CPO Blog

Our Most Recent Episode – Number 9:  Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity

Host: Sam Wiliams / Guests: Osa Osig, Liz Rust, Joe Palumbo

Listen to CPO’s Executive Director, Sam Williams, along with special guests Osa Osagie, Liz Rust, and Joe Palumbo, as they discuss Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity.  

Most people should know that diversity, equity, and inclusivity are not just organizational goals, but essential practices for creating environments where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected. Diversity recognizes and celebrates differences. Equity ensures fair access and opportunity. Inclusivity builds belonging through active participation and mutual respect. Together, these three principles strengthen community, foster innovation, and promote social justice.

Concord Prison Outreach Podcast #9 Transcript

A Conversation on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community

Host: Sam Williams
Guests: Osa Osig, Liz Rust, Joe Palumbo
Link to YouTube: https://youtu.be/Hy_DmdWbJkA?si=I_XIeUbUy0Lk3_42

Opening Remarks

Sam Williams:
Good afternoon, and welcome to the Concord Prison Outreach Podcast, episode nine. My name is Sam Williams, and I am the Executive Director of Concord Prison Outreach.

I’d like to begin by thanking and giving a big shout-out to the Minute Man Media Network, which supports this podcast and serves the towns of Concord, Carlisle, and Middlesex County.

Today, we have some very important guests, and we’ll be discussing what I believe are critically important topics. Before introducing them, I want to share a brief description of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just organizational goals, but essential practices for creating environments where everyone feels safe, valued, and respected. Diversity recognizes and celebrates differences. Equity ensures fair access and opportunity. Inclusivity builds belonging through active participation and mutual respect. Together, these principles strengthen community, foster innovation, and promote social justice.

This afternoon, we’ll be talking about DEI. I’ll now ask our guests to introduce themselves—where they live, if they feel comfortable sharing, and what they do professionally.

Guest Introductions

Osa Osig:
Hi everyone. My name is Osa Osig, and I use she/her pronouns. I live here in Concord and work in a local independent school as a DEI practitioner. I’m also a board member of Concord Prison Outreach, and I’m really excited to be here.

Liz Rust:
Hi, I’m Liz Rust. I’m a resident of Concord and Chair of the Board of Concord Prison Outreach. Professionally, I work in affordable housing and have done so for many decades. Much of my work is closely connected to today’s discussion.

Joe Palumbo:
Hi everyone. I’m Joe Palumbo. I live in Concord and serve on the Town of Concord DEI Commission, where I previously co-chaired. I’m also a public history interpreter and co-president of the Robbins House, the Concord Black History Museum. Earlier in my career, I worked as an educator—as a teacher, principal, and superintendent.

National Context and the Future of DEI

Sam Williams:
I’m going to jump right into the questions. At a macro level, how does the current social climate—such as government shutdowns, executive orders, and delays in SNAP benefits—impact the future of DEI in America?

Osa Osig:
The first thing that comes to mind is how these systems disenfranchise millions of people and disrupt community. DEI work is fundamentally about connection—ensuring people have the resources they need to thrive. When access to those resources is restricted, people become insular at a time when we really need to be leaning on one another.

Liz Rust:
When I think about DEI, I think about belonging—feeling safe, heard, and seen in your community. These shouldn’t be political issues, yet they’ve become politicized. In affordable housing, we see how politicizing fairness and access directly impacts people’s lives and opportunities.

Joe Palumbo:
From a historical perspective, our country has always struggled with expanding human freedom and equality. We’re in one of those moments now. It’s frightening when you’re living through it, but history shows us that progress requires persistence and continued struggle.

Local Impact: Middlesex County and Concord

Sam Williams:
I want to bring the conversation closer to home. I’ve heard stories of churches collecting food instead of tithes, people giving out food instead of candy on Halloween, and local foundations offering emergency assistance. How do these realities impact Middlesex County and Concord?

Liz Rust:
When need is personal and visible, people generally want to help. We want our neighbors to have food, housing, and safety. But when the conversation shifts to systemic change, fear often takes over—fear of scarcity, fear of the future. I’ve seen communities oppose affordable housing projects, only to later celebrate the benefits they bring.

Osa Osig:
Concord is a very white and well-resourced community. I wonder how difficult it is for residents here to ask for help without feeling shame or being “othered.” The impact of these issues falls very differently here than in communities just 20 minutes away. Donating food is important, but we also need to ask whether Concord truly has space for people who don’t fit the majority to live and thrive.

Joe Palumbo:
Concord has a systemic problem acknowledging that there’s work to do. We have residents living below the poverty line, seniors struggling, and people experiencing exclusion or harassment. These conversations tend to get shut down quickly, and until we face them honestly, real change won’t happen.

Generational Perspective and the Future of Concord

Sam Williams:
We recently celebrated Concord’s 250th anniversary. How is all of this landing on residents—children, elders, businesses—and what should the next 250 years look like?

Liz Rust:
It begins with believing that diversity is a value-add, not just a box to check. Communities are richer when they reflect diversity across race, age, income, and experience.

Joe Palumbo:
Meaningful change doesn’t happen without urgency. When you look at neighboring towns, you see what Middlesex County actually looks like. Concord doesn’t reflect that reality, and we need to acknowledge it. If we don’t act now, we’ll miss our opportunity.

Osa Osig:
As a Black person living in West Concord, I’m often code-switching. I know how to navigate professional spaces, but that shouldn’t be required for belonging. Many residents don’t have to engage with different lived experiences—even locally. Without honest conversations, we’ll keep repeating the same patterns.

Public Health, Shame, and Belonging

Sam Williams:
Osa mentioned shame and being “othered.” We know these experiences affect mental and physical health. How do we help people understand this from a public and social health perspective?

Joe Palumbo:
Data matters. A town-wide survey showed that 67% of respondents had experienced or witnessed discrimination, yet nothing was done with the data. When these experiences are made visible, people are more likely to act.

Osa Osig:
There’s also a significant empathy gap. If you haven’t been directly impacted, it’s easy to move on. We need to sit with discomfort and examine how we contribute to these systems. Conversations alone aren’t enough—we need action.

Liz Rust:
Children absorb what adults model. How we respond to harm teaches them what’s acceptable. If incidents are dismissed as isolated, we normalize harm. The future of Concord depends on the culture we create now.

Closing Reflections

Sam Williams:
As we come to the end of our conversation, I’d like to ask each of you for a closing thought.

Liz Rust:
I remain deeply committed to this work. As barriers increase, so does urgency. People want to be seen and heard, and when we create space for that, meaningful connection can happen.

Joe Palumbo:
Change has always required struggle. As Frederick Douglass said, “Power concedes nothing without a demand.” There is no plan B—we must keep fighting for a more inclusive future.

Osa Osig:
Concord already has the resources it needs to become the community it could be. What’s required now is honesty, ownership, and action.

Final Words

Sam Williams:
I want to close by echoing something Osa said earlier: we don’t need another story to tell us that we have to do something.

Thank you all for this powerful conversation, and thank you to the Minute Man Media Network for their continued support. You can learn more about Concord Prison Outreach at Concordprisonoutreach.org.

We look forward to Podcast #10 and hope you’ll join us.