Diversity and inclusion champion Karen Clopton advocates living well by doing good.

HAUTE PROFILE

INCLUSIVITY. EQUITY. DIVERSITY. THESE POWERFUL words represent some of the most profound challenges and opportunities of our societal landscape and human experience. For San Francisco Human Rights Commissioner, Karen V. Clopton, these lie at the heart of a lifelong body of work, passion, and commitment.

An award-winning trailblazer in human and civil rights and a nationally recognized leader, speaker, and author in corporate, legal, and judicial ethics, Commissioner Clopton has made it her mission to tackle bias in highly regulated corporate and public environments. This passion has led her to drive policy and legal change to help organizations grow and redefine processes and procedures, based on emerging imperatives.

We spoke with Commissioner Clopton about the experiences that shaped and fueled her passion for advocacy, equal access, and corporate governance, what keeps her balanced, and what lies ahead for her.

HL: What and who inspired you to delve into a path of public service and advocacy? KC: I was blessed to have very loving and supportive parents who raised me to always do my best and to give to my community. Coming from African American, Latin American, and European families has given me a deep understanding and empathy for people grappling with the cultural and socioeconomic issues impacting fairness in our society.

HL: Our nation continues to be deeply impacted by violence, inequality, racism. What can each of us do to contribute to positive change? KC: All of us suffer from violence, income inequality, racism, and racial disparities. Our segregated society and stereotypical thinking hamper our ability as a nation to excel. There are four strategies we can all employ to change ourselves and our environment. First, we must educate ourselves about American history beyond the manufactured national myths, no matter how uncomfortable the truth.

Second, we must disrupt wherever we see reinforcement of racial concepts that have been entirely debunked by scientific advancement in DNA and the human genome sequencing. Third, we are responsible for reducing our carbon footprint, providing safe food, housing, and health care to all and educational opportunities for all children.

And fourth, we must intervene when we witness human rights violations: racism, police brutality, domestic violence, sexual harassment, human trafficking. We all must stand up. HL: What are you most proud of in your work? KC: I’m very proud of moving the anti-Black racism resolution, as a public health and human rights crisis in San Francisco, and that it was unanimously adopted in June 2020. We founded MegaBlackSF in March 2020, and I was humbled and blessed to seed the Black Wellness Fund at the San

Francisco Foundation to help African American residents of the Bay Area. Our work with the president of the board of supervisors, Shaman Walton, has resulted in reallocation of $120 million in funds to address the needs of African

Americans in San Francisco and the formation of an official reparations committee that will report to the board of supervisors, the mayor, and the Human Rights Commission.

HL: What has kept you inspired and balanced, not only with the intensity of your work, but also in current times? KC: My daughters, Olivia and Julia, motivate me in every way to leave the world better than we find it. The “Buildings and

Belonging: Mapping the African American Experience at

Vassar College” (our alma mater) project is one example. I find balance by combining hospitality, art, and nature with all aspects of my life. While pandemic restrictions presented challenges, we put a tent in our backyard with heaters and celebrated major milestones and holidays there.

ALL OF US SUFFER FROM VIOLENCE, INCOME INEQUALITY, RACISM, AND RACIAL DISPARITIES. OUR SEGREGATED SOCIETY AND STEREOTYPICAL THINKING HAMPER OUR ABILITY AS A NATION TO EXCEL.

— KAREN CLOPTON

HL: What’s on the horizon for you? KC: My next act is to deepen my work serving on corporate boards utilizing my deep ESG expertise. I also have a book release ahead, Black and White and in Color: The Journey of Two American Families over Ten Generations and Ten

Landmark US Supreme Court Decisions. The book is part memoir, part legal and social history, and part genealogical search for roots.

TAHOE CITY, CALIFORNIA

WEST SHORE SPLIT LAKEFRONT

Beautifully updated lake view home with it’s own lakefront parcel w/permitted buoy, 2 HOA piers. Creative, fun improvements to this spacious home, including the conversion of space to create 2 new bedrooms and a wonderful media/game room that was once a wood-working shop. One bedroom with living room and bath can be locked off. Contemporary finishes reflect the owner’s love of art. Checkout the Primary suite’s shower! Great rental activity, has STR permit that can transfer. Nearby Homewood Resort. 6115WLake.com $3,950,000

GORGEOUS LAKEFRONT CONDO

Take a front row seat on the water with lawn-to-lake views. This large floor plan condominium features 4 spacious bedrooms, updated kitchen, master bath, interior doors, flooring, keyless entry, Nest thermostat and furnishings by Restoration Hardware. A rustic and modern design prevails with two lakeside decks with storage for water toys below. Extra facilities include an HOA pier, buoy field, tennis courts, pool and volleyball court, with lovely landscaped grounds and quick access to the legacy trail. $2,950,000

TRINKIE WATSON

NV & CA BROKER | CIPS | CLHMS | CRS | LTG | GRI NV BS.1022 | CA 00326518

800 783 0722 twatson@chaseinternational.com LakeTahoeLuxuryEstates.com

Tahoe City office: 531 North Lake Boulevard

LUXURY LAKEFRONT LODGE

Lakefront living at its best with this beautifully built mountain log style home perched on the waters edge. This expertly crafted four bedroom, four bath home offers an open concept living area with vaulted ceilings and hand scraped logs accented throughout. The lake views are outstanding and allow the natural surroundings to fill the space. Full cedar wrapped siding with stone accents give the house a rustic feel with modern touches. The Lake Tahoe access is excellent with a private shared pier and boat lift, along with two moorings and access to a nearly private beach below the spacious deck overlooking Lake Tahoe. Schedule a tour of this beautiful estate and be mesmerized by the Lake Tahoe views. $6,500,000

FAWNE HAYES

NV & CA REALTOR® CA 01491811 NV S.0176418

530 416 2272 fhayes@chaseinternational.com BuyLakeTahoeHomes.com