Category Archives: Advisors

Advisory Council

Are we better than this? Well, obviously not – by Terry Howard

Call it stealing shamelessly, opportunism or laziness, or whatever you choose to accuse me of after reading this narrative. Okay, I plead guilty.

You see, when the unexpected results from the recent election settled into our imaginations, reactions were immediate, passionate and all over the place. 

Now like the opportunist you may accuse me of, like the hungry grizzly bear wading into the cold Alaskan waters with her pick from hundreds of spawning salmon, as a writer I got to pick and choose kernels from an assortment of writers who poured out their heartfelt reactions to the results.

Continue reading Are we better than this? Well, obviously not – by Terry Howard

Renewing Diversity #3: We Failed George Floyd – by Carlos Cortés 

In 1999, Malcolm Gladwell weighed in with his praised and criticized bestseller, The Tipping Point, a provocative exploration of the process of social change.   A quarter century later, in 2024, Gladwell revisited the topic via Revenge of the Tipping Point, a meditation on where he had been right and where he had gone wrong with his broad thesis.  Musing about his personal journey, Gladwell observed: “Maybe it would be a good idea for anyone who writes a book that tries to make sense of the world to be forced every 25 years to go back and revisit the original thesis.”

Continue reading Renewing Diversity #3: We Failed George Floyd – by Carlos Cortés 

What to do if your candidate wins or loses – by Terry Howard, Elwood Watson

An email I received from a fellow named “Pedro” led to this co-authored piece, an exchange between Elwood Watson, PhD and yours truly. 

“Pedro”  wrote: “I read, reread – and will read again – your piece, “ Bad boys. Bad boys. Whatcha gonna do when they (Project 2025) come for you?,” the context of which if Trump returns to office. Hard as I tried, I just couldn’t shake the thought of the project’s plan to cut Social Security benefits given that my retired parents depend on their Social Security checks as their sole source of income. My hope is that you’ll consider publishing something on what actions folks can take if their preferred candidate loses the election.”

Continue reading What to do if your candidate wins or loses – by Terry Howard, Elwood Watson

Notes from a Native Son – Mound Bayou (Part 2) – by Terry Howard

 

pastedGraphic.png

In PART 1, “Near Medgar’s Desk – Mound Bayou,” we chronicled the little- known history of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, the first all-Black town in America founded by ex-slaves. The person who arranged to get us there was Bernard Strong who was born and raised in Mound Bayou. In PART 2, Mr. Strong shares more about our recent trip along with his innermost thoughts about growing up in Mound Bayou.

As a native of Mound Bayou, what were a few thoughts that ran through your mind as we approached, spent time in and left Mound Bayou?

Continue reading Notes from a Native Son – Mound Bayou (Part 2) – by Terry Howard

Near Medgar Evers’ Chair: Mound Bayou (Part 1) – by Terry Howard

 

pastedGraphic.pngIn unfairness to them both, while Hermon Johnson, Jr. Museum director, and Darryl Johnson, Sr. CEO, Mound Bayou Movement, provided a captivating history of Mound Bayou, Mississippi, I couldn’t shake an image nearby. I mean, never in my life could I imagine sitting less than ten feet from the wooden desk and tattered leather chair where once sat the late civil rights activist Medgar Evers cranking out letters on a black typewriter. I walked over to the desk, inhaled, and  fought back a desire to touch either it or the chair.

So, what brought me to this indelible moment in my life, one that evoked such an incompatible mix of emotions, among them shock, anger, pride and above all…. inspiration?

Continue reading Near Medgar Evers’ Chair: Mound Bayou (Part 1) – by Terry Howard

Recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month – by David Grinberg

Leading Companies in Disability Inclusion are Twice as Profitable

National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) occurs every October and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP).

This monthly observance dates to 1945. The goal is to shine a spotlight on — and raise awareness about — disability issues in the workplace, including accessibility, hiring, training, advancement and retention.

Continue reading Recognizing National Disability Employment Awareness Month – by David Grinberg

Renewing Diversity #2: Teaching Health Equity – by Carlos Cortés, Adwoa Osei

In July, 2020, the two of us became the inaugural co-directors of the University of California, Riverside, School of Medicine’s new Health Equity, Social Justice, and Anti-Racism (HESJAR) curricular initiative.   Since then the teaching of health equity to medical students has been a journey of continuous renewal.   

Publications about health equity emerge nearly every day.  Each year’s student cohort provides new pedagogical challenges.  Every module we teach raises new issues regarding learning and assessment.  We can’t stand still. 

Continue reading Renewing Diversity #2: Teaching Health Equity – by Carlos Cortés, Adwoa Osei

Celebrating our city’s literary artists – by Deborah Levine

Originally published in the Chattanooga Times Free Press

Chattanooga is a hub for artists and aways has been. On September 25, ArtsBuild will celebrate 55 years of building our city through the Arts. There will also be a celebration of 10 years of the Ruth Holmberg Arts Leadership Awards with this year’s awardees: Cam Busch, Rita Lorraine Hubbard, Alan and Norma Mills, and Anna Baker Vancura. Several Holmberg relatives recently visited Chattanooga’s Mizpah synagogue which Ruth and her Ochs family helped create, as they’d done with The Chattanooga Times. Meeting them was a reminder that the past and present are interwoven through our city’s creative souls and their supporters. Whether it’s architecture, visual arts, dance, or music, we have a rich legacy of artists shaping our community. That legacy includes generations of writers, as demonstrated by the local Authors Fair hosted by the downtown public library this past weekend.    

Continue reading Celebrating our city’s literary artists – by Deborah Levine

Perspective on the Jewish New Year 2024 – by Marc Brenman

Rosh Hashonah means that it’s  a new year, but may not feel like one, with Covid returning and Trump threatening to come back. But he’s facing more days in court. 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).

October 2, 2024, is the beginning of the 10 Jewish High Holy days beginning with Rosh Hashonah. It means “the head of the year.” Some say it’s is the birthday of the universe, the day God created Eve and Adam. 

Continue reading Perspective on the Jewish New Year 2024 – by Marc Brenman

Election Exhaustion and that Afternoon Nap- by Deborah Levine

As we get closer to the vote for president, the weariness is overwhelming and calls for a nap. I hate being so tired that I get fussy and cranky. But know that it’s helpful to rest rather than act in that state of mind.  I wrote this poem honoring the nap, especially for those whose nerves are frayed and tempers are so hot that you’re tempted to do something really nasty.