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.
It was an honor to share my perspective as a Jew and diversity professional at Chattanooga’s MLK interfaith service commemorating The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. That event was 7 years ago but my passion for diversity is a lifelong legacy from my father, a US World War II military intelligence officer whose letters describing Naziism reside in Cincinnati’s American Jewish Archives. Having dedicated decades to tikkun olam, Hebrew for ‘repair of the world,’ I resonate to this day to Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel’s words, “Racism is man’s gravest threat to man – the maximum of hatred for a minimum of reason.”
Jerry Colonna is a leading executive coach who uses the skills he learned as a venture capitalist to help entrepreneurs. He is a co-founder and CEO of Reboot, the executive coaching and leadership development company, host of the Reboot Podcast, and author of Reunion: Leadership and the Longing to Belong and Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up .
He draws on his wide variety of experiences to help clients design a more conscious life and make needed changes to their career to improve their performance and satisfaction. He was a partner with JPMorgan Partners (JPMP), the private equity arm of JP Morgan Chase and earlier, he’d launched Flatiron Partners, which became one of the most successful, early-stage investment programs in the New York City area. He currently lives on a farm in Colorado.
Hear Jerry discuss:
1. What is the ‘Reunion’ process and its intended outcome?
2. How can acknowledging our ancestral history make us better leaders?
3. What is the best practice for dealing with shame or guilt surrounding our family lineage?
Discussion questions for you:
1. Why is it now critical to question traditional definitions of leadership? While it’s always essential to investigate various forms of leadership, it’s clear that the ways leaders have been leading have failed. We see this in the dissatisfaction among employees. We see this in the double-binds business leaders face when social disruption hits home. When companies are boycotted for the slightest expressions of a celebration and welcome for those who might otherwise face discrimination, then it’s clear that new forms of leadership are required.
2. How is systemic othering impacting today’s work environment? How is it not? When we place people in separate categories from ourselves, we automatically think of them differently and treat them differently. We are less likely to value their creative processes, input, and presence. Wildflowers make a garden beautiful and are the key to an accepting culture.
I’m honored to be the Tennessee State Chair of the Inter-Cultural Dialogue Wing of G100 Women Leaders / All Ladies League. I hope to bring together women making a difference in our state. It reminds me of when I founded the Women’s Council on Diversity and the Global Leadership Class more than 20 years ago. Let’s go again: Crosscultural boundaries Locally & Globally – Instruct & Inspire! (Let me know if this interests you.)
G100 is a huge action-think tank that comprises 100 wings/sectors, led by 100 Global Chairs like Dr. Aurora Martin who is Global Chair/Inter-Cultural Dialogue and Advisors like Global Advisor/Inter-Cultural Dialogue Shon Abegaz. The Chairs further nominate 100 country chairs in 100 countries for global reach and impact. Country chairs, like Monica Jaramillo who is the USA Country Chair/Inter-cultural Dialogue, then foster communities of 100 members directly or through further distributed leadership of region/state/city/district chairs.
G100 is a powerful Group of women leaders and achievers from all walks of life who wish to give back and move us all forward as architects of the future. It’s a league of luminaries of eminence and excellence including Nobel Laureates, Heads of States, Ministers, Businesswomen, Philanthropists, Investors, Entrepreneurs, CEOs, Corporate and Community Leaders – like me.
We are seeing the divisiveness in our world intensify and 2024 will increase that trend, especially given the U.S. presidential election. These issues of profound disagreement demonstrate the broad range of thought diversity that DEI must engage with in order to assist leadership in navigating future challenges.
The American Diversity Report has been a leader in anticipating trends and Instructing and inspiring strategy-making discussions. We will continue our much needed work with a special category for conversations about our divisive world throughout 2024. Unlike most of ADR conversations, Trends 2024 articles will focus on current and emerging hot topics. Your predictions, dialogue, and explanations are welcome.
Let’s demonstrate how diversity professionals can best facilitate robust conversations that improve understanding without exacerbating divisions. Keep in mind that the goal is to Instruct & Inspire – not to Advocate or Lobby.
Examples of topics include:
campus protests relating to the war
spike across the nation in acts of antisemitism and islamophobia
book banning
status of the voter rights act
erosion of trust in the supreme court
action on fossil fuel
culture wars around gender
The ADR invites you to participate in this Divisive World project by submitting articles that add to these conversations. Note that these are discussions and not advocacy for specific groups or individuals. Our emphasis is on healing, not intensifying the divisiveness. Your articles should be designed to follow the ADR motto: Instruct & Inspire.
Marty Martinez leads the Reach Out and Read network, which includes more than 6,000 program sites in all 50 states and nearly 30 regional, state, and local affiliates. Marty brings 25 years of experience working on behalf of young people, families and underserved communities across the Greater Boston area. He has a strong skill set and expertise in public health, nonprofit management and positive youth development.
The network shares the power of reading with families of all diverse backgrounds and economic means. Reading can become a part of their daily lives, creating a ripple effect throughout the community. One-third of young children, and half of children living in poverty, enter kindergarten without the skills needed to do well in school. Giving every young child a foundation for success will strengthen our society and help combat the effects of income inequality.
Hear Marty discuss…
1. How does Reach Out and Read’s new children’s book, Talk Baby Talk, inspire a conversation about diversity in families?
2. Why is it important to have this conversation early in childhood and what is its impact?
3. How will this book help with the goal of building more awareness of diversity and more resiliency to handle stress and challenges without resorting to violence?
Tulika Mehrotra is a Chicago-based branding and communications expert. She has over 15 years of experience in various sectors and organizations including start-ups with brand building, digital marketing, and communication. Tulika began with Peterson Technology Partners in 2018 as a consultant, leading brand marketing, communication, and digital strategy efforts across the organization. In 2021 she was promoted as PTP’s first Chief Digital Officer in ’ 25-year history.
Hear Tulika discuss…
What strategies can be applied to appeal to Gen Z?
What is the impact a diverse workforce has on a company’s bottom line?
Why does Gen Z care so much about DEI?
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is not just a buzzword. It is imperative DEI is a top priority of companies if they want to attract top talent as Gen Z, the most diverse generation in American history, continues to enter the workforce. Companies must show their commitment to DEI rather than just telling.
The recent mass killing in Maine will no doubt lead to a loud discussion about gun control. But guns led to more than 200 mass shootings in 2022 — about ten per week — more than one per day. Yet, despite gun violence researchers saying that there’s a contagion effect with every incident encouraging copy cats, little progress has been made.
Current debates about preserving history can be toxic, but our Bluff View Art District illustrates an important dimension to that debate: Art. One of Bluff View’s treasures is its oldest building, the Houston Museum of Decorative Arts. The museum’s collection of antique glass, porcelain and pottery is one of the finest in the world. And the story behind the collection is as fascinating as the artifacts themselves.
Visiting the museum, I heard about Anna Safley Houston who was supposedly born in 1876. I say “supposedly” because written records were iffy back in the year that Alexander Bell invented the telephone and the art of glassworks was emerging. Born in a small rural town, Anna was an unlikely collector of that art which she stored in an East Ridge barn.
Bunny Bear Adventure in Diversity Landis a Winner in 8 international film festivals for its use of the science of storytelling to make you laugh and make you sigh!
Hear storyteller, speaker and award-winning author Deborah Levine share true stories about trying to fit in and being the different one. The stories are a big hit with ages 6-11. Parents and teachers use Adventures in Diversity Landto build social and emotional awareness, learn empathy, appreciate differences and show respect. (Scroll down to see the AI video stories)
SCROLL DOWN for links to VIDEO STORIES and BUNNY BEAR RESOURCE PACKAGE SPECIAL OFFER!
TEACHING GUIDE & COLORING BOOK
“These entertaining and instructive stories help facilitate dialogue about difficult subjects like bullying, race, identity, and discrimination.” ~ Kim Wayans: In Living Color Hollywood actress & writer
“Sharing Deborah Levine’s ‘Bunny Bear’ story with my daughters brought about a heartwarming experience that bridged generations. As my daughters, aged 9 and 7, listened with wide-eyed wonder, I found myself just as captivated by the tale. Deborah’s storytelling masterfully intertwines empathy, openness, and inclusion, creating a platform for us to explore these concepts together.” ~ Dr. Anjam Chaudhary: DEI Program Coordinator, Michigan State U.
“I would highly recommend these stories to any child who is the new child on the block. Deborah makes one feel that anything is possible in a new situation. And her voice would make any child feel as if you are talking to just her/him.” ~ Mary Jane McKinsey: grandmother & teacher
“I grew up with Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood — your voice and storytelling cadence took me back to being a child and hanging on his every word. Adults talking to children in a way that shows them they are respected, valued, encourages them to use their imagination, think for and love themselves AND to value and respect others ❤️ we need more of that!” ~ Katie Hall: community activist
This guide uses the science of storytelling to teach social and emotional awareness. Given the growing need to teach respect and inclusion in our communities and schools, the Bunny Bear Teaching Guide provides a creative and personal approach to laying the groundwork for positive and productive human interaction.
This coloring book for ages 6-11 is not only engaging and fun, but includes discussion questions that help build critical thinking skills, enhance social and emotional awareness, increase empathy, appreciate differences and show respect. (Note: older kids and adults will also enjoy Bunny Bear)
NOTE: Media/graphics created byAI Art Generator NightCafe using artist “anime”, Anime Key Visual, Japanese Manga, Pixiv, Zerochan, Anime art, Fantia
Devora Yellin Fish is a social justice experiential educator with the goal to increase inclusion in the world. She mentors under-represented purpose-driven Emerging Professionals and Entrepreneurs toward goals. Her mission is to Uplift each and every person for their unique contribution to humanity. No one and nothing left out. (FormerDirector of Education for the TN Holocaust Commission) Hear Devora discuss:
What is Up In the Chair and why did you start it?
How do Uplifter Clubs in schools, campuses, companies, and communities create a culture of inclusion?
What kinds of activities are included in the Uplifter Clubs?