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About the American Diversity Report

DL Opinion columns

Lessons from the September loss of iconic women – by Deborah Levine

originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

September has seen the loss of incredibly influential woman locally, nationally and internationally. Dolly Parton and Gloria Steinem left huge footprints with their passion for making a difference. But before we get to them, let’s take a look at several other historic women who died in past Septembers. They symbolize the power of women to create positive change and demonstrate how current leaders with negative views of women need some history lessons. 

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Authors I-Q, Healthcare, Neuro-diversity

Beyond the Curve: Redefining Giftedness and Neurodiversity in Healthcare – by Dr. Veronica Palladino 

For decades, human intelligence and cognitive development have been measured through a rigid statistical lens. In clinical and educational settings, the Gaussian bell curve has dictated who is considered “normal,” who is “deficient,” and who is “gifted.” However, as explored in my research essay, Beyond the Curve: The Neurobiology and Psychology of Giftedness in the 21st Century, this binary approach to human minds is proving to be outdated. To truly understand the human brain, modern healthcare and advocacy must look past statistical models and embrace the profound reality of neurodiversity. 

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Authors A-H, Healthcare

Healthcare Systems: After Treatment Ends – by Andrew Drasen

For many individuals, completing a treatment program is a milestone filled with hope, relief, and anticipation. Residential programs, intensive outpatient services, and structured recovery tracks provide a framework for learning new skills, managing triggers, and building a foundation for change. Yet the moment a person leaves structured care is also the moment the safety net thins, and many find themselves navigating complex social, familial, and environmental pressures without the scaffolding that previously supported them.

Healthcare systems and programs designed to address substance use or mental health challenges often focus on stopping harmful behaviors and managing relapse risks. These approaches are critical. They teach clients to recognize triggers, practice coping strategies, and adhere to care plans. However, behavior-focused programs address only one side of a larger equation. Without guidance on who they are becoming beyond the behavior, individuals often struggle to sustain change once the structured environment is removed. Old patterns can resurface, not because the person intends to fail, but because they lack a coherent framework for their evolving identity.

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Authors I-Q, Healthcare

The Future of Fitness – by Tor Arne Jørgensen

In 1997, at age 23, I took my first bodybuilding photos for B&K Sports Magazine. My only goal was to look as muscular as possible. I had trained seriously for three years. Bodybuilding was not just something I did; it was a big part of who I was.

Two years later, I entered the Southern Norway Bodybuilding Championship. I competed again in 2000, and that was my last competition. The physical results were visible on the outside, but I paid less attention to what was happening inside. I rarely thought about my health or how I would feel years later.

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Advisors, Authors A-H, Of Men

For (some) men “quit” is a 4-letter word – by Terry Howard

Except for temperature approaching 90 degrees, there was nothing new that day or out of the ordinary when I pulled into the mall parking lot to begin my daily one-mile walk. So, I took a swig of water, stuffed my keys and phone into my pockets and got started. 

About a third of my way around the mall, I looked over my shoulder and noticed that two women were walking some 20-30 yards behind me. Well, no big deal I thought. But within minutes the two women had caught up with and eventually passed me even though I never slowed down my pace. 

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Authors A-H, Teams & Leaders

The Static Now Is a Net – by Donley Ferguson

Our Differences Create the Capacity to Break Free

Diversity that cannot change the system is diversity that the system has learned to contain without converting it into adaptive capacity.

We often measure diversity by counting those who are not the majority. We measure how many were hired, who was invited, who was given a seat, and who was allowed to speak. Those things matter. Yet the statistics do not tell us what happened to the organization because those people entered it.

An organization can become more diverse without changing. It can welcome unfamiliar faces and remain unable to see what those faces reveal. It can listen to new voices and remain deaf to what those voices know. It can collect experiences and display them as evidence of inclusion while its assumptions, decisions, processes, and responses remain the same.

The group does not have to reject diversity. It may have learned how to contain it. I call this The Static Now.

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Authors A-H, Race & Ethnicity

September: National Hispanic Heritage Month – Terry Howard

Welcome to Hispanic Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the history, diversity, achievements and contributions of Latinos whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. This year’s recognition theme, Together, We Are More, pays tribute to community strength, shared values and the collective impact of Hispanic and Latino Americans.

September 15 marks Independence Day for five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16 and Chile on September 18.  

To be clear, the word Hispanic is generally a linguistic category, referring to people from the 21 Spanish-speaking countries and territories, including Spain. Latino is more of an ethnic and cultural category, describing people descended from Latin America, including Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba and Central and South America. Which term people use to describe themselves is a personal choice.

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DL Opinion columns

How I combined 9/11 and the Jewish New Year – by Deborah Levine 

originally ;published in the Chattanooga Times Free Press

This year, the anniversary of 9/11 and the Jewish New Year coincide on September 11. Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew meaning head of the year) marks the New Year 5787. Yes, the date goes back thousands of years to the Divine creation of Adam and Eve, and humankind. How do I wrap my mind around the simultaneous commemoration of the 9/11 disaster and celebration of the Divine gift of life? Maybe we all need help with that. Rosh HaShanah could provide that help. 

For Jews around the world, Rosh Hashanah begins the 10 High Holy Days with apples and honey. This time of gratitude and joy, progresses to introspection, mourning, and repentance. We fast during the solemn conclusion of these 10 Days. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) is a time when forgiveness is asked for mistakes, bad choices, and faulty judgement during the previous year. We remember and mourn the passing of loved ones, and dedicate to doing better in the coming year.  This year that list will include those who passed during 9/11. 

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Authors I-Q, Entrepreneurship

Building a Lasting Creative Business That Balances Art and Strategy – by Julie Morris

Creative professionals, freelance designers, writers, photographers, makers, and independent artists, often see real creative career opportunities, yet struggle to turn talent into income with any consistency. The challenges of creative entrepreneurship show up fast: unpredictable demand, fuzzy boundaries, underpricing, and a constant pressure to market while still doing the work. Plenty of talented people end up stuck in a loop of feast-or-famine projects or overcommitment that drains their craft. Building sustainable businesses starts by treating creativity as a real value you can shape, protect, and grow.

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DL Opinion columns

Preserve Chattanooga: by securing its history – by Deborah Levine

originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

When I saw that a public workshop was offered at the downtown public library featuring Preserve Chattanooga (PC), I knew where I’d be that afternoon.  The mission of PC is to protect the architectural heritage of Chattanooga through preservation, education, and advocacy. That’s a dream of any urban planner, which I was decades ago in Chicago. I designed my masters degree in urban planning to focus on Arts and Culture and got involved in Chicago’s museums and historic architecture. 

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