Category: - E B O N Y S P E A K E R S

Does Age Matter?

6/4/2018

By Carole Copeland Thomas

Carole explores the dynamics of age and its importance in this ever changing marketplace. This broadcast that was recorded live looks at the "chapters" we create from year to year and how we can plan for future life events.
Watch this video and share your thoughts about the "chapters" in your life.

Preventing Sexual Harassment: One NO At A Time

12/3/2017

By Carole Copeland Thomas, MBA, CDMP, CITM

Listen To Carole's Radio Podcast Below

Focus On Empowerment can be heard every Thursday at 1pm Eastern.
Log Onto: www.blogtalkradio.com/globalcarole
Listen LIVE or Download Anytime At This Blog Post. Each broadcast can be replayed immediately following the show.

========================

Shockwaves reverberated across America with the downfall of both NBC’s Matt Lauer and Minnesota Public Radio’s Garrison Keillor in one fell swoop. Yes, we outsiders were shocked, but insiders who knew these men weren’t surprised. What’s even more damning are the scores of their defenders, after they release statements admitting their actions.

Sexual Harassment is widespread, global and a daunting declaration of power and dominance over unsuspecting victims, both female, and male. Announcements about someone getting fired because of sexual harassment triggers incidences that happened years ago, tucked away never to be presented to the light of day.

Sexual Harassment is a PROBLEM. And today’s show will tackle five key issues you should know about when confronting sexual harassment both on and off the job.
From Congress to the break room at work, we all must face the issues of sexual harassment so that it can be contained and eliminated wherever possible.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Labor Day Special Pricing On The November 2nd Multicultural Conference

9/4/2017

By Carole Copeland Thomas, MBA, CDMP, CITM

You Are Cordially Invited To Register And Attend
The November 2nd Multicultural Conference
"Women, Work & Celebrating Self Worth"

Special Conference Labor Day Pricing Ends On September 5th More details at: http://bit.ly/2gx2EPD

Bring your managers, supervisors, staff, and colleagues to the premiere diversity conference of the region. This is the 11th conference since 2008 and will deliver the resources, toolkits, and answers you've been looking for. In addition, the networking opportunities will connect you to some of the movers and shakers who are committed to the advancement of multiculturalism throughout the marketplace.

Our theme is "Women Work & Celebrating Self Worth." It's an opportunity for BOTH women AND men to attend an exciting day long exchange of keynote addresses, roundtable discussions and panel presentations all focused on the value and opportunities of women in the workplace.

The Multicultural Symposium Series is the only African American led conference series in New England. Founded by African American social entrepreneur Carole Copeland Thomas, the initiative will deliver value, substance and new insights for you and your team.

Register during Labor Day Weekend and SAVE.

We'll See You On November 2nd!

-Carole Copeland Thomas
Complete Information at www.mssconnect.com.

The Power Of Women: National Women's March

2/5/2017

By Carole Copeland Thomas, MBA, CDMP, CITM

The weather couldn't have been better. The huge crowds operated like one big happy family - one million strong. And their enthusiasm was replicated throughout the country and the world.

I attended the January 21st National Women's March in Washington DC. This video highlights the essence of that historic day and why it will become the catalyst for change for women, elected officials and men everywhere.

The Power Of Citizenship: Vote On Nov 8th

11/6/2016

By Carole Copeland Thomas

Here's a special video message from Carole Copeland Thomas urging you to VOTE on November 8th. The country is counting on your Vote. No excuses! Go do it! If you early voted or voted by absentee ballot, CONGRATULATIONS! If you have not, VOTE ON NOVEMBER 8TH.

A Special Welcome Video Message From Carole Copeland Thomas

9/30/2016

Thanks so much for stopping by our website. Here's a special video welcome from Carole Copeland Thomas, one of the members of Ebony Speakers.
You can learn more about Carole at her website:
www.carolecopelandthomas.com.

Ideas and suggestions for Ebony Speakers?? Email Carole at:
[email protected]

Thanks again!
-Carole

Roots 2016: Unpacking The Emotions of Race and Slavery of the American Past with Dr. Lynda Parham

7/2/2016

By Carole Copeland Thomas, MBA, CDMP, CITM

It’s powerful, gripping and moving. It will bring tears to your eyes, while driving you to celebrate through the pain. That sums up my thoughts about the television miniseries“Roots” that aired on the History Channel in May/June 2016. For some it’s an unnecessary reminder of our past. For others it’s a troubling account of the strength and resilience of Black people who endured and survived the brutality of American slavery.

On today’s Blab show we’ll unpack the wide range of emotions with my special guest, clinical psychologist Dr. Lynda Morris Parham. She’ll help us examine why this miniseries is impossible for some to watch…while helping others to understand why race is still a thorny issue in this country.

I vividly remember getting my young family squared away at bedtime before watching every installment of Roots back in 1977. Now some 40 years later I rearranged my own personal schedule to watch this newer version that’s equally as powerful and painful at the same time. Join our conversation of our past, our present and our future through the Roots of our ancestor’s legacy.

Finding Courage Series Teachable Moments In Failure

5/12/2016

By Carole Copeland Thomas, MBA, CDMP, CITM

Listen To Carole's Radio Program Here On The Subject Of Failure

We continue our introspective look at courage by examining the depth of failure in our lives that either cripple us or make us stronger.

Everyone fails at something. If you live long enough you will experience failure. Most babies learn to walk by stumbling, teetering over and plopping to the floor in amazement….only to get up and try it all over again. That’s failure in action.

With each step in life we fail on one front or another. A difficult marriage collapsing. A job that implodes. A business that just doesn’t have enough bandwidth to make it.

How we view these failures will make them teachable moments or incidences that can keep us frozen time.

Today we’ll explore the heroic lives of six notable Americans whose failures did not stop their paths to success.
They turned their setbacks into amazing roadmaps to their legendary futures.

=======================
Six Great Americans Facing Failure Over Fear
Elizabeth Blackwell
First Woman to Graduate From Medical School in 1849. Rejected by 29 Medical Schools

Walt Disney
Bankrupt artist who went on to co-found a 40 billion multimedia conglomerate.

Colonel Harland Sanders
Rejected 6th Grade Dropout left with a secret fried chicken recipe and a social security check.

Mary Kay Ash
Divorcee then widow who sold products door to door to support her children before borrowing money to launch her cosmetics business.

Abraham Lincoln
Numerous failures, family tragedies and political defeats riddle the legacy of a man whose laser focused determination saved a country and freed millions of slaves.

Marian Anderson
When the Daughters of the American Revolution said NO to this acclaimed Black operatic singer, First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt said YES and helped open the door for her famous Lincoln Memorial open air concert of 75,000 in 1939.

Learn More About The Courage Series At
Carole's Blog Section of
www.carolecopelandthomas.com

Multiculturalism vs. Diversity: Defining And Understanding Their Value

2/11/2016

By Carole Copeland Thomas, MBA, CDMP, CITM

Multiculturalism Vs. Diversity
Multiculturalism represents the landscape of our community as human beings. It’s a bigger concept than diversity because its very meaning requires an open platform for embracing multiple cultures, ethnic groups and ideologies within a society. Multicultural means many cultures operating in the same space. America, like other countries, is multicultural because different cultural groups maintain a meaningful co-existence within the span of 50 states. Even though there are decades of history where oppression, racism, discrimination and legislative restrictions affected one ethnic group over another, the cultural coexistence remains a vital link to our identity as Americans.

Multiculturalism demands that you coexist with others. In a truly multicultural society, one cultural group does not dominate another. The abundance theory is the prevailing rule, where society’s output is big enough for all of our cultures and ethnicities to be represented in an equally respectable manner.

We seem to fully embrace multiculturalism in food. Food seems to be one of the few cultural centers that stands on its own. Visit any mall or shopping center in any city or town and the food courts are populated by people of all walks of life. From soul food to cajun cooking, to Chinese cuisine to Indian vegetarian dishes, a typical food court presents the best argument that cultural pluralism can yield good value to any consumer’s taste buds.

On the other hand, some aspects of multiculturalism are closely guarded and tolerated only to a point. It’s fascinating to watch professionals in the workplace celebrate the worthiness of multiculturalism on the job. One would think that the level of commitment to cross cultural causes would get packed up and taken straight home to share, just like that leftover shrimp fried rice gets taken home after the party at work has ended. Instead, far too often you witness the reinforcement of cultural silos as employees head to cars, buses and trains to take them back to their neighborhoods that are all White, all Black, all Hispanic, or mostly Asian. The social conformity of our neighborhoods provide the greatest opportunity for us to breakthrough our comfort zones, venture out, and live among other cultures. It represents one of the central frontiers of true multiculturalism.

Diversity is an important byproduct of multiculturalism. It speaks to the segmentation of our societies and frames the very categories that define who we are as individuals and members of specific groups or cultural components.

I define Diversity from this perspective:

Diversity is understanding, appreciating and ultimately managing difference and similarities at the same time.

The emphasis is on the word AND. Diversity looks at both difference AND similarities, with one not being more important than the other. That’s where most people make a mistake by focusing on either one’s difference or one’s similarities without realizing that BOTH are in operation at the same time. For example, as an African American female, when speaking at conferences and meetings, I am accustomed to being “the only one,” that is, the only person of color either attending the meeting or speaking at the meeting. To focus on my difference from the rest of the conference attendees is only embracing half the experience. The other half recognizes that there are personal values, educational experiences, regional interests and industry issues that I share as similar points of intersection with those attending the same meeting. To just focus on my ethnic difference cancels out the rich value of those similarities of which I share in common with others.

Okay, let me explain it another way. Some years ago I traveled to Kenya for the first time. It was the trip of a lifetime for me. The minute I stepped off that airplane, pulled out my American passport and presented it to the customs officer at the Nairobi, Kenya Airport, my differences AND similarities were on full display with every other American on that plane. Some of the passengers had Black skin like mine. My travel mates (now known as the Kenya Sistahs) were also African American female. Some of the passengers were White Americans. Others were Hispanics while other were Asian Americans. There were Europeans, Asians and Africans on the plane, too. So the differences were on full display from ethnicity, gender and socioeconomic class. However, the similarities also represented this collection of travelers. I held an American passport, as did many others on the plane. And meeting other Americans on that maiden voyage trip to mother Africa was so very exciting, since we were all thousands of miles away from home, and it was comforting to connect with other ex-patriots from the States.

In diversity work, the similarities are as important as the differences.

Similarities are on equal footing with differences. That is so important to remember since there is an incorrect assumption that diversity is polarizing because it only focuses on differences at the expense of similarities.

You see it in families all the time. Brothers and sisters with the same biological parents, yet their values and opinions are as different as night and day. I see it in my own adult daughters, Michelle and Lorna. Their political, spiritual and economic opinions are very similar. However, their work habits, approach to preparation and personalities completely different.
The same is true for extended families, members of associations and corporate colleagues. The differences should be valued with the same level of importance as the similarities. They represent a different slice of the diversity equation.

Take advantage of the countless situations that can frame your multicultural and diversity points of reference. It can become a lifelong opportunity for you to enhance your knowledge base while building cross-cultural relationships that can have a positive impact on your life.

Carole Copeland Thomas has been a diversity professional speaking, training and consulting on global diversity, multiculturalism and inclusion for 29 years.

Click Here For More Information About Carole

Multicultural Conference Highlights

12/6/2015

By Carole Copeland Thomas, MBA, CDMP, CITM

It was nonstop interaction about multiculturalism, global diversity and inclusion at the 9th Multicultural Conference held on Thursday November 5th at the University Massachusetts Boston Campus. Guest speakers from Chennai, India to Boston informed, educated and inspirited the audience about the new trends, key issues and challenges facing global diversity around the world. From Keynote Speakers to our State Street Corporation Distinguished Panel Presentation to our ever-popular Roundtable Sessions, there was something for everyone interested in advancing the cause of multiculturalism. Enjoy the photos and videos (coming soon) and join us for the next Multicultural Conference scheduled for Thursday November 3, 2016.

-Carole Copeland Thomas

Click Here For Photo Gallery Highlights