Author: Leigh Morrison

A Point of View: One Surprising Secret to Cultivating Understanding in Polarizing Times

When you encounter someone who expresses something you consider to be ignorant or problematic, pause, and ask yourself: What about your experiences provided you with the knowledge and context you have about the topic? How might this person’s exposure to similar experiences have been different? This sounds simple, but it is one of the most difficult practices to cultivate in reality. The LARA method is a four-step approach to help you with this.

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Unpacking the Conversations that Matter: “It’s just a joke! Why are you so upset?”

During my first day at an internship I once held, each of us was asked to tell a joke as part of our introduction to the staff and the rest of the intern cohort. This fun activity proceeded as planned… until the last intern told a hurtful, racist “joke” about poverty and food in another culture. It was followed by an awkward silence during which we all winced and looked around, uncertain how to respond. One of the staff eventually said, “Wow. Well. Let’s continue with our agenda.” 

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Unpacking the Conversations that Matter: Distancing Statements – “I’m a good white person.” “I have a lot of diverse friends.” “I don’t get why this is so hard!”

In D&I work, we often offer suggestions to the effect of: “This is an ongoing journey,” or “Expect a lack of closure.” In essence, both phrases can be boiled down to one statement that would by now be cliché if it wasn’t so essential to continue restating: This work is never done.  In this post, I’ll be unpacking some common distancing statements that people may use when trying to assure others that they are on the “right side” of the issues.

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Unpacking the Conversations That Matter: “Everyone Has a Right to Freedom of Expression”

“Why are you upset? Everyone has a right to freedom of expression.” I ask: Is freedom of speech truly available to everyone in this country? If not, what does this tell us? In a world where we must question the physical safety of those who challenge a dominant majority, I suggest: this is no kind of “freedom.”

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The Buzz: Ride-Sharing Apps Set a Much-Needed Example for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Inclusion

Last week, I called a Lyft to take me to a local event. I left my house, checked that the car matched the description, and climbed into the seat behind the driver. “How are you?” I asked them, more out of habit than anything else. It wasn’t until several minutes later that I looked down and noticed a notification on my phone. “Your driver is Deaf or hard of hearing. Please text them instead of calling, and let them lead the way with communication,” it instructed me.  

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Racial Justice at Work: Practical Solutions for Systemic Change

Racial Justice at Work book cover

Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit

Inclusive Conversations: Fostering Equity, Empathy and Belonging Across Differences

We Can’t Talk About That At Work! (Second Edition)

Cover of the book We Can't Talk about That at Work (Second Edition) by Mary-Frances Winters and Mareisha N Reese

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