Na Shai Alexander, Author at The Inclusion Solution

A Point of View: Language Matters: Everyday Words and Sayings Rooted in Racism

Posted by Na Shai Alexander | Jul 16, 2020 | Point of View, Recent Posts | 0

One of the most fascinating aspects of language and linguistics is its propensity to vary, shift, and evolve over time. Our words have meaning, and this meaning is shaped by generation, context, and history. The etymology of words is often complex. Examining the origins of common words can teach us a great deal about our own history. Below, find five “everyday” words and sayings that have racially charged origins.

A Point of View: Modeling Empathy During COVID-19

Posted by Na Shai Alexander | Apr 9, 2020 | Point of View, Recent Posts | 0

It’s okay to not be okay. I look at the simple words lettered on the small Post-It on my mirror each morning, reflecting on a conversation that I’ve had more times than I can count the last several weeks—with my therapist, family, close friends, coworkers. In a matter of weeks, days, hours our world has changed and continues to evolve and shift as we learn to navigate a new normal. It’s hard to believe that just a month ago I had never heard the words “social distancing.”

A Point of View: Why Belonging is #UpNext for Diversity and Inclusion

Posted by Na Shai Alexander | Jan 23, 2020 | Point of View, Recent Posts | 0

Is belonging only another buzzword, or does it have more staying power? The idea of belonging is not new to diversity and inclusion. In fact, belonging is very integral to inclusion—in order to help an individual feel included, you first must find ways to help them feel like they belong. Early literature and studies on inclusion offered differing opinions on how inclusion should truly be defined. True inclusion cannot exist if individuals feel that they do not belong. Inclusion is an action; belonging is a feeling.

The Buzz: Where Are the Hugs For Our Black Boys?

Posted by Na Shai Alexander | Oct 10, 2019 | Recent Posts, The Buzz | 0

As a Black woman with a father and brother who could have been Botham, I am also deeply saddened by the fact that there are often no hugs for our Black boys and men who are lost to violence. By the time we realize our “tragic mistake,” it is often too late. Where is the compassion for others that do not look like or have the privileges of the dominant group?

Gen Y on D&I: Money Matters – Advancing Equity Through Financial Literacy

Posted by Na Shai Alexander | Aug 8, 2019 | Gen Z on DEI, Recent Posts | 0

Growing up in a relatively middle-class, military family, money wasn’t something that I often thought about. My parents both worked on base, we bought all of our groceries at a discount at the Commissary, and “fashion” consisted of whatever we could scrounge together from what had been shipped into the local Base Exchange (BX) that month. If I was lacking anything, I didn’t know it.

Author: Na Shai Alexander

The Buzz: Where Are the Hugs For Our Black Boys?

Gen Y on D&I: Money Matters – Advancing Equity Through Financial Literacy

Racial Justice at Work: Practical Solutions for Systemic Change

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)

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