Spotlight: Norma Holland
Volunteer Spotlight with Norma Holland
Director of Public Relations & Engagement for the Office of Equity and Inclusion, University of Rochester's School of Medicine and Dentistry
Are you working on any projects right now that you are excited about?
For many years I didn't feel comfortable taking a stand on things. As a TV news anchor, I believed I should always be an unbiased observer. Now, I feel free to express my opinions in ways that I couldn't before. I have joined a book group with other women who are exploring the issue of racism through reading books together. As a group, we are asking tough questions like "What is white privilege?" As a biracial woman, my mother is from Puerto Rico and my father is half black and half white, I never really thought about these things. I grew up with bias and I've lived with people who prejudged me; I've lived with racism, but I never really examined it further. Through my more recent involvements, I've been able to more deeply look into this issue. It feels like I'm being given a chance to look back at what I previously thought and reevaluate it in ways I might not have had I stayed in journalism.
How did you first hear about Causewave, and what motivated you to get first get involved? And later become a board member?
I was introduced to Causewave many years ago when it was the Ad Council when my station manager invited me to become a board member. When I left 13WHAM, I still very much wanted to continue my involvement, and it was just natural that I would keep my position on the board.
You've done a ton to support Causewave's work recently; what volunteer role sticks out the most to you?
For me, the one that had the most impact was being a part of the Race & Media panel. I feel like Causewave was looking at an issue in our community that no one wanted to talk about. That said a lot to me that Causewave cared enough about bias in the broadcast industry to look at that issue at a time when it was not getting the attention it required. I love that Causewave was at the forefront of this issue, looking at something, quite frankly, people just don't want to look at. Rochester has an expert journalistic community, but we need to ask ourselves, "Why aren't there more people of color in newsrooms in Rochester?" Being involved in this project allowed us to look more critically at ourselves, and that was really powerful.
Why do you think Causewave's work is important? Do you have a story or an example of something with Causewave that you want to share?
I have spoken to the executive directors of several local nonprofits who say once they meet with Causewave, their eyes open to a lot of things they hadn't considered. There's a lot of great nonprofits in town that have their heart in the right place but don't have the expert skills like marketing or strategic planning.
I just feel that that's super important in Rochester. We have so many safety nets or nonprofits in our community, but nets need to be checked for holes; someone needs to make sure the knots are tied tightly. That's where Causewave comes in—to help make sure those safety nets are secure. To ensure nonprofits are prepared for success.
Do you have any thoughts or advice for other people who volunteer with us or in the community?
There are so many issues our community faces—poverty, domestic violence, breast cancer—but Causewave is working on it all. Go to Causewave if you want to see tangible results or how your work directly translates into shaping change in Rochester for the better.
What excites you most about the future of Greater Rochester?
Oh, Rochester. I feel like we don't give ourselves enough credit. I think we lament too much what we were; we like to look back. We're too nostalgic. Instead, we need to be looking to the future. We are the Flower City. Yes, we were once the Flour City and an imaging hub, but we are now the Flower City. What do we want our image to be now and in the future? I think we need to be sufficiently nostalgic but unabashedly futuristic, and I don't think we do that enough. We don't give ourselves enough credit for the things that we have developed in our city.
The future of Rochester is so bright if we can continue to see our untapped potential and use it. Just think about downtown or the riverways; we are just beginning to develop those areas. The potential is there if we continue to think about the future and what we want Rochester to be.
What might be something readers would be surprised to know about you?
What may be something that people are surprised to learn about me, hmmm… I'm an open book! But I don't think many people know I have an interest in personal finance. Years ago, I decided to get my life insurance license and have kept it current ever since. Personal finance is something that I've always been really interested in. I was 20 years old when I opened up my first stock account. I guess I'm a lover of a safety net because if you think about it, that's what insurance is. Life insurance, homeowner's insurance, car insurance— it's all to protect against future loss, future risk. I don't know why, but when the annual election for our insurance and our health insurance comes around, I love to look at all the paperwork; it gets me excited. You know the rise of health savings accounts vs. copay and what's the difference and what's better. I love it. I'm an insurance kid's daughter, and I guess I geek out at all that stuff.
How do you drink your coffee?
Oh, plenty of cream and plenty of sugar. If it doesn't taste good, why bother. Caffeine should taste good.
Any final thoughts you would like to share?
A lot of people are wishing this year would end, and it's like— no, we can't do that. Think about it, there are so many opportunities to become or change into someone or something you've always wanted, like being more socially aware or involved in the community. I think this whole experience has shown us that we are not alone and that we cannot silo ourselves in a place of comfort. We cannot hide because the world is finding us: the virus has found us, the social justice movement has found us, the environment is finding us.
But we are all in this together, and I challenge you to really open your eyes and look at your fellow man and woman differently. Don't waste away this time; make something of it.
(Photo by Natalie Sinisgalli)