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20

State laws threaten to erode academic freedom in US higher education: The public must stand up to this de-democratizing, billionaire agenda

Here is an article appearing in Youth Today, authored by Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut Professor Isaac Kamola, that provides a helpful over-arching sense of the ultra-conservative political landscape that should concern us all.

'Perilous': Detroit NAACP president calls out Trump's anti-Black record

Such eloquence by the Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit branch of the NAACP calling out Trump's hypocrisy when he visited a Black church in Detroit over the weekend. According to another news source, The New Republic,…

Friday, Jun 14

17

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace: A majority of U.S. workers say focusing on DEI at work is a good thing,

As we consider the current politics surrounding DEI programs, there are many things to consider as there is often a big distance between saying one values workplace diversity and the task of actually carrying it out and managing it well.

Wednesday, Jun 12

19

"A Century of Eugenics on our Borders" symposium on May 28, 2024

Sharing with you this opportunity to listen to all the recordings from this powerful, recent symposium titled, "A Century of Eugenics on our Borders" held on May 28, 2024 You may find ample resources at their website, too, that I encourage…

03

Excerpts of DEI March and Press Conference in Austin Texas—May 14, 2024

Video excerpts of DEI March and Press Conference in Austin Texas on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 by videographer Rene Renteria.

Friday, May 31

20

How Bad is Academic Censorship, Really? It turns out we're not so afraid of tackling controversial subjects

I found this piece to be encouraging, particularly in attempts at censorship within academia. Authors Dromi and Stabler are absolutely correct that we are often too quick to call out cancel culture, overlooking scholars who challenge…

Thursday, May 30

17

The Billionaire Bully Who Wants to Turn Texas Into a Christian Theocracy, by Russell Gold, Texas Monthly

This piece by Russell Gold in this month's Texas Monthly is a lengthy, worthwhile read. You can't make this stuff up. It's interesting to juxtapose Tim Dunn's vision of a theocracy from marked declines in religious affiliations according…

Tuesday, May 28

20

In defence of wokeness: Right-wing attacks on ‘wokeness’ are part of a wider campaign to undermine social justice and equality advocacy.

This piece is helpful in that it shows how the far right accomplishes its goals. What they do is delegitimize a concept like "wokeness" by redefining it, and then equating it with extreme cases, or lying about its meaning.

Monday, May 27

16

'A Pawn in a Game' Why Texas A & M's lone Black professor of nursing called it quits

I'm sure Texas A & M wants this story swept under the rug, especially after the derailed hiring of Dr. Kathleen McElroy. Now this is a story about Dr. Arica Brandford, who sounds like an amazing scholar at the intersection of nursing and…

The Rainbow Parade—children's book and teaching tool

I just received a link to this beautiful book that is a celebration of LGBTQIA+ identities. You can read it yourself. Do notice that at the very end are suggestions on how it can be used as a teaching tool. You can read it for free at this…

02

Texas university leaders attest to how they’re complying with the state’s DEI ban: Nevermind that the "diversity genie" is out of the bottle

I wonder how the UT system and other universities are going to get around the fact that if students perceive their campuses as hostile—which they clearly are in the wake of the taking down of DEI offices and initiatives—how are they…

01

Rising political tide of young adults, Gen Z: An Interview of John Della Volpe, author of "Fight: How Gen Z is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America (2022)"

I often wonder whether members of the Millennial or Gen Z generations know just how powerful they are. Together, they will be approximately 40 percent of the electorate in 2024. This is eye-popping, as far as I am concerned. Add to this…

Sunday, May 26

00

Ignore The Provocateurs: DEI Is Good For Business And Good For America, Jeff Raikes, Forbes Magazine, April 23, 2024

The jury on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs is in, with most Americans support DEI efforts. A Pew Research poll last year found 56% of workers believe DEI improves their workplace, while only 16% said it has a negative…

Thursday, May 16

16

A Deepening Manufactured Crisis in Texas public Education: 70% of Texas Teachers Consider Quitting Due to Lack of Funding

Friends; This is a deepening manufactured crisis in Texas public education. Despite

Wednesday, May 15

00

Testimonies and Excerpts of DEI March and Press Conference from yesterday, May 14, 2024 at the Texas State Capitol in Austin Texas

I encourage all to listen to yesterday's May, 14, 2024 hearing that took place at the Texas State Capitol in the Texas Senate. For the record, out of 214 that submitted their registration requests, 148 witnesses testified.

Monday, May 13

23

Texas’ DEI ban almost ended cultural graduations. Latina students at UT-Austin fought to keep theirs.

I'm still savoring the sweetest of 5 graduation ceremonies I attended last week—and they were all so wonderful. The point is that Latina/o/x Spanish-speaking culture has a place not just at UT, but in the state of Texas. I was honored to…

22

White job candidates are more likely to get hired through employee referrals. Here's why.

This is a powerful, evidence-based piece on a study by Paradigm that explains well a dynamic in hiring practices that results in white candidates having at least twice the chance of getting hired relative to Black, Brown, nonbinary,…

Friday, May 10

05

UT Austin students raise money for Latinx graduation cancelled by DEI cuts, by Sarah Al-Shaikh, KXAN News

What a touching day today at the Latinx graduation that had to get pulled together in 6 weeks because Senate Bill 17 made cuts to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs that resulted in the cancellation of our students' graduation…

Wednesday, May 8

19

Power of the Purse: Contributions of Hispanic Americans in Texas, by the New American Economy Research Fund

As I look at these 2021 figures and consider yesterday's post on how the Latinx —along with the Black, Asian, and Lavender—graduation ceremony was recently eliminated at UT, I think of the contributions we all make with our labor and taxes…

06

LULAC—Our Civil Rights Organization—and Online help make this year's UT Latinx Graduation Possible Despite DEI Cuts

I am SO proud of our students and LULAC, our largest and oldest civil rights group in the Mexican community. Thanks, as well, to journalist Suzanne Gamboa for giving this very important story some ink. My husband and I plan on attending…

Tuesday, May 7

16

What’s happening in Texas is an assault on American democracy, Peniel E. Joseph, Ph.D. CNN.com

Important read by UT History professor Dr. Peniel E. Joseph. I couldn't agree more.

03

However you feel about Biden, read here Why Trump CANNOT Win the Presidency—READ "Project 2025," a "Blueprint for a soft

WE CANNOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, LET TRUMP WIN. We must get the word out on this extremist "planned coup" laid out in Project 2025 in anticipation of a Trump presidency.

Thursday, May 2

16

Invitation: Educación con Corazón: Una Plática Comunitaria/ Education with Heart: A Community Conversation—May 4, 2024, 10am - 3pm

It's such a vast juxtaposition to be sharing with you our upcoming event, "Education with Heart: A Community Conversation," taking place this Saturday, May 4, from 10AM-3PM while simultaneously witnessing state violence and repression at…

Tuesday, Apr 30

19

Unraveling Education: Houston, we have a Problem! & his name is AJ Crabill [Storytime], Feb 21, 2024

April has been a busy travel month. I'll soon post on what's happening right now with the protests at UT Austin. I've definitely kept up throughout.

Tuesday, Apr 23

01

Building Bridges Amid Book Bans Capitol Summit by Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT) on April 21-22, 2024 [video]

So happy to share this Instagram video by youth organization, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT) headed by Cameron Samuels and his outstanding team...Da'Taeveyon Daniels, Christianna, Angel Huang, Haydn, and the rest of them who…

Saturday, Apr 20

17

Podcast Interview with Dr. Angela Valenzuela on Ethnic Studies, CRT, and Where we Should be Headed in Education

Happy to share this podcast Interview that took place during the pandemic on Ethnic Studies, CRT, and where we should be headed in education with Dr. Abdín Noboa-Rios and Dr. Tony Baez. You can link directly to this interview below or view…

UT-Austin program cuts come with attempts to regain politicians' trust after DEI law, president says

Ok, so were UT cuts more aimed at gaining politicians' trust more than SB17 compliance? That's what's suggested here. As expressed by Jennifer Ebbeler, I, too, am concerned of an endless dynamic of appeasing the legislature. What comes…

Wednesday, Apr 17

22

My Blog Is Ranked Number 5 Among The Top Education Blogs In Texas: Showing "My Flex" on this day of April 17, 2024

As you can view for yourselves here, I am very pleased to announce that my blog is ranked number 5 among the top education blogs in Texas. Glad I checked. When I shared this yesterday with my students, one of them expressed, "You got flex!"

Tuesday, Apr 16

05

INVITATION: Student-led SEAT24 Summit @ Book People on Sat. April 20 & at the Texas State Capitol on Sun. April 21, 2024

I'm thrilled to announce that Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT) is here in Austin, Texas on Friday, April 20, and Sunday, April 21st to demand a seat at the table in decisions that directly affect them.

Sunday, Apr 7

03

A Timeline of Challenges to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at the University of Texas at Austin

As promised in my previous blog post, here is a chronology or timeline of recent events at the University of Texas at Austin (UT) that highlights public statements. on Senate Bill 17 and its implementation. Understanding that the timeline…