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 Bermuda Magazine, The Harvard Divinity School Bulletin.
Advisors, Levine articles, Of Women

ADR Advisors: Influential Women in our Lives and Work

 ADR Advisors share women who inspire

When asked about the women who inspire them, our ADR Advisors share a range of iconic women and personal inspirations.  Some of the Advisors have chosen personal mentors, others have opted for historic figures and some chose both. My own choice is Margaret Mead, (see quote above) a pioneer in cultural anthropology also known for her research on sexual conventions in Western society.

Reading about the various influencers, I have no doubt that you’ll begin to generate a list of women who shaped your own lives.  Feel free to share in the Comments!

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Of Women

ADR Friends: Women Who Inspire Us

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In honor of Women’s History Month, hear about the women who inspire us and influence history. Let’s begin with a  quote from Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, founder of Women’s Federation for World Peace and friend of the ADR:

“Women have the magical power to create harmony and to soften hearts. Brides build bridges. The world of the future can be a world of reconciliation and peace, but only if it is based on the maternal love and affection of women. This is a true power of womanhood. The time has come for the power of true womanhood to save the world.”

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Make a Difference Podcasts

Patrick Donaldson & Kimberly Rollins Podcast: Good Works in Financing

PrimericaPatrick Donaldson is a church Elder, husband and father. He has worked in the financial services industry for over 20 years, focusing on retirement benefits and financial literacy. In addition to his Bachelor of Science degree, he has a Masters of Human Resources, holds a Tennessee insurance license and is a FINRA Securities Registered Representative with Primerica Financial Services. He has volunteered his expertise to the Chattanooga community with hands-on education workshops at numerous local churches and recreation centers, as well as actively working with the Citizen Safety Coalition.

PrimericaKimberly Rollins is the wife of Pastor Donald Rollins Sr.  of Chattanooga’s Born Again Christian Church. She worked for 23 years for the City of Chattanooga, acquiring the leadership skills that she taught co-workers and the women of her church. Then 7 years ago, she expanded her calling to help others by working in finance, helping as many people possible to accomplish their goals and dreams with the knowledge that she’s acquired over the years.

. What Financial Concepts do you teach?

2. What is your passion & motivations?

3. What do you do for fun?

We don’t always have the time we think we have (I have a personal story) 2 Get your affairs together while you have time
Name 3 issues that the audience should continue to discuss.  1. Transparency about where they are emotionally, spiritually, and financially. 2. What small consistent changes are they willing to make to be better? 3. Take the time and care to prepare for the inevitable.

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Generational, Podcasts

Bea Franklin Podcast – Her Historic Journey

Bea Franklin Bea Franklin is a 98 year ‘young’ inspirational woman who is the daughter of The Pep Boys ‘Jack’ and wife of a World War II photographer. Bea is a breast cancer survivor & is still quite busy going on cruises, attending Broadway shows & UpScale NYC restaurants.

 

 

Hear Bea discuss her historic journey with memories of family, famous icons, WW II, and keys to a fulfilling life:

Franklin

  • Her World War II photographer husband.
  • World War II iconic photos: President FDR with Generals Eisenhower & Patton.

 

  • Liberation of the Dachau death camp.
  • Photos of Humphrey Bogart, Mickey Rooney & others.
  • House-guests including champion boxer/TV celebrity Rocky Graziano, hockey stars & even a former US President.
  • Attending a NYC Rooftop concert that featured Frank Sinatra.

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Arts & Culture Podcasts

Jacqueline Schwab Podcast: Music and Culture

Schwab Pianist Jacqueline Schwab spins musical stories out of the myriad strands in the American quilt and with community music making at their heart. Her signature playing features in over a dozen of Ken Burns’ documentaries, including his Grammy-winning Civil War, as well as in The Irish in America and other PBS documentaries. She has performed at the White House for President Clinton, on PBS with the American Pops Orchestra and in almost every state of the Union. Her latest album I Lift My Lamp—Illuminations from Immigrant America celebrates music from American immigrants. Jacqueline Schwab grew up in Pittsburgh and has since lived in Boston and on Cape Cod.

Hear Jacqueline talk about musicians who perform music from other cultures and her new album, “I Lift My Lamp.”

Learn how musicians explore with respect music of other cultures, weigh in on the diversity problems confronting the world and promote cross-cultural healing.

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Make a Difference Podcasts, Podcasts

Christopher Johnson Podcast: Financial DEI

Christopher JohnsonChristopher Johnson is President of Global Financial Services at Pitney Bowes, where he manages the financing and lending businesses, as well as the consumer and merchant payments and risk management functions across the company. Christopher also holds leadership responsibility for Pitney Bowes Bank, a state chartered industrial loan company.

Hear Christopher discuss how this is the time to make changes to ensure inclusion in the future. The pandemic, super high inflation, and high interest rates are changing the dynamics of our economy. Economic prosperity will need leaders committed long term to their communities, customers and employees, including actionable DEI.

  1. Difficulties accessing capital continues to mount for SMBs, but especially with Black and minority owned businesses. How can we make access to capital more equitable? Is this possible to achieve?
  2. How do we use diversity to adjust to the changes in generations currently in the workplace and the growth of small businesses?
  3. How can we begin increasing participation for minorities in industries like financial services? What’s one thing business leaders can implement today?

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Editor-in-Chief, Uncategorized

CELEBRATE AND ACT ON BLACK HISTORY MONTH – by Deborah Levine

published originally in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

Honoring Black History Month often comes with events that tell African American history through arts and culture, which resonate across cultural boundaries. For example: the National Center for Civil and Human Rights will display jazz music that “inspires movements, evokes revolution, and lightens troubled spirits.”

Corporate celebrations may elevate Black artists, creators, entrepreneurs through storytelling, content and products. But as memorable as these celebrations are, they may be considered once-a-year, check-the-box events.

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Holocaust, Levine articles

Propaganda and Re-education: Ritchie Boy Lessons – by Deborah Levine

How do they hate us? Let me count the ways. There’s Holocaust denial, Nazi memes, attacks by Supremacists, far-right conspiracies,  and victimization appropriations. Ironically, Russia which was the source of a favorite Nazi propaganda, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, recently joined that list. Russia’s Foreign Minister, furious with their isolation and Ukraine support, compared Western leaders to Hitler who “wanted a ‘final solution’ to the Jewish question.”

Continue reading Propaganda and Re-education: Ritchie Boy Lessons – by Deborah Levine →

Leadership Tips Podcasts, Make a Difference Podcasts, Workplace Strategies Podcasts

Daphne Jones Podcast: Win When They Say You Won’t

Daphne Jones Daphne Jones serves on the Boards of three public companies—AMN Healthcare, the Barnes Group, and Masonite International—where she offers critical business savvy, cyber security expertise, and digital insights. Previously, she enjoyed a 30+-year corporate career at some of the world’s most recognizable companies, such as GE, Johnson & Johnson, IBM, and Hospira (now Pfizer).
Daphne has presented strategies to CEOs, boards of directors, and corporate officers, led global teams, and generated hundreds of millions of dollars of value. At GE Healthcare, she became the highest-ranking African American woman in GE IT. She was the first woman and person of color to report to the Chairman of the Board and CEO, shattering the glass ceiling at Hospira.

Daphne Jones

Daphne shares her insights and experiences in her book, “Win When They Say You Won’t,” launching in Fall 2022 from McGraw-Hill. It equips  women leaders to take ownership of their careers and overcome critics to win.

Questions Daphne Jones will answer:

  • When you started your career as a secretary, did you ever imagine that you would someday become a CIO and a board member at major global companies?
  • Why did you title your book Win When They Say You Won’t?
  • What was the hardest part of rising up the ladder as a black woman in STEM.

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Workplace Strategies Podcasts

Ash Beckham Podcast: Breaking Through Barriers

leadership educatorAsh Beckham is an inclusion activist, inclusive leadership expert, professional trainer, workshop facilitator, motivational speaker, business leader and author of Step Up: How to Live with Courage and Become an Everyday Leader.  Known for her unique voice, intrepid, relatable and intrinsically comic style, and powerful guidance, her TEDx Talk “Coming Out of Your Closet” became a fast viral sensation.

A popular speaker and leadership educator, she frequently addresses topics including embracing a different vision of leadership to create change in our workplaces, schools, places of worship, communities and more.  Ash has presented keynotes and workshops for more than 200 corporate, government and collegiate events and conferences including The Boeing Company, Bank of America, Microsoft, the Out and Equal Summit.  For more information, see her website.

leadership Hear Ash discuss…

  • What role does empathy play in inclusion?
  • Where do we educate ourselves about inclusion and engage more in inclusive leadership?
  •  What does allyship actually look like and how do allies engage inclusively?

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