This may look like I accidentally posted a private e-mail to my blog.

I won’t deny it, I really do want to introduce artist Chris Jordan, author of Running the Numbers to Brenda at Kinship Circle  (and to Janet at SHARK).

But it’s really about Intercultural Communications.

Intercultural communications looks at our similarities and differences, evaluating both style and content. 

For Chris, Brenda and Janet, all are powerful activists who have put their passions into action.  Brenda and Janet started with the animals, Chris has touched there through his explorations of what he calls “Intolerable Beauty:  Portraits of American Mass Consumption. 

While Chris was in New Orleans photographing the devastation on a personal scale, Brenda was there making sure the companion animals, left behind, lonely and starving were cared for and reunited with family.

Their  issues are different, but they overlap.  As interculturalists, we bring people and cultures together.

But it’s really about engagement and inclusion. 

Compound that by engagement and inclusion, where a variety of styles are recognized and rewarded, and you have what research shows to be the most powerful teams. 

Chris communicates visually, creating powerful images that encapsulate devastating statistics, like photographing 3200 toy tigers, equal to the estimated number of tigers remaining on Earth, leaving empty space in the middle to hold 40,000 of these tigers, equal to the global tiger population in 1970. (Detail below of border in picture above.)

There’s no one better in the world who’s a better writer or more thorough in creating advocacy and letter writing campaigns on behalf of animals than Brenda, and Janet is equally committed and active in moving forward animal issues.

They use different media to convey their power and story.  As interculturalists we teach organizations to value what all forms of communication can contribute.

But it’s really about improvisation. 

That’s the “yes, and…”  I heard Chris speak at the SIETAR conference (Society for Intercultural Education, Training and Research) last week (you can see a truncated version that he delivered for TED, here).  He takes human consumption starting with one, as in one tin soda can, and explodes it into the massive statistics, and then culls back to a single photographic image that conveys the scale of impact we are having on the earth.  

Intercultural Communications + Inclusion + Improvisaion =Action

Yes, and…here’s what we can do. 

Please watch this 6 minute film by Chris Jordan about the Pacific Garbage Patch, and how it is killing the albatross chicks on Midway Island (warning—it’s hard to watch—even Chris, who filmed it, was crying as we watched it at the conference.)

Chris is hoping to go back to Midway a few times next year to film the full cycle of the birds lives, from birth to mating and everything before the death.

 I thought Chris’ images were a great bridge to communicate the scale of animal suffering to “non-animal people.”

I thought Brenda and/or Janet might have connections or ideas about avenues for funding Chris efforts to document the plight.  Since Chris has documented other animal issues (he’s become vegetarian along his journey) I also thought he might be interested in some of the other statistics you work with.

And, for all…what do you do when you hear a new theory—when your eyes are opened to something for which your hands might be dirty…Do you deny it exists, or do you try to understand it?  What can you do?

Obama’s school visit this week is very reminiscent of a program we have in Chicago, called the Black Star Project–the project is all about black male adults serving as role models for black children.  In fact, that’s Secrectary of Education Arne Duncan in the photo above in 2008 in Chicago, participating in the Million Father March coordinated by the Black Star Project (BSP), to encourage fathers to take their children to school on the first day.

In fact, BSP easily schedules over 200 visits each year to 30+ schools as part of the Student Motivation Program (mostly on the south side of Chicago, and, from experience, with mostly a 100% black student population).  Motivators talk about their own career to expose youth to different career fields and then provide a general stay-in-school or inspirational message.

Anyone can volunteer, from me to President Obama.  I always open by asking if anyone knows what marketing is (only 1 right answer in 3 years) and then proceed by flashing two cereal boxes–one for children, one for adults, and ask the kids to say what they saw.  Who’s the target market?  How did they know?  By the end of the discussion we’ve identified over 100 specific, tangible jobs in marketing, and most, unwittingly, were expert marketers all along! 

My inspirational message?  Don’t let others define who you are, and if you like to do something, there’s probably a job in it (a la the Chocolate Taster Job at Hershey’s that I aspired to after a tour of the factory at age 10…it’s a real job!)  Even a young girl who playfully/sarcastically told me her favorite hobby was staring at the wall learned what an ethnographer (sort of a professional starer of sorts) does.

I’ve also followed a speaker who dropped out of high school over 20 years ago.  His career message?  Don’t be like me.  His inspirational message?  Don’t have babies.  Do they listen to him?  Absolutely.  And for some, that is the obstacle to graduation.

The point is, EVERY ADULT can and should make time to talk to school children about their career and staying in school.  The children in our inner-city public schools are not “they” as in “they” are flunking out because “they” just don’t want to learn.  No, they are John and Chantalle, Antoine, Carolyn and Maria…young people trying to stay focused and learn and get ahead in a challenging world.  You give them the perspective of your life’s learning, and a chance to think about different paths.

The Black Star Project founder Philip Jackson is very clear about its mission (which is another thing I love about it) to “improve the quality of life in Black and Latino communities of Chicago and nationwide by eliminating the racial academic acheievement gap,” and emphasizes the critical need for support from parents and communities.  But he also is unapologetic in his plea to black fathers and black male role models to step forward. 

Sometimes as a white woman, I feel like I have to say “I’m not really a black man, I just play one on TV.”   But I continue to volunteer.  Why?  They asked me to.   They make it easy (honestly, I try to visit a school once a month, probably succeed every other month, but they’ll keep you marked “active” if you do it at least once a year.)  

And, from a completely selfish point of view, I like being ‘the other.’ I like being the only white person at the school because of how it helps me understand and develop language around institutional racism.   

So, my question to everyone who complained that Obama was going out to talk to students about staying in school, is what did you do? 

When is your school visit planned? 

photo credit Black Star Project.

Comedian Elon James White’s take on Pool Racism

In intercultural communications, the emphasis is on cultural understanding and appreciating that sometimes people might unintentially offend because of unconscious bias.

Such was not the case with 60 African American children who were kicked out of a pool at a private club in Philadelphia, being told that so many kids might “change the complexion” of the club.  The camp had paid $1,900 in advance to use the camp for the summer, but were asked to leave before even  finishing their first session.

 Luckily, another local, private school has stepped in, so camp will go on, but I imagine for many, and especially the children, the scar will not heal so quickly.

In the meantime, club President John Duesler has apologized, and maybe, indeed, it was an awful mistake.  I’ve always said we learn most from our mistakes, and perhaps this will be an ‘aha!’ moment for him, that will turn into greater good for all.

The call to action has been protest and hate mail to Duesler and the club, but I’m thinking maybe ‘love mail’ to the children and to my own child might be good.

How might your child react in a situation like this?  If he was part of the minority group?  A member of the club?  Will you discuss this with him or her?

“Getting to know you” is a lyrical description of the premier event that took place in Chicago this past weekend.  Partners of the Americas (POA), one of the largest volunteer organizations in the Western Hemisphere, hosted the first Midwest Regional Conference on volunteerism that featured the power of citizen diplomacy, the primary force in bringing together the two great continents of the Americas and Central America. 

Wisconsin-Nicaragua, Iowa-Mexico, Illinois-Sao Paulo, Brazil, Indiana-Rio Grande de Sul, Brazil, Kansas-Paraguay, Michigan-Belize, Minnesota-Uruguay, Missouri-Para, Brazil, Nebraska-Piaul/Matto Grosso do Sul, Brazil, Ohio-Parana, Brazil, and Honduras-Vermont, represented the breadth of international affiliates that presented the best of the best in intercultural communication with the singular purpose of bringing people and ideas into a closer working relationship for the good of our hemisphere and the global community.

Person to person diplomacy is nothing new but is easily subordinated or forgotten when the events of central government dominate the news.  The enthusiasm for getting to know others through understanding one another’s culture and offering cooperative opportunities to meet each other’s needs was the big “take home” reward for attending this unique and life changing conference. The 62 attendees discovered that working together in their own communities and through international exchanges everyone benefits and a higher quality of life is achieved.  In the face of such daunting projects and need, the question was raised as to what impact one could make. 

The response?  “If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.”

Partners of the Americas began in 1964 as the people-to-people component of President John F. Kennedy’s Alliance for Progress, and has since evolved into a private nonprofit organization, with more than 95 chapters throughout the United States.  Areas of work include education, cultural exchanges, healthcare, and the environment  To learn more or join a chapter, visit www.partners.net.

In less than 30 seconds on the Internet I can find what Casanova’s job was in 1798, what Darwin had for dinner on January 3, 1834, 1,500 recipes for banana cake and how to add water to a sub-pump.  What I can’t find is how two judges could “choos(e) to treat children as commodities that could be traded for cash,” taking $2.6 million in kickback cash in return for unfairly sending children to jail.

According to Clarence Page in his editorial in yesterday’s Chicago Tribune, “the two (Judges Mark Ciavarella and  Michael Conahan, pictured above) received a commission for every day they sent a child to private detention centers…As many as 2,000 kids are reported to have been incarcerated out of 5,000 who were sentenced,” which apparently is 2.5 times the average rate.

For Page, he was “appalled that the confessions of Ciavarella and Conahan were overshadowed completely by other news, like the Post’s chimpanzee cartoon…which sparked national protests and an apology from the Post and Rupert Murdoch…” 

For me, as a marketer and communication/presentation coach, I always remind clients:  People remember things in three’s-what are the three things you want them to remember, and what is your call to action?

Perhaps it’s just that the New York Post cartoon is an easier fix.  1.  Newspaper ran cartoon.  2.  People found it offensive.  3.  Admit you are wrong.  Call to Action:  Apologize to the public.  You make your point.  You get an apology.  Case closed.

But the case in Pennsylvania signals an awakening more than a closure.  How could this have gone on for so many years (2003-2008)?  What changes to the system are needed to better protect children?  And what about the 1,000’s of children’s lives thrown off track, time lost never to be regained?

While Page questions a distinction between civil rights and economic disparity, institutional racism is about unequal access to resources, which is abundant here.   Even in the field of diversity, Jessica Marquez, New York bureau chief for Workforce Management says “experts believe there will be more focus on multicultural as well as socioeconomic diversity within the workplace,” in the future.  Just as globally, the idea of civil rights is morphing into a call for human rights. 

Karen Bass, Speaker of the California Assembly said “You judge a society by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens.”  While for me a quick “5 Easy Steps to an Honest and Equitable Judicial System” doesn’t spring to mind, I am left with the words of Neil Young in response to the shootings at Kent State in Ohio years ago:  ”How can you run when you know?” 

And so I am left needing to do something.

1. Donate if you are able to the Juvenile Law Center in Philadelphia, which is pursuing this case on behalf of the children
2. Google your state Juvenile Justice System to see what’s happening or what you can do in your state.
3. Send a note to the MacArthur Foundation to thank them for their $120M national initiative to reform juvenile justice across the country, Models for Change.
4. Talk to your children about this.  It should be obvious, but explain why it’s wrong, and talk about things you might do together to prevent it from happening in the future.

That’s what I came up with, and it doesn’t feel like near enough.  What do you suggest?  What will you do?  If you are ready to address diversity and inclusion in the workplace, are you ready to ‘walk the talk’ and integrate the same tenets into your core values?  What will that look like?

When Samantha Runnion was plucked from her front yard and found dead only hours later, Dillon was no longer allowed to play outside by himself; when three young boys were found asphyxiated in the trunk of a car, Dillon got a long lecture about never, ever, ever hiding in abandoned refrigerators or cars or any type of enclosure where he might get locked in.  He’s gotten lectures about never talking strangers even if they offer puppies or candy; avoiding long curtain cords or giving out personal information on the computer, about knowing that no matter how sad he gets he must always talk to mommy.  In each case, horrific news stories about the loss of a child and deep empathy for an anguished mother translated into action steps to avoid this ever happening in our family.

 ”Oh, of course,” I immediately thought, when I read about Timothy Cole and saw the accompanying photo, his smiling face, full of promise. “This happened because of the “all black men look alike and black men rape white women stereotypes from back then.”  This thought was followed by “suppress that thought and do not say it out loud, you racist” followed by  ”I didn’t make it up those are the societal stereotypes” followed by “I’d like to think this wouldn’t happen today” followed by “but I know these prejudices still abound.”

As part of the majority culture, the question was not about warning Dillon how not to be the victim, but how not to (presumably inadvertently) be the perpetrator, and how to explain this without articulating and thereby perpetuating the underlying stereotypes.   

A story on NPR a few days later, related to Black History Month, later gave the entrée.  “We studied that in school.  Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks were responsible for Civil Rights,” he said with a 7-year-old’s simplicity, as we listened to the story.  Here was an invitation to explain that while what he learns during black history month is great, it’s important to remember that African Americans and people of all backgrounds contribute to our history every day, not just in February.  Thousands of people stood up and continue to stand up for Civil Rights, and he too can make a difference in history by standing up for what he believes in.

The danger of prejudice is that people become a stereotype or an archetype.  By framing the conversation around how everyone has the power to change the world and the obligation to stand up for what is right, we acknowledge that each person is unique.  And the only way that we can protect and honor our own individuality is by recognizing it in others. The best way to exonerate Timothy Cole is to make a commitment and teach my child to do this in every interaction, every day. What news stories have resonated with you, where you felt you had to do something?  What action have you taken.  How do you frame conversations about race, or take steps in your own life to overcome the unconscious bias of society?

A look at statistics from the Black Star Project, a Chicago-based not-for-profit organization that operates with a belief in the strength of parental and community involvement in education to eliminate the racial academic achievement gap, confirms that as many ponder, the Obama presidency does not signify the end of racism, but a chance to bring discussions about race and community activism to the forefront.   

Along those lines, I would love to hear Damon Weaver pose his question to President Obama, as reported on NPR last month.  “My first question I would ask him is: ‘In my town Pahokee, I have seen a lot of shootings and fights, what are you going to do about violence and to keep me safe?” 

It’s a lot to put on a 10 year old, but he seems like the ‘man on the street’ version of the dream, ‘if you put your mind to it you can do anything.’  President Obama said on the Whistle Stop Train tour “we will fight for you because Joe and I are committed to leading a government that is accountable not just to the wealthy or to the well-connected but to you…to the children who hear the whistle of the train and dream of a better life…”  Damon is one of those kids, a hopeful link between the new era in US and World Politics ushered in by the Obama Presidency, and the day to day reality of public school life, low graduation rates, trying to get ahead, and creating a world of possibility.

And now, you’re “to do” list:

1.  Damon asks you to please go to change.gov and send a note to ask President Obama to grant his interview request.

2.  For everyone, see first hand how media coverage biases public perception.  Compare this amazing and positive report from the Palm Beach Post, to this one from Fox.  Is that the same adorable, never-give-up child? (Now question bias in every news report you see or read.)

3.  For professionals in the Chicago area, volunteer with the Black Star Project (for full disclosure, I’m a volunteer student motivator with them).  They schedule speakers at 15-20 schools every month, and the minimum commitment is only 2 hours, once a year!  You can’t say no to that.

4.  For parents, watch the videos and keep track of Damon’s progress with your kids. 

Despite the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which protects the right to vote, “Americans do not have a single uniform set of rules for voting, or even 50 separate state election systems.  There are 4,600 different election systems.” (Spencer Overton, author of Stealing Democracy and Profession of Law at George Washington University.)  This is obvious just by looking at registration deadlines.  In Chicago, you only have until October 7 to register for this year’s Presidential election.  Just 5 hours away in St. Louis, the deadline is October 8, but in Massachusetts, the deadline is October 24. In Minnesota and Idaho you can register at the polls on Election Day.

And that’s just the rules governing voting.  Then there’s the physical equipment.  Over 1.3 million voters did not cast ballots in 2000 because of registration problems.  The subsequent Help America Vote Act of 2002 presumes to fix this by mandating electronic voting, but extensive problems with vendors and technical malfunctions have actually disenfranchised more voters, and proposed ID matching regulations add to the problem, particularly for lower income individuals and seniors.

Now I know, and to know and not act implies complicity.  So, here are 10 easy things that I am going to do, and I hope that you will join me.  Will doing these help?  I don’t know.  Will not doing them help?  No.  Here they are:

1.  Confirm You Are Registered, or Register to Vote. 

Call 866-MYVOTE1 (in English and Spanish), visit the League of Women Voters,  Rock the Vote, (geared to young people), or check out your own party’s site.  Obama’s makes it easy to do on-line (a Google search did not yield a comparable Republican Party ‘one-stop-shop’ site, although you can type in your City Name followed by voter registration, e.g. “Chicago Voter Registration,” etc. and that should provide contact info for your local election commission.) 

2.  Be a Poll Watcher. 

Democrats can sign up with the National Lawyers Council, or contact your local party headquarters.

3.  Follow Election Fraud News. 

Check out Voters Unite, a non-partisan national grassroots resource for fair and accurate elections that includes a call to action, daily national news summary, and more.

4.  Contact Your Congressman/woman.

Let your elected officials know you do not support electronic voting.   Ellen Theisen, founder of votersunite.org in her interview with Lou Dobbs says “The abundance of practical problems with electronic voting is not the fundamental violation of our democracy. The fundamental violation is that when computers are used to record and count votes, ordinary people cannot observe the process.”

5.  Find Your Polling Location and VOTE.

Schedule the time now-put it in your appointment book, in your blackberry, on the back of your hand…wherever you keep important reminders.  Between work, family responsibilities and unavoidable obligations, voting will not happen by accident.  Allow ample time in case there’s a line.  

6.  Bring Your Child to Vote with You.

Explain how hard people have fought around the world for the right to vote.  My 7 year-old has been voting with me since he was 5.  I’m confident he will be an adult voter. (64% of those eligible to vote voted in the 2004 election, but only 47% of eligible voters ages 18 to 24 voted-that’s less than half.)

7.  Bring Someone Else to Vote with You.

No children?  Bring your parents or your grandparents or your neighbor or your co-worker or your friend or an acquaintance who you suspect needs a ride.

8.  Exercise Your Personal Power. 

Remember the butterfly that flapped its wings in China and caused a tornado in California?  You have the power to influence those around you simply by being, so…

9.  Tell Everyone What You Are Doing. 

I’ve never met Carmen from All About Race in person, but she told me I inspired her to be a poll watcher when I contacted her on the subject a couple of weeks ago, and she in turn got me to sign-up.  That’s two more than were signed up two weeks ago.

10.  Back to Intercultural Communications. 

If someone says “I’m not voting because my vote doesn’t count,” don’t assume that he or she is just jaded or making excuses to get out of voting.  Listen-they may have a very valid concern.  Go with them to the Election Commissioner to find out, or offer to go with them to the polls on election day.  Anyone being prevented from voting is an affront to us all.

Election Day is Tuesday November 4.  See you there, and bring a friend!