December - 2016

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The Legacy of Watch Night Services in the Black Community

Many of you who live or grew up in Black communities in the United States have probably heard of “Watch Night Services,” the gathering of the faithful in church on New Year’s Eve. The service usually begins anywhere from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and ends at midnight with the entrance of the New Year. Some folks come to church first, before going out to celebrate.For others, church is the only New Year’s Eve event. Like many others, I always assumed that Watch Night was a fairly stan

After Paladino's Racist Remarks, He Should Resign

As a former school board member, I find the remarks by Carl Paladino reprehensible. We must bring back civility and decorum back to public life and its starts at the local level. I am proud of the push back that members of the Buffalo Board of Education are exhibiting in this matter. Words do matter. If one wants to lead in an increasingly diverse society, words, actions and attacks that are bigoted and racist have no place. They must be countered at all levels of soc

John Kerry Condemns Israeli Foreign Policy Driven By Extreme Right-Wing Elements

“The Israeli prime minister publicly supports a two-state solution, but his current coalition is the most right-wing in Israeli history, with an agenda driven by its most extreme elements.” Below is a transcript of his prepared remarks: Thank you all. It’s good to be here even in the middle of a holiday week. I wish you all a happy and productive new year. Today, I want to share candid thoughts about an issue that for decades has animated the foreign policy dialogue here and

Did America's Working Class Just Get "Punked?"

I watched Democracy Now earlier today and listened to Bernie Sanders. As he described his views on why Trump won the election, I reflected on my own thoughts. Many working class Americans, especially working class whites, voted for him in the hope of change and because of growing fears of diversity, inclusion, immigration and its impact on their lives and families. Beneath the surface, I wonder what was driving the fear that resulting in enough working class people bolti

Spotlight on Jay Smooth: How to Talk About Race

Jay Smooth is host of New York's longest running hip-hop radio show, the Underground Railroad on WBAI 99.5 FM in NY, and is an acclaimed commentator on politics and culture. In this 2011 TedxHampshire College talk, he discusses the sometimes thorny territory of how we discuss issues of race and racism, offering insightful and humorous suggestions for expanding our perception of the subject. The Institute for Sustainable Diversity will be featuring "Courageous Conversations

Freedom Never Dies - Harry & Harriette Moore Story

Henderworks salutes the life and legacy of Harry and Harriette Moore who gave their life on Christmas Day for our freedom. Harry Tyson Moore (November 18, 1905 – December 25, 1951) was an African-American educator, a pioneer leader of the Civil Rights Movement, and founder of the first branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Brevard County, Florida. Harry T. Moore and his wife, Harriette Vyda Simms Moore, also an educator, were the

A Decade of Breakthroughs for Disability Rights

December 13, 2016, marked the 10th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Among the CRPD’s many innovative aspects, one stands out: the fact that persons with disabilities played a central role in its negotiation. From drafting to ratification and implementation, the convention was and continues to be a true reflection of the disability rights movement’s motto, “Nothing about us, with

Spotlight on Dena Simmons: How students of color confront impostor syndrome

As a black woman from a tough part of the Bronx who grew up to attain all the markers of academic prestige, Dena Simmons knows that for students of color, success in school sometimes comes at the cost of living authentically. Now an educator herself, Simmons discusses how we might create a classroom that makes all students feel proud of who they are. "Every child deserves an education that guarantees the safety to learn in the comfort of one's own skin," she says. About Dena

Diversity, Inclusion and "Fusion" - NC's Antidote to #Reversity & Jim Crow Governa

Are we in the Third Reconstruction period? Democracy Now interviewed Reverend William Barber, President of the North Carolina NAACP. Reverence Barber provides some very important points in how communities should collaborate and partner to build more inclusive communities, businesses, governmental organizations, and educational institutions. He discusses the concept of "fusion politics" which marshals the power of progressive communities to overcome Jim Crow governance. H

Northwest Diversity Learning Series Launches Provocative Series for 2017

The Institute for Sustainable Diversity and Inclusion (ISDI) is launching the 19th year of the Northwest Diversity Learning Series which promises to provide a great series of learning experiences for its participants. Participants from sponsor organizations including Nordstrom, Boeing, Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile, The Port of Seattle, Port Blakely Tree Farms, The ITA Group and others will be in for serious conversations about timely diversity and inclusion issues. ISDI direct