a graduate of banks leadership development program, I have had conversations regarding my hair being a potential obstacle to my career advancement. I respectfully declined to cut my hair and shifted the conversation to my performance and what I brought to the table. I received multiples promotions and even sat on round table conferences with senior executives without feeling that my hairstyle was an issue. I must say there is much more to professional presence than an individual's hairstyle. Diversity is not only about having someone of a difference race or ethnicity on your team, but leveraging all aspects of who they are to the advantage of the organization. I believe the University should focus on professional presence as a whole rather than just the issue of hair style. Whether we have locks or not, the potential for discrimination will always be there. The University needs to make this clear to their students and allow them to make their own decisions about issue like hairstyle. The University approach is completely misguided. By the way, doesn't Ben Bernanke have facial hair? I was once told that could be an obstacle to advancement as well.ReplyDeleteReplies
- AnonymousSeptember 3, 2012 at 9:47 PM
You may be missing an important point. First you have to GET the job. Moreover, this is NOT a "One size fits all" deal. May I suggest it's rarely an ADVANTAGE to present yourself as having a different appearance or agenda than other candidates for a job. If you happen on such a circumstance, great! If you don't, your light has to shine a bit brighter than that of some one else competing the same job. It's up to you to accept someone's coaching and suggestions as to what's best, but let me say someone who is concerned about the whole first impression issue may have an advantage.Delete
B Schools what their graduates to succeed: it reflects well on the graduate and the school when they do. A student can follow the school's advice, or not. The market will decide if the advice matters.
Once one has a resume that can cite accomplishments it's an easier sell, but if I were a hiring authority considering freshly minted MBA's I may let something like apparent social agenda affect my decision making. As I mentioned elsewhere,a wrong hire is an expensive mistake, and I'd rather reject a qualified one than hire someone who can't do the job. The honest fact is, I never had a position to fill that would be satisfied with a fresh MBA, so I am not arguing from a position of strength. I have, however, hired people holding that ticket with some years of experience, and to the best of my memory at least candidates I saw presented a professional appearance. I don't remember locs (dreaded or not) being an issue.
- AnonymousAugust 25, 2012 at 7:32 PM
Like it or not, companies are not hiring ANYONE with a social agenda. They only hire ambitious people with a business agenda. So, if you love your locks, braids, tatts, piercings, etc..., establish your own business and run it any way you like. The world wont change for you, you have to make the change to get what they have that you want.ReplyDelete
Amazing post.. i can study so many things from this post & your comments.. Thanks for sharing.ReplyDelete
You have an amazing blog! More power to you!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousOctober 29, 2012 at 7:14 AM
To compete internationally with our oppressor, or to be acknowledged universally by our family¿ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 18, 2012 at 1:01 PM
As though there are not enough comments on this. I am appalled and insulted. It is "we" who keep oppressing ourselves! I am a sister with locs, who made a conscious decision to chop my perm in college in 2000--12 years ago! I started off in corporate america successfully with a low fro, and later locs. I love my hair and will NEVER perm my hair again. I had a sad dialogue with a sister who has, like Hampton U, internalized the perceived racism towards black hair. It is her lack of confidence in her natural beauty that most saddens me. Commercialism and pop culture continues to deny true black beauty in all its ranges, and we continue to let ourselves be stifled. It is a falsehood that employers denigrate natural hair. It is absolutely unfounded. White people (if that's who we're concerned with) don't even understand black hair no matter what. They often find it mesmerizingly beautiful when we wear our hair naturally. They are confused either way, so it truly does not matter. what matters is confidence and competence--and NO RELAXER CAN GIVE YOU COMPETENCE!!! Hampton is perpetuating a dangerous myth and WORSE penalizing students who have enough sense of self and authenticity to love their natural beauty. Sigh. BY THE WAY, I worked for a private equity (Jalia Ventures, venture capital) fund this summer as an intern. The fund CEO/manager, a black woman, feels comfertable enough in her skin to wear her hair natural as she pleases and HIRE people like me who rock fros and locs!!! Let's get it together. conformity does not equal leadership, which is ultimately what business school should be instilling. Peace.ReplyDelete
A unique hairstyle is a specific indicator that someone has taken time and effort to establish a non-conformist attitude. It takes long to grow a nice set of braids or locs and when you look at someone that has them you can easily see the history and future of that person and how it relates to their heir.ReplyDelete
Ask yourself this question. Why would you hire someone that wasn't willing to put your business business before their hair? Why would you you hire someone whose priority of standards are so extraordinarily superficial they spent years bucking the trend to earn "the grand crown of hair length.?"
By wearing your hair a certain way you make a statement about yourself and what you stand for. If you wear it messy and unkempt it says you are careless and lazy and that reflects upon you. If you wear it long and styled that says you spend too much time on superficial details and the reflects on you. If you wear your hair short and you take care of it... well you get the picture.
Now cut off that damn hair and lets get down to business.
A unique hairstyle is a specific indicator that someone has taken time and effort to establish a non-conformist attitude. It takes long to grow a nice set of braids or locs and when you look at someone that has them you can easily see the history and future of that person and how it relates to their heir.ReplyDelete
Ask yourself this question. Why would you hire someone that wasn't willing to put your business business before their hair? Why would you you hire someone whose priority of standards are so extraordinarily superficial they spent years bucking the trend to earn "the grand crown of hair length.?"
By wearing your hair a certain way you make a statement about yourself and what you stand for. If you wear it messy and unkempt it says you are careless and lazy and that reflects upon you. If you wear it long and styled that says you spend too much time on superficial details and the reflects on you. If you wear your hair short and you take care of it... well you get the picture.
Now cut off that damn hair and lets get down to business.
Are we still trying to assimilate? Did Hurricane Katrina not teach us the value of a black soul? Has the prison-industrial complex given way to a new society with justice and equality for all people? Let's just give it another 100 years and maybe then our locs will be appropriate in "successful white America".ReplyDelete
- First Lady DudleyDecember 4, 2014 at 2:08 PM
What is hair got to do with getting an education? Isn't money-money?ReplyDelete


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BRIAN ROGERS – NOTHING IS CHEAP – Transcript 12/27/2013 #1027
CONSUELO MACK: This week on WealthTrack while the weather outside is frosty this week's Great Investor guest says the market is frothy! T. Rowe Price's Brian Rogers warns the Bitcoin, IPO and social media crazes are possible signs of market storms ahead, next on Consuelo Mack WealthTrack.
Hello and welcome to this edition of WealthTrack, I'm Consuelo Mack. One of my favorite images of 2013 comes to us courtesy of last week's guest, Jim Grant of Grant's Interest Rate Observer and his art director artist, John McCarthy. Instead of Uncle Sam commanding citizens

subset: commoncrawl


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RBC.com | Français | | Contact Us
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About RBC > Media Newsroom > Speeches > Civic Action
Gordon M. Nixon
President & Chief Executive Officer
Royal Bank of Canada
Civic Action
Metro Convention Centre, Toronto, ON
Toronto, February 11, 2010
Good afternoon. It's a real pleasure to be part of this day, and to share with you my thoughts on civic leadership.
The process of city building is not simple. It's complex and multi-dimensional, and highly dependent on innovative thinkers. It requires citizens who care not only about what the city is today but what the city could be tomorrow. It requires individuals who are prepared to put short-term self-interest and political gamesmanship behind long-term vision and planning.
It needs regional leaders in all areas of the community -- business, labour, academia, social services, NGO's and politics - leaders who live here, work here and build their businesses here, and people who can actively participate in formulating a shared vision.
The Toronto region needs all of this - 1 in 6 Canadians live in the GTA and it is our country's most important region and our flagship in so many areas. But because of our scale, our complexity is greater and our social issues more prevalent.
The Toronto economy is large and diversified; its largest sector, banking, I am proud to say is respected globally, and the possibility of Toronto becoming a key global financial centre is entirely achievable.
The good news is that the Toronto economy remains structurally sound despite the challenges of the recent economic cycle but, more importantly, it holds huge potential.
Toronto is also the city in Canada that most immigrants choose to make home and is a model of diversity, inclusion and integration. While multiculturalism is currently being viewed by some as a failure, particularly in Europe, let me be clear - it has been an unparalleled success in our city. We have issues and challenges to work on - difficult questions that should be asked - many of which you have been addressing, but immigration, diversity and multiculturalism has brought vitality, culture and economic growth and RBC is a shining example of its benefits.
Virtually every culture in the world can be found in Toronto through its cultural events, neighbourhoods, and sports. From Chinatown to the Beach to Little Italy, Toronto has found a way to grow and thrive amicably amidst more differences than any other city in the world. Our population of visible minorities is fast approaching the 50% mark. By 2031, we won't need to use the term anymore and we should not push back but rather work on the challenges and embrace the opportunity.
We can achieve everything our potential promises, as long as we can collectively address our challenges and don't shy away from the politically challenging questions.
We know, for instance, that our results in integrating new immigrants into the labour market are imperfect. We have too many high priority neighbourhoods, too little cultural integration and too many people who don't have enough access to food, housing or health services.
In addition, we have let historically important buildings fall into disrepair, and we are paying a price for a lack of long-term vision in areas like transportation and the waterfront. Our roads are more congested every year and we must now address better, alternate modes of transportation if we are to continue our growth and manage our environment. We have challenges and that is why you are here - not to criticize but to help find solutions that will make our city better and more competitive.
It's these tough issues and big opportunities facing the Toronto region that make me very glad we have Civic Action. The projects that Civic Action is leading not only lay down clear paths to improving the GTA's social and economic future, but also paint a picture of how much more we can be through collective action.
We want to get this right. I say this from the perspective of the CEO of Canada's largest bank, certainly, but also from the perspective of a resident, a community member, a taxpayer and a participant in many of the cultural and charitable activities in Toronto.
And so while my interests and experiences extend right across the social, economic and political fabric of Toronto, this morning I'd like to address employment, diversity and community - because these are things that can be advanced through a multi-stakeholder approach - one that includes active engagement with business.
These are also the things Civic Action calls the "tough issues and big opportunities."
First, the issue of employment. Toronto is the economic engine of Ontario and Canada, yet our unemployment rate is higher than the provincial rate and higher than the federal rate.
With the number of businesses concentrated in our region, with the influx of the best and the brightest from other countries, and with the largest and fastest growing self-employed population in the country, this is something we should be able to address.
While we have had to adjust to things like the global recession and a strong dollar, I believe Toronto's biggest challenge relates to our country's low rankings in research, development and innovation. These are things that transform an economy which is critical for a region like the GTA.
While it is easy to start a new business in Canada it is more difficult to grow them. Our relative difficulty commercializing our research and new ideas is a barrier to improving productivity, and thus our standard of living.
Canada's productivity has been lower than that of the U.S. for almost half a century, and it's costing our citizens in personal disposable income and our country in global competitiveness.
Fortunately Toronto has some truly great institutions focused on innovation, research and commercialization. MaRs, the Canadian Innovation Exchange and Toronto Region Research Alliance are three stellar examples here in the GTA that businesses can partner with to unlock new revenue opportunities, create higher quality jobs, and move Toronto forward as a strong economic force. I would also be remiss not to point out that governments, and the provincial government in particular through MRI, have provided great support and commitment to this challenge of economic transformation.
But it is critical that we keep our foot to the pedal in supporting initiatives that will help transform our economy. Our country's economic success still remains rooted in natural resources more than innovation and the knowledge economy and we must re-adjust this balance. Ontario and GTA, in particular, is critical to our ability to transform and compete. We have a wealth of talent and assets that companies and organizations can capitalize on but we must execute.
We must find ways that work for our city and capitalize on our strengths - initiatives like the Toronto Financial Services Alliance, a public private initiative whose mandate is to support and promote the competitiveness of Toronto as a financial centre. Given our tax advantage, people strength and regulatory environment, we should be attracting more international financial companies to our city - we have a great story.
Another example is MaRS (which I have the honour of Chairing) - again, a private public initiative that promotes and enhances entrepreneurship and commercialization. I am constantly amazed at the talent and activity that emanate from MaRS. It is achieving remarkable success in facilitating collaboration and in bringing together research, creativity and business opportunity.
There is no region more important to Canada's economic success than the GTA and we must continue to find ways to support our emerging entrepreneurs and I am glad to see that "Reinventing our Economic Base" is one of the summit's roundtable themes - I look forward to the output.
If we as business leaders make this our priority, job creation will follow naturally.
The second arena where I feel business can unlock new successes and new value for Toronto is diversity and inclusion - and I should reinforce that this is not just about immigration.
Business growth, participation in the global economy and competitive success all need an increasingly educated work force. Toronto is already a destination of choice for skilled immigrants, scientists, professionals and entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, recent immigrants - even highly educated immigrants with high demand skills - are struggling to find jobs that capitalize on their skills.
Recently, the Globe and Mail reported that here in Canada, university-educated immigrants are finding it better to move to the U.S. than to stay in Canada, where they earn significantly less.
We in Canada pay immigrants about half what we pay Canadian-born employees, as compared to the U.S. where the gap is about 30 per cent less.
For a country that prides itself on its multiculturalism, fairness, and our open door policy, this is a surprise. For a country whose demographics promises worker shortages in the decades ahead, this doesn't make sense. Diversity is our competitive advantage.
We need that talent in Toronto. We should be seizing this strength that is right in front of us. I see first hand the talent that diversity in all its forms brings to businesses and cities, as a business leader and as co-chair of The Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council. There is hard, tangible value in hiring the market you serve - in having the opportunity to better understand your markets.
It's not just about doing the right thing, it's about doing what makes good business sense.
We have to engage with our markets, and they are changing - regardless of whether your business operates with city limits, within Canada, or is expanding internationally. I think that all of us in leadership roles, be it business, government, academia etc., have the opportunity and the responsibility to capitalize on our country's exceptional diversity and the very real benefits of inclusion.
For my fellow business leaders in the Toronto region, this is an important means to succeed and contribute to Canada's future.
In 2005, RBC Economics found that if all new Canadians were fully employed, at their level of education and experience, earning equal pay to someone born in Canada, personal income would increase by $13 billion a year. We are leaving economic growth - never mind fuller lives and stronger communities - on the table.
In the Toronto region alone, there are dozens of great organizations focused on connecting recent immigrants with growth minded businesses - TRIEC, ACCESS, Career Bridge and CPAC are just a few doing so much, so well and efficiently. They need your business card and your interest, and have the track record to show the returns from partnering with them - we can show that first hand at RBC.
At RBC, diversity has been an important investment opportunity for a long time. It's one of our five core values, and while we're not where we want to be, we are tracking against goals that are measurable and important to our businesses, for all the reasons I've talked about. We know this effort will pay off in the form of our continued leadership in financial services, serving an increasingly diverse marketplace.
Last year, we were particularly proud to have won the Global Catalyst Award for Diversity and I would encourage you to review the RBC Diversity Blueprint on our website.
By now, you may be appreciating that I'm a big believer in business engaging in the tough issues and big opportunities that Toronto faces. And one of the most critical partners for business today is the communities in which they operate.
Community is the third arena where I feel business can unlock new successes and new value for Toronto. By actively contributing to the development of their communities… by being a visible participant in successes achieved and problems tackled, businesses end up adding to their own success.
Let me give you an example from my own experience. A while back, we were approached by a corporate client, Daniels Corporation, who together with the Toronto Community Housing Corporation, were planning the revitalization of Regent Park. We were asked to consider opening a branch there.
Now Regent Park has a long history of problems. The average income is about half of other Torontonians, its residents are largely immigrants, and social housing dominates the community. There is a disproportionately high number of youth 18 years and under, along with high unemployment.
For the last ten years, RBC has been active in this community, with partnerships with Pathways to Education, Kiwanis Boys and Girls Club, and most recently, our not-yet officially-announced donation to the Regent Park Arts and Culture Centre - yet to be built so stay tuned.
Throughout all of this time, the only financial services available to Regent Park residents were cheque cashing stores. We looked at the numbers and saw that a branch would not meet our minimum return goals. But a decision based solely on the numbers didn't sit well with us.
To say no was really a vote against the vision of revitalized community. Last year, we opened a branch on the corner of Dundas and Parliament, and, as it turns out, for all the right reasons. In addition, 50 per cent of employees were hired from the Regent Park community and according to our Regional President, Jennifer Tory, we are ahead of plan.
As one of the largest companies in Canada, RBC does write a lot of cheques for good causes and sponsors numerous activities.
This year RBC donated approximately $7 million to charities in the GTA and the bank combined with our employees raised over $9.6 million for the 2010 Toronto United Way Campaign. But when we create grassroots partnerships for the benefit of the community, it's about far more than the writing of a cheque or getting our brand attached to a program. It's about participating in the community and helping to make it better, and there are many, many opportunities for every size of business to do so.
Another "tough issue/big opportunity" that businesses can play an important role in is our youth, and again there are many outstanding organizations eager to partner to create better futures for our young people.
Thorncliffe Park is a good example. For those of you who don't know this neighbourhood, it's Toronto's number one destination for new immigrants from South Asia and it houses 30,000 people in 34 apartments. RBC has been partnering with the Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office over the past three years to support their After School Program, which gives youth a safe environment to learn and build their self esteem.
From this partnership, we then launched our RBC Play Hockey Program in the neighbourhood last November - this has been a very well received initiative to encourage the game of hockey from the community level up.
Every business should and can make a difference in people's lives and in their neighbourhoods. A lot of great work has been accomplished but so much more still needs to get done. There are so many changes taking place in every part of the Toronto region; whether communities flourish or flounder is as much in the hands of the businesses that operate there as it is in the hands of governments and citizens.
And while everyone intuitively understands that a prosperous business sector is key to Toronto's employment levels and economic success, they are less attuned to the notion that business can also play a role in other aspects of Toronto's success, like diversity, inclusion and community.
We are not "Bowling Alone" as Robert Putnam titled his observations about the decline of social capital in the U.S. We are a team. And we can choose to work together as a team to make the Toronto region the very best it can be, or we can be a team whose failure to engage with each other ends up proving Mr. Putnam's point.
The process of city building in Toronto is our tough issue and great opportunity. We live here, work here, go to school here and build our businesses here.
Youth employment, high priority neighborhoods, poverty, the waterfront, funding for the arts, transportation needs and bottlenecks - these need our attention as business leaders. There is no provincial or federal department or agency that can replicate the partnerships forged within an engaged community. I encourage Civic Action and my fellow business leaders to continue to work together.
I would conclude by emphasising that while it is important that we consistently reflect, look to improve and act to make Toronto all that it can be, we must also appreciate what we have created. I travel a great amount and I can tell you that there are few cities in the world with the vitality, diversification, sophistication, culture and strength as our city.
I see our Toronto for what it can be: a truly first rate, globally important city, built on diverse, vibrant communities that are fully engaged in the social and economic fabric of our city. The objective of Civic Action is to find ways to solve our problems and improve our city and we have a remarkable base from which to move forward.
Thank you very much.


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Manager, Corporate Development
Amber joined Carrousel in 2016 and has over 12 years of travel industry and marketing experience. Before joining Carrousel Amber served in key management roles in the hotel industry and expense management space. Amber is responsible for delivering tailored client solutions and staying at the forefront of corporate travel. She is an active member of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and serves on the Hospitality Committee with the local GBTA chapter. "My passion lies in collaborating with customers to address challenges and put together travel programs that yield results."
I just want to say that I really appreciate your attention to my numerous requests. You provide such great customer service! I know that I'm not your only client, but I sure feel like I am.
Jeine P.
- Minneapolis, MN
Tim F. went over and above his line of duty for me and took time on Saturday to adjust hotel dates in Italy because he couldn't get a hold of them on Friday. Tim consistently makes you feel like he is your own personal travel agent with outstanding customer service and attentiveness. He is happy and helpful on the phone and no job is too big.
Terry D.
- Minneapolis, MN
Fantastic implementation! Very smooth transition for everyone. I never received any complaints from travelers, just compliments. Our travel arrangers said the transition wasn't difficult at all, and they never knew what they weren't getting or having access to before, and feel that they now have strong team support from everyone.
R.P. Chamilia
- Minneapolis, MN
Just a short note to let you know how much we enjoy working with your company, and specifically, Miss Rebecca.
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She is not only extremely competent and efficient, she is the nicest and hardest working agent I have encountered. She always goes "out of her way" and she prides herself in learning our unique travel habits / preferences and applies that knowledge to "go the extra mile" for us.
I hope this note brings you a smile; it should feel good to know your company is providing outstanding service and has extraordinary employees!
- Vice President Sales and Marketing
We have the most service oriented travel "goddess"! Rebecca is very helpful and knows the company really well. She is a go-to person for us.
Margot M.
- Minneapolis, MN


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What to Watch For in the Offseasonby Michael Smith / Carolina Hurricanes
|Michael Smith
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Until then, here are five things to keep an eye on in the months ahead.
1. Uniform Launch
UPDATE: The Hurricanes unveiled their all-new home and road uniforms on Tuesday. Get a complete look – including photos, video and more – here.
A New Storm will launch on Tuesday, June 4 at noon, as the Hurricanes unveil their new home and away uniform sets. For those not attending the invitation-only event, it will stream live on CarolinaHurricanes.com. We will have plenty of post-event coverage as well, including written material, photo galleries, videos and more.
Each morning for the last 10 days (plus a bonus image), we've released teaser images on Instagram. Have you pieced the new sets together?
2. 2013 NHL Draft
The Hurricanes hold the fifth overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, which will take place in New Jersey on June 30. In the seven-round, one-day draft, the Canes currently have five picks; the team traded its fourth- and seventh-round picks, and depending on how far the Pittsburgh Penguins advance in the playoffs, the Canes could acquire an additional sixth- or seventh-round selection.
This marks the first top-five selection for the team since it picked Jack Johnson third overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. A year prior, the Canes traded up to nab Andrew Ladd with the fourth overall pick, and in 2003, Carolina chose Eric Staal with the second overall pick. The fifth pick is the first in the top ten since 2010 when Jeff Skinner was selected seventh overall.
Ten years removed from the 2003 NHL Entry Draft – which produced Marc-Andre Fleury, Staal, Nathan Horton, Ryan Suter, Braydon Coburn and Dion Phaneuf, just to name a few in the top 10 alone – many consider this year's class to be the deepest since. Buffalo selected Thomas Vanek with the fifth overall pick in 2003.
The general consensus is that this year's fifth pick will provide a player who has the ability to make an impact in the NHL as early as next season. Rutherford believes the top-end talent might even extend beyond the top five.
"For a long time, I've suggested that it's really the top six players that have that chance for next year," he said. "Based on information I have to date now, I'm more comfortable saying that's probably getting more to seven or eight."
Because of this, Rutherford said he's keeping an open mind.
"There are some areas of our team that we'd like to fix sooner than later. If we had the chance to get something that helps our team immediately and not move [down] too many picks, we would at least have to have a pretty in-depth conversation about that within hockey operations," he said. "I wouldn't trade the pick outright and wouldn't drop too many spots, but I'm not going to say I wouldn't do it at all. I think the odds are against it. Probably not going to trade it. But I think it's important to look at all options."
While the team could entertain dropping a few spots, Rutherford ruled out trading up.
"I like where we sit at five," he said.
In the coming weeks, CarolinaHurricanes.com will begin profiling the top draft picks leading up to June 30. We'll have live draft-day coverage from New Jersey, including live chats, video and more.
Additionally, the Hurricanes will host a draft party at Rudino's Sports Corner on Sunday, June 30 at 2:30 p.m. For more details on the event, click here.
3. Free Agency
Free agency opens on July 5 this year, and Rutherford has already identified his main target: a top-four defenseman. Last year, he set out to add a top-flight winger to play alongside Staal, and he ended up adding a pair of top-six forwards.
Considering a healthy team, Rutherford said Justin Faulk, Joni Pitkanen and Tim Gleason comprise three of the team's top four defensemen. Missing Faulk and Pitkanen for stretches in the shortened season ultimately doomed the team.
"Part of our downside last year is we had defensemen that are good NHL defensemen playing in roles they couldn't handle," Rutherford said. "In order to get the right balance on our defense and give it a chance to be successful, adding one more guy in the top four would be a top priority."
So, does that acquisition come via free agency or a trade?
"It's hard to say. It could come in any manner," Rutherford said. "It could come in the form of a player that we trade for as a projection who hasn't done it yet but we think could do it now. It could come in the form of a projection of a (Ryan) Murphy jumping in the top four. It could come many ways, but I do feel that's an area we have to change."
On the goaltending front, Rutherford said he expects to offer Dan Ellis a contract. Should the team resign him, Ellis and Justin Peters could compete for the back-up job in training camp.
4. Schedule Release and Prospects Development Camp
We will be a month deep into astronomical summer in mid-July, but that doesn't mean it will be completely void of hockey.
The 2013-14 NHL schedule should drop in mid-July, and it will be the first to feature the league's new realignment. The Hurricanes will play in the still-unnamed Division D, retaining only the Washington Capitals from the Southeast Division. For a complete look at the new divisions and the more-complex schedule matrix, click here.
In addition, ice will be down at PNC Arena for Prospects Development Camp, which will feature most or all of the team's 2013 draft picks, other previously-drafted players and select invitees. The on-ice portions of this camp, which runs July 16-20, will be open to the public and will coincide with the annual Select-A-Seat event for season ticket holders.
5. Training Camp
Kirk Muller joined the Hurricanes in November 2011, but over 100 games into his NHL head coaching career, he's yet to have a full training camp. That will change this September, and he couldn't be more excited.
"I would really like to give guys a chance to use exhibition games to either win a job or lose a job," he said in a May interview. "I would love to see some of these guys come in and say, here are the holes that are open, who wants it? Who's going to win that battle? That's when we can make the firm decision of that guy can play that role, and that's a guy that we need."
With a healthy top six that features the Staal brothers, Alexander Semin, Jiri Tlusty, Tuomo Ruutu and Jeff Skinner, there will be ample competition for a depth slot. This becomes an even more intriguing storyline should the Hurricanes draft a forward capable of playing in the top nine next season.
"We have some guys that are in Charlotte – are they ready to come in and be a full time player in the top nine? Maybe, maybe not," he said. "But we clearly have some guys there that are ready to come in and play certain roles. As long as we have a healthy top six, it's a lot easier for those guys to fit in and play the role they're supposed to instead of us trying to play them in a role they can't."
More Ahead
We have more in store on CarolinaHurricanes.com as we move along this summer. For everything else, stay plugged in to all that's happening with our social media presences.


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Comment: Official inquiries shine light on dark side of human natureThe Pulse Live with Judith Ireland
Controversial union leader Kathy Jackson has accused her former friend Bill Shorten of being involved in Labor Party branch-stacking, saying she had discussed the practice with the now Opposition Leader.
Ms Jackson told the royal commission into trade union corruption that she had told Mr Shorten she had used union funds to give $7000 to Melbourne ALP figure David Asmar.
Mr Shorten, she said, laughed and said he had also recently given money to Mr Asmar and allegedly told Ms Jackson "the bastard must have double dipped".
Mr Shorten and Ms Jackson were once political allies but are now bitter enemies.
A spokesman for Mr Shorten said the claims were untrue.
"As Mr Shorten has previously said, this royal commission provides the platform for all sorts of people to try to settle old scores and make wild claims," he said.
"He won't be providing a running commentary every time someone mentions his name to try to get themselves on TV."
It comes as Ms Jackson admitted that a slush fund – started through a $250,000 settlement from back-pay owed to cancer workers – was used by her to back Labor candidates, on "various" union elections and for her own use.
In written evidence to the royal commission, Ms Jackson defended using the "windfall" 2003 settlement with the Peter MacCallum cancer hospital to set up her "slush fund", the National Health Development Account (NHDA).
Ms Jackson said the HSU No.3 branch committee of management agreed to set up the fund, of which Ms Jackson was the sole operator, and allowed her to spend it at her discretion to advance the interests of the union.
It also allowed her to spend $4000 a year "for my own personal benefit" as she had not received sitting fees from the meetings, Ms Jackson said.
She said she "did not utilise the full amount" that she was allowed to spend but her statement did not detail how much she spent on herself.
"Any allegation that I took any of the NHDA money for my own benefit without approval is false."
Ms Jackson alleged the financial records of the NHDA, contained in an exercise book, had been stolen after her office was "ransacked" in 2011 while she was a patient in a psychiatric hospital.
Ms Jackson said a flood in March 2010 resulted in the loss of many documents and an office clean out five months later when she was overseas resulted in a large number of documents being thrown out.
Ms Jackson broke down during Wednesday's hearing when she described the stress she experienced as a whistleblower at the HSU, which led to her being hospitalised.
She also defended her spending on personal credit cards. The secretary of Ms Jackson's former Victorian branch, Craig McGregor, in a statement to the royal commission, said more than $1 million was reimbursed from the union to two personal credit cards of Ms Jackson.
In her statement, Ms Jackson said she had three union credit cards in her name and that all credit card spending by staff was in her name including travel and accommodation.
"I say that the total amounts charged to credit cards each year for the whole of the No.3 branch expenditure by credit card, which was well under 10 per cent of total expenditure of the No.3 branch, is unremarkable."
Ms Jackson rose to national prominence as a whistleblower on widespread corruption at the HSU involving former senior officials Michael Williamson, now in jail, and Craig Thomson, a disgraced former head of the union and former ALP federal MP. Thomson is on bail pending an appeal against his conviction and sentence on multiple fraud charges.
In evidence she said Williamson was living an "obscene millionaire's lifestyle" in a "palatial" holiday home that far exceeded his income before he was convicted of fraud.
Her suspicions of Williamson's corruption "crystallised" when she visited Williamson's new holiday house in Brightwaters, Lake Macquarie, in January 2011. "It was quite palatial," she said.
Ms Jackson said she understood Williamson had a personal loan of about $2.1 million.
"I considered that the interest accruing on that loan size, alone, would have equalled almost the totality of his then income," she said.
The holiday home overlooked a lake and was fitted with hardwood parquetry floors, four European fridges and high-end audiovisual units, according to Ms Jackson. She said Mr Williamson had plans to build an in-ground swimming pool, cabana and to buy a boat.
In her written statement, to the royal commission she said since she had exposed corruption she had been called "Judas", a "Liberal prostitute" and "traitor", and suffered "smears" on the internet and in the mainstream media.
She also claimed Williamson, a former Labor national president, twice offered her a seat in Parliament, in 2010 and 2011.
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Every Sunday, The Simple Dollar reviews a personal finance book or other book of interest. You can check out my reviews of hundreds of personal finance books (and other related books of interest) all on one page.
Bargain Junkie is an unabashed frugality book, focusing mostly on maximizing your "bang for the buck" when spending money.
The book itself is broken down into a large number of very short sections covering specific frugality issues, often written in a humorous and often self-deprecating tone that's pretty appealing.
Obviously, when you read a lot of frugality books, you begin to recognize that some of the central points in each book appear in all the books – which is fine, since there's a very good chance that this is the first book on frugality that the person has picked up and many of the repeated ideas are the very good ideas that a person should use. Bargain Junkie follows this pattern and spends a significant number of its pages on what I would call Frugality 101, which makes it an equally good "starter" book as many other frugality titles out there.
What sets it apart, though? Instead of doing a section-by-section review of the multitude of short pieces in the book, I picked out ten short sections that really stood out to me.
Television Is A Model For How Not To Live
Instead of looking at how people live on television as something to strive for, use it as a guide for something to avoid. After all, do you want a unique and wonderful life or do you want to just be a pale imitation of that guy in the television commercial? Do you want to live by your own rules, or merely imitate the crass consumerism of The Real Housewives of East Overshoe?
Extended Households
Living quarters are one of the biggest expenses in our lives. Yet, quite often, large portions of our living quarters go completely unused as we often get into the routine of using just a room or two in our home for most of our activities. So why not share that extra space? Consider a more communal living arrangement, where you actually live with friends and family and split the housing cost appropriately. It works surprisingly well and it can save a truckload of money.
Collecting can be a worthwhile venture for frugal people provided two things are true. First, you're quite willing to sell off what you've collected. Second, you're willing to keep up with the hobby and stay abreast of prices and information about it. If you do both of these, you can often find a very lucrative hobby from hitting thrift stores and the like. I actually have a friend who buys and sells vintage video games who claims to have bought games at many thrift stores for fifty cents and resold them for hundreds (think Chase the Chuck Wagon). I've even done it myself with trading cards of various types.
Try It Yourself Before Paying an Expert
Home repairs? Try it yourself by reading documentation online and giving it a shot. Exercise? Try home exercise before buying a gym membership and paying a trainer. Virtually everything you do that you hire someone else for can be done yourself. So why not try it and make sure you actually need to shell out the money for someone else to do it? Exercise at home first and make sure you're willing to keep up some routine before hiring a trainer, for example, and you might find you don't even need one.
Go Monastic
Why do you have to live the same life everyone else does? If you live cheap and build up a bankroll, there's no reason you can't sell everything and live out of your kayak for a couple of years. The only thing keeping you from doing something completely different in your life is your own fears. Most of the big dreams people have are usually really cheap when you get right down to it, so it's rarely the cost that keeps us from doing something like driving around the country in a solar car talking at public libraries.
Buy Your Own Presents
Quite often, gift-giving occasions come down to giving other people stuff they don't want and you receiving stuff you don't want. Why? Sit down and have a heart-to-heart with the person and, instead of just exchanging gifts, pledge to do something fun and unique together that you both want to do. You'll probably save money and almost always wind up doing something much more memorable, enjoyable, and long lasting.
Craigslist/Freecycle First
Whenever you need anything, it's usually worth your time to check the local Craigslist or Freecycle before going out and buying it. You can often find great stuff for pennies or for free. Heck, I'm learning how to play the keyboard on a free Craigslist item. Similarly, if you have something you're getting rid of, put it up on that list with a low price tag. Quite often, it'll be off your hands without breaking a sweat.
Large City Travel
If you're traveling to a large city, study the public transportation information for that city online before you go. In many large cities, you can have a wonderful trip there without renting a car or paying for a taxi by simply knowing and using their public transportation system. My wife and I spent a week in London several years ago without renting a car or taking a taxi, even from the airport.
The Biggest Element of Dressing Well
The biggest element in dressing well isn't buying clothes from the expensive stores. It's self-confidence. You have to be proud of yourself no matter what you're wearing. If your confidence is the same no matter what you're wearing, then it really doesn't matter much at all what you're wearing. A person's confidence and personality always comes through.
I used to be fairly nervous wearing things bought at thrift stores. "Won't people look down at these secondhand clothes?" I would think. I'd be more self-conscious and then I'd find that people did think less of me than I would have liked. But it wasn't because of the clothes – it was because I was so self-conscious, nervous, and shy. The clothes don't make the person.
Hit Ethnic Restaurants – Hard
This is something I did myself in college and still do on occasion. In terms of the quantity and quality of food you get for the dollar, few places beat ethnic restaurants. Go there, order something intriguing, and you'll find yourself leaving with a doggy bag containing enough food for two more meals or so. I can't tell you the number of times I've eaten leftover sauteed vegetables over rice where the price of each meal I actually got from the restaurant dish was cut down to the $2 level. I know some professors at my old college who almost exclusively eat (even to the exclusion of home food prep) at local ethnic restaurants.
Is Bargain Junkie Worth Reading?
Bargain Junkie feels very much to me like a collection of posts from a frugality blog with a very good writer and entertaining voice. The sections in the book are quick reads that usually each convey a central point or two or provide a checklist of highly specific tips and are packed with anecdotes that either make you laugh or breed familiarity with the reader.
Annie should start a blog, period. I would happily link to some of those entries and she'd probably end up earning more revenue from it than she would from this book over the long run. If you enjoy reading well-written, occasionally humorous blog post length articles about frugality and maximizing your buying dollar, you will enjoy this book.
My biggest problem with the book, actually, is in the design. To me, the design of the cover is poor to the point that I would have not picked up this book had I not had a vested interest in reviewing it. There are thousands of great books out there to read – I would probably walk on by this book on a bookshelf simply because there are so many other great books that I could be reading that didn't give me a "go away, this book isn't for you" vibe right from the cover. Yes, I know the cover was shooting for a certain demographic, but you can reach those people without giving a "go away" vibe to others outside that demographic.
Still, once I got past the cover, the book inside was quite worthwhile – an entertaining survey of frugal ideas.