LAWTON – Communication opens the door and offers a “powerful platform” to mutual understanding among small and large groups of people, cities and other government entities, Suzette Chang told a group of Lawton Chamber of Commerce members recently.
Chang, founder and chief executive officer of Thick Descriptions in Oklahoma City, said open dialogue “creates bridges to better understand each other,” particularly when discussing critical issues such as education, housing, generational poverty and quality of life. Chang is an African American woman who lives in Oklahoma and “has an Asian last name.”
During her presentation, she asked the chamber members “what race” they thought she was. “What’s going on in your head right now?” she asked. For several minutes, she asked a series of questions to prompt the audience to search for answers. Chang said questions are asked to prompt discussions.
“We want to challenge human beings to think,” she said.
Chang then asked if the audience was aware Oklahoma is listed as the politest state in the country.
“How is being polite sustainable?” she asked. “Being polite prevents people from having conversations that need to be held. We have to be more than polite.”
Chang’s comments were made during the chamber’s State of Communications forum held March 22 at the Apache Casino Hotel.
In a later interview, Chang said people in general have “many more things in common than we think we do. Conversation helps us connect so it’s important to ask questions.”
As human beings interact, they can learn from previous lessons and identify “what has not worked” as they attempt to close the gaps and focus on the commonalities.
“People need to ask, ‘what can we differently’ and learn about each other instead of pointing fingers,” Chang said. “Most people don’t get up in the morning and ask, ‘how can I make someone’s life horrid today?’”
Oklahoma, known as a survivalist state due to its many weather catastrophes and the 1995 Murrah Building bombing that killed 168 people, should be recognized as more than that, she said.
“How can we move forward and flush out what it means to have a quality of life regarding housing, education, clothes and food? Many counties in Oklahoma have continuing problems with generational poverty. What can we do to develop a strategic plan with goals and objectives and then hold each other accountable?” she asked.
Chang offered that egos, pride and emotions should be set aside when discussing long-term goals and accountability within schools and communities.
“How powerful is it to put those away and stay committed to doing what we said we would do?” she asked.
In 2018, Chang began leading community conversations with government entities in Comanche and Stephens counties. In Lawton, an equity and inclusion committee was formed by the city council to discuss critical issues that face the community. Before working with community leaders, Chang said she and her colleagues research the history, cultures and any information that is grounded in the city’s economy, religion, education and housing.
“Those factors can tell you a lot about a community and the direction of that community and the things that have happened in the past,” she said.