As industries evolve to meet the needs of a changing workforce, the value of diverse leadership has never been more clear. This is especially true during Asian American Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, which invites us to examine the intersection of identity and leadership. In navigating cultural expectations, neurodiversity, and generational shifts, leaders today are called not just to manage teams—but to create spaces where people feel they truly belong.
Category Archives: Inclusion
Diversity and Inclusion
Fathers and Mothers Day When They’re Gone – by Deborah Levine
Fathers and Mothers Days are great American traditions, but I’m not sure I like them. Unhappily, I have a really big problem with these days because I don’t have the goods. My mother and grandmother who were such loving figures in my life are gone. My father, who I take after in so many ways, is gone, too. I’m feeling a bit sorry for myself. My children live far away but will no doubt call or send a card. I’m grateful for their love but I would really like to call my own parents. Just knowing they were around made life balanced and feel more secure.
Continue reading Fathers and Mothers Day When They’re Gone – by Deborah Levine
The Mysterious Woman in the Polka Dot Dress – by Terry Howard
Dear readers: Before you bid au revoir to this side of planet Earth, add Little Rock in Arkansas and, a few blocks away, the Little Rock Nine Museum, to your must-do bucket list. And if you get there, before leaving town take the walk down South Park Street – alone like I did years ago – in front of the imposing fortress of Little Rock Central High School. Hold that possibility until the end of this narrative and, with it, a recommendation.
But before the anti-DEI history erasing crowd comes gunning for my noggin, snatches me off a street corner and handcuffs me for a one way government expenses paid one way trip to a prison in El Salvador, I figured that I’d try to stay one step ahead of them with another little-known bit of history they’d prefer that you didn’t know about, namely that of one Grace Lorch.
Continue reading The Mysterious Woman in the Polka Dot Dress – by Terry Howard
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.
Continue reading Renewing Diversity No. 7: A Sliver of Bone – by Carlos Cortés
Enjoy sacred times with respect and joy – by Deborah Levine
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.
Continue reading Enjoy sacred times with respect and joy – by Deborah Levine
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.
Continue reading Guide for People with Disabilities Entering Politics – by Rose Joneson
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.
Continue reading Prof. Anita Hill: Significance of Seat-taking – by Terry Howard
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.
Continue reading Celebrating WOMEN’s History MONTH – By Camm Ashford
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.
Continue reading Renewing Diversity #6: Trans Talk – by Carlos Cortés
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.
Continue reading The History of Women in Robotics – by Rose Joneson