Category Archives: Advisors

Advisory Council

Advisors, Authors A-H, Social Issues

Renewing Diversity #5: Wrestling with History – by Carlos Cortés 

In his new book, A Century of Tomorrows: How Imagining the Future Shapes the Present, historian Glenn Adamson muses, “every story about the future is also a demand to intervene in the present.”  I should also add that every story about the present has its roots in the past.

I was trained as a historian, receiving a Ph.D. in Latin American history way back in 1969.   I taught history for twenty-six years at the University of California, Riverside.  Different kinds of history.  Latin American history.  Chicano history.  Film and history.  History of the mass media.

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Advisors, Authors A-H, Race & Ethnicity

Erasing the Tuskegee Airmen from History? – by Terry Howard

1 Comment

Nice try, but no thanks!

In case you missed it, after a strong backlash from scores of others, including military brass and descendants of the Tuskegee Airmen, the United States Air Force quickly reversed its recent move to remove videos featuring the Airmen out of its training programs.  

Okay, with that breaking news, I’m not gonna gloat – well, maybe I will. Just a little bit. I say that because here I am less than 24 hours after I received a message from “Lew,” a lifelong friend. But given that “Lew” is a 5th degree black belt in karate, I was relieved that his expletive-filled email to me wasn’t about anything I’d done or written. No, like scores of others I’d heard from once the news broke, his justifiable anger was ignited by a cockamamie decision to phase out the teaching of the contributions of the Tuskegee Airmen from the U. S. Air Force training curriculum. 

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Advisors, Authors A-H, Trends 2025: Chaotic Times

Inclusion and DEI Trends 2025 – by Dr. Deborah Ashton

1,2,3 Analysis

1) 1 or 2 issues that are personally most vital to me in 2025.

I am personally invested in combatting the attack on DEI that is targeting policies and practices in academia and in the workplace—corporate America and government and the deliberate misrepresentation that DEI and meritocracy are dichotomous. When ENRON failed, the right was not blamed for the good old boy, tap on the shoulder, it’s not what you know but who you know selection process. But DEI is blame for a door that fell off a plane and the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

My second issue is the voices on the far right and the far left drowning out the voices of the centrist and moderate on both the left and the right. Both the extremists talk at each other, not with each other. The far right refers to anything left of center as Marxist; and the far left refers to anything right of center as fascist.

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Books, Levine articles

Book Signing at Barnes & Noble: The Art of Resilience

          THE ART OF RESILIENCE: From Pain to Promise

Chattanooga, TN: Join Deborah Levine at Barnes and Noble in Hamilton Place on Sunday, September 29 from 2-4pm as she shares her journey to resilience at every level: physical, mental, and spiritual. The true stories of The Art of Resilience demonstrate the power of fierce determination and each story provides helpful lessons learned. Be inspired by the spiritual aspect of these stories  that Deborah has learned from Judaism’s mystic tradition.

“Wow! What an incredible life and book. Deborah Levine is a masterful storyteller who weaves lessons in resilience through her personal experiences. Throughout her life, she has exemplified resilience in her ability to adapt, adjust, and flourish in spite of, or perhaps because of, the many challenges she has faced. Deborah truly mastered The Art of Resilience!” 
~ Dr. Gail A. Dawson: Associate Prof. of Management, Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Gary W. College of Rollins College/U. of Tennessee at Chattanooga 

“Deborah hits another home run with her newest book! She mines her personal history of successes and health setbacks to emphasize lessons for us. We’re easily discouraged today and Deborah is an excellent example of creative overcoming through inner resources, societal cooperation, and divine inspiration. Where most would have given up, Deborah set goals, achieved them, and then set new goals to improve community and the world. If you’re discouraged, read her book and try these lessons.”
~ Marc Brenman: Former Exec. Director of Washington State Human Rights Commission, served with the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S Dept. of Education.

“The Art of Resilience: From Pain to Promise is a compelling exploration of the human spirit’s capacity to overcome adversity and transform suffering into strength. The book, written by someone deeply familiar with the challenges of life, delves into the personal stories, psychological insights, and practical strategies that empower individuals to not just survive difficult times but to thrive in the face of them.”
~ Zen Benefield : passionate coach dedicated to guiding individuals toward personal and professional transformation. 

About the Author – Deborah J. Levine
Deborah is author of 20 books, Founder/Editor of American Diversity Report, Forbes Magazine top Diversity & Inclusion Trailblazer, and Holocaust documentary creator. Awards include: SoLit Local Distinguished Author Award, Books for Peace, Women’s Federation for World Peace, Religion Communicators Council, National Catholic Press Assoc.

Advisors, Authors A-H, Trends 2025: Chaotic Times

Renewing Diversity #4: Pivoting to the Future – by Carlos Cortés

Somewhere during my ninety-year journey I developed a three-line, fifteen-word personal action mantra.  It goes like this.

“Look unflinchingly at the past.
Apply it to the present.
Then pivot to the future.”

So when I think about diversity in 2025, I think about pivoting for renewal, not merely defending the diversity past or doubling-down on current diversity strategies.   That’s why my current  ADR column series is entitled Renewing Diversity.  As circumstances of the past few years have made abundantly clear, the diversity movement is long overdue for renewal, lest it relegate itself into footnote status in the long course history.

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Advisors, Authors R-Z, Trends 2025: Chaotic Times

TRENDS 2025: Inclusive Excellence – by Julia Wai-Yin So

My 1,2,3 ANALYSIS

) 1 or 2 issues that are personally most vital to me in 2025.

For decades at the end of the Fall semester, faculty, staff, and students from colleges and universities in the nation leave the campus to enjoy the winter holiday. This year, many of them left with a sense of uncertainty, unsure how lives would be when they return in the spring.  I live in New Mexico—an immigrant and woman friendly state. I work for a public state university that, for over a century, has proudly opened its campus to faculty, staff, and students of various backgrounds. Most meaningfully, I work for the Division for Equity and Inclusion that runs programs to ensure everyone is treated with respect and dignity. My personal motto–Inclusive Excellence—aims to understand, respect, appreciate, and value each individual’s background and what they bring to our community. Inclusive Excellence is not just vital to my wellbeing as well as my professional growth, it is vital to our nation’s strength and world leadership.

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Academic Articles, Advisors, Authors A-H

Glossary: Terms Related to Diversity – by Marc Brenman

The following definitions are designed to accompany studies and materials on diversity, equity, equal opportunity, and nondiscrimination. The intent is to provide a common understanding to facilitate discussion and a common ground for discourse and action. The nature of the civil and human rights field, as well as human resources, is such that understandings change over time,  circumstances, and technological developments. Hence these definitions are subject to change, and in the spirit of the need for a common understanding, feedback is welcome, as well as suggestions for additional terms that need defining. 

Glossary of Terms Related to
Diversity, Equity, and Equal Opportunity

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Advisors, Trends 2025: Chaotic Times

GLOBAL ETHIC: COUNTERWEIGHT TO TRANSACTIONAL MORALITY – by JOHN T. PAWLIKOWSKI, OSM, PH.D.

In recent years American public discourse has often heard the term “transactional morality.” In simple terms it means that getting to a social goal that is deemed worthy of pursuit can be carried on with little or no determined moral constraints. Flexibility is its prime characteristic. And that flexibility can include lies, deliberate misinformation and governmental control of public communication.
I perceive transactional morality gaining an increasing foothold in American society as we enter 2025.  In my judgment this trend
must be confronted head-on with a strong counterweight.  Such a counterweight is the Global Ethic. which emerged from the 1993 convening of the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago.  This 1993 convening celebrated the one hundredth anniversary of the initial parliament that was part of the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago.

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Advisors, Authors A-H, Trends 2025: Chaotic Times

Well, did I answer your question “Deb?” – by Terry Howard

    “We write history, not erase history.” ~ President Joe Biden 

“Deb,” the editor of one of several global publications I write for posed the following question to me and her other columnists who write on issues of culture, religion, race and other issues:

What do you consider the most critical issue facing our nation in 2025?

Wow, where do I start? 

Well, after mulling through a list of top of mind burning issues for me, I kept circling back to the first on that list that crossed my mind….banning books altogether or, at a minimum, rewriting ugly aspects of African American history – think slavery – in the U.S.

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Advisors, Authors A-H, Trends 2025: Chaotic Times

A realistic approach to 2025 – by Marc Brenman

“When You Stare into the Abyss,
the Abyss Stares Back” ~Nietzsche

The most important event in the new year for the United States will be Trump’s resumption of the Presidency. Will this mean the end of American democracy, as he has pointed to with pronouncements like being a dictator, inciting insurrection, encouraging legal prosecution of critics and Democratic legislators, opposing a peaceful transition of elected power, nominating bizarre people for the highest Executive Branch positions, etc?

There has been much discussion as to what good-thinking people should do. Much of the verbiage concerns self-care, marching around, doubling down on beliefs unpopular with half the American electorate, etc. This reminds me of trigger warnings, safe spaces, and correct pronouns. I’ve been focusing instead on the following:

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