Category Archives: About Us

About the American Diversity Report

Advisors, Authors A-H, Generational, Religious Diversity

Renewing Diversity No. 7: A Sliver of Bone – by Carlos Cortés 

“Do you have any religious or ethical reservations about what kind of bone we put in your mouth?”  That question both startled and pleased me.  As I answered with a simple “no,” I broke into a broad smile.

Some context.  My young periodondist was in the midst of trying to save my 90-year-old mouthful of teeth from the ravages of aging.  To do so she was giving them a thorough laser treatment and selectively rebuilding my dental structure through new bone.   

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DL Opinion columns, Religious Diversity

Enjoy sacred times with respect and joy – by Deborah Levine

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Originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

As we approach this year’s holy days, we know that faith can be a source of great inspiration. We also know that religions can also generate the most divisive forces on the face of the planet. There are wars fought in the name of religion, as the Middle East demonstrates and many people prefer to be in the unaffiliated or atheist categories rather than be associated with organized religion. But diverse religions are part of the world reality and regardless of your faith or non-faith, ignorance of religions and religious traditions doesn’t help anything. Religious literacy is a must-have when you encounter and/or work with diverse religions whether they are fellow employees, friends, markets, or communities. Yes, it’s a bumpy road, but well worth traveling.

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Authors I-Q, Disability

Guide for People with Disabilities Entering Politics – by Rose Joneson

Running on Your Terms

Making the decision to run for office when you live with a disability is not just a bold act of civic engagement—it’s a powerful challenge to the status quo. Politics still doesn’t fully reflect the diversity of lived experiences across the country, and that includes disability. When you decide to throw your hat in the ring, you’re not just advocating for your ideas—you’re advocating for representation itself. But to do this effectively, you’ll need a strategy built around your strengths, needs, values, and vision.

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Advisors, Authors A-H, Of Women, Race & Ethnicity

Prof. Anita Hill: Significance of Seat-taking – by Terry Howard

“Are you a scorned woman?” 

That was the “brilliant” question asked to Prof. Anita Hill by Senator Howell Heflin, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee during the 1991 confirmation hearing (comprised entirely of graying white men) there to determine the fitness of Clarence Thomas for a seat on the U. S. Supreme Court.

After a three second – “are you kidding me” – pause and throat clearing, the good professor calmly answered, “no I’m not senator!”

Now let’s fast forward 35 years later to a recent Sunday night when Prof. Hill sat stoically across the desk from her interviewer, CNN’s Jake Tapper, to recap the experience and her life since then. On full display during that interview was the sempiternal nature of her professional demeanor that’s seemingly unchanged by time, a steadiness Prof. Hill exhibited during eight hours of blistering grilling by senators, some of whom had questionable backgrounds with respect to their treatment of women. Her poise and unflappability during her interview were textbook. 

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DL Opinion columns

Stop ignoring sexual misconduct – by Deborah Levine

Originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

I was amazed when Biden, just before his end as president, declared the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) as the 28th Amendment to the Constitution. About time! Did you know that 85% of UN Member States already protect against sex and/or gender-based discrimination in their constitutions.  And recently, the UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women asked Biden to ensure the ERA’s role. So exciting! But I have no doubt that there will be push back and legal challenges echoing our century-long fight for gender equality. 

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Advisors, Authors A-H, Politics

A plea for more “Howard (and Harriet) Beales!” – by Terry Howard

Howard Beale had finally reached his breaking point. He was not going to take it anymore. Beale is a fictional character from the film Network (1976) and one of its central characters. He is played by Peter Finch who won a posthumous Oscar for the Beale role. 

Here’s an excerpt from his advice for folks to do during those tumultuous times:

“I want you to get mad! I don’t want you to protest. I don’t want you to riot. I don’t want you to write to your congressman because I wouldn’t know what to tell you to write. I don’t know what to do about the depression and the inflation and the Russians and the crime in the street. All I know is that first you’ve got to get mad.  I want all of you to get up out of your chairs. I want you to get up right now and go to the window. Open it, and stick your head out and yell, ‘I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!’ 

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Authors A-H, Of Women

Celebrating WOMEN’s History MONTH – By Camm Ashford

Originally published in the Chattanooga News Chronicle

Deborah Levine:
A Woman of History Making History

Multi-dimensional. Purposed. Passionate. Resilient. These words and many more describe Deborah Levine – a woman of history making history as she lives.

A Chattanoogan by choice, the soft-spoken author gave the Chattanooga News Chronicle the honor of an interview for readers to be inspired during Women’s History Month, as well as know the hidden achievers who live in our very own community.

Deborah Levine’s biography features her accomplishments to include the roles of author, writing coach, editor-in-chief, script writer, journalist, and pioneer of cross-cultural leadership. Just as her roles are many so are her passions to learn, study, read, write, communicate, and convey to others tremendous insight and information.

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Advisors, Authors A-H, Gender, Sports

Renewing Diversity #6: Trans Talk – by Carlos Cortés 

“Can we finally stop talking about trans sports?” read the headline in the February 11, 2025, Los Angeles Times.  Of course this was followed by a column talking about — you guessed it — trans sports.  So the answer is no, we have to keep talking about trans sports for the same reason that people keep climbing mountains: because they are there.

 Four years ago I ended my ADR column on trans sports by positing that “the case of transgender female athletes may pose one of the ultimate tests for diversity advocates because it requires the difficult weighing of competing legitimate equity concerns, with no simple win-win solution in sight.”  I illustrated that conclusion by positing two hypothetical situations.   

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Authors I-Q, Of Women, Women in STEM

The History of Women in Robotics – by Rose Joneson

Women Groundbreakers in STEM

Women have helped shape various fields throughout history, and their contributions have led to countless innovations. Today, women groundbreakers in the sciences continue to make a significant impact in their respective communities. Take Lulu Copeland, for example, who currently serves as an advisor for the engineering programs of Bryan College in Tennessee and helped establish the Society of Women Engineers student group. Her work has been indispensable in encouraging more women to enter engineering fields.

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DL Opinion columns, Holocaust/antisemitism

Remembering the Holocaust and learning from it – by Deborah Levine 

Originally published in The Chattanooga Times Free Press

I was honored to be interviewed by a university’s Holocaust and Genocide Education Center for International Holocaust Remembrance Day. I’ve worked in Holocaust education for more than 40 years, starting before I learned that my dad was a US military intelligence officer assigned to interrogate Nazi POWs. I did know that he’d been a soldier in World War II because as a kid, I found an old photo of him in uniform. Always a curious little critter, I asked, “Daddy, did you kill anyone in the war?” He answered, “No, but I slapped somebody once…the Nazi said that Hitler was great, but should have killed more Jews.”

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