It was the heckling from the other kids that really cut Flavia the most deeply. As a young Romanian in a new country where she barely spoke the local language, Flavia Carver learned early on that some negative preconceptions are acquired at a very young age, and she experienced how painful it is to be. object of the prejudices of others. The taunts and taunts from her peers for “going back to her own country” hardened her skin, and it also bolstered her fervor to seek justice and encourage inclusion.

Thanks to the Diversity Immigrant Visa program, Flavia’s family won the green card lottery which fixed their destination of Vălenii de Munte, Romania in the United States of America and placed it on a path strewn with obstacles. adversity.

“People have called my family different because of our accents, behaviors and manners, and that led to me being a bit left out growing up,” Carver said. “This experience strengthened my resilience and I became a dedicated person who fought hard for what I wanted and everything America had to offer.”

Carver’s experiences with evading wrongdoers inspired her dream of becoming a criminal prosecutor. She enlisted in the US Air Force in January 2013 to achieve her goals. Carver plans to command and then attend law school as part of the Air Force-funded legal education program.

In May 2021, Tech. Sgt. Flavia Carver has been deployed from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. To Al Dhafra Air Force Base, United Arab Emirates, where she is Director of Equal Opportunities. As Director of EO, she handles complaints of unlawful discrimination, intimidation, hazing and sexual harassment.

“I’m fully aware of my personal biases and what made me the person I am today,” Carver said, “but I don’t let that seep into my investigation and my reports. “

Carver does his best to remain impartial. “While I can sympathize with someone who feels like I have been the victim of unlawful discrimination and intimidation, I do clarification to find the facts of situations, so I am not advocating for one side or the other.” , she said.

Carver’s role as Director of the EO also leaves her with the responsibility of proactively fostering unit cohesion and an overall healthy work climate for base personnel.

Earlier this year, the Air Force Department established the Office of Diversity and Inclusion on the recommendation of the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Air Force Inspector General after the publication of a 150-page review of racial disparities in December 2020, indicating a wide-spread racial disparity in the Air Force.

ADAB began its Diversity and Inclusion program as a proactive response to Air Force D&I initiatives, with Carver as Director and U.S. Air Force Maj.Timothy Ralston, mental health provider of the 380th Expeditionary Medical Group, as a D&I officer.

“The vision is to equip facilitators with tools to get out within their units and form unconscious bias, diversity and inclusion, and guided discussions to provide an inclusive environment where all team staff ADAB is able to realize its full potential, ”said Ralston.

Based on the examination of racial disparities, it’s clear the Air Force has work to do in the D&I arena, but Carver is hoping for future changes.

“People have to understand and recognize that these problems exist,” Carver said. “Only then can they sit down and have difficult conversations about their own biases and how we can help eradicate the influence of those biases when interacting with others.”