It’s hard to top storytelling as an effective tool to get people to open up about diversity, equity and inclusion issues, and building understanding.

That was the key message for about 300 staff members Thursday at a session titled “Connecting Through Story: How Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Impact the Workplace.” The Diversity Summit event was presented by the Voices of the Staff diversity, equity and inclusion team in the Michigan League Ballroom.

Laurita Thomas, associate vice president for human resources, said the event is in keeping with President Mark Schlissel’s request for the university community to plan for the future, “to ensure this university will be leaders and best in terms of equity, diversity and inclusion.”

Attendees heard personal stories from key event presenter Kelli McLoud-Schingen. The president and principal facilitator-trainer for KMS Intercultural Consulting has worked for more than 15 years in colleges and universities as a student affairs administrator, and has presented leadership and diversity workshops worldwide.

The shortest connection between two strangers is a story, she said.

McLoud-Schingen offered her own stories as an African American growing up on the South Side of Chicago. She told of the time her mother’s friend approached her and her sister on their way to see Santa Claus. Her sister was more light-skinned than she, with long hair. Her mother’s friend said of her sister, “This one’s going to break some hearts.”

“I grew up with this message that I was not good enough, that I was not attractive, and what little girl doesn’t want to be attractive?”

McLoud-Schingen said the point of sharing stories is they reveal who we are. “What each of us brings into the workplace is our own stories,” she said.

She asked the group to consider stock stories. One, she said, is anyone can work hard to fulfill their American Dream. A concealed story on the American Dream is that no matter how hard one might work, some dreams are not allowed to be fulfilled.

This kicked off table discussions led by Voices of the Staff facilitators. Participants offered their own stories and observations.

At one table, Kaitlin Deslatte, community outreach officer with U-M Police Department, said her uniform can be jarring to some. But telling people about her Louisiana background and “bringing in some jambalaya” loosens them up.

Sean Liu, a College of Engineering senior from Branchburg, New Jersey, said, “I feel our Asian-American issues are not seen as something that’s pertinent,” adding such students feel invisible and uncomfortable. He also is a co-chair with United Asian American Organizations, representing the Asian-American community at U-M and pushing for social justice.

Danyelle Reynolds, alternative student breaks coordinator with the Ginsberg Center, said her table had a good conversation and agreed that the approach of “let’s all be friends and all get along” isn’t easy when first “we haven’t addressed the pains and hurts.”

McLoud-Schingen told a last story — of a child who chucks back into the ocean starfish that have washed up on a beach. When an adult asks, “Why?” because there are too many for all to be saved, the child tosses one more back into the sea and says, “I made a difference to that one.”

“I invite you to chuck those starfish,” she said, illustrating the value of small steps.

After the session, Thomas made a point of detailing the commitment to diversity planning across the university.

“We had faculty, staff and students speak to experiences at the University of Michigan,” she said. “We heard success stories and we heard challenges. We heard about barriers that hurt people’s ability to contribute. We heard about unconscious biases that we all carry that can prevent individuals contributing their best.

“We heard pride in the University of Michigan and we heard opportunities missed — and the stories will drive us to discern how we can more fully move toward excellence in an inclusive environment. I feel it.”

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• diversity
• Diversity Summit