In the United States, October 10 is Indigenous Peoples’ Day. As an educational leader, I learned about the American Indian Boarding Schools (pdf) and their impact; the Journey to Forgiveness and Healing Moment, and the Ziibiwing Center, where I learned even more about the past and current truths about boarding schools. When I moved to Canada and took on several leadership … [Read more...] about National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: Five Ways Leaders Can Work Towards Truth and Reconciliation
Chief Diversity Officer
Presidents, CEOs and Executives: Avoid the Performative Trap and Be Truly Inclusive Leaders
Six years ago (March 22, 2016), I did a post titled “A Chief Diversity Officer’s (CDO’s) Message to University and College Presidents”. At that time, I was the inaugural Assistant Vice President/Vice Provost of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) at my university. After being in the role for a few years, I decided to share a message to postsecondary executives about EDI and … [Read more...] about Presidents, CEOs and Executives: Avoid the Performative Trap and Be Truly Inclusive Leaders
5 Tips for the Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) During Challenging Times
Four years ago (January 5, 2016) I did a post titled: “5 Tips for Inaugural Chief Diversity Officers (CDO) in Universities”. I was half way through my fourth year at Ryerson University as the inaugural, Assistant Vice President/Vice Provost of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). As such, my mandate was to provide leadership, advocacy, and coordination for the institution … [Read more...] about 5 Tips for the Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) During Challenging Times
Why Chief Diversity Officers (CDO) Need to Step Their Game Up
Seven years ago (January 29, 2013) I did a post titled: "What is as Chief Diversity Officer (CDO)?". I had been in my new post at Ryerson University for about five months as its inaugural, Assistant Vice President/Vice Provost of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). As such, my mandate was to provide leadership, advocacy, and coordination for the institution such that all … [Read more...] about Why Chief Diversity Officers (CDO) Need to Step Their Game Up
Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing” and the Chief Diversity Officer (CDO)
This month is the 25th Anniversary of Spike Lee’s film Do the Right Thing. I remember seeing the film for the first and only time in 1989. The film portrayed tensions between the local residents and an Italian-American family in the Black neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, on the hottest day of the summer. In a Rolling Stones interview, Lee … [Read more...] about Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing” and the Chief Diversity Officer (CDO)