The Importance of Diversity & Multiculturalism within Morris Packaging and the World

Companies are looking more closely at HR metrics that relate to diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion. These are more than just statistics; they are the pulse of an organization and the principles a company stands for. The importance of diversity, inclusion, and multiculturalism within an organization speaks to the Company’s culture and brand. It is critical that diversity and an inclusive culture are built into an organization’s fabric from the beginning and not seen as an added benefit. 

What are diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion? In order to measure something and design an organization around these concepts, we must understand what they mean. As stated in the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

 Diversity is defined as:

Diversity in the workplace refers to specific groups of people who typically have experienced some sort of discrimination. Some types of diversity that one can witness at a workplace are race, gender, education, ethnicity, generations, religion, sexual orientation, disabilities, veterans.  

Multiculturalism is defined as:

Inclusion is defined as:

Diversity, Multiculturalism, and Inclusion are more than policies, programs, and statistics. Since the events of 2020, there has been an energized focus in all aspects of life, including the workplace, to not sit back idly on the issues of injustice, inequality, and inclusion. It is imperative that as employers, we look past singular classifications like race, sexual orientation, and gender and look at each of our employees as a whole, understanding that they may fall into multiple categories as individuals. During a presentation at Brandeis University, lecturer Laurie Nsiah-Jefferson reminds us “that to better understand an individual and work effectively with him or her, we must understand all the identities that make up the person.” She goes on to say, “Human lives cannot be explained by taking into account single categories, such as gender, race, and socio-economic status. People’s lives are multidimensional and complex.” Companies must look at what it means to navigate intersecting identities if they want to create an inclusive and welcoming culture and environment. 

At Morris Packaging, we believe that each one of our employees brings something different to the table. That no two people share the same combination of background, culture, skill sets, and values, and THAT is a beautiful thing. We look to our employees to arrive each day and add value in a way that only they can. It is essential to Morris Packaging that our workforce reflects the communities we work in and provide products to.

When Jim Bob Morris started Morris Packaging, he did so with a steadfast commitment to foster an environment that included diversity, multiculturalism, and inclusion. In fact, this former professional football player has dedicated his life to advocating equality both within Morris Packaging and in his personal life. Morris Packaging demonstrates this vision and its responsibility through recruitment, operations, philanthropy, and community engagement. 

Jim Morris’s deep-seated vision of promoting an inclusive culture in all areas of life can be most certainly observed in the Morris family gift of The Morris Family Multicultural Center at Kansas State University. The Morris Family Multicultural Student Center is a hub for intercultural learning and collaborative initiatives. The Center offers an opportunity for people of all cultures, backgrounds, and identities to explore their cultural origins, engage in meaningful cross-cultural interactions and broaden perspectives. The Center’s goals are listed on their website as “enriching our learning environment and fostering an inclusive, welcoming atmosphere that promotes student academic success, personal empowerment and contributes to the overall culture of K-State and Manhattan communities.” 

Companies, educational institutions, and society must become truly introspective and honest when looking at their contribution to creating an inclusive world. It is vital to identify areas of exclusion, bias, and microaggressions and make the necessary changes. As leaders in our respective fields, we must show that even when challenging, working towards an inclusive environment for our team is not just the right thing to do for our organizations but our communities, our country, our world. 

To learn more about our careers at Morris Packaging, visit our Careers page or get in touch with us by visiting our contact page.

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Morris Packaging was formed with a strong vision after seeing a need in the industry. 

We’ve assembled the best team in the business to serve our customers. When you choose Morris Packaging, you work with people who believe in the power of collaborative relationships, transparency, and outstanding service. We are dedicated to creating sustainable, eco-friendly packaging solutions. To learn more about Morris Packaging or to join our team, contact us at 800-856-7627 or 309-663-9100. You can also get in touch with us by email at info@morrispkg.com for Sales & Marketing or  hr@morrispkg.com for Human Resources.