Category Archives: Advisors

Advisory Council

Advisors, Authors A-H, Healthcare, Politics, Trends 2024: Divisive World

2024 Trends: Healthcare at Risk – by David Grinberg

Despite its overwhelming success, Obamacare remains the target of relentless partisan attacks. Donald Trump is again vowing to end the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare, during a potential second term as president.

“Obamacare is a catastrophe,” Trump recently said at a campaign event in Iowa. The twice impeached former president also wrote on his social media platform: “The cost of Obamacare is out of control, plus, it’s not good Healthcare.”

But terminating Obamacare, assuming Trump wins the presidency again, would decimate healthcare for about 40 million Americans for no good reason. These citizens in need of affordable healthcare had been locked out of the private insurance system for decades based on discriminatory reasons — including socioeconomic status and preexisting conditions, which disproportionately hurt minority groups the most.

Continue reading 2024 Trends: Healthcare at Risk – by David Grinberg →

DL Opinion columns, Religious Diversity

Finally, diversity programming is beginning to include faith – by Deborah Levine

Originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

I could barely contain my excitement a few days ago when the Chattanooga Times Free Press published this article, “Businesses face calls to include faith in diversity program”. Do you know how many years I’ve been promoting the idea of competence in religious diversity? It began over 30 years ago when I created the DuPage/Chicago Interfaith Resource Network and got a call from the county’s police chief. DuPage County had acquired an amazingly diverse population as it developed into Chicago’s technology corridor. And law enforcement officers were struggling, especially when there was a death, like someone run over on the highway. Apparently they were asking all the loved ones if they should call a priest and were offending everyone who was not Catholic. Would I please wear a pager 24/7 so that they could call on me to help them with the correct language?   

Continue reading Finally, diversity programming is beginning to include faith – by Deborah Levine →

Advisors, Authors I-Q, Go Green, Trends 2024: Divisive World

New Climate Inflection Point in our Axial Age – by The Rev. Dr. John Pawlikowski

In my contribution to American Diversity Report at the beginning of 2023, I argued that we are living in an axial era where fundamental structures of human society are undergoing profound change. As we enter 2024, I would maintain with others such as former Senator John Kerry, now the U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Issues, that the final communique from the recent COP 28 conference in Dubai may represent an axial moment.

Special Envoy Kerry believes the Dubai decision to commit to a movement to eliminate the reliance on fossil fuels by the global community (as well as methane gas) signals a  fundamental shift in the way we provide power for the human community. Such a wholesale shift in the generation of necessary power throughout the world, if successful, would represent a fundamental reordering of our life together as a global community. It would insure the sustainability of our planet and firmly implant the right to a the right to a healthy environment for all living creatures proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 2023.    

Continue reading New Climate Inflection Point in our Axial Age – by The Rev. Dr. John Pawlikowski →

Levine articles, Race & Ethnicity, Religious Diversity

A Jewish Perspective on MLK – by Deborah Levine

2 Comments

raceIt 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 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.”

Continue reading A Jewish Perspective on MLK – by Deborah Levine →

Advisors, Authors A-H

Diversity and Speech No. 42: Neuroscience of Team-Building – by Carlos Cortés, Angela Antenore

A Co-Authored Interview

Carlos:  Angela, what drives you as a national and international organizational development specialist, particularly where it comes to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging?

Angela: I’m excited about helping people lead, build effective teams, and create a sense of community.  One of my roles is to support the mission of organizations.  What drives me is to help people feel valued and recognized for their accomplishments.

Carlos: You’ve talked to me about how an understanding of neuroscience can help in reaching these goals.  Could you elaborate? 

Continue reading Diversity and Speech No. 42: Neuroscience of Team-Building – by Carlos Cortés, Angela Antenore →

Academic Articles, Advisors, Authors R-Z

The Effects of SCOTUS Decision on One University – by Dr. Julia Wai-Yin So

The Supreme Court’s decision on the two college admission cases in June 2023 has left the 3,400+ colleges and universities in the country (both private and public institutions of higher education) rushing to review and revise their admission practices. By declaring the admission policies of Harvard University and the University of South Carolina had violated the Equal Protection Clauses of the 14th Amendment, the ruling essentially ended decades of race-conscious admission practice (which was permissible under Affirmative Action policy) in colleges and universities across the country. 

Continue reading The Effects of SCOTUS Decision on One University – by Dr. Julia Wai-Yin So →

Advisors, Trends 2025: Chaotic Times

Trends 2025: Our ADR 1,2,3 Analyses 

ADR

The Trends category has become an annual theme for the January and February issues of the ADR. We set the tone for your articles with a preview article like this one. For many of us, including Advisory Board members of the American Diversity Report, the new year and incoming administration brings a level of uncertainty and concern. There are many questions about the impact on those actively engaged in the work of creating and fostering diverse and inclusive communities and organizations. 

Anticipating 2025, several of our Advisors shared their innermost thoughts and concerns, plus their personal goals in continuing and building on progress during what portends to be challenging times. They have set the tone for your comments and articles on 2025 trends.

Continue reading Trends 2025: Our ADR 1,2,3 Analyses  →

Advisors, Authors R-Z, Trends 2024: Divisive World

AI and Inclusive Economic Development – by Lorne Steedley

Today the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and economic growth is the headlines of news, and social media all over the world. As the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusive Growth at Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce, I’m keenly aware of the challenges facing historically marginalized small businesses in our city. Our organization is committed to ensuring that all businesses can be productive and profitable. That’s why I’m excited about the potential for  AI to stimulate economic growth by helping businesses thrive.

Continue reading AI and Inclusive Economic Development – by Lorne Steedley →

Advisors, Levine articles, Trends 2024: Divisive World

Our Divisive World Part 1: Conversation with Deborah Levine, Terry Howard, Carlos Cortés

4 Comments

Deborah: I’m getting multiple emails and phone calls disturbed and distressed about today’s divisive world. Colleagues ask about what can and should be done to counter the current trends. One of the emails that stands out is from Terry Howard, one of our American Diversity Report Advisors. 

Terry: “Hey Deborah, considering the on-going Israel-Hamas conflict and its seismic increases in acts of antisemitic and Islamophobia in the United States, what are your thoughts about developing something highlighting divisive/hurtful words and language that divides? For example, I’m not sure that many people are familiar with the history behind the expression, “From river to sea,” and language used to disparage Palestinians.”

Deborah: Talk about controversy! For the Jewish people, the phrase “From river to sea” means the elimination of Israel and replacement by a Palestinian nation. For Palestinians, I believe it means freedom from occupation. What prompted your interest in this difficult subject?

Continue reading Our Divisive World Part 1: Conversation with Deborah Levine, Terry Howard, Carlos Cortés →

Advisors, Authors A-H

“Race” Remains a Four-letter Word – by Terry Howard  

“Just as I thought Howard, you’re a racist,” was “Karen’s” message. My initial suspicion was that she fitted the description of the “Karen” caricature that’s become synonymous with white woman these days who call the cops on innocent Black folks who are caught walking in the “wrong” neighborhood, barbequing burgers in “our park,” or otherwise just being Black in the U.S.

As is the usual tactic with people like “Karen,” she slammed the door on an opportunity for me to respond with: “I have nothing else to say to you Howard, so goodbye.”

Continue reading “Race” Remains a Four-letter Word – by Terry Howard   →