Empathy is nice. We need more for DEI.
Empathy has its limitations, especially when it comes to creating organizations that are truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Changing our habits is a more sustainable solution for DEI.
Celebrate Indigenous People’s Day
This week, we celebrate Indigenous People’s Day. It’s now an official holiday in more than 10 states, and over 100 cities in the U.S. It’s a day to celebrate the history, culture, tenacity, and experiences of Indigenous people – the original caretakers of Turtle Island (the land now called the United States). Thankfully, the holiday …
The Past Is Still with Us
“The past isn’t dead. It’s not even past.” – William Faulkner, American Novelist I was listening to my favorite podcast, Hidden Brain, when the guest, Dr. Claude Steele quoted Faulkner. The episode was about stereotype threat and Steele was making a key point. He explained how long-held stereotypes about our racial group, gender, or other …
Do This When You See Inequities
This month we’ve been exploring inequity – what it is, how to spot it, and today we’ll look at three things you can do when you see inequities. Recognizing injustice and unfairness is a start, but there is absolutely more that we can all do to ensure we address inequity in our society. Once you …
How do Barriers and Inequities Impact our Society?
In our last post, we looked at the difference between equality, equity, and justice. We saw that when there is a barrier blocking someone’s path, equality can provide everyone the same type of support to overcome it, but equity gives people the specific support they need to overcome the barrier. There is no one-size-fits-all approach …
Explore Your Own Unconscious Bias
“Two fish are swimming in the water and an older, wiser fish swims by. He says, “Good morning, how’s the water?” One of the younger fish looks a bit puzzled and says, “Excuse me, what is water?” – David Foster Wallace – Commencement Speech Excerpt. Racism in America is like water to a fish. You …
The Meaning of Juneteenth
On this day in 1865, after the Civil War ended, enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas were told they were free from bondage – two years after the Emancipation Proclamation declared them so. In celebration of the news, the day became known as “Juneteenth,” a holiday that celebrates the end of slavery in the U.S. …
US Census Projects Historic Shift in US Demographics
The United States is changing. What started with a few hundred English colonizers on Indigenous lands over 400 years ago has become a nation with more than 330 million people. While we were always a diverse nation, the United States has always been a country where White people were in the majority. This will soon …