I am a middle-aged African-American woman, single mother of two, raised as the youngest of eight children by a mother with a 10th-grade education. I grew up on the East Coast in an impoverished and crime-ridden former industrial town where the illegal drug trade is now the mainstay of the economy. From the description of me above, some might have me currently pegged as … [Read more...] about Life at the Intersection of Race, Gender and Class
Diversity and Inclusion Topics
Thanksgiving Day Canadian or American Style
Thanksgiving Day in the United States is celebrated on the 4th Thursday of November. I have very fond childhood memories of Thanksgiving. Like most school kids, we learned about the Pilgrims and “Indians” coming together, giving thanks and celebrating the harvest. We would make little turkey cut outs, with paper feathers and pilgrims type … [Read more...] about Thanksgiving Day Canadian or American Style
An Expat’s Experience in Canada – Part II
My family moved to Toronto, Ontario in the summer of 2012. It was July and very warm, just the way I like it. We initially had to stay in a hotel and wait until our movers brought our stuff. When moving here we had to cross the border first and provide an exhaustive list of all the items on the moving truck. When our driver reached Canada, we had to meet … [Read more...] about An Expat’s Experience in Canada – Part II
Diversity as the Flavor of the Month
Based on the current calendar, colleges and universities recently ended their Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month celebrations (September 15th – October 15th). As four weeks of solid attention that included Spanish language programs, foods from various Latin American countries, and enlightenment regarding the contributions of Hispanic celebrities and historical figures … [Read more...] about Diversity as the Flavor of the Month
Increased Gender Diversity in Military: “Not Your Father’s Army”
I work with both male and female military veterans as a psychologist at a large urban healthcare system with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Women are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. Military, as they represent 14.5% of the U.S. active duty force. This change in demographics represents an increase in the diversity of the military, and brings … [Read more...] about Increased Gender Diversity in Military: “Not Your Father’s Army”