Congratulations to City of Wichita Community Service Representative Ana Lopez and Cultural Arts and Services Director Lindsay Benacka for being named to the 2024 class of Leadership Wichita:
https://lnkd.in/gRyhfjhq
Local Historian, Records Preservationist and Author from Wichita, Kansas. Skilled in marketing, public speaking and personnel management. Experience writing National Register of Historic Places applications and grants.
Keep thinking about this. If as we know from endless reports, that the cultural, creative and museums sectors are woefully unrepresentative as regards the spectrum of diversity, then how can these “leaders” reflect this country in all its glorious diversity.
In her maiden speech at the Science and Industry Museum, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy sets out her vision for unlocking growth and opportunity in the UK’s £170 billion culture, media and sport sectors to industry leaders from across the UK. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gF6KekC7
🎉 Next month marks the 70th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, a pivotal moment in the fight for civil rights and equality in education. While this decision aimed to dismantle the "separate but equal" doctrine, its legacy is complex and far-reaching.
I recently had the pleasure of teaching my students about this intricate legacy during our February Black History Month culture and diversity lessons.
The immediate backlash following the decision led to the unjust removal of educators of color from the education industry for decades, perpetuating systemic racism and inequality.
This is most evident in the persistent lack of diversity within the education sector. Before Brown v Board of Education, there were thousands of highly qualified Black and Brown teachers in segregated schools across the nation. However, following the decision, many of these schools were shut down, and there was a nationwide mass firing of Black and Brown educators. Despite their equal or even superior qualifications, they were often not hired in the newly integrated schools. Some districts even refused to integrate and instead closed all their schools for a few years.
As with many aspects of society, representation matters. The absence of educators of color likely discouraged students of color from pursuing education degrees, further exacerbating the lack of diversity in the profession. This vicious cycle has been perpetuated for 70 years.
As we celebrate progress, it's crucial to acknowledge and confront the ongoing echoes of this racist backlash that still reverberate today.
Let's honor this anniversary by learning and sharing the accurate history, while also reaffirming our commitment to creating inclusive and equitable educational environments for all.
#BrownvBoard#CivilRights#InclusiveEducation#EducationForAll 📚✊🏾
The Busch School proudly co-hosted the fourth annual Religious Freedom & Business Foundation’s Faith Work conference in late May. Representatives from major corporations like American Airlines, Dell, PayPal, Accenture, Ford, American Express, and more gathered at Catholic University.
Dean Abela delivered a powerful keynote on the role of virtue in business, diving into the 'human operating system' inspired by St. Thomas Aquinas’ Treatise on the Virtues!📚
Watch the full video through the link below!
#WhyCatholicU#ThisIsCatholicU#BusinessEthics#VirtueInBusiness
It is Native American Heritage Day. Today we celebrate Native People, their contributions and culture. Learn about how Native concepts of health are tied to community, spirit, and the land: https://lnkd.in/gKr6PPMt
Happy Juneteenth!
To quote John Albuquerque,
"Let's make Juneteenth a commemorative, not of the horrific institution our country embraced, but rather as a showcase of the strength in the American spirit to recognize wrong and set about making it right ... Let us celebrate all that Juneteenth teaches us about our country's greatness in our use of the heart to hear and to learn and to work together for all that is good and just."
If you'd like to learn more about the holiday, why it is observed and how to celebrate , check out this website. https://lnkd.in/eNH7H22
Did you know Butler Beach in St. Augustine, FL, was the first beach for African Americans between Daytona Beach and Fernandina Beach? Read about the incredible history of Butler Beach and its namesake, Frank B. Butler, in our latest blog. #StAugustine#Blackhistorymonth
🌿 Celebrating the Rich Heritage of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation 🌿
🌎 Located in the picturesque Capay Valley of California, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation has a profound connection to their ancestral lands, woven through centuries of history and tradition.
🔍 Historical Roots: The Yocha Dehe people have long thrived through a deep understanding of the natural world, living in harmony with the earth’s bounty. 🌳
🧺 Cultural Vibrancy: Renowned for their exquisite basket weaving, ceremonial rituals, and preservation of native languages, the tribe's cultural practices are a testament to their rich heritage. 🎨
🛡️ Resilience and Strength: Despite facing historical adversities, including displacement, the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation stands as a beacon of resilience, having overcome significant challenges to preserve their way of life. 💪
🏛️ Sovereign Governance: With a robust governance system, the tribe exemplifies sovereignty and self-determination, continuing to lead their community with vision and integrity. 📜
🌱 Contemporary Contributions: From environmental stewardship to economic development initiatives like the Cache Creek Casino Resort, the tribe actively contributes to regional growth and ecological conservation. 🌍
🔮 Future Aspirations: The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation remains dedicated to nurturing their culture, land, and community for generations to come, ensuring their legacy endures. 🌟
🤝 As we acknowledge their significant contributions and enduring spirit, let's celebrate the #YochaDeheWintunNation's remarkable journey and continued aspirations. #IndigenousPride#CulturalHeritage#Sustainability
During our city council meeting, the City of Suisun City recognized November as “Native American Heritage Month” and presented a proclamation to Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.
The City of Suisun City recognizes we sit on the territory of the Patwin, the ancestral and unceded land of the people of the Suisunes and Patwin of the Wintun nation. We acknowledge the history and legacy of this land and pay respect to the elders both past and present.
Absolutely. In fact, Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing hold much of the knowledge for how we understand and approach many of the social policy problems we are navigating today.
For too long policy makers are focusing on solving an Aboriginal problem and perpetuating the deficits discourse. It is actually the opposite.
But, in fact It is Aboriginal communities and systems that actually hold much of the wisdom to how we impact policy across the broad. Thinking sectors such as the criminal justice system, health and wellbeing to name a few. And these knowledges and impacts are not reserved to our communities but how we understand these systems as a whole.
If you change the way you look at things. the things you look at will change.
“We have faced adversity and genocide. This has been proven. We are strong and proud people. This has been proven.
We are the living proof, and knowing this will ensure our people and our stories of pride, of strength and survival will live on” -Gomeroi Elder, Amy Creighton, 2014.
Having a team of Deadly, staunch and dedicated individuals is a privilege and one that I don’t often take the time to reflect on or appreciate as much as I should. Working in the child and family services sector is often very reactive and there isn’t always time to invest in coaching and mentoring my team as I’d like. More often than not on a daily basis I like many others find myself caught up in the deficit space, having to pivot and focus on what is wrong, what doesn’t work and systemic failings.
Today, I had a solid reminder about flipping the script and redirecting the narrative to elevate the wins, the success stories, highlighting the impact of the work achieved by both my Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal colleagues in driving transformative change for Aboriginal families and communities.
Thank you Lakin Orcher for the gentle reminder about stopping to take time and reflect on what is important and making me pause and share space to just yarn it out (Tidda ways) 💪🏾 and Gillian Brannigan (She/Her) for your allyship and support in managing the Aboriginal Led Commissioning project, the case study on the AGSM in the Indigenous Expenditure Report.
Celebrate the success and how black and deadly we are as First Nations peoples and acknowledge those who walk hand in hand with us on the journey to do better and be better for our young one that are watching and are tomorrows leaders!
Assistant HR Director at City of Wichita Kansas
1moBravo!