The Human Library event aims to contribute to greater tolerance and understanding between people locally and worldwide. It is a method to create dialogue between very different individuals who would not otherwise have had an opportunity to talk together. The Human Library Organization is a Danish idea from 2000 and is now available in more than 80 countries.
To help promote understanding, appreciation, and respect (not just acceptance) among people of different cultural backgrounds. This is of paramount importance, given the polarized/splintered world we are living in today--despite, or because of, globalization and instantaneous ubiquity of social media. I am looking forward to sharing my transpacific/transcultural journey in the US, first as a graduate student, and then as an English professor, that began in 1989 and continues to this day....
Fostering dialogue about and despite difference is possible, desirable, and necessary. Our common ground is far greater than what divides us. This is the story of a little girl who ALWAYS wanted to become an attorney just like her dad. But when the time came, and I was accepted into law school, I began to feel a deep sense of dread because I just didn’t want to go. When I finally confessed my feelings to my father, he assured me that he was not disappointed at all because he wanted me to find my own passion, and if I wasn’t sure, I shouldn’t pursue a career in the law because it was a big commitment of time, money, and emotion, especially if I didn’t love it. But what to do instead I asked my wise father? He reminded me of my fascination with politics, so I decided to get a master’s in political science while I explored other options. Not only did I realize how much I LOVE school, and always had, but I took a course in conflict resolution, and started a 30 year odyssey and love of that field. I decided to become an academic, specializing in politics and conflict studies, and I never looked back.
I’d like to tell my readers what Catholics believe, why I am a Catholic convert, and what it’s like to be a Catholic missionary in the twenty-first century. We live in a world where we are constantly connected, yet we are often left feeling alone. I’m looking forward to telling this story because it is a story filled with hope and joy. Often times people assume that “religious” people are odd/weird at best and miserable/judgmental at worst. I’d like to prove them wrong. Life with Christ, and especially as a missionary, has been a wonderful adventure for me and I’d like to share that with my readers.
As the 13th child of 14, (all by the same mother and father), my childhood and trajectory in life always seems to intrigue people. In particular, my life in Dance, as Dean, and as an American Cultural Specialist to South Africa has inspired students over the years. I enjoy sharing and inspiring, if I can.
I have been associated with Academia as a staff member for 16 years and adjunct faculty for 15. I have had the privilege of conversing with hundreds of students. When I ask students what they want to do after they graduate, some of them confidently share their future aspirations. However, there are many students who are not really sure what career direction they want to follow. Often, students seem to experience a sense of guilt about not really knowing what to do for the next 30-40 years of their lives. Surprising??? Not really! My career, academic and professional, has been rather unorthodox. In my wildest dreams, there was no indication I would be doing what I am doing today or that it would bring me such pleasure. I will share some of the details with readers who find themselves at a crossroads, unsure of what may lie ahead. Mrs. Gump declared that "life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get." I say, "life is like a trail in the woods. You can only traverse it one step at a time."
This is the story of a young, small town Connecticut woman in the early 1950's enjoying her life as a registered nurse, but then she falls in love and marries a cattle dealer/dairy farmer. The challenges were unbelievable - sometimes getting into some terrifying yet hilarious situations! After many years of being involved with Farm Bureau Committees, I leaped unintentionally into the big league of leadership positions at county, state and national levels. Traveling cross country many times a year on leadership, legislative, and agricultural issues led to some great "story telling" topics as told in my book, "Memories, from My Heart to Yours". Being a registered nurse, I was also able to weave that first love in and out of this great life's journey along with raising my four wonderful children. Life has been full and rewarding to say the least.
Although I grew up in a household with religion, at a very young age I realized I simply did not believe the things my family did. In later life, I realized I had a positive disbelief and looked to understand secular humanism as a system for living a moral life without any supernatural elements. I’ve been asked many questions over the years about how an atheism works and I’m happy to do this with any borrower. I am not an advocate of atheism; I don’t seek converts or denigrate religious belief – I study and respect all religions.
Many university faculty, staff and students are unaware of the challenges, opportunities and circumstances faced by an appointed WCSU administrator, but none more than a Chief Diversity Officer. This book gives you a highlight into the world of public administration at Western Connecticut State University and “courageous conversations” about what goes on in the Office of Diversity and Equity. Instead of shying away from the hard questions, the book focuses on why is it so important to tackle diversity, equity and inclusion at work and how to do it. The book offers experts knowledge in the field and facilitates conversation about the hardest questions that are presented about age, disability, gender/sex, race, sexual orientation, and religion at work. The book challenges to consider having courageous conversations. Readers will be really engaged, and able to start digging into some of the foundational questions that we don’t normally have time to address in training sessions. Christian privilege, whether you can have too much inclusion, what an ideal religiously diverse workplace would look like if we could build it from the ground up. Answering these questions and thinking about what they mean for workplace transformation and its potential to cause a change in how we look at diversity, equity and inclusion.
Life gives you lemons, but squeezes the juice into your eyes- how are supposed to see like people who’s eyes aren’t burning with Citric acid? That’s how it feels to live with a mental illness that is unrelenting and lifelong. It is difficult, it’s unconventional, and some days... it’s just weird. I have achieved more than I ever thought I would, but it cost me more than I could ever pay. I hope to share stories that make people laugh at the irony and empathize with struggles. Maybe readers will share a story of their own. I speak out and share my life to empower others to live their truth.
What does a mother look like? How do people become mothers? What makes a woman a mother? When I am out in public with my children, most folks assume that we're biologically related because we look alike. This book talks about the story of how I became a mother through adoption. Spoiler Alert: it has a very happy ending.
I experienced sustained, systematic and state-sponsored anti-Semitism from the moment I was born, in 1947. This discrimination grew in both intensity and scope throughout my life. As a result, I remained isolated socially, culturally and politically for the next 42 years, until I fled the USSR in 1989. My goal is to tell my story in order to empower others to prevent history from repeating itself.
I love storytelling. I love books. I love humans, at least most of them. I adore libraries. Each of those things are crucial pillars of my life, and have been since childhood. I'd like to share my story—stories within a story, really—about what the written word has meant to me in every time period, every job and every facet of my life. Some of those stories within a story will likely include getting my first library card, which is still one of the most memorable milestones of my life; how storytelling has played a role in my various careers, from journalist to novelist to actor to stand-up comic to educator, including my very first job at age 11; and how words, writing and storytelling revealed some things about my relationships with my parents after their deaths.
My parents had a colony of bats living in their attic, and we were all big fans of the unique helpful creatures. Back then, bats were plentiful. Now, due to an invasive species of fungus (brought over on the shoes of a European spelunker, it is believed), their numbers have dwindled catastrophically for most of our local species. In 1999, a friend at Western Connecticut State University found an injured bat outside of Warner Hall, and knowing my love of the species, contacted me. I had tried as a kid to help orphaned baby bats without much success but decided to try again with this disturbed hibernator (it was January and I knew the bat would perish quickly having been awakened and injured.) I named the bat Truman, after my dear colleague Truman Warner (for whom Warner Hall was named.) Learning to save Truman led me to become a licensed wildlife rehabilitator with the state of Connecticut, specializing in bats, which I am to this day.
I've been part of four tech startups, have had three successful exits, and one failure, so I have a lot of knowledge about starting and growing companies. I currently run the Danbury Hackerspace at the Innovation Center and work with about 40 startups per year as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence.
My interest in unions and collective bargaining began with my maternal grandfather who told me stories about being a union organizer for the International Ladies Garment Workers (ILGWU) during the Great Depression. It was not until I came to Connecticut that I had the opportunity to work in an environment defined and supported by a collective bargaining agreement. Today, I am active member of American Association of University Professors (AAUP), the Faculty Union at WCSU. I’d like to bring together and share the overlapping themes of librarianship, my union journey, and my family legacy.
I entered the FBI in 1999 looking for a steady career instead of a "job”. I really wasn’t sure if I would have what they wanted because I didn’t feel like I had any special talents that would interest them. Twenty years later I’m glad I took the shot. I spent the next several years traveling around the world investigating crimes, interviewing people, arresting bad guys and doing things I never thought I would do. All I knew about the FBI before I joined was what I had seen on TV. I’m here to tell ya - ITS NOT LIKE ON TV!!! Most people have never met an FBI agent, let alone have a real understanding of where we go and what we do.
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