During the pandemic and lockdowns, I rediscovered Chicago and where I’m from. In Canada, people always ask you: “Where are you from?”. I would be a little salty because I felt I didn’t have a good answer. Of course, I would say: “I’m from the United States”, and most times “Chicago”, without having much knowledge of its Black history. However, when I had time on my hands … [Read more...]
Higher Education for the Public Good, Cultivating a Racially Diverse Democracy
Most educators would agree that diversity and democracy are universal principles that our higher education community and our public hold dear. However, a diverse democracy, emphasizing race and ethnicity, requires substantial advocacy and leadership to promote it as a legitimate public good. Long-standing debates pertaining to inequitable educational opportunities, mortality … [Read more...]
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...]
Denise O’Neil Green Named Among the 100 Inspirational D&I Leaders for 2021
Denise O'Neil Green, vice-president, equity and community inclusion, has been named among the 100 Inspirational D&I Leaders for 2021 I am so proud to be named among the 100 Inspirational D&I leaders for 2021. I thank my peers for the vote of confidence, as I was one of only two Canadian leaders named on the list. Others named are from organizations such as Twitter, … [Read more...]
Ditching “Diversity”: Why It’s Time to Replace Diversity with Belonging in Equity and Inclusion Work
In 2020, ‘EDI’ work grew exponentially in response to what appeared to be a global reckoning on anti-Black racism. This included conducting surveys, holding training sessions, and creating new EDI positions that prior to the murder of George Floyd did not exist. Equity is defined as redistributing benefits and removing burdens so that all individuals and groups have access … [Read more...]