Esther Carver’s Post

"Insight leads to change, and understanding is our tool," offers Dr. Gardere and Dr. Kelly emphasizes, "Empowerment through fatherhood enriches communities." Learn more about our initiatives at https://lnkd.in/g_KQcFWa

"Insight leads to change, and understanding is our tool," offers Dr. Gardere and Dr. Kelly emphasizes, "Empowerment through fatherhood enriches communities." Learn more about our initiatives at https://lnkd.in/e8XxpYw

I am betting that exploring these questions in this episode today will get to the host of pronatalist assumptions regarding those who choose to live a single life: How do we best examine the ways systemic, social, and media perspectives have influenced the understanding of singlehood? How can we change the impact of these influences on those who are single, and center the lived experiences of singlehood for greater social change? https://lnkd.in/gskcM2B6

Today is the 8th annual National Day of Racial Healing. Today we come together in community to reflect and explore ways to heal. Reflection: In 2021, how to heal was one of the most searched queries in Google. Many of us are still searching for an answer to that question. Exploration: A Day of Racial Healing revisits that question by challenging individuals and organizations to answer the question: how can we come together to promote a culture of racial healing?  Visit DayOfRacialHealing.org to learn more. #HowWeHeal

As we contemplate our political climate of war, environmental concerns, identity, including gender identity, and the multiple layers of marginalization that perpetuate fear, uncertainty, and a sense of loss, we must remember that there is one thing we can control from our individual lens. Staying the course. As a political scientist, we are taught to read the rooms of history and interrogate shifts in trends; as a scholar, activist, and author, I understand walking the tightrope of our social contract, and as a #Blackwoman, my personhood and the Black bodies of those that look like me, is constantly threatened. In all these spaces, we must continue to tell our story, push beyond fear to hope, and be the bearers and witnesses to history the way those who survived the over 200 years of enslavement so we could live did. I advocate for: ~ Community ~ Network ~ Afrocentricity and African-Centeredness ~ SKU and the Sense of Being ~ Being authentic in our walk and our talk ~ Supporting the ecosystem that must live so WE LIVE Thank you, #SankofaBookstore, and Dr. Traci Wyatt of #TWDT, for the opportunity and space to serve, share information, and build community. It is my hope that the gems provided are uplifting and move us forward. https://lnkd.in/ewnSrqQZ

I recently read the book, "Upswing" by Dr. Robert Putnam of Harvard University. When it was published a few years ago, it was advertised as the 20th Anniversary edition of Dr. Putnam's book "Bowling Alone." I quickly learned when I started reading it was the book pays homage to Bowling Alone, but is a far more in-depth look at US history. According to Dr. Putnam, the era we are living in right now closely aligns with the last several decades of the 1800's. He described each of these eras as "I" societies. By this, he communicates that people in the US are focused on themselves and what is good or bad for themselves. Contrary to this situation of society, Dr. Putnam wrote that most of the 20th Century (1900 - 1970) we were a "We" society. During that time, people cared about what happened to society at large more than themselves. However, Dr. Putnam also fully admits the "We" society was mostly enjoyed by white men. Although it was far from perfect union, the "we" society helped us move US society forward much better than we do while focused on ourselves. I also learned that Dr. Putnam and several of his grad students are promoting a new movement that communities can take advantage of. They have made available a movie on the website putnamdoc.com titled "Join or Die." The concept here is we can join together and accomplish much more for our society than if we go it alone. The "Upswing" is what happens when society turns back to a "we" society again. I encourage everyone to read this book.

What a joy to connect with Beverley Samways over our shared beliefs and pursuits! It's affirming to find someone thinking about self-injury, families, and disability in a similar way from a different corner of the world. Beverley is founder of Unique Connections (uniqueconnections.org.uk), a nonprofit specializing in supporting individuals with self-injury and disability from a trauma-informed perspective. As you'll see in our full conversation on the Unique Connections Youtube page, this is an unusual and much-needed approach. We discuss my recent publication, "Self-injurious behavior in individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities: An interdisciplinary family systems review," which is available open access in the Journal of Family Theory and Review.

Reflection is such a powerful tool and experience. It helps us grow and learn. I often think of the power of a moment or experience that at the time doesn't seem all that significant but in reflection, it is a pivotal moment. This particular moment centers around a book. Books can be amazing sources of connection and learning and as Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop has called them, "windows, mirrors, and sliding glass doors"(I will talk more about her amazing work another day). As an undergraduate student in the 90s, I had an opportunity for an extra assignment to read "Dreamkeepers" by Gloria Ladson-Billings. This book and what it taught me changed my career and life. It began my career-long learning and use of culturally relevant methods and texts, and lit the fire of my passion for DEI and social justice. To be known, seen, and sharing the complexity of my lived experience is one of the important parts of my personal journey. Growing up as a multi-ethic/multi-racial person in the 80s/90s when there wasn't even an option to accurately identify myself, to today where I stand firm in my own identity is powerful and transformational. Equity work begins with awareness of self and the intersectionality of all of you. I work with individuals and organizations to gain awareness and take that awareness into action. Let's connect. https://lnkd.in/gVQfyUk7 #awarenesstoaction #equityineducation #dragonflyrising #dei

Dr. – not Mr. - Spock Victor C. Bolles December 1, 2023 Scientific inquiry is the process where we learn more and more about our universe through experimentation to support or disprove our theories. But increasingly, we are asked to make drastic, expensive and irreversible decisions based on a consensus of scientists as if there were no more need for further inquiry or experimentation. In this commentary we discuss how political activists assert that the science behind their progressive policies is “settled” by which they mean unassailable and not up for further discussion. Quote from the Commentary: The truth is we don’t know why so many people suffer from gender dysphoria or why those numbers are growing. Trans people suffer from an extremely high rate of suicide compared to non-trans people. But Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff show in their book The Coddling of the American Mind that young people in general are showing much higher rates of suicidal thought, suicide attempts and actual suicide than ever before. Is gender dysphoria just one aspect of a generational mass hysteria? Link to the commentary: https://lnkd.in/ghVZ2KE2 Link to the podcast: https://lnkd.in/g8H_TmNp Link to the video: https://lnkd.in/guBTjuSB Thanks for your support!

How compassion can change societies This week we bring together experts from politics, activism, and psychology to answer the fundamental question: how can we use compassion to change societies? Hear their answers in this inspiring conversation