College Speaking on Diversity and Inclusion

I had the chance to perform in front of college students on the themes of Diversity and Inclusion. I love their responses! I used stories as THE BEST WAY to discuss difficult topics. In the breakout sessions, we worked on communicating across lines of difference. That’s what the one student is referring to – she wants to post the communication guidelines on her wall. All of us get in situations where we just don’t know what to say especially when the conversation is about race, gender and other hot topics. Young people are looking for this guidance but they don’t want to be preached at! Sharing our stories is the most respectful and productive way to value others and feel appreciated yourself.

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Bring a Harmony Day to Your School

I stopped by a school where we had presented a Harmony Day: a multicultural assembly with storytellers, Antonio Sacre, Michael D. McCarty, Anne Shimojima and moi, Susan O’Halloran, followed by breakout sessions on race, immigration, cyber bullying, Japanese American internment camps and other family stories and leaving a legacy of inclusion. Here’s what one of the teachers had to say and some examples of  the posters the students made after our day. The event was sponsored by Angels Studio, a communications ministry of the Society of the Divine Word, Chicago Province.

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Speaking at Youth Diversity Conference

I had the pleasure of giving the keynote address at the Fenwick, Oak Park/River Forest and Trinity High Schools’ Youth Conference on Tuesday, March 8, 2011. The student leaders were wonderful and following the keynote I was able to do breakout sessions on Valuing Difference Religions.

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Growing Up Japanese American

Storyteller, Anne Shimojima, describes feeling invisible growing up Japanese American. Why should any child, or adult, get the message they don’t count or even exist? Let’s all work to make our events, our media, our lives as inclusive as possible.

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Breakthrough Compassion Burnout!

How do you get the message out that your organization is doing all sorts of good things? A compelling story can break through information overload. You’ve got to have a plan to break through people’s compassion burnout. It won’t just happen because your cause is worthy. Take the time to find and work on your organization’s Who We Are and Why We’re Here Stories.

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Break through compassion fatigue!

Your cause is important! But let’s face it, people have compassion fatigue. With the information overload we all experience, you’ve got to be creative in how you let people know about your organization’s good work. A story well told can be the answer to gaining the attention your organization deserves!

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Young people want to be involved!

I had the chance to work with wonderful young people this summer in the Chicago Peacebuilder Program. Whenever people say “young people don’t care anymore” I wonder what young people are they talking about? Given half a chance young people are ready to be active citizens and work for justice and opportunity for all.

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