Diversity
Swirl's Mission – Front and Center
As many of you know, Alexis Jeffcott and I recently launched the Philadelphia Chapter of Swirl. We host a monthly Pot Luck, a time for swirlies and allies to get to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere. Several exciting events are in the works as well. We are hosting a fieldtrip to the “America [...]
Fragments of Life Converge…..
When I was working in the corporate sector, I held a series of jobs. Strung together they constructed a fairly successful career. Yet, there was always something missing. I always ended my day feeling unfulfilled and drained. Never did I feel like I was making a positive impact on someone’s life. In fact, I often [...]
International Women's Day 2009
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY! Please take this time to remember the incredible women in your life and those that paved the way before you! I could not have asked for a more perfect day! I started my day in fellowship at The Well and then participating in the IWD 2009 Conference in Center City, Philadelphia. [...]
Obama, Mixedchicks and Community Action
I often forget that I am an immigrant. While I have lived in the U.S. for a little more than a decade and had considerable contact with U.S. (military) culture growing up, I still feel quite foreign. I have a hard time viewing myself as American. However, when I am in Germany, I feel more [...]
Unusual Silence
I usually call it like I see it. If I think something is incorrect, I say so. If I think someone is acting like a bigot, I let them know. Very rarely do I remain silent when I think something is off. Yet, this is exactly what I did this past holiday. My reasoning is [...]
Philly Joins Swirl to Launch Intercultural Community and Dialogue
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Kathrin P. Ivanovic Co-Organizer, SwirlPhilly 215.776.1172 kathrini@swirlinc.org Jen Chau Executive Director, Swirl Inc. 917.291.5227 jenchau@swirlinc.org www.swirlinc.org Swirl, Inc. Launches Chapter in the City of Brotherly Love Swirl, Inc. has partnered with Kathrin P. Ivanovic and Alexis Jeffcoat, two emerging young non-profitleaders in Philadelphia, to launch and grow of a new, local chapter. [...]
Voices of Philadelphia – Performance of Freedom
Today’s Voices of Philadelphia is brought to you by James William Ijames. I first met James on November 4 at the election watch party hosted by yours truly. After adding him on Facebook, I realized that he worked at a rather spectacular museum and I was curious to see how the new President-Elect impacted the [...]
New Leaders, Women of Color Claiming Their Space
I had the honor and privilege of attending a women of color recruitment brunch for the Center of Progressive Leadership this morning. I was on the fence about applying to the fellowship program, but after this brunch, I am completely on board. I spoke with the Paula, Director of Programs and Brian, the Director of [...]
My Hair Has Its Own Zipcode
This post has been stuck in my draft bin for quite some time. I have a habit of starting posts and getting distracted. Reading Light-Skinned-ed Girl’s entry about biracial hair made me think about how my hair has always played a central role in my struggle for identity. I recently got my hair cut. Six [...]
NGen Claiming Space at Independent Sector
I attended Craigslist BootCamp NYC in early October. It was an exciting coming together of the young movers and shakers in the Public Good community. While the feel of the Independent Sector conference is extremely different than that of Craigslist Bootcamp, I am excited to see that NGens are claiming their space among established Non [...]
Independent Sector – Closing Plenary Luncheon – "A New Look at Race and Gender in Americ"
Round-table Discussion: Beyond Election 2008: A New Look at Race and Gender in America Moderator: Kalvin Taketa, IS Board Member and President/CEO, Hawai’i Community Foundation Panelists: Randall L. Kennedy, Michael R. Klein Professor of Law, Harvard Law School, Harvard University Sterling Speirn, President, W.K. Kellogg Foundation Luz Vega-Marquis, Secretary, Independent Sector and President/CEO Marguerite Casey [...]
An Open Book, Sharing to Heal
This has been an unprecedented and most historic week. A new day has truly come, bringing with it a tremendous amount of responsibility for our new President-Elect, as well as for every single American. Each of us has a responsibility to engage in our communities. We no longer have any valid excuse to complain and [...]
Race, Gender, Sexuality – Components of Identity
I participate in various diversity forums. Recently, a colleague was surprised to find out that I am gay. Since I rarely (if ever) talk about my sexual identity, she assumed that I was straight. I thought being a part of various LGBT coalitions made my orientation clear. She stated that all of her LGBT [...]
Black German- Belonging and Who I Am
Out of the 95,000 US Occupation babies born in Germany in the 1950s-60s there were approximately 3000 of us, so-called Negro mulatto babies, better known as Germany’s ‘Brown Babies’. The SPD [Social Democratic Party of Germany] deemed that we formed a special group, presenting a human and racial problem of a special nature that gave [...]
The Language of Adoption
Every time I come across an article about celebrities who have blended families, the caption always references the non-biological child as: “such and such and her/his ADOPTED son/daughter,” as if the manner in which a child joins a family determines how much that child is actually a part of that family and loved. Making the [...]
Blackface Alive & Well in Germany (and elsewhere in the world)
A Slant Truth and a post on BlackGermans recently reported on two incarnations of blackface in pop culture – one in Kansas and another in Germany. Spiegel Online recently ran an article about German Dollmaker, Marcel Offermann, and his newest creating – a blackface Barack Obama doll. This stereotypical depiction yet again illustrates the way [...]
Berlin, Germany: Muslims to Meet Gays and Lesbians in Day of Understanding
On October 3, more than a thousand Mosques across Germany will open their doors to non-Muslims in an effort to promote diversity, cultural dialogue and understanding. Since its launch in 1997, it remains the only initiative of its kind, and hundreds of mosques and Islamic associations have joined this initiative since its inception. The primary [...]
Ramadan auf Deutsch
The World Almanac estimates that there are between 1.3 and 1.5 billion Muslims living in practically every country around the world. Of that number, nearly 3.3 million Muslims live in Germany. As Muslims around the world are currently celebrating Ramadan, it is an ideal time to highlight issues impacting Muslims in Germany. While Muslims have [...]
America, the Land of Local Patriotism
US Route 1 runs from the Maine/Canada border all the way to the tip of Florida. In Philadelphia, it runs through the heart of the Northeast section of the city. Today, however, it practically cuts the eastern and western sections of the NE in half. The funeral for Officer Isabel Nazario is currently taking place [...]
Opportunities to Highlight Diversity
The other day, my mother mentioned that I “seem” happy these days. I will definitely accept that as a compliment, as I no longer feel constricted by the corporate monster. While I am concerned about making the right (deliberate and intentional) decisions so that my various projects are successful (and that I can pay rent), [...]
