Greetings readers and I’m Scott Savoy at the Sterling Creations desk.
Today I am very pleased to share our president’s editorial with you and for this week Donna J. Jodhan’s focuses on how can we balance the playing field.
Take care everyone and enjoy your weekend.
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How Can We Balance The Playing Field
By Donna J. Jodhan
We live in a world that prides itself on progress, yet the “playing field” remains anything but level. Across the globe, people’s access to opportunities is shaped by factors they do not choose: the culture they are born into, whether they live with a disability, their gender, or the size of their household income. These differences are not just personal details — they are barriers that determine who gets through the door of opportunity and who is left waiting outside.
For women in many societies, systemic biases still limit career advancement, political representation, and economic independence. For people with disabilities, physical access, workplace accommodations, and social inclusion remain uneven. For communities from marginalized cultures, discrimination and stereotypes still influence hiring, housing, and education. And when poverty intersects with any of these, the obstacles multiply.
Opportunities and rights should not be privileges granted to a select few; they should be the shared foundation of society. Yet the reality is stark: a student from a low-income household may never see the inside of a university classroom, even if they have the talent; a qualified candidate may be passed over because of their accent, appearance, or mobility needs; a woman may be paid less for the same work, without recourse.
Balancing the field will require more than good intentions. It will require policy changes — from enforcing equal pay laws to strengthening disability rights legislation, from expanding affordable education to ensuring universal healthcare. It will require investment — in accessible infrastructure, community outreach, and targeted scholarship and training programs. It will require cultural change — challenging stereotypes, dismantling biases, and creating inclusive spaces in every sphere of life.
We can no longer treat inequality as an abstract social issue. It is a measurable, visible imbalance that harms economies, wastes talent, and erodes trust in our institutions. A fairer field benefits everyone: when more people can contribute their skills and ideas, society grows richer — not just financially, but in innovation, empathy, and resilience.
The question is not whether we can afford to balance the field. The real question is whether we can afford not to.
I’d like to leave you with this for your consideration.
Title: “Leveling the Ground”
Scene Description:
A wide, symbolic “playing field” stretches across the image—half of it is elevated and smooth, while the other half is rough, sloped, and full of obstacles like rocks, barriers, and holes.
On the elevated side, individuals are casually walking or running with ease. They’re dressed differently—some in business attire, others in sports gear—symbolizing varied sectors like education, careers, sports, and opportunity.
On the lower, uneven side, people are struggling to move forward. Some are helping each other climb; others are trying to push past the obstacles. Among them are children, people of different races, genders, and abilities—visibly symbolizing systemic inequities.
In the center, a large crane or set of hands is depicted restructuring the field—removing barriers, laying bridges, or flattening the surface—symbolizing collective effort toward fairness. This visual “balancing” action is being powered by diverse figures—educators, policymakers, activists, and everyday people—each holding tools like books, ballots, megaphones, or blueprints.
Tone & Style:
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Artistic and metaphorical rather than hyperrealistic.
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Slightly stylized or illustrated in a way that feels hopeful yet grounded.
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A color palette that shifts from muted/dark on the uneven side to warm and vibrant on the balanced side.
Image = An illustration depicts two large hands placing a plank to bridge a gap between two cliffs, enabling people on the left, who are running on smooth ground, to cross over to the right side where others struggle to navigate rocky terrain; below, a diverse group of individuals collaborate by reading, planning, speaking through a megaphone, holding blueprints, and assisting others, symbolizing teamwork and support to overcome obstacles.
To learn more about me as an award winning sight loss coach and advocate visit www.donnajodhan.com
