Ever since Asher Jones’ mission trip to the Dominican Republic at 16 years old, he’s had a profound passion for travel. That passion sent him to 11 other countries since, including England, Honduras, and the Netherlands—some more than once! Says Asher, “Experiencing a different culture, its people, and its customs—while also being afforded the opportunity to provide assistance to others—has been truly inspiring.” It sparked my interest in making travel and mission work two critical pillars of my life.”
Little did he know that travel would also help inspire a career path in diversity and inclusion.
Fast forward to Asher majoring in political science and minoring in Spanish as a Georgia State University student. During a study abroad program in Mexico City, Asher immersed himself in the culture and visited beautiful landmarks, such as the ancient Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, and the home of renowned Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.
Ever since Asher Jones’ mission trip to the Dominican Republic at 16 years old, he’s had a profound passion for travel. That passion sent him to 11 other countries since, including England, Honduras, and the Netherlands—some more than once! Says Asher, “Experiencing a different culture, its people, and its customs—while also being afforded the opportunity to provide assistance to others—has been truly inspiring.” It sparked my interest in making travel and mission work two critical pillars of my life.”
Little did he know that travel would also help inspire a career path in diversity and inclusion.
Fast forward to Asher majoring in political science and minoring in Spanish as a Georgia State University student. During a study abroad program in Mexico City, Asher immersed himself in the culture and visited beautiful landmarks, such as the ancient Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, and the home of renowned Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.
“Experiencing a different culture, its people, and its customs—while also being afforded the opportunity to provide assistance to others—has been truly inspiring.”
In line with his years of mission work, the program included a service component at CONFE, an institution in Mexico City that focuses on improving the quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities, such as Down syndrome, autism, and cerebral palsy. “I really enjoyed providing the people there with assistance in their daily tasks and just being a friend,” says Asher. “I learned so many things about myself and about life on that trip. The most important lesson is that connectivity between people far exceeds barriers like language and ability. Though I struggled with my Spanish at the time, I found I could always share positivity and kindness. By simply listening, watching, and having a cheerful disposition, I learned so much.”
All the while, Asher’s travels were laying the groundwork for his career path—which solidified in the aftermath of Ahmaud Arbery’s murder in February 2020. Says, Asher, “Before this particular event, I had always maintained a latent interest in diversity and inclusion work, but seeing something so horrific happen to someone similar to me in so many ways—and feeling that it could have been me—pushed me beyond just volunteering and speaking out,” Asher says. “It provoked me into figuring out how I could help create and implement policies that would impact communities and people on a broader scale. I must dedicate my life in every way to doing what I can to impact change.”
“My favorite part of my job is being able to create lasting change—and along the way, hear impactful stories and engage in deep, meaningful conversations with colleagues and leaders from different backgrounds.”
Today, Asher does just that. He serves as MarketSource’s Diversity and Inclusion Manager, responsible for supporting employee resource groups and heritage month awareness campaigns, and the strategic integration of D&I with our business strategies. In addition, he oversees our corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts, working with partners such as Habitat for Humanity, 21st Century Leaders, Junior Achievement, and more.
“My favorite part of my job is being able to create lasting change—and along the way, hear impactful stories and engage in deep, meaningful conversations with colleagues and leaders from different backgrounds,” he says. “Also, I am a servant at the core of who I am, so CSR was a natural fit for me, as well. I strongly believe in the power of companies and individuals supporting causes, organizations, and people in an effort to combat many of the issues we as a society face. I’m honored to be a part of a company that firmly upholds this commitment.”
Here’s to many more adventures that lead to inspiration and impact!
#DiversityAndInclusion #Travel #MarketSourceProud