Voices of Progress

“I chose this quote as I truly believe that diversity should be celebrated and that in doing so, we learn and we grow and look at our lives, our work, our views and our relationships through a different lens. When we do this, it can open lots of new possibilities and from a work perspective, it may even help us to do something smarter for our customers.

“It’s fair to say, I was also drawn to this one as a massive Trekkie! George Takei played Sulu in the original Star Trek series and later in life came out as gay, eventually seeing this reflected in his character having a husband in a one of the subsequent movies.”

“This quote reminds me that our differences are what make us stronger. By embracing diversity and inclusion, we create spaces where everyone feels valued and empowered to thrive.”

“I’ve read and watched a lot about Harvey Milk down the years. He was the first openly gay man to be elected to a public office in California, USA. He gave himself the title of “Mayor of Castro Street”, an area in San Francisco famous for having a large gay and lesbian population. He went to lead a gay rights movement, and the above quote was part of speech he gave to gay youths in the area in 1978, the same year he was tragically assassinated.

“The quote resonates with me today given some of the political shifts and changes we are seeing in the world, it reminds us that whilst we have our voices, we have hope for positive change.”

“I like the spirit of the quote – we can choose to do the basics of having tick-box representation, or we can create an environment where everyone feels they truly belong.”

"Alice Walker, author of The Colour Purple, inspired me through her actions and reading her literature, coming from humble beginnings to change history.”

“This is so true.  We experience a lot in life and when I think back, I remember all the people that championed and supported me and how that helped with my confidence, especially when I was younger – which I am so grateful for.  “But I also remember a teacher who made a really unkind comment about my appearance, and although I don’t remember the exact words, it crushed me at the time, although later on it inspired me to do better and prove her wrong!  So, there you go – feelings can last, whether they be they positive or negative…”

“In the context of humanity, for me, it’s a reminder that we are all unique and diverse, like different flowers, yet together we create an amazing, vibrant bouquet with our varied life experiences, regardless of our skin colour and backgrounds, as we are all individual flowers.

“Whilst I do think this statement could make you pause and think, it's possibly one many people forget in the current climate, so this statement is a reminder of the importance of embracing our differences and celebrating the uniqueness of us all. And to just be kind!”

“I have chosen this quote as it’s a reminder that love and light conquer and shine through even in the darkest of times.

“Martin Luther King was a strong activist who stood strong for racial equality and social justice, and this helped lead to historic changes in government laws.”

“Once said when speaking with a colleague. Revealing her unique and feisty character, Hall chose to name her prosthetic Cuthbert. Virginia Hall’s autobiography ‘A Woman of no importance’ is an inspirational read; she successfully impacted resistance as “the most feared spy of World War II” in occupied France despite being female and living with acquired disability.

“For me, it resonates and shows that it's not what you lose (as hard as that is), it's about what you do with what you're left with.”

“I feel this quote is a celebration of authenticity. In a diverse workplace, encouraging people to bring their whole selves fosters trust and inclusion.”

“There is much truth in this quote. It applies to everything we do: work, family, sport, relationship.

“We can achieve anything we want in life if we set our minds to it. I believe that the bigger the struggle, the bigger the satisfaction when we succeed.

“If I think back to how uncomfortable I felt while I was sitting on the plane coming to working in a different country, or when I started contemplating staying a bit longer than I originally planned, the final reward has been far greater than the struggle it took to get to where I am today.”

“I loved this quote the minute I spotted it! It really connects what diversity and inclusion means to me with our personality and culture at Progress Housing Group.

“It reminds us how important it is to ensure all our colleagues not only have a seat at the table, but have their voice heard too - and our network groups are a great way of supporting that.

“We are passionate about ensuring everyone’s voices are heard so it really underlines that we must ensure everyone who lives in our homes and communities should have the opportunity to be heard and ultimately feel they have that sense of belonging.”

“Martin Luther King inspired me through his actions to change history.”

“I chose this quote as I think power and greed are so harmful to the world and want my children, and everyone’s children for that matter, to grow up in a peaceful, kind world where they can enjoy and live their lives without fear.”