All posts by Editor-in-Chief

Deborah Levine is Editor in-Chief of the American Diversity Report. She is a Forbes Magazine top Diversity & Inclusion Trailblazer and an award-winning author of 15 books. She has been recognized by the Women's Federation for World Peace and the TN Economic Council on Women. She was featured on C-Span/ BookTV and her published articles span decades in journals & magazines: American Journal of Community Psychology, Journal of Public Management & Social Policy, The Bermuda Magazine, The Harvard Divinity School Bulletin. A former blogger with The Huffington Post, she is now an opinion columnist with The Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Janet Rutkowski Podcast: Artist and Curator

Janet RutkowskiJanet Rutkowski is a Brooklyn-based artist with a studio in Barryville, NY.  She’s a self-taught artist whose work spans over 35 years and primarily works in steel, although during the pandemic, she created hundreds of works on paper entitled Quarantine Compositions. Janet is also a curator and currently has a large show in celebration of Women’s History Month entitled: Behind The Mask. The Art of Women Welders. It features 29 women welders and over 50 works of powerful art, as well as one of her large scale pieces.

Here Rutkowski discuss:

  • The inspiration for her work
  • The role of women in the current art world today
  • The current show that she co-curated featuring women welders for Women’s History Month.
  • Her numerous projects and events  (CLICK to visit her WEBSITE )

CLICK for the podcast

Is it just another day on the internet? – by Deborah Levine

(originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press)

My first reaction to the hacking attempts on my website was to wonder about the motivation behind it. Were the multiple failed login attempts related to the emails I just sent out  announcing an upcoming event about “Serving our Diverse Communities”? The event’s purpose is to highlight and honor those who serve and have them share their expertise. So, given its diversity element, could the motivation behind these attempts to mess with the back end of my website be at least partly political? 

Continue reading Is it just another day on the internet? – by Deborah Levine

Women GroundBreakers Storytelling: Serving Diverse Communities

On March 7, 2024 we celebrated Women’s History Month with a panel of Women Groundbreakers whose work locally and globally serving diverse communities will Inspire & Instruct. Facilitated by Deborah Levine and sponsored by the American Diversity Report and G100 Women Leaders, the panel shared their expertise and experience. CLICK to hear their WUTC interviews.

**CLICK for PANEL RECORDING**

Deborah levineDeborah Levine is Founder/Editor-in-Chief of the American Diversity Report,  award-winning author of 18 books, TN Chair of G100 Women Leaders, opinion writer with The Chattanooga Times Free Press, and a Forbes Magazine top Diversity & Inclusion Trailblazer. She is the Founder of Women GroundBreakers Storytelling and the Women’s Council on Diversity. 

LuLu CopelandLuLu Copeland is a Consultant at Regional Economic & Workforce Development, Director of Economic & Workforce Development Administration at Chattanooga State Community College and Executive Director at TN-China Network. Lulu is the TN state lead for Million Women Mentors (international movement promoting STEM careers for women). 

Gail DawsonGail Dawson is an Associate Prof. of Management and Director of Diversity & Inclusion at the Rollins College of Business /U. of TN/ Chattanooga. She holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration (U. of S. Florida) and teaches graduate and undergraduate classes including human resource management, diversity, and organizational behavior.

Vanessa JacksonVanessa Jackson is a Program Specialist with the City of Chattanooga’s Office of Multicultural Affairs and was one of Chattanooga’s first Neighborhood Relations Specialists, amplifying the voices and mitigating the barriers of diverse communities. She holds a BA in Political Science and Cultural Studies (U. of TN/Knoxville) and a MA in Public Administration (U. of TN/Chattanooga).

Teletha Teletha McJunkin has roots in social work where she first learned how to listen deeply and communicate with diverse stakeholders. For the past 8 years, she has been leading and coordinating international, multicultural, multi-lingual teams as they navigate change and develop strategies in the areas of human and environmental rights.

CLICK to hear their WUTC radio  interviews.

 

Note: Event Planner Cathrine Bays: Certified as a government meeting planner by the Society of Government Meeting Professionals, she served as Chattanooga’s chapter president, fundraiser, and educational program leader for 15 years. She recently worked as an Event Strategist for Maritz Global Events and Conference Director for the National Harm Reduction Coalition.

G100

American Diversity Report

2024 Theme: Women’s History Month – Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Celebrating Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

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Whereas, March is National Women’s History Month, and the National Women’s History Alliance has designated the theme for Women’s History Month 2024 as “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion”; and

Whereas, this theme recognizes the invaluable contributions of women who have dedicated themselves to advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of society; and

Whereas, women from diverse backgrounds have long been at the forefront of efforts to address systemic inequities and promote a more inclusive and just society; and

Whereas, the courageous advocacy of women for practical goals such as equity, diversity, and inclusion serves as a beacon of inspiration for all individuals and communities; and

Whereas, in 2024, we honor the women who have tirelessly worked to dismantle barriers, challenge prejudices, and create opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their background and attacks against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusions programs and training in our institutions; 

Now, therefore be it resolved, that the American Diversity Report does hereby proclaim March 2024 as Women’s History Month in Tennessee and 

Be it further resolved that, We encourage our communities and organizations to celebrate the achievements of women who have championed equity, diversity, and inclusion, and reaffirm our commitment to advancing these principles in our society. Let us honor the women who have dedicated themselves to advocating for equity, diversity, and inclusion, and let us continue to work together to build a more just, equitable, and inclusive world.

Sisterhood for Women’s History Month – by Deborah Levine

Is Women’s History Month still relevant today? Is the need for sisterhood activism over as some say? We look back at the first group to advocate for women’s right to vote nationally and see that it was ultimately successful. The Seneca Falls Woman’s Rights Convention was held long ago in1848. But the words of its organizer Elizabeth Cady Stanton still hold true and yet are still controversial, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men and women are created equal.”

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Know history so it will not have to repeat – By Deborah Levine

Originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

I thought of this saying on Jan. 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day: “History repeats itself. So you might wanna pay attention.” A comment from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum resonated with me: “As we are witnessing an alarming rise of antisemitism around the globe, it is more important than ever for us to recognize the critical lessons of Holocaust history as we commemorate the victims and honor the survivors.” At the same time, there is growing noise about the “Holocaust Industry,” which asserts the American Jewish establishment exploits the memory of the Nazi Holocaust for political and financial gain and to further Israeli interests.

Continue reading Know history so it will not have to repeat – By Deborah Levine

Gloria Feldt Podcast: Gender Parity

  Gloria Gloria Feldt is Cofounder and President of Take The Lead, a nonprofit organization providing training, coaching and cohort building, inspiring role models, and thought leadership to individuals and organizations, with the mission of intersectional gender parity in leadership. Gloria is the author of 5 books and former president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She is a Forbes 50 over 50, angling for 80 over 80.

Hear Gloria discuss:

  • Why she started Take The Lead?
  • What will it take for women to reach parity in leadership positions, power, and pay?
  • What is the necessary, fundamental mindset shift about power.
  • How are women engaging that shift towards gender parity in leadership?

CLICK for podcast

COVID Extremists Unite – by Deborah Levine

Originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

I freaked when I saw this article online, “The Covid extremists can’t bear that nobody is listening to them”. I’d just recovered from Covid and then, something called Covid Rebound. Having escaped Covid for years, and been thoroughly vaccinated, I thought I was safe. I complained to my daughter, the doctor. After briefly expressing sympathy, she said, “You’re old! Be grateful for those vaccinations. Otherwise you could be dead.” 

Continue reading COVID Extremists Unite – by Deborah Levine

STEM Women Storytellers – by Deborah Levine

Women GroundBreakers Storytelling

The push to attract women to STEM education and careers is gaining steam, but the impact is questionable. Young women have ample cause to be discouraged given the decrease of the number of women professionals in many STEM fields. Bucking the trend, efforts to encourage women to embrace STEM have increased dramatically. Those efforts span the country, including in Tennessee where Chattanooga’s Women GroundBreakers Storytelling featuring women in STEM.

Continue reading STEM Women Storytellers – by Deborah Levine

Hate and the cost of silence – by Deborah Levine

Originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

Many quotes by Martin Luther King, Jr. were posted on line this week. A fellow Chattanooga colleague got my attention with, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”  Then I got an email from a synagogue buddy asking me why Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) was being silenced and suggested that I write about this for my TFP column. Interesting coincidence! But I was busy mailing a DEI book that I’d written. Holding the book in one hand, I picked up an unmarked envelope mailer only to find that there was something already in it. And that’s when coincidence became weirdness. 

Continue reading Hate and the cost of silence – by Deborah Levine