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.

TN Chapter of G100 Women Leaders – by Deborah Levine

Inter-cultural Dialogue for Equity

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.

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Trends 2024: Navigating Our Divisive World

Join us! Instruct & Inspire

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.

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Marty Martinez Podcast: Reach Out and Read

Martinez 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…

Martinez1. 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?

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Tulika Mehrotra Podcast: Gen Z in the Workplace

Tulika 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…
  1. What strategies can be applied to appeal to Gen Z?
  2. What is the impact a diverse workforce has on a company’s bottom line?
  3. 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.

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History and Art in Bluff View and beyond – by Deborah Levine

Originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

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.

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Bunny Bear Adventures: Video Stories and Resources- by Deborah Levine

Adventures in Diversity LandBunny Bear Adventures is a Winner in 9 international film festivals for its use of the science of storytelling and AI graphics that 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 video stories are a big hit with ages 6-11. Parents and teachers use Bunny Bear Adventures to build social and emotional awareness, learn empathy, appreciate differences and show respect.

Bunny BearSCROLL DOWN to see VIDEO STORY INTRODUCTION

andBunny Bear
BUNNY BEAR RESOURCE PACKAGE
SPECIAL OFFER: 
VIDEO STORIES, TEACHING GUIDE & COLORING BOOK

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Devora Fish Podcast: Up in the Chair

Devora 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)Devora  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?

Ask yourself, “Who will you uplift today?”

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Local vision for arts, culture and economics – by Deborah Levine

Originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

Creating community is a mission that takes passion, persistence and personal commitment. I did not expect to experience all that when I dropped by the Local Coffee of East Ridge (ER) on Ringgold Road. I’d heard about meetings there from friends and thought I’d check out their local book signing event. I soon discovered that it’s also the center for the East Ridge Creative Arts nonprofit (ERCA). Memories came rushing back to me of how I designed my masters degree in Urban Planning at the University of Illinois at Chicago to focus on the economic impact of Arts and Culture on a community. 

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Multicultural Healthcare and Disparities – by Deborah Levine

When Dr. Joseph Betancourt spoke on “Solutions for Disparities: Delivering Quality Care to Diverse Populations” in Chattanooga several years ago, he delivered both unusual expertise and a personal model for future healthcare. Dr. Betancourt’s family came from Puerto Rico to NYC and he talked about his childhood as interpreter for his grandparents to their doctors. Today, Joseph Betancourt, MD, MPH, is the Senior Vice President of Equity and Community Health at Massachusetts General Hospital, the founder, senior advisor and faculty of the Disparities Solutions Center (DSC) at Mass General, Faculty at the Mongan Institute, an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and a practicing Internal Medicine physician.

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Israel Dialogue with Christians & Jews

Israel DialogueThe goal of this manual is to design new ways to discuss Israel, focusing on basic religious themes. The Middle East is often seen as a confusing array of political, economic, military strategy, and religion. Amidst this confusion, religious themes are an important element in shaping American attitudes toward Israel, and this volume helps prepare leadership to engage in an interreligious dialogue about Israel and the Middle East.

This manual attempts to move the process along with an “on-the-job-training“ approach to aid leadership in developing a personal approach to Israel dialogue that emphasizes religious themes.

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