Category Archives: The Arts

Multicultural Art and Poetry

Authors A-H, Storytelling, Wellness

Your final job interview is with yourself – by Martin Kimeldorf

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Writing your Final Resume

“It’s hard to know when to respond to the seductiveness of the world and when to respond to its’ challenge.  If the world were merely seductive, that would be easy.  If it were merely challenging, that would be no problem.  But, I arise in the morning torn between the desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world.  This makes it hard to plan the day”.
 ~  E. B. White

Somewhere around 1970 I came across the notion of  self-help support groups for the unemployed. They reported remarkable results so I set the task of translating this into a workbook for young adults: Job Search Education. The success of that title brought me some 20+ book contracts of various topics from leisure wellness, to intergenerational programing, to mixology. It’s been a grand trip…and now as I take step back in the last quarter of my life I have found the value in writing one last “resume”. It is directed not at future employers; it is simply a summation for myself. It may inspire you to do the same.

I plotted out an outline that contained the following categories:

  • Student & Early Accomplishments
  • Adult Work Experiences
  • Fun or Humorous (magic, theater, paintings)
  • Volunteer Work
  • My Favorite Saying

Without further ado about nothing (See Shakespeare’s play with that title), I’ll proceed with samples and words.

Continue reading Your final job interview is with yourself – by Martin Kimeldorf →

Storytelling

Sharing Your Story – by Rose Joneson

Picking Between Podcasts, Vlogs, and Blogs

We’re living in a time when efforts to scale back Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs are intensifying. According to an NBC News report, over two dozen U.S. states are working to limit or eliminate DEI initiatives, with pressure mounting on universities and corporations to backtrack on commitments that once promised a more inclusive future.

In the face of these setbacks, individual voices matter more than ever. Sharing your story online isn’t just a form of self-expression—it’s an act of resistance. It’s how we keep representation alive, challenge monolithic narratives, and build communities where others feel seen.

Continue reading Sharing Your Story – by Rose Joneson →

Authors I-Q, The Arts

Make It Seen – by Julie Morris

Real-World Tips for Creatives:
Get Discovered Without Selling Out

In an era where social media is bursting at the seams and algorithms dictate visibility, creatives often find themselves shouting into a void. Making a living from passion no longer hinges on raw talent alone—it’s about being strategic without compromising identity. The starving artist trope might sound romantic, but it’s outdated, and frankly, unnecessary. For those tired of creating in obscurity, there are real, practical ways to move from hidden gem to paid creator—without chasing viral moments or abandoning what makes the work honest.

Continue reading Make It Seen – by Julie Morris →

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.   

Continue reading Renewing Diversity #6: Trans Talk – by Carlos Cortés  →

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.

Authors A-H, PSK, Race & Ethnicity, Social Issues

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

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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?

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

Authors R-Z, PSK, Race & Ethnicity, Social Issues

Letting Go of Perfectionism: an Act of Antiracism – by Janelle Villiers

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I’ve attended the Undoing Racism Workshop offered by The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond, twice. I’ve gone on to facilitate several DEI workshops and I am also  the co-creator of an Intra-Professional Antiracism Dialogue and Discourse Series (IPADDS). While preparing for and facilitating all of these workshops and IPADDS events I was always reminded of a foundational tenant of the Undoing Racism Workshop and that is “Racism de-humanizes us all.” It doesn’t matter what race, Black, White and everything in between, we are all de-humanized by racism.

Continue reading Letting Go of Perfectionism: an Act of Antiracism – by Janelle Villiers →

Authors A-H, PSK

Minding Your Mental – by Ikeko Bass

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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.

Continue reading Minding Your Mental – by Ikeko Bass →

Authors A-H, PSK, Social Issues

The Hundred-Handed Purpose Connector – by Donley Ferguson

Cultivating the Path of Purpose

If I were to tell my story—the story I’d share with the world—it would start with echoes of loss, shadows of hope, and a path carved through trials no one could have foreseen.

The only memory I carry of my father, whose name I bear, is of new Hush Puppies on his feet and the soulful loop of Friends of Distinction’s “Going in Circles” reverberating through the night. I watched his silhouette diminish into the darkness, an untouchable fragment of my life that unraveled into a tragic tale—the stories of his empty pockets, hollow eyes, and the lifeless repose on that frayed couch in a den of broken souls. The whisper of overdose. The finality of it.

In 2020 alone, nearly 70,000 lives were lost to overdoses, a reminder that the pain of addiction reverberates through countless families. My father’s story is one of many, yet it marks the beginning of my journey—a path paved with loss but leading to the discovery of purpose.

Continue reading The Hundred-Handed Purpose Connector – by Donley Ferguson →

Authors R-Z, Books, Politics, Social Issues

A Survivor’s Story of Neo-Nazis: Part 2 – by Kathleen Sullivan

neo-NazisOur country’s government is again in danger. The white supremacists and neo-Nazis who conspired to meet Hitler’s long-term goal of Ordis Templar, Circa 2000 are mostly long-gone. But many of them have recruited, groomed and brainwashed next-generation children and other recruits to fulfill their insanely grandiose goal – specifically, of taking over the US government from the inside-out. And making it an Aryan-run government that would eventually lead the world. 

I have watched many of the brainwashing and so-called “mind control” techniques that were perfected on us as human Guinea pigs, being used regularly by White supremacist and neo-Nazi leaders and media representatives. Those techniques include Ericksonian hypnosis, Neuro-Linguistic programming, wearing down listeners’ mental resistance in a variety of ways, triggering their midbrains and knocking their frontal lobes offline via messages of fear and disgust, and much more. 

Continue reading A Survivor’s Story of Neo-Nazis: Part 2 – by Kathleen Sullivan →