Brownicity Blog - Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion

Why Diversity Programs Have Failed

April 4, 2023

Brownicity • April 4, 2023 Feature image source: https://musaalgharbi.com/2020/09/16/diversity-important-related-training-terrible/ Diversity programs have been implemented in many organizations with the goal of creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace. However, despite good intentions, many of these programs have failed to achieve their intended outcomes. Let’s explore some of the reasons why diversity programs may fail and what organizations can do to

How Fear Silences Us

March 28, 2023

Dan Berry – March 28, 2023 Have you ever sat with a person as they tried to explain to you how your new computer, phone, or some electronic device worked and you nodded in agreement, left the impression you understood everything they just explained to you, but were actually clueless? Okay, maybe that’s just my story, but why? Why did I

It was Hard to Talk about Racism Until I got an Education

March 21, 2023

Tracey McKee – March 21, 2023 Race and racism are hard to talk about. Having open, honest, and productive dialogue with others always helps us arrive at more thoughtful and creative ways to solve our issues. But when we consider talking about race/ism, most of us tend to shy away. If you are a person of color, you may be

Common Mistakes People Make When Talking About Race/ism

March 14, 2023

Lucretia Berry • March 14, 2023 So, you want to actively engage in dismantling race/ism, but fear making mistakes? Here are seven of the most common mistakes people make when broaching the subjects of race and racism. 1. Believing that race/ism only affects certain races: Racism affects all racial groups, including white people (e.g. historically, real estate speculators profited from

Five Reasons It’s Hard to Talk About Race/ism

March 7, 2023

Lucretia Berry • March 7, 2023 Race/ism touches every aspect of our lives – identity, interpersonal relationships, access to healthcare and food, our finances, where we live, go to school, work, gather to worship, and play – yet we struggle to talk about it coherently, confidently, and in ways that help us create a society free of race/ism. Here are

sherrilyn ifill learn to learn with laura

Sherrilyn Ifill — “Leave No Power on the Table” in the Fight for Racial Justice

February 23, 2023

Laura Marti – February 23, 2023 Sherrilyn Ifill is a prominent civil rights lawyer, legal scholar, and activist who dedicated her career to advancing racial justice and equality. She served as the seventh President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF), one of the nation’s leading civil rights organizations, from 2013 to 2022, and currently serves as President and

Jean-Michel Basquiat

February 21, 2023

The Neo-Expressionist Black artist who changed the face of contemporary art Laura Marti – February 21, 2023 Feature image: Jean-Michel Basquiat | Getty Images Jean-Michel Basquiat was a pioneering artist who used his art to explore complex issues of race, class, and identity. Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1960, Basquiat was the son of Haitian and Puerto Rican immigrants. He

22 Reasons to LOVE Hues of You

February 14, 2023

On February 22, the activity book, Hues of You turns one!! Stay tuned for fun ways to celebrate. In the meantime, for Valentine’s Day here are 22 reasons to LOVE this book. How will you help children navigate things you aren’t sure of yourself? With children, learning doesn’t always happen with words. Complex concepts can’t be figured out in a

I’d Rather Be Woke

February 14, 2023

Dan Berry – February 14, 2023 As a follower of Jesus who is learning how to truly love all of my neighbors — not just the ones that are like me — sometimes I wonder why there is so much opposition from others who claim to follow Him. As much as I try to avoid misinformed commentary, it seems that

Black Resistance in Education – The Origins of BHM

February 9, 2023

Tracey McKee – February 9, 2023 As February approached, I found myself wanting to know more about Black History Month’s origins. Who was behind its inception? When was it first observed? What were the hopes for the celebration? How has it grown? I began to research Black History Month and was delighted to meet Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the Father

Father of the Underground Railroad: The Resistance of William Still

February 7, 2023

Laura Marti – February 7, 2023 Feature image: William Still (1821-1902), a conductor on the Underground Railroad who helped nearly 800 enslaved African Americans to freedom. William Still was an abolitionist and civil rights activist who played a crucial role in the Underground Railroad. He risked his life shepherding runaway enslaved people to freedom in the tumultuous years leading up to

Black History Hidden in Plain Sight

February 2, 2023

Lucretia Berry • February 2, 2023 Because Black History Month is for acknowledging, honoring, and celebrating the contributions of African-Americans that are largely absent from the education on American history and formation, I typically stay away from teaching about chattel slavery during this time. As one of my Antiracism 101 high school students stated, “Black people are not the awful thing that was

Hard Truths Heal

January 31, 2023

Anthony Bittner • January 31, 2023 When I think about the phrase, “racial healing,” I have to admit that my brain instinctively goes to a dark place. I find it hard to acknowledge there’s much healing at all when racism, antisemitism, and hate in general seem to be running rampant from coast to coast. It sometimes feels like we’re

America to Me

January 26, 2023

Afrika Afeni Mills • January 26, 2023 A few years ago, I facilitated a discussion group about the America to Me docu-series, and in preparation for our first meeting, the group’s homework was to read Langston Hughes’ Let America Be America Again and answer the following question: What is America (actually, the United States to honor that there are several countries

Lunar New Year: Planting Seeds That Blossom into Racial Healing

January 24, 2023

Laura Marti – January 24, 2023 Feature image: freepik Happy Lunar New Year 2023‼️ Growing up in Akron, Ohio in the 70s, I knew next to nothing about Asian culture. My first exposure was going to a Chinese restaurant with my grandmother as a child. She took me to one particular restaurant because she worked in a doctor’s office for a

Racial Healing – My First Steps

January 19, 2023

Dan Berry – January 19, 2023 Growing up in Iowa and living in a small, rural white community, race had never entered my mind. I guess when you are born into whiteness, race is something that belongs to everyone else but you. The irony of my story is that for most of my life, I didn’t realize that my mom

National Day of Racial Healing

January 17, 2023

What IS Racial Healing? Lucretia Berry • January 17, 2023 “THIS is what healing looks like,” Spirit whispered. Instead of fighting sickness, healing is intentional love and support lavished upon the burdened parts of my body that have become weak, bruised, and depleted. The daily hours, the focused care, and months of commitment taught me that healing asks for a significant investment –

I Have to See Color in Order to Embody the Dream

January 12, 2023

Tracey McKee – January 12, 2023 As we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday this month, we are reminded of his urgent desire to see a great racial healing in our country. He bravely spoke of a day when we would move past the racial divide and embrace one another as brothers and sisters regardless of skin color. For

Housing Needs Assessment Tool Helps Provide Local Housing Solutions

January 10, 2023

Dr. Gerardo Marti – January 10, 2023 The Housing Needs Assessment tool is a valuable resource for those working in the housing and community development fields. Created in partnership with PolicyMap, this tool provides detailed reports for every US Census jurisdiction in the country, and so allows users to analyze and assess the housing needs of their communities, providing important

You Have to Be Carefully Taught

December 22, 2022

Afrika Afeni Mills • December 22, 2022 I’ve never seen South Pacific, but I’ve heard of the song You’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught. The lyrics have been on my mind as I think about what learning experiences I want to support educators to create for ourselves and students in the midst of political polarization and social distress. You’ve got

He Uncovers Mysteries Hidden in Darkness

December 20, 2022

Seeing Jesus and Each Other Dan Berry – December 20, 2022 In this season of Advent I reflect about how I came to a place in my life decades ago where I saw Jesus for who He was. I tell people how it was like a light came on and I went from simply ‘believing’ in someone to actually opening

Seeing Darkness in a New Light

December 15, 2022

Laura Marti – December 15, 2022 Brownicity’s theme for the month of December, “Darkness Welcomes Light,” gave me something new to think about and explore. The beginnings of this have been with me for a while. I love learning, and what is most fun about it is the discovery that comes from digging into a topic and seeing where things lead.

The Hill We Climb – Reflection and Inspiration

December 8, 2022

Tracey McKee – October 13, 2022 Can you believe we are approaching the end of 2022? This time of year, like most of us, I find myself reflecting on the past year and considering what next year might hold. I think a lot about the possibilities that lie ahead, and I look for inspiration to help me flesh out my

bKids Toolbox – The Gift That Grows Us

December 6, 2022

A Special ‘Hues of You’ Holiday Offer Lucretia Berry • December 6, 2022 Curated by Brownicity moms, educators, and artists to support natural curiosity, spark exploration, and inspire engagement, the bKids Toolbox is a great holiday gift for the whole family. Its content supports hours of engaging learning through read alongs, books, coloring pages, activities, and life-giving conversations. The bKids

Accepting The Truth About Thanksgiving Prompts Healing

November 22, 2022

Dan Berry – November 22, 2022 By the time I was in grade school I had become fully indoctrinated into the narrative that Thanksgiving somehow had its roots in fostering feelings of generosity and gratefulness. In third grade, I remember writing a story, ironically, on a Big Chief writing tablet. The story was about how there was this beautiful, harmonious

Where are the Wailing Women?

November 17, 2022

November 17, 2022 It takes courage to stave off discouragement. It takes faith to reach beyond pain. And it takes love to wrestle with disappointment instead of surrendering to it. Brave women wail; and we all are better because of it. Natasha Sistrunk Robinson and an ensemble of Women of Color invite you to engage their reality in a collection

Finding myself in the story – Uncovering the history of Serbian Immigrants

November 15, 2022

Laura Marti – November 15, 2022 Feature Image: From left: My great grandmother Eva, my great uncle Ray, my great grandfather Joseph Hillrich (changed his last name from Illitch), and my maternal grandmother Helen (Hillrich) Triffun. When my grandmother was in her 20s, her mother passed away due to complications from a back injury. I have been through the Brownicity course

Embracing America’s Indigenous Civilizations & History

November 11, 2022

Tracey McKee – November 10, 2022 As a nation, we are celebrating Native American Heritage Month right now. And, if you’ve read some of my previous posts, you know that for me, this means a dive into history. For the past several weeks, I have been delving into lots of different sources to learn more about our Native American neighbors’

Becoming a Growth Teacher

October 27, 2022

Dan Berry – October 27, 2022 Dr. Lucretia Carter Berry and Dr. Tehia Starker Glass have published a new book called, Teaching for Justice and Belonging. As we all know, learning to talk about race and have conversations that are productive and healing can sometimes elude us. This leads to shutting down and not having the important conversations. Their book

A Just Mission – Laying down power & embracing mutuality

October 20, 2022

Mekdes Haddis – October 20, 2022 Connect with Mekdes on: Instagram: @mekdeshaddis Facebook: Just Missions LinkedIn: Mekdes Haddis Website: www.mekdeshaddis.com

Hispanic or Latino/a/e/x?

October 13, 2022

Tracey McKee – October 13, 2022 We are in the midst of National Hispanic Heritage Month – a month dedicated to celebrating the culture, accomplishments, contributions, and histories of Americans whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean. These Americans represent nearly 20% of our total population, and their countless contributions range from

Iconic Latino American composers connected me to a broader multicultural world

October 4, 2022

Laura Marti – October 4, 2022 Feature image: Composers (clockwise from upper left): Antonio Sanchez, Germaine Franco, Camilo Lara, Lalo Schifrin, María Grever, Gustavo Santaolalla and Lin-Manuel Miranda. 📸: Mike Gallegos for NPR Did you know that Latino musicians and composers are responsible for some of the most iconic music in the film industry? As part of a “Latinos in Hollywood”

Susan’s Immigration and Education Story

September 29, 2022

Lucretia Berry • September 29, 2022 Susan’s story is an excerpt from Teaching for Justice & Belonging, a Journey for Educators & Parents (August, 2022). Included in chapter 7, Weed: Uproot Growth Inhibitors, Dr. Tehia Starker Glass and I list common beliefs and practices that work against cultivating justice and belonging. We then offer guided reflection and suggested practices to

Cultivating Justice & Belonging – An encouraging perspective

September 27, 2022

Lucretia Berry • September 27, 2022 For me, fostering racial healing, building our capacity for antiracism, and manifesting justice resonates JOY! I feel honored to engage in this movement with committed co-laborers. The synergy is life-giving. However, sometimes I get frustrated by imposed challenges. There are times I sit discouraged in isolation as I contemplate a way forward. I ruminate,

Resisting Assimilation, Embracing ALL of Me

September 22, 2022

by Xochitl Dixon • September 22, 2022 My parents immigrated from Mexico as children, grew up in California, and applied for American citizenship as adults. Longing to give me a chance for a better life, they changed my Spanish middle name to English and dropped my first name when they registered me for kindergarten. Though I’d been speaking Spanish since

Racial Healing Begins with Taking Responsibility

September 20, 2022

Dan Berry – September 20, 2022 Ten years into our pastoral ministry, we felt called to pioneer our second church. Swallowed up in a predominantly White state (Iowa), the vision for an ethnically or culturally diverse ministry came out of nowhere. We quickly adopted a mission statement that read: Helping all people find and live their lives in Christ, bridging

Telling Our Story of Slavery

September 15, 2022

Tracey McKee – September 15, 2022 Several years ago, I participated in Brownicity’s What Lies Between Us course. It started me on a journey to understand the racial division that plagues our country and hopefully, to participate in its mending. I learned about the implicit biases I have, the holes in the history I was taught, and I learned about the American

Listening to Latino Voices and Stories

September 13, 2022

Laura Marti – September 13, 2022 Hispanic American Heritage Month starts this week and runs from September 15 – October 15. Beginning on September 15 signifies the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries which include Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua (all on September 15th), Mexico (on September 16th), and Chile (September 18). I get excited about

11 Strategies for Antiracist Conversations with White kids

September 6, 2022

Rebekah Gienapp • September 6, 2022 I’m Rebekah Gienapp and I love taking adventures with my kids to help them learn about the world around them. Sometimes the adventures are hiking or exploring a museum, and sometimes the adventures are having thoughtful conversations about race. Many parents of White kids want to talk to their children about race, but aren’t

Creating Classrooms That Support Mental Health

August 25, 2022

Zinobia Bennefield PhD ✏️ August 25, 2022 Zinobia Bennefield PhD is a professor, researcher, and youth mental health consultant. She combines tools from multiple disciplines in order to help professionals understand and better meet the psychological needs of children and adolescents in culturally competent ways. Her original research has been published in Research in the Sociology of Health Care, Child

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