All posts by Editor-in-Chief

Deborah Levine founded the American Diversity Report in 2006. She is a Forbes Magazine top "Trailblazer" and award-winning author of 20 books. Her published articles span decades including: American Journal of Community Psychology, Journal of Public Management & Social Policy, The Bermudian Magazine, The Harvard Divinity School Bulletin.
DL Opinion columns, Tech & AI

Conversational AI comes to Chattanooga, again – by Deborah Levine

originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

Project Voice 2026 marks a decade of Conversational AI and it was a pleasure to attend at its conference at the Chattanooga Convention Center. I’m in total agreement with the organizer, Bradley Metrock, (General Partner, Project Voice Capital Partners) and his explanation of the celebration. “We’ve been very pleased to host Project Voice for the last ten years here in Chattanooga. Every time I get asked “Why Chattanooga?” I respond “Why not?” The city is growing, vibrant, and hungry, and those working with voice AI and conversational AI from around the world that have attended over the years have witnessed that energy first-hand. The conference itself moves the voice AI world forward, and quietly has established a reputation as a central event for this young but growing technological domain.”

There were more than 160 attendees for amazing sessions like: Alexa, What’s Next For Voice AI?, Security Reimagined in an Age of AI, Hiring In The Age Of AI, Conversational AI in Modern Healthcare, and Measuring AI’s Effectiveness in Customer Service.

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Interfaith Podcasts

Ibrahim Anlı Podcast – Interfaith dialogue leader

Ibrahim    Ibrahim Anlı is the Executive Director of Rumi Forum in Washington, DC, where he leads initiatives advancing interfaith dialogue, religious literacy, and civic belonging. A scholar-practitioner with more than two decades of experience, he has built flagship programs, launched research platforms, and convened multi-stakeholder partnerships across North America, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

Hear Ibrahim discuss:

  • Interfaith dialogue,
  • Depolarization,
  • Religion in public life.

Takeaways that the audience can continue to discuss include:

  • Renewal in interfaith efforts,
  • Religion serving as a prophetic voice.

CLICK for PODCAST

DL Opinion columns

These women are making history around the world – by Deborah Levine

originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

When I got the invitation from the annual virtual Women’s Empowerment Expo to be featured among the 40 organizations from around the world, I thought it was a joke. Maybe that’s because the Expo is organized by Harvard Alumni for Global Women’s Empowerment (GlobalWE) and includes CEOs, ambassadors, inventors, I’ve always addressed the challenges that women face, my Radcliffe/Harvard time was more than a half century ago. Overwhelmed by their incredible attempts to build a better world, I’ll let others from the Zoom conference comment.

Continue reading These women are making history around the world – by Deborah Levine →

DL Opinion columns, The Arts

4 Bridges Arts Festival a wonderful gift – by Deborah Levine

originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

Thousands of folks join me in thinking that the 4 Bridges Arts Festival is, as a Bishop friend in Bermuda used to say, “wonderful, marvelous, glorious.” The Festival is presented annually by the Association for Visual Arts (AVA) and has been with us for 26 years.  AVA’s tag line is “ Connecting Art with Community’ and it’s supported by the TN Arts Commission, Lyndhurst Foundation, and ArtsBuild as well as dozens of sponsoring organizations and individual patrons.  While 4 Bridges grows bigger as the city expands, its home continues to be the First Horizon Pavilion near the Southside district of downtown Chattanooga. That’s where I went.

Continue reading 4 Bridges Arts Festival a wonderful gift – by Deborah Levine →

DL Opinion columns, Levine articles, War

Creative souls needed in war zones – by Deborah Levine

 ( based on column for The Chattanooga Times Free. Press)

When my hubby and I saw that Iran had bombed Bet Shemesh, a community outside of Jerusalem, we were horrified. That’s where our daughter Elana and 4 grandsons live. Photos of the decimated village and stories of nine dead in the bombing filled the news. It was 24 hours before we heard from Elana. You can imagine what a relief it was to see her post this on 

Facebook: “War has started again. Thank G-d we are all ok…” 

Continue reading Creative souls needed in war zones – by Deborah Levine →

DL Opinion columns, Music, theater, TV, dance

‘Gimme a Break’ and get along with Music –  by Deborah Levine

originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Can we bring diverse folks together in these crazy times? It seems like an impossible dream, one that requires an incredible amount of research, work, time and energy. Yes, I did create a neuroscience-based process years ago called the Matrix Model Management System. And it’s a been a great success for team building. But something simpler and faster is needed these days. What might that be?

I discovered an amazing answer to that question when grocery shopping. I was standing by the candy section, not far from two salesmen whom I’d seen there often. They were discussing sales issues when I realized that I was in front of the KitKat section. I turned to them and asked if they knew the song to the Kit Kat commercial. They grinned like twins although one was African American, the other was country-style White. Together they started to sing and dance to the “Gimme a Break” music from the 1986 KitKat ad. And I joined in. 

Continue reading ‘Gimme a Break’ and get along with Music –  by Deborah Levine →

DL Opinion columns

Using the power of Interfaith – by Deborah Levine

originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

As we celebrate Passover and Easter in our Jewish and Christian homes here in Chattanooga, I had the opportunity to dialogue virtually with the Bermuda Christian Jewish Alliance (BCJA). You may already know that I grew up on the island of Bermuda, part of the British Commonwealth. My grandfather was one of the island’s Founding 400 and we’re the only Jewish family to have lived on the island for 4 generations – going back to the early 1900s. So given the holidays, it wasn’t entirely surprising to get a request from BCJA to speak about my family’s history, especially our experience regarding the Holocaust. 

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Being Diverse

Greg Jenkins Podcast: DEI as a veteran

GregGreg Jenkins is a dedicated leader, facilitator, trainer, coach, mentor, and small-business owner, committed to helping people and teams achieve higher performance. Greg completed a successful 28+ year US Army career that included overseas duties in Germany, South Korea, and combat duty in Iraq plus several stateside assignments culminating in Washington, D.C.

Greg is a certified Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), Qualified Administrator (QA) and passionate volunteer who actively mentors and coaches leaders, educators, US military service members, and veterans.

Hear Greg answer these questions:

1. How did you initially get involved with DEI?

2. What was it about your US Army experience that connected you to DEI?

3. In your experience, how does DEI intersect with leadership and team building?

Takeaways

1. What experience can you recall where you felt welcomed, respected, valued, and heard? And, how could you replicate that experience?

2. With our continually evolving US demography, what’s the best way to help the country move forward inclusively?

CLICK for Podcast

DL Opinion columns

Women Storytelling for Women’s History Month – by Deborah Levine

originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

Folks often cite famous women in history as their inspiration during Women’s History Month. The stories about Marie Curie, Rosa Parks, Eleanor Roosevelt and Ruth Bader Ginsburg are good examples. But here in Chattanooga, we have our own inspirational women who have spoken about Women’s History Month and its meaning. Let’s learn from the stories that they share.

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DL Opinion columns

Chattanooga’s Sister City in Ukraine – by Deborah Levine

originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

Much excitement at City Hall on March 6 when Mayor Tim Kelly announced that the City of Chattanooga and the Ukrainian City of Trostyanets have solidified their friendship with an official Sister Cities agreement. It was amazing to be present at this Zoom signing ceremony of the documents connecting Chattanooga and Trostyanets as official Sister Cities. 

Continue reading Chattanooga’s Sister City in Ukraine – by Deborah Levine →