Diversity

Institutions & business across the US are increasingly turning to equity, diversity, & inclusion staff to address the continuing problems with racism, discrimination, and bigotry built into the culture, laws, & policies of our country. My own Midwest city and county, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, took a concrete step by hire their first ever EDI Coordinator, Jeneise Briggs, to help structure and focus our attempts to heal the exclusion and wounds which have written-out of mainline culture and the privileges that position brings. Jeneise brings a wealth of talents and training with her, and also experience, both professional and person. Jeneise grew up in a poor Jamaican family, though rich in love and faith. Jeneise got her BA in Mass Communications/Public Relations Mandeville, Jamaica, her MA in Public Administration in Grand Rapids, MI, and her Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, Administration & Policy Analysis in Madison, WI. She has previously served Marian University and the State Bar of Wisconsin in EDI roles. This visit with Jeneise provides a snapshot of one community's attempts to alter the local culture to widen democracy and the full embrace of caring community.

John Noltner is photographer and author of a new book, A Peace of my Mind: Exploring the meaning of peace, one story at a time, a captivating inquiry into how common folks - and some not-so-common folks - think about peace. It attempts to bring diverse, sincere, voices into a big tent, to do the work of listening for possibilities.