06.02.21

Diversity Equity Inclusion – The Current Issue V

Welcome to “The Current,” a bi-weekly resource list of how you can make a positive change in your community through education, engagement, activation, and allyship. We end the month by featuring Jade Li, with an excerpt on how she celebrates Asian American History Month. We also are kicking off June with Pride Month exploring genders, information you need to know about AI technology, and Juneteenth festivities.

Currently Featuring

Jade Li, SoCal’s VP of Advocacy
To me, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is not only about learning about the culture, history, and contribution of AAPI in the US. But also educating myself that the term AAPI is so broad ranging and be aware of the difference in culture between each sub-group, such as Chinese American vs. Japanese American vs. Korean American. Each sub-group have their unique history, culture, and history, and should be celebrated in their own ways. I have always been a proponent of supporting women’s and minority’s rights. This month for me it is especially important to support my fellow AAPI women in the workplace, and in the community.” Connect with Jade on LinkedIn. Celebrate at SF’s Chinatown Art Festival

Currently Listening

Exploring Genders
May is Mental Health Awareness month. “The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast is a weekly conversation with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford, a licensed Psychologist in Atlanta, Georgia, about all things mental health… Dr. G chats about the differences between sex and gender identity, destigmatizing gender expression in the Black community, some of the common misconceptions about non-binary people, and strategies for supporting kids in their gender expression.” Listen at therapyforblackgirls.com 

The Color of Law
Rothstein’s book, The Color of Law, examines the local, state and federal housing policies that mandated segregation. He notes that the Federal Housing Administration, which was established in 1934, furthered the segregation efforts by refusing to insure mortgages in and near African-American neighborhoods — a policy known as “redlining.” Listen more at npr.org and order the book at epi.org.

Currently Watching

Transgender Operatic Soprano Concert w/ “Breanna Sinclairé
A recital featuring opera arias, art song, and musical theater works performed by one of the foremost transgender operatic sopranos in the world.” Watch on June 20th at sffuncheap.org

Currently Reading

The Real Life Impact of Content-Moderation
How Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram Have Failed on Palestinian Speech Read more on slate.com

Oppressive AI Feminist Categories to Understand its Political Effect
“Notmy.ai presents a summary of criticisms that are being posed to A.I. systems deployed by the public sector, which intersect and feed on each other. Based on an overall bibliographical review and also finding from the case-based analysis, this is an attempt to create a work-in-progress framework of analysis that goes beyond the discourses of fairness, ethical or human-centric A.I. and seeks a holistic structure that considers power relations to question the idea of deploying A.I. systems in several helms of the public sector.” Read more on notmy.ai

Progress on bringing families back together
“Vice President Kamala Harris met virtually today with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to discuss ways to deepen cooperation between the United States and Mexico to address the root causes of flight from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, including promoting economic development in southern Mexico and the Northern Triangle of Central America. The leaders agreed to work together to establish a strategic partnership to address the root causes of migration from countries in the Northern Triangle region. Through this joint initiative, the United States and Mexico will leverage their expertise and resources to tackle a range of challenges, including lack of employment, limited market access, and deforestation and regional instability caused by climate change.” Learn more at whitehouse.gov

Currently Taking Action

How to support India fight COVID 19
India’s Covid-19 Crisis Leaves Nation in Grief Read more at wsj.com. Take action at pbs.org.

Juneteenth
Learn and celebrate freedom through these upcoming events. Go to the Los Altos Juneteenth Celebration or watch celebrations at the Bayview Opera House. Shop black businesses on Fillmore. Celebrate the whole weekend in SoCal at this event at Black Excellence in California.

Written by Tovah Cook, she/her
Author of “Black Binder, A Notebook for Activists and Accomplices”

This article was produced in association with the IIDA Northern California chapter. It originally appeared here.