Category Archives: Advisors

Advisory Council

Renewing Diversity Part 10: Unpacking the Inclusivity Dilemma in Health Care – by Carlos Cortés

I recently received an invitation to attend the national conference of the Society for Intercultural Education, Teaching, and Research.   The conference theme was “Inclusive Interculturalism.” The implicit message was simple: in order to be inclusive, interculturalists need to make a conscious effort .  Inclusivity doesn’t come naturally.

In my last month’s ADR column I addressed a similar issue about the development of multicultural education. I argued that multiculturalists need to be cognizant about whom they may be excluding as well as including. The more that you exclude categories of people, the less inclusive the curriculum becomes. 

Continue reading Renewing Diversity Part 10: Unpacking the Inclusivity Dilemma in Health Care – by Carlos Cortés

Peace, civility and a smile – by Deborah Levine

originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

On my birthday this past Sunday, I made a wish for peace and civility. Why? I’d gotten a phone call full of hurt, fear and outrage at the current situation, asking me how to achieve that goal. I had no idea, so I decided to post this question online: “How are we going to stop all this violence, hate, and threats? Can we?” Eager for answers, I was fascinated by this response: “Can we? Peace? We have “all or nothing mindsets”, and “like oil and water”, two people, ideas, or things that are inherently incompatible and will not mix or get along. Yes, there is potential for resolution, but it’s tricky.”

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Our active shooting hoax was a warning – by Deborah Levine

originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press  

I was appalled to hear that UTC was under the threat of an active shooter. The full campus lockdown meant that students and staff endured an hour of terror. The lockdown was applied to Chattanooga’s government buildings. The Chattanooga Times Free Press was also in lockdown as were a dozen Hamilton County Schools as well as Erlanger and parts of Siskin Hospitals. When the search of campus buildings gave no evidence of a shooting, the lockdown was thankfully lifted.

Continue reading Our active shooting hoax was a warning – by Deborah Levine

Will Autumn glow with color or be all White? – by Deborah Levine

originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

It’s September and we should be celebrating the first day of autumn. Leaves are already falling on our roads. The fall colors and the ‘golden glow’ in Chattanooga will be blissful. Autumn is known by poets as “…a festival season when nature is aglow.” Yes, nature’s glow is coming, but what about the festivals? 

Maybe we can ignore the many cancellations of ethnic festivals across the country by attending Chattanooga’s Culture Fest at the First Horizon Pavilion: “Come experience the rich cultural diversity of Chattanooga through arts, food, dance, and live music. We’ll have local, ethnic organizations on hand displaying cultural artwork, offering food samples & cooking demos along with other global customs. You’ll find plenty of activities for the entire family… Enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of our cultural diversity right here in Chattanooga!”

But there are many cancellations of September events including the fourth annual Hispanic Heritage Fest in Kenner City, Louisiana.  In reality, hesitancy and cancellations have been going on for months.  According to the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, “…organizers across the US are reconsidering holding public events that celebrate different ethnicities or might draw large crowds from immigrant and refugee communities, citing concerns over safety and potential ICE raids. Some organizers have canceled events, resulting in a loss of revenue for cultural groups and a decline in the cultural vibrancy of cities.”

Pittsburgh is a good example of what’s happening around the country. The city had planned to host its first-ever local World Cup in June. A community soccer competition, the event aimed to celebrate Pittsburgh cultural diversity by featuring teams made up of residents from the city’s vast immigrant community, who’d play under the flags of their national origins. City officials canceled the local World Cup and the accompanying international Parade and Festival.

In Chicago, the immigration “Operation Midway Blitz” is planned to coincide with the week-long celebrations of Mexican Independence Day. The celebrations kick off with a parade and span more than a week, drawing hundreds of thousands of participants. Earlier this year, organizers called off Chicago’s Cinco de Mayo parades because their Mexican communities were concerned that the events might become targets for raids. What will happen now?

Chicago’s celebrations may be postponed since ICE claims to target criminal immigrants, but detains folks based on color and language. The resulting accusations of racial profiling are true, but unenforceable. Such accusations have never stopped ICE.  And now, the Supreme Court’s lifting of restrictions on ‘immigration stops’ in Los Angeles will make it legal in Chicago, and elsewhere. Sigh.

Supposedly it’s all about fighting crime, but the Republican Congress cut $800 million in public safety and crime prevention grants nationally. And Illinois cuts include $158 million for violence prevention programs and $71 million in law enforcement grants. Meanwhile, about 300 ICE agents are housed at a suburban Hampton Inn for 45 days. Ridiculous! I lived in this suburb, Downers Grove, for a decade and founded the region’s interfaith network. I hope it’s protesting, as should all faith groups.  

Top 25 Restorative People Leaders Watchlist

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 Deborah Levine:  Meet the Leader

Deborah is an award-winning author of 20 books, founder/editor of the American Diversity Report, and a Forbes Trailblazer. Her passion for the Arts began in her Bermuda childhood inspiring her to teach ballet at a school for the deaf, institute a Youth Cultural Video Contest, and create the documentary: Untold, Stories of a World War II Liberator.

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The little known life of Willis Carter – by Terry Howard

I could be wrong (and hope that I am) but the guess here is that those about to read this column are probably unfamiliar with the name Willis McGlascow Carter. (How about a show of hands by those who do and are anxious to prove me wrong.)

But for those who don’t, no worry since until recently, neither did I although he spent most of his life as a teacher, newspaper editor and activist in Staunton, Virginia, which happens to be my hometown.

Continue reading The little known life of Willis Carter – by Terry Howard

Tennessee Proudly Leads Against Hate – by Deborah Levine

originally published in The Chattanooga times Free Press. 

Tennessee is a leading state for laws and policies dealing with antisemitism according to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).  Antisemitism has been a focus of the ADL since it was founded in 1913 by the cultural association called B’nai Brith (Children of the Covenant) whose mission was to serve and protect Jewish immigrants, many of whom came to America to escape European and Russian persecution.  Hate and antisemitism were rampant there, and here, too. My great grandfather, a Jewish banker in Boston who had emigrated much earlier, was a pioneer in hiring Blacks and women. Enraged, other bankers tried to ruin and bankrupt him. 

Continue reading Tennessee Proudly Leads Against Hate – by Deborah Levine

‘Going Southern’ at the Book Club – by Deborah Levine

originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

It’s wonderful that there are so many book clubs in Chattanooga! Folks gather together to discuss all kinds of books: history, novels, science fiction, mysteries, and poetry. They meet in homes, churches, synagogues, schools, libraries, book stores, coffee shops and more. This weekend I was invited to speak and share one of my books at the East Ridge Library Book Club. As a long time resident of East Ridge, it was truly a pleasure to talk about my book, Going Southern: The No-Mess Guide to Success in the South.

Continue reading ‘Going Southern’ at the Book Club – by Deborah Levine

Rosh Hashanah 2025 – by Marc Brenman

The Jewish New Year is upon us, but may not feel like new, with vaccines being banned and Trump destroying democracy, making Americans hungrier, dumber, sicker, less safe, and more prone to natural disasters. He’s facing more days in court, alas with a Get Out of Jail Free card form the Supreme Court, which has absented itself from the Constitution. The book of Proverbs says, “To do righteousness and justice is preferred by God above sacrifice” (Proverbs 21:3). The psalmist exhorts: “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute” (Psalms 82:3).

Fall is the beginning of the Jewish High Holy day of Rosh Hashanah. It means “the head of the year.” Some say it’s the birthday of the universe, the day God created Eve and Adam. 

Continue reading Rosh Hashanah 2025 – by Marc Brenman

Confessions of an unashamed DEI Hire – by Terry Howard

BREAKING NEWS: Recent Department of Labor statistics show that nationwide, Black women lost 319,000 public and private sector jobs from February to July this year compared to 142,000 and 176,000 increases, respectively, by white and Hispanic women. White men saw an increase of 360,000 over that same period of time. 

Now that I got your attention, denial, urge to fact check me or fire off a letter to the editor look, just chill out as we turn our attention to all those unqualified “DEI Hires” we’ve been hearing about. If you believe the pundits, those “DEI Hires” have infiltrated every organization, taken over our nation and taken our jobs, that is except the thousands of (“DEI Hires”?) who, out of fear of deportation, have abandoned the backbreaking jobs picking fruit and vegetables in California, mopping floors in hospitals and putting in long hours in restaurants and on construction sites leaving their employers desperate for new workers.  

Okay readers, let’s peel back the onion on the who and why behind all the “DEI Hire” shenanigans, shall we? 

Continue reading Confessions of an unashamed DEI Hire – by Terry Howard