Grouping, labeling and tribalism are all things people do, sometimes without thinking, that are antithetical to inclusivity, said Ellen Krug.
But humans are equipped with important tools to counterbalance that, said Krug.
"People have good, empathetic hearts and when we are given a pathway we show up in droves (to support each other," Krug said.
Krug was the featured speaker at "Gray Area Thinking," an NJSBA Annual Meeting and Convention session Thursday that aimed to give attorneys tools to be mindful and compassionate and inclusive in their careers and lives.
All humans have four things in common, said Krug: everyone wants a child in their life to succeed; everyone wants to be free of physical and emotional violence; everyone wants 20 minutes of peace; and everyone wants to love and be loved.
Those common traits allows you to have a conversation with anyone you meet "regardless of skin color, religion they practice, country of origin or any other way we group people," said Krug.
"That is what inclusivity is about, making people feel like they matter."