Category Archives: Authors A-H

Authors listed by last name A-H

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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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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Tennessee Plan for a Local-Global Future – By Bob Edwards

Introduction

What a privilege to have spent a hot three weeks in Memphis, Tennessee, with the 2024 Class of the Tennessee Governor’s School for International Studies. I was overjoyed to return to the city where some of the world’s greatest industries have been launched serving the noble cause of freedom joined with prosperity.  Which led us to consider the future your generation can bequeath to your descendants.  There are some mighty, simple lessons I’ve drawn that ought to inspire you to make a positive difference in the lives of everyone you encounter.  I’d like to take you on a tour of the future world you may wish to inhabit.

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Leadership in Chaotic Times – by Zen Benefiel

A Call to Action for Unity and Purpose

In the age of rapid global changes and persistent uncertainties, leadership has become a critical beacon guiding humanity through uncharted waters. From ecological crises to technological disruptions and social divides, our chaotic times demand not just decision-makers but visionary leaders who prioritize the collective well-being and long-term sustainability of our world. True leadership lies in forging authentic connections while remaining steadfast in purpose, balancing the immediate challenges with a broader, future-focused vision.

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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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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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Political Commitments 2025 – by Kerry Hayes

A few days before November 5, I opined on social media that democracy isn’t a crockpot – you can’t set it and forget it. It’s more like a risotto: something special and quite wonderful, but needing constant attention unless you want it to turn mushy or burn altogether.

 The outcome of the election seemed to reinforce this notion. I guess it would be more accurate to refer to the November 5 elections, as turnout data indicates that every county in the United States, from California to Colorado to New York, moved rightward. The national popular vote bore this out, as did the results of many contests for the U.S. House of Representatives, the Senate, and myriad state and local races.

By the time the sun rose on November 6, it was clear that the right had risen well. We’d failed to stir the risotto; now it was sticky as all hell.

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Holiday Connections – by Dr. Gail Dawson

There’s something special and perhaps a little magical about the Holiday Season. As the weather starts to cool and the leaves start to change, there seems to be excitement in the air in anticipation of the holidays. We tend to look for greater human connection as we plan gatherings from Thanksgiving feasts to New Year’s celebrations. While some see the holidays as the opportunity to connect with family and friends through festive celebrations of their faith, others may enjoy the more commercialized aspects of the season. 

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Build a Stronger Economy: Focus on Minorities & Opportunity Zones – by Rachel Hooks

Everyone is familiar with Wall Street in New York where stock trades are made, but are you familiar with Black Wall Street, an area in Tulsa, Oklahoma? It’s the place where African Americans built their own economy with grocery stores, schools, homes, churches, hospitals, hotels, and other businesses. By 1921, they owned 35 square blocks of property in this community where they flourished, until one day, there was the Tulsa race massacre where this entire community was burned to the ground.

Unfortunately, this community was never the same again and very few people were able to keep their family homes that were destroyed. In a time of segregation, this type of community was necessary to carry out the law, “separate by equal”. I can recall my grandmother, Jimmie Hooks, born in 1930, before her passing this year at age 93, stating that her grandfather had a business, but could not own a home. She would say, “Ain’t that crazy”. This is no longer the case today, every man is considered equal, or are they?

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Minding Your Mental – by Ikeko Bass

I am the face of mental health—a survivor of suicide and a testament to the resilience of minding your mental. Did you know that 59.3 million Americans suffer from mental health challenges? Mental health encompasses our psychological, emotional, and social well-being. It influences how we think, feel, and act, shaping our relationships, our ability to manage stress, and the decisions we make.

My journey took me to the darkest place I’ve ever known. Weighed down by years of mounting stress, grief, and hopelessness, my life is a story of rediscovering strength, purpose, and faith in the aftermath of despair. Through my experience, I’ve learned that while mental health challenges do not discriminate, they can forge connections among us. With time, healing, and courage, those challenges can become a source of strength—empowering us to help others on their own journeys. Through self-care, setting boundaries, staying connected, practicing mindfulness, seeking professional help, and cultivating gratitude, I’ve found the tools to effectively mind my mental and embrace a healthier, more balanced life.

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