Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara’s Post

“What's the Utopia We are Trying to Build? I am true fan of The Center for Artistic Activism. I’m actually such a fan that I became a member of their board of advisors a few years ago, and try to support their work even a fraction of how much their work supports and inspires me. The Center for Artistic Activism helps people use their creativity and culture to affect power. They’re a bit like an “artists without borders,” going to different places around the world where people need help finding or making their voices heard. Their work involves surprise, humor, as well as rigorous activist strategy to make incremental or even dramatic change where it has seemed utterly impossible before. I’m in a pretty intense moment of transition in my own journey from art to polemics to activism and now back again - as if these are different poles or modes competing for my time and energy. But the artists and activists at C4AA have a holistic approach to life and work that effectively obviates such arbitrary distinctions. As Rebecca Bray puts it: "Creating a space for that kind of creative collaboration among a group of people is also so critical and sometimes hard [to achieve] when you have a group of activists or advocates who are sitting around a table and used to just being in a mode of fighting against huge problems and issues. A lot of it is creating the space and actually allowing the fun and the joy into the work." Listen to the conversation here: https://lnkd.in/eumrrZ9j

Let’s enjoy a moment of solidarity before this post gets taken down. Brace yourself for a collection of unpopular opinions that demand to be heard. I love being a minority. But I don’t care about being “represented” by corporate companies competing for woke points. I love disney movies. But that doesn’t mean I want kids exposed to political and ideological woke agendas. I love beer. But that doesn’t mean I want Bud Light’s social politics in my beer mug. I love feminism. But not how modern-day feminism is alienating, confusing and disempowering our boys. I love our teachers. But I don’t love how the education system in our country is pushing gender politics on children, yet completely disregarding the bible. Now, there’s a lesson in all of this: When you build a successful business OFF social media, Being canceled ON social media isn’t quite as scary anymore. ___________________________ Now, feel free to Indulge in the irony as you immerse yourself in a thought-provoking video that humorously uncovers the pitfalls of policing in the realm of social media.

in·clu·sion in-ˈklü-zhən Synonyms of inclusion 1: the act of including : the state of being included 2: something that is included: such as a: a gaseous, liquid, or solid foreign body enclosed in a mass (as of a mineral) b: a passive usually temporary product of cell activity (such as a starch grain) within the cytoplasm or nucleus 3: the act or practice of including students with disabilities with the general student population Inclusion refers to a variety of integration approaches, but the goal is to blend special education students into the traditional classroom. —Suevon Lee —sometimes used before a nounan inclusion classroom/school 4: the act or practice of including and accommodating people who have historically been excluded (as because of their race, gender, sexuality, or ability) … academic libraries have traditionally struggled to address problems of equity, diversity and inclusion. The low representation of people of color in library staff has been a particular shortcoming, despite many initiatives to attract minority staff to the field. —Lindsay McKenzie Tech workers say they are more interested in diversity and are more willing to work to promote inclusion in their workplace … —Jessica Guynn Meaningful civic inclusion even now eludes many of our fellow citizens who are recognizably of African descent. —Glenn C. Loury 5mathematics : a relation between two classes (see CLASS sense 3c)  not reading except Catholics, NFL🤔🥴

What's the Utopia We are Trying to Build? I am true fan of The Center for Artistic Activism. I’m actually such a fan that I became a member of their board of advisors a few years ago, and try to support their work even a fraction of how much their work supports and inspires me. The Center for Artistic Activism helps people use their creativity and culture to affect power. They’re a bit like an “artists without borders,” going to different places around the world where people need help finding or making their voices heard. Their work involves surprise, humor, as well as rigorous activist strategy to make incremental or even dramatic change where it has seemed utterly impossible before. I’m in a pretty intense moment of transition in my own journey from art to polemics to activism and now back again - as if these are different poles or modes competing for my time and energy. But the artists and activists at C4AA have a holistic approach to life and work that effectively obviates such arbitrary distinctions. As Rebecca Bray puts it: "Creating a space for that kind of creative collaboration among a group of people is also so critical and sometimes hard [to achieve] when you have a group of activists or advocates who are sitting around a table and used to just being in a mode of fighting against huge problems and issues. A lot of it is creating the space and actually allowing the fun and the joy into the work." Listen to the conversation here: https://lnkd.in/eumrrZ9j

Last week, I joined PRB, Young Invincibles, and a panel of expert women to talk about the recent report, “Losing More Ground” which highlights the status of young women in the U.S. Across a number of indicators discussed in this report — incarceration, health, education— Black women and Women of Color continue to fare worse than white women. Of particular concern, the report finds Black women are facing significant increases in rates of suicide and continue to be overrepresented among incarceration rates. As I state here in this clip, "These data points really underscore the necessity of what Black feminist scholars have called for: the need for an intersectional lens in our analyses and in our policy solutions… our policy solutions should put the people who are most vulnerable at the forefront." PRB Justice + Joy National Collaborative Watch the full webinar here: https://lnkd.in/eBQzVve4

Human Rights, What Does It Really Mean?- it's a term we hear every day, everywhere. But do we truly understand its meaning? And more importantly, do we know when our human rights are being met, and when they're not? Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person, simply because they are human. These rights are inherent, universal, and inalienable, meaning they cannot be taken away or given up. imagine you're not allowed to speak your mind, or you're treated unfairly because of who you are. That's when your human rights are being denied - when you're not treated with dignity and respect, just like everyone else. It's not just a concept - it's real life which unfortunately for millions and millions of people around the world-- From discrimination and injustice to violence and oppression, many people suffer because their basic rights are not respected. But here's the thing: we all have the power to make a difference. By standing up for human rights, speaking out against injustice, and supporting those who need it most, we can create a world where everyone's rights are valued and protected. It's up to each of us to stand up for human rights and advocate for those whose rights are being violated. Whether it's through education, activism, or supporting organizations working to promote human rights, we all have a role to play in creating a world where everyone's human rights are respected and protected. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" The best of all time MLK #humanrights #equality #justice #StandUpForHumanRights #takeaction

The attack on #DEI at universities is horrendous. The entrenched powers using their money/influence to continue marginalizing anyone who isn't exactly like them. "Some of those involved privately expressed their hope of purging liberal ideas, professors and programming wherever they could. They debated how carefully or quickly to reveal some of their true views — the belief that “a healthy society requires patriarchy,” for example, and their broader opposition to anti-discrimination laws — in essays and articles written for public consumption. In candid private conversations, some wrote favorably of laws criminalizing homosexuality, mocked the appearance of a female college student as overly masculine and criticized Peter Thiel, the prominent gay conservative donor, over his sex life." Are there examples of DEI initiatives that are undermining educational missions? Sure there are. There are always examples/anecdotes of people/organizations that distort good efforts. But those should be case studies to guide us in being clearer and more effective in creating and implementing policies & practices to build a better world -- first and foremost, by including all people in gaining access to opportunity. #DEI #BIPOC #refugees #Women #LGBTQ+ #peoplewithdisabilities #genderequity #racialequity What do *you* think? c: Neil Barnett Jenny Lay-Flurrie Gideon Maltz Sarah Degnan Kambou Olufunmilayo Arewa Gabriela Burian (she/her) 🇧🇷🇫🇷🇨🇿🇺🇸 Tarika Barrett, Ph.D. Bryan Adamson

🌟 Another reminder of the power and responsibility we carry on social media. The recent incident involving Natalie Cline, a member of the Utah State Board of Education, serves as a poignant example of the impact of our online words. As reported by KUTV 2News / KMYU, Cline's misgendering social media post directed at a high school basketball player sparked outrage and resulted in the student facing hateful comments. While Cline has cited First Amendment protection for her speech, the situation underscores the need for education on responsible social media usage. Articles like this highlight the importance of platforms like LifeBrand in providing guidance on respectful communication and sensitivity towards sensitive issues such as gender identity. With the right education, such missteps could potentially be avoided, preventing harm and fostering a more inclusive online environment. Moreover, it's crucial to remember that while we have the right to free speech, we are not immune to the repercussions of our words. Cline's situation reminds us that exercising our First Amendment rights does not absolve us from accountability for the impact of our speech. Let's continue to advocate for responsible social media use, where freedom of expression is balanced with empathy and respect for others. Together, we can create a more positive and inclusive online community. #SocialMediaEthics #InclusiveCommunication #ResponsibilityOnline #LifeBrand #SocialMediaEducation #LifeBrandEducation 🌐📱 Lou Lesperance Jemma Barbarise-Kelley T.J. Colaiezzi Cara Alcoff Melissa Sharp Vinny Corpora Lauren Lindley Brittany Smith Brian Mahoney Sally Rudolph Kevin Quinlan Jim Quinlan https://lnkd.in/eHbGNnYW

Today is International Womens' Day. I cried hard instead of celebrating. About loss, achievements, about starting over. Many don't understand what trauma and duress I have been subjected to: I have been slandered, humiliated, lost everything that meant anything so that a university could save face. #perjury #misrepresentation Imagine if you will, being relentlessly sexually harassed by a colleague. Imagine repeatedly asking for help, advocacy and being ignored. Imagine being stalked after work. Imagine being yelled at by the Office of Equal Opportunity. Imagine being called by the professor at night while entering my home. #stopsexualharassment Now, imagine that there are other faculty, students, and patients that complained about this same professor. Imagine that there are complaints of OTHER perpetrators from this school, including the dean. Now imagine because you are labeled a whistleblower, the school no longer recognizes you as a regional, NATIONAL award-winning professor, leader, researcher and author. You are hated, humiliated, ostracized. Imagine that the dean demotes your long-time chairman and brings in a new chairwoman who piles on unpublished hurdles for you, but no one else. Imagine that you are denied promotion, multiple times, after working your butt off for 30 years in the job, profession that you love, for the patients that you are dedicated to, and to see the students that you love, succeed, but more than 8 men are promoted and not held to the same criteria. Imagine being lied to and lied about, having your entire career go up in smoke because you followed Title IX, VII laws and Clery Act-because you tried to #protectstudents, protect others, and yourself; but those in charge were unlawful. Imagine being left with physical, mental and financial burdens where you won't ever, ever be made whole again. I am trying my damnest to fight for not just women but men too. 43% of men are harassed and bullied. I am trying my damnest to turn my trauma into #purpose but I need YOUR #support. This week Liberty University was fined $16Million dollars for violating the Clery Act. Why are some universities investigated, but others get away with crime? #TitleIXreform is necessary U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)U.S. Department of Justice U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education The Supreme Court of the United States

What are the best practices for schools and law enforcement to handle allegations of hate crimes and support the victims effectively? Protecting Our Students: Addressing Safety and Inclusion for Transgender Youth in Schools Hopkins High School in Minnesota is currently under investigation for an alleged assault on a 16-year-old transgender student, which is being treated as a potential hate crime. The incident occurred when the student, unable to access a gender-inclusive restroom, was confronted and subsequently assaulted in the boys' bathroom. The student's injuries include a concussion, a broken jaw, and teeth damage. School and police investigations are ongoing, and community leaders are calling for better protections and policies to ensure safety and inclusion for all students. Key Takeaways: - Enhanced Safety Policies: Schools need to adopt comprehensive safety policies that specifically address the needs of transgender students, ensuring they have safe access to restrooms and other facilities. - Collaboration with Law Enforcement: Schools and law enforcement must work closely to handle incidents of alleged hate crimes with sensitivity and urgency. - Community and Advocacy Support: Active collaboration between schools, community organizations, and advocacy groups is crucial to promote a culture of inclusion and safety. #schoolviolence #schoolsafety https://lnkd.in/gAZ_TPmS