Diversity Course Requirement at University of Washington Starts Fall 2014
When I arrived at the University of Washington (UW) campus in Seattle, I assumed that courses on diversity and cultural differences would be included in the undergrad credit requirements – called Areas of Knowledge (AoK). Within AoK are subject areas meant to broaden the student’s topics of study, introducing new ideas as to not limit...
Pop-Quiz: Milestones of the LGBT Community
Composing the Quiz feature for DiversityCentral.com involves two main forms of excitement: the process of researching the topic and the challenge of writing engaging questions. It’s my most favorite feature to write, but June’s topic of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride allowed me to read up on facts that gently beckoned tears to...
The Real Cost of Exclusion: May the Business Case for Inclusion Rest in Peace
Having worked in the Diversity and Inclusion field for more than 20 years, I am still struck by conversations that start with “What’s the business case for diversity or inclusion?” Over the years I have worked with many organizations to quantify in very pragmatic ways the positive impacts of having an inclusive workplace, customer/guest base,...
A Hidden Gem in American Black Literature
Hurston, Zora Neale. Dust Tracks on a Road (New York: Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006). This is one of the most wonderful books I’ve read recently. Curiously, I have to thank Google, the internet searching giant, for bringing Dust to my attention. The folks at this prosperous IT Corporation recently had the guts and foresight...
The Real Problem With Soccer
We would love to believe that racism in sports is a thing of the past. That in the U.S Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and we’ve never looked back. We would like to believe this is the case in America but in some European soccer matches, it’s April 1947 all over again. Several matches...
Under age 5: where ethnic minority numbers rise in the U.S
There’s a first for everything and this one is sure to have a lasting impact. For the first time in history, the diversity of America’s ethnic minorities now make up about half of the under-5 age group. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, high birth rates, especially amongst Hispanics, has led to a more rapid...