Deborah Levine is Founder/Editor-in-Chief of the American Diversity Report. She is a Forbes Magazine top Diversity & Inclusion Trailblazer and an award-winning author of 20 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.
originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press
We’ve been glued to the news on TV and internet day and night. Definitely time to take a break from holding my breath. What to do? We decided to go to the riverfront, become one with the river’s flow and check out the replicas of Christopher Columbus’ Nina and Pinta. This history buff was fascinated by the ancient boats that sailed the seas. And they brought back fond ocean memories of my island girl youth.
Every year, we struggle to resist the temptation minute to minute to over-sugar ourselves. It begins with Halloween candy and proceeds to Thanksgiving dinner, exploding with holiday eating extravaganzas with the year’s tastiest foods. By the New Year, the scale shows our over-indulgence. It’s no coincidence that 12% of gym members join in January. And it’s discouraging that 80% of New Year’s resolutions disappear in February.
Always a fan of international projects, I eagerly attended the recent reception marking Chattanooga’s new collaboration with Ukraine’s city of Trostyanets. What a pleasure to meet its mayor, Yuriy Bova! Mayor Tim Kelly had formalized a cooperative agreement with the war-torn Ukrainian city that’s only 20 miles from the Russian border.
Speaking with Mayor Bovaand his interpreter was a real pleasure. I was delighted when he mentioned his desire to be online. I told him about my podcast and asked if he’d like to do an interview. Never imagining that he would say yes, I held my breath as his staff made the arrangements to connect my office in East Ridge with his in Ukraine. Would this actually happen?
Rachelle Zola is a storyteller and advocate for racial equity, known for her 40-day hunger strike in 2021, urging Congress to pass H.R. 40 to create a commission to study reparations for African Americans. Recently, she completed an 825-mile pilgrimage from Chicago to Montgomery, performing her one-woman show, LATE: A Love Story, which explores personal and collective stories about racism in America.
After walking 825 miles from Chicago to Montgomery, hear Rachelle’s stories:
What surprised you?
What did you learn?
What’s next for you?
Takeaways:
Rachelle invites you to reimagine our shared world as one that celebrates our diversity and freedom to be our authentic selves. Begin by asking just one person today: “What do you want me to know about you?” – if it’s someone you know well, you may want to add “today” – “What do you want me to know about you today?”
In PART 1, “Near Medgar’s Desk – Mound Bayou,” we chronicled the little- known history of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, the first all-Black town in America founded by ex-slaves. The person who arranged to get us there was Bernard Strong who was born and raised in Mound Bayou. In PART 2, Mr. Strong shares more about our recent trip along with his innermost thoughts about growing up in Mound Bayou.
As a native of Mound Bayou, what were a few thoughts that ran through your mind as we approached, spent time in and left Mound Bayou?
Delaney Norvor is a pioneering technology expert and advocate for underrepresented professionals, currently serving as the Director of Product Management at the National Apartment Association. Despite facing selective mutism due to dystonia, she excels in managing over $30 million in product assets and leading diverse teams. Passionate about mentorship, Delaney empowers marginalized and disabled individuals to navigate their careers, championing inclusivity and systemic change within the tech industry.
Hear Delaney discuss …
1. Her journey as a technology expert while living with selective mutism and how her experiences shaped her leadership style and approach to managing a diverse team in the tech industry.
2. Her career challenges and triumphs related to both personal and systemic discrimination and her strategies for overcoming these obstacles that can inspire others facing similar barriers.
3. Her lessons learned as a mentor and how organizations can implement these lessons to create a more supportive environment for all employees.
Takeaways:
The Importance of Inclusivity in Leadership:
Delaney’s journey highlights how diverse perspectives enhance team dynamics and drive innovation. Audiences can explore ways organizations can actively promote inclusivity and support underrepresented professionals, particularly in tech.
Strategies for Overcoming Barriers:
Delaney’s experiences with selective mutism and systemic challenges offer valuable lessons on resilience and determination. Discussions can focus on practical strategies for individuals and organizations to address discrimination and improve accessibility and support for disabled employees.
Yuriy Bova is Mayor of Trostyanets, a Ukrainian city just 20 miles from the Russian border that endured occupation for a month. Badly damaged in fighting with Russian forces almost two years ago, Trostyanets is one of six settlements being rebuilt in a pilot program to develop the skills and experience needed for a far broader reconstruction drive.
Trostyanets is now in partnership with the City of Chattanooga whose Mayor Tim Kelly formalized a cooperative agreement with the war-torn Ukrainian city. I met Mayor Bova at a recent reception celebrating the collaboration with many city leaders and organizations like Sister Cities.
Hear Mayor Bova discuss through his translator:
The history and significance of Trostyanets and the remaining historical monuments
Trostyanets’ response to Russia’s large-scale invasion in 2022 and what the Russians did in the city
The process of rebuilding: how it began and its current status
The city’s development strategy including sports and tourism industries and attracting new investors to the community
Takeaways:
What are current threats from Russia?
What are the most important problems requiring solutions now?
What will be the benefits of this partnership with Chattanooga and how does your visit benefit your people?
Originally published in the Chattanooga Times Free Press
Chattanooga is a hub for artists and aways has been. On September 25, ArtsBuild will celebrate 55 years of building our city through the Arts. There will also be a celebration of 10 years of the Ruth Holmberg Arts Leadership Awards with this year’s awardees: Cam Busch, Rita Lorraine Hubbard, Alan and Norma Mills, and Anna Baker Vancura. Several Holmberg relatives recently visited Chattanooga’s Mizpah synagogue which Ruth and her Ochs family helped create, as they’d done with The Chattanooga Times. Meeting them was a reminder that the past and present are interwoven through our city’s creative souls and their supporters. Whether it’s architecture, visual arts, dance, or music, we have a rich legacy of artists shaping our community. That legacy includes generations of writers, as demonstrated by the local Authors Fair hosted by the downtown public library this past weekend.
As we get closer to the vote for president, the weariness is overwhelming and calls for a nap. I hate being so tired that I get fussy and cranky. But know that it’s helpful to rest rather than act in that state of mind. I wrote this poem honoring the nap, especially for those whose nerves are frayed and tempers are so hot that you’re tempted to do something really nasty.
Avi Hoffman is a globally renowned award-winning actor, director and producer, and Co-Founder & CEO of Yiddishkayt Initiative, Inc. (YILoveJewish.org)
This is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting Antisemitism through the Arts : Yiddish Saves The World.
Avi was recently awarded Congressional recognition. He was invited to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis and was inducted into the Bronx Jewish Hall of Fame for his lifetime work advancing Jewish culture, Yiddish language and Holocaust awareness.
Rachelle Zola is a storyteller and advocate for racial equity, known for her 40-day hunger strike in 2021, urging Congress to pass H.R. 40 to create a commission to study reparations for African Americans. Recently, she completed an 825-mile pilgrimage from Chicago to Montgomery, performing her one-woman show, LATE: A Love Story, which explores personal and collective stories about racism in America.
Delaney Norvor is a pioneering technology expert and advocate for underrepresented professionals, currently serving as the Director of Product Management at the National Apartment Association. Despite facing selective mutism due to dystonia, she excels in managing over $30 million in product assets and leading diverse teams. Passionate about mentorship, Delaney empowers marginalized and disabled individuals to navigate their careers, championing inclusivity and systemic change within the tech industry.
Yuriy Bova is Mayor of Trostyanets, a Ukrainian city just 20 miles from the Russian border that endured occupation for a month. Badly damaged in fighting with Russian forces almost two years ago, Trostyanets is one of six settlements being rebuilt in a pilot program to develop the skills and experience needed for a far broader reconstruction drive.
Avi Hoffman is a globally renowned award-winning actor, director and producer, and Co-Founder & CEO of Yiddishkayt Initiative, Inc. (YILoveJewish.org)