Empowering People. Saving Wildlife. 

That’s our mission. 

When I started my role in this organization, it was important to me to really understand this mission and its “reason for being” as it pertains to the people who make the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, The Wilds, Zoombezi Bay and Safari Golf what it is – a set of treasured organizations in Ohio.

I am a learner by nature, and I ask a lot of questions. One of my first questions as I began my journey of learning was “When we say, “Empowering People,” who are we talking about?. Almost 100% of the time, the answer was “our guests.” This was the beginning of my quest to understand, define and hopefully influence a shift in that how we define/embody the word “people” fundamentally shapes our culture.

Why Definitions Shape Culture

You may ask, why does defining the word matter? 

Here’s my point of view: Defining the word informs us on how we show up for ourselves and the “people” we support. 

My first few months in this role was spent meeting folks, learning about the organization, and gaining industry knowledge. As the months progressed, I found myself sharing a sentiment over and over again For me, “people” includes our associates (year-round, seasonal, interns, volunteers), our guests, our community, our donors, our suppliers, our corporate partners, our colleagues in the zoological community, and our global conservation partners. 

Whew…that’s a lot of people! 

Belonging is Built Through Understanding

And what came from that was the recognition that each plays a significant role in shaping our organization, how we make a community impact, and supporting our conversation efforts. With that in mind, each set of people needs to be understood to ensure our environment is inclusive and everyone knows they belong.

An important way to show open-mindedness, respect, and gratitude is by bringing to the forefront things that are important to all subsets of people. 

In our organization, we are taking those steps by recognizing cultural contributions, fostering unity, deepening understanding of history, and promoting equity by honoring specific groups' unique stories, resilience, and vital roles in the nation's development.

Why Celebrations Matter

Unity, equity, and respect are so critical to our mission and purpose. By learning from one another, communities build mutual understanding, break down barriers, and support a more inclusive society. 

Heritage months and singular observance days formally recognize the often-untold achievements and essential roles these groups play in shaping life, culture, and economy. They offer a space for community members to celebrate their heritage, fostering pride, connection, and a sense of belonging. They serve as a powerful reminder to address gaps in historical accounts and amplify voices often left out of mainstream history. There is so much to learn and celebrate…so how do we decide what to do, how to do it, and take responsibility for making the choice not to highlight something? 

I’ll be honest…it’s tough. 

I’ve learned the hard way that I want to do it all, but we can’t. This potentially means people may get hurt, don’t feel seen, and question their value. What I have now given myself grace with is taking it slow, addressing one piece at a time, and working to connect the pieces.

We decided to take the first steps with a team member-focused lens first. Empowering People (our associates) show up as listening, not just hearing.

• It means understanding our demographics, so we amplify the marginalized voices and where we have gaps, make intentional efforts to gain the necessary education. 
• It means gathering people who find affinity with a demographic to lead cultural celebrations. 
• It means showing up in spaces and places, so our community knows we are here for them. 
• It also means taking a step back to ensure that we practice what we preach – if we can’t do it, let’s not say we are doing it…yet. 

The downstream effect is, that when we focus on our internal associates, it translates to how folks interact with all the other “people” who make up people. Our associates need to know they are valued and belong to make our guests and communities feel the same way. 

Looking Ahead

In 2026, we will continue to lean into team member celebrations that focus on ethnic communities, people of every ability level, gender identities, religion, accessibility, and veterans because these are the demographics that make up our people. We will also highlight internal associates, bring in external speakers, post on social media, offer learning opportunities and support volunteer opportunities. 

This year at our organization, we’ll be highlighting:

• Martin Luther King Day
• Black History Month
• Lunar New Year
• Women’s History Month
• Developmental Disability Month
• Ramadan
• Holi
• International Women’s Day
• Arab American Month
• Easter
• Passover
• World Autism Day
• Asian American Pacific Islander Month
• Mental Health Awareness Month
• Memorial Day
• Cinco de Mayo
• Pride
• Juneteenth
• Countering Hate Speech Day
• Independence Day
• Americans with Disabilities Act
• International Day of World’s Indigenous People
• Women’s Equality Day
• Hispanic Heritage Month
• National Disability Employment Month
• Deepavali
• Rosh Hashanah
• World Mental Health Day
• Indigenous People’s Day
• Global Diversity Day
• Native American/Indigenous People Month
• Veteran’s Day
• Transgender Day of Remembrance
• Dia de los Muertos
• Christmas
• Hanukkah
• Las Posadas
• International Day of Persons with Disabilities

As someone who is part of the Zoo community. I hope you’ll be curious, be inclusive, and be a culture creator.

I always say that I make decisions based on the knowledge and information I have today, and I reserve the right to change my mind and perspective, given new information I may learn. 

So, today, we focus on what we know, celebrate those who don’t have the privilege of automatically being celebrated and lean into learning so that we don’t make the same mistakes.