Overview
In honor of Women's History Month, Ford's Chief Diversity Officer and Director of People Strategy, Lori Costew, recently assembled a group of extraordinary women for a roundtable discussion. The participants ranged from a master plumber, the director of an environmental nonprofit, a firefighting deputy chief, and the lab director for D-FORD Detroit, and all are inspiring female figures in their respective fields. Join us as we delve deeper into their stories, their roles, and how their efforts are propelling America forward.
Features
Leading the discussion was Lori Costew, a figurehead at Ford who champions the unique identities and talents of Ford employees. Sharing the screen were Queen Anunay, a Deputy Fire Chief from a major US city, Adrienne Bennett, America's first African-American female master plumber involved in plumbing at Ford's future hub, Michigan Central Train Station, Raquel Garcia, Director of Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision and maintainer of a community garden in Detroit, and Sandy Fershee, Lab Director of D-FORD Detroit.
All these women shared their experiences and their self-given titles in the spirit of removing societal labels and defining their own identities. Queen Anunay sees herself as "The Janitor" who provides maintenance on broken systems, Adrienne Bennett describes herself as the "Protector of God's Nectar" — water, Raquel Garcia identifies as the "Community Pollinator", connecting with people and enriching the community, and Sandy Fershee perceives herself as the "Chief Intuitive Officer", tapping into her intuition to guide her actions.
Service
Each woman serves her community in a unique way. For instance, Queen Anunay considers her firefighter role as an opportunity to provide mental, physical, and emotional assistance to her community. Adrienne Bennett, as a master plumber, works on protecting drinking water, especially topical given the pandemic's emphasis on hygiene.
Raquel Garcia, through her nonprofit, helps the community to grow their own food, and her organization has already provided 2 1/2 tons of food to the community. Sandy Fershee, on the other hand, stresses the importance of human-centered design, creating viable and feasible solutions for Ford while incorporating a diverse team's input.
Location
The participants in this discussion hail from various locations across the U.S., with their impact spanning far beyond their immediate environments to places like Corpus Christi, Portland, Robstown, Aransas Pass, Rockport, Kingsville, Sinton, Port Aransas, Ingleside, and Alice, TX. The diversity of their locations mirrors the diversity of their roles, yet they all intertwine in their shared endeavor to reshape societal norms and pave the way forward for other women in their fields.
Concluding Thoughts and Invitation
Despite the different industries they represent, these four women stand united in their commitment to empowering women, fostering diversity, and driving sustainable societal changes. In the words of Lori Costew, "All of you ladies are a coach, sponsor, and inspiration to me." Let their stories inspire you to visit your local Ford dealership in Corpus Christi, Portland, Robstown, Aransas Pass, Rockport, Kingsville, Sinton, Port Aransas, Ingleside, or Alice, TX. Explore the powerful machinery we offer and experience the dedication we place in each vehicle's design, mirroring the tenacity and strength demonstrated by these four impressive women.
