Just Say NO!
My personal mission is to make manifest the value of all people. What that means is to make it obvious that Black lives matter, that no human is illegal, and that all of us—regardless of our gender identity or expression—all of us—have the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
What Can I do to Save DEIA?
As the number of organizations gutting, shuttering, and micromanaging DEIA programs increases, many of us—experts, practitioners, employees, customers, students, members, et al—wonder what can we do to stop the dismantling of initiatives that protect rights, empower diversity, and encourage inclusion? The overwhelming barrage of negative information and disinformation can result in people shutting down. It is entirely understandable to want to limit our exposure to painful, hateful words (actions). But, there are many ways to
Surviving Predators
Trigger Warning This post includes references to the of abuse of a child and to attempted suicide. Without Hope As an abused child, there were many days when I was without hope. Without hope that tomorrow would be better than today. Without hope that anyone could save me, as those who were meant to do so were the perpetrators of that abuse—the predators whose disease fed on my existence—my parents. Without hope that anyone could
Gratitude
Thanksgiving is historically challenging as it reminds us that those who get to tell their story have the opportunity to be heard, regardless of how accurate or honest that story is. I study history. I study people. Our collective story is messy, brutal, and fraught. However, it is also a story of persistence, resilience, and hope. I acknowledge that we have both the opportunity and responsibility to tell an inclusive, diverse story and to share
La Historia
I have been ranting about the importance of history—of knowing history—for years. Learning the history of Puerto Rico and its diaspora have been central to my understanding of my own story, my father’s story, and the story of millions of others whose ancestors endured the ravishes of colonialism. We, their descendants, exist as evidence of their resilience. It’s Economic The current racist attacks against Haitian immigrants resulting from lies being spewed by a United States
I am a Proud DEI Hire!
I am a Proud DEI Hire! I am Dedicated I have dedicated my life to the mission to “make manifest the value of all people.” Achieving that mission has included several chapters: working in the private sector as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager, working in the public sector as an EEO Officer, in academia providing education to others who have chosen careers in service to others, and as a consultant working with a myriad
The Art of Denial
Am Not! Picture two siblings, perhaps eight and six years old. The argument may be over a toy, or a game, or who sat on whom, or any other rival-based competition. It may go like this: “You’re a liar!” “Am not! You are!” We used to say, “I’m rubber, you’re glue, bounce off me and stick on you!”[1] In other words, the original perpetrator of the crime turns the truth around and accuses
Peace Talks
Can We Talk? Once upon a time people could guess fairly accurately what another person’s political position was by their appearance. During certain periods throughout history it was also possible to determine one’s tribe based on their attire, hairstyle, and mode of transport. This was valuable information as knowing what to expect regarding interaction with others could save one’s life. Recognition enabled human beings to know whether or not they could discuss certain
How and Why DEIAB?
The vast majority of the attacks on diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and belonging (DEIAB) initiatives and programs, use anecdotal examples of poorly executed workshops or other strategies to dissemble and discredit the entire field and it raison d’etre. This is an old (see ancient Greece) and frequently effective technique for destroying one’s political nemeses.
Stealth Inclusion Revisited
Stealth Inclusion Revisited In October of 2014 (almost ten years ago!) I wrote a blog post titled “Stealth Inclusion” wherein I argued that one way to overcome resistance to DEIA programs, especially by members of the C-Suite, is to call them something else. I received push back by a reader who interpreted my methodology as deceptive to employees and so, I wrote a second post called “Stealth Inclusion Explained” explaining that I was not trying
