Race Awareness - Talking ABOUT, Not Around Racism with Al Vivian & Frank McCloskey
Today's episode of Diversity Matters was our 27th show! As we come to the end of our second season we're at the point where we can bring back past guests to build on and enrich conversations that scratched the surface when time ran out. Al Vivian and Frank McCloskey are both good friends of Diversity Matters(TM) and made a command performance on today's show.
“Race is still the primary dividing point in the nation” according to Al Vivian who facilitates The Race Awareness Workshop, evaluated as the most effective race relations seminar in the country; and the first program to be the sole feature for two consecutive days on The Oprah Winfrey Show.
On this episode of Diversity Matters, Richard Friend and Judy
Seidenstein discuss the edgy, hard hitting approach developed by Al’s father C.T. Vivian for dealing with racism. Frank McCloskey, Vice President of Georgia Power will weigh in on the conversation and share his individual and organizational experience with Vivian’s Race Awareness Workshop. While times have changed, we’ll explore why this workshop has essentially remained the same for over 33 years.
Richard Friend, Ph.D.
Co-Founder & Co-Host
“Race is still the primary dividing point in the nation” according to Al Vivian who facilitates The Race Awareness Workshop, evaluated as the most effective race relations seminar in the country; and the first program to be the sole feature for two consecutive days on The Oprah Winfrey Show.On this episode of Diversity Matters, Richard Friend and Judy
Seidenstein discuss the edgy, hard hitting approach developed by Al’s father C.T. Vivian for dealing with racism. Frank McCloskey, Vice President of Georgia Power will weigh in on the conversation and share his individual and organizational experience with Vivian’s Race Awareness Workshop. While times have changed, we’ll explore why this workshop has essentially remained the same for over 33 years.- Is this methodology the ultimate approach for racial reconciliation and a deep honest dialogue about race?
- Can racial understanding be achieved without being “in your face?”
- How does this type of work forward our work on inclusion and diversity?
Listen to the episode and add your comments here.
Stay tuned!Richard Friend, Ph.D.
Co-Founder & Co-Host
3 Comments:
WOW!!!!! This show was powerful! Being a diversity practitioner also, this isn't my approach to the subject, but I certainly respect and value the work Mr. Vivian is doing and the methods he and his Father have used for more than 30 years which have produced positive outcomes for individuals and organizations. Is he working with Mr. Obama and/or other political folk? I hope the platform and exposure he has broadens because we need to hear the facts -- stats and impacts -- that he provides in his workshop. It was powerful and would have been so with only Mr. Vivian. To have Mr. McCloskey there also -- a successful leader of a successful organization/firm who is a white man pointing to the real and potential negative impacts of allowing the disease of racism to continue upon clients and customers, staff, revenue, etc., made it even more impactful and relevant. I believe this discussion spoke to head (bottom line), heart (feelings of discounting and trust) and hands (output and input, capability vs. ability, etc.).
This show ROCKED!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much.
Gloria -
Thanks for your comment and call-in on the show. I agree this show was powerful! Out of the 27 shows we've done, this was definitely in my top 5.
At the end of the episode today, Judy asked our guests Al and Frank given everything that's going on today if it's in the realm of possbility to have a Black President of the United States. Judy asked Al and Frank to respond in the blog and I invite the rest of the Diversity Matters community to respond as well. Gloria, what do you think?
Thanks again – YOU ROCK!
Richard
Strictly my personal opinion and not to infer any views of my company, I do think an African American President is in the realm of possibility!
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