Latest news with #Equity&Inclusion
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Harvard graduation ceremony: Harvard University President Alan Garber's speech to the Class of 2025 goes viral — here's the full text
ADVERTISEMENT FAQs: ADVERTISEMENT At the Tercentenary Theatre in Harvard Yard Harvard's graduation ceremony for the Class of 2025 happened on May 29. The event happened while Harvard was being criticized by the Trump administration , as per Alan Garber started his speech by welcoming students from 'down the street, across the country, and around the world.' He repeated 'around the world' again for emphasis, which many saw as a dig at Trump's effort to block international students . This line got him a standing ovation, according to the Harvard Trump administration had recently tried to stop Harvard from admitting international students and cancel $100 million in federal research contracts. Garber responded to the funding cut by calling it 'perplexing' and said, research funding isn't a gift, it's for important work the government wants done. Cutting it hurts the whole country, not just Harvard. He also said that linking these actions to antisemitism doesn't make sense, as mentioned in the report by People told students to keep being curious and stay 'comfortable being uncomfortable', starting with the folding chairs they were sitting on. He warned against 'comfortable thinking' and being so sure of your opinions that you stop learning. He said being wrong can teach us humility, empathy, and growth, and told students to stay open-minded, as per the Harvard praised the graduates as proof that Harvard's mission works and said their achievements will help communities around the world. Keynote speaker Dr. Abraham Verghese, who is a Stanford professor and author, praised students for defending Harvard's values and America's values, according to People told students that 'no recent events can diminish' what they achieved at Harvard. In April 2025, the Trump administration sent Harvard a list of demands about, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion programs, admitting international students, and handling of pro-Palestinian protests. After Harvard refused to comply, they became a target for the Trump administration, as per Noem, the Homeland Security Secretary, ended Harvard's certification to enroll international students. But on May 23, a federal judge stopped the move temporarily. On May 27, Trump canceled all remaining government contracts with Aidan Robert Scully gave a Latin speech and said, 'Neither powers nor princes can change the truth and deny that diversity is our strength.' Chinese graduate Yurong 'Luanna' Jiang said meeting classmates from 32 countries helped her see that the world is 'full of real people, with dreams and laughter.'Thor Reimann, another graduate, said, 'We're leaving a campus very different from the one we joined. Harvard is now at the center of a national battle over higher education.' He admitted the university is 'not perfect', but said he's proud to stand with his classmates, faculty, and President Garber, defending Harvard's mission of truth, according to the People supported international students during his speech, which many saw as a response to Trump's administration tried to block foreign students and cut $100 million in federal research funding.
Business Recorder
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Recorder
IMC supports Pakistani Paralympics athletes
KARACHI: Indus Motor Company (IMC) proudly sponsored two young Pakistani aralympic athletes, Abdullah Chand (aged 14) and Sualeh Baloch (aged 16), who showcased their talent and determination by winning accolades at the 2025 International Para Taekwondo Tour held in Japan and Malaysia. Both athletes are students at the Karachi Vocational Training Centre (KVTC) and were selected to represent Pakistan by the Pakistan Para Taekwondo Wing, operating under the Pakistan Taekwondo Federation. Their inspiring performance on the international stage has brought pride to the nation and demonstrated the incredible potential of para-athletes in Pakistan. 'IMC remains committed to providing an equal playing field for all sporting professionals in Pakistan,' said Ali Asghar Jamali, CEO of Indus Motor Company. 'Our conviction to support emerging athletes is rooted in our belief in creating opportunities that empower individuals to achieve excellence and bring honor to the country.' This initiative is part of IMC's Concern Beyond Cars program, which aims to foster inclusion and empower communities. It also reflects the company's deep commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) and aligns with Toyota's global philosophy that 'no journey is taken alone.' Indus Motor Company congratulates Abdullah and Sualeh on their remarkable achievements and remains steadfast in its mission to support Pakistan's youth across all abilities and disciplines. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Los Angeles mayor slashes fire department DEI bureau in proposed budget months after woke backlash
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass appeared to be backing away from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the city's fire department after facing massive backlash over the poor response to the deadly wildfires earlier this year. Last week, Bass released her balanced budget proposal for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Her proposal included the goal of hiring 227 new positions at the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) with approximately half of them being firefighters. Bass also requested in the proposal that the LAFD Fire Chief take the "necessary steps" to begin consolidating the Bureau of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion into the Professional Standards Division, which is expected to remove five "equity and inclusion" positions. La Times Owner Blames Mayor For Cutting Fire Department Budget Ahead Of Wildfires: 'Competence Matters' Some thought this move by Bass was inspired by the Trump administration's crackdown on DEI initiatives. "This was Karen Bass cowing to the Trump administration," former fire commissioner Rebecca Ninburg told the Los Angeles Times on Monday. "Chief [Kristen] Crowley was very proud of this, and they are basically eliminating this project during their installation of a whole new regime." Read On The Fox News App The LA Times reported that Bass said in an interview on Friday the LAFD remains committed to pushing for diversity and inclusion and that her proposal was not in response to anti-DEI sentiment. "That's the beauty of living in L.A. I don't need to placate anybody over diversity and inclusion," Bass said. "We are looking at doing some reorganization at that level. But we would never roll back the goals. We don't have any reason to do that at all." Fox News Digital reached out to the LAFD for comment. Bill Maher Trashes Karen Bass, Cali Officials For Response To Fires: 'Fiddling In Ghana While The City Burned' The Bureau of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion was established in 2022 under then-Mayor Eric Garcetti and then-Fire Chief Kristen Crowley. Crowley was fired by Bass earlier this year after she criticized the mayor and city leadership for failing the city during the wildfires. The proposal to consolidate the Equity Bureau also comes a few months after the city was attacked for spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on various DEI programs despite cutting the LAFD budget by approximately $17.6 million article source: Los Angeles mayor slashes fire department DEI bureau in proposed budget months after woke backlash
Fox News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Los Angeles mayor slashes fire department DEI bureau in proposed budget months after woke backlash
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass appeared to be backing away from diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the city's fire department after facing massive backlash over the poor response to the deadly wildfires earlier this year. Last week, Bass released her balanced budget proposal for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Her proposal included the goal of hiring 227 new positions at the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) with approximately half of them being firefighters. Bass also requested in the proposal that the LAFD Fire Chief take the "necessary steps" to begin consolidating the Bureau of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion into the Professional Standards Division, which is expected to remove five "equity and inclusion" positions. Some thought this move by Bass was inspired by the Trump administration's crackdown on DEI initiatives. "This was Karen Bass cowing to the Trump administration," former fire commissioner Rebecca Ninburg told the Los Angeles Times on Monday. "Chief [Kristen] Crowley was very proud of this, and they are basically eliminating this project during their installation of a whole new regime." The LA Times reported that Bass said in an interview on Friday the LAFD remains committed to pushing for diversity and inclusion and that her proposal was not in response to anti-DEI sentiment. "That's the beauty of living in L.A. I don't need to placate anybody over diversity and inclusion," Bass said. "We are looking at doing some reorganization at that level. But we would never roll back the goals. We don't have any reason to do that at all." Fox News Digital reached out to the LAFD for comment. The Bureau of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion was established in 2022 under then-Mayor Eric Garcetti and then-Fire Chief Kristen Crowley. Crowley was fired by Bass earlier this year after she criticized the mayor and city leadership for failing the city during the wildfires. The proposal to consolidate the Equity Bureau also comes a few months after the city was attacked for spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on various DEI programs despite cutting the LAFD budget by approximately $17.6 million dollars.
National Post
25-04-2025
- Business
- National Post
Tech Thursday Expands to Ottawa and Edmonton, Launching National Footprint Across Four Canadian Tech Hubs
Article content CALGARY, Alberta — Tech Thursday, a weekly tech event series that hosts events in Winnipeg and Calgary, is proud to announce its expansion into Ottawa and Edmont on, on May 1st, 2025, and May 8th, 2025 respectively. With the addition of these new cities, Tech Thursday now operates in four markets — with a special one-off event slated for Toronto Tech Week on June 26th, 2025. Article content Article content What began in 2022 as a grassroots initiative by Neo Financial to foster community among senior tech professionals has quickly evolved into a national platform for connection, collaboration, and insight-sharing. In July 2024, Tech Thursday spun out into an independent company to scale its mission of strengthening local ecosystems and bridging historically siloed tech communities across the country. Article content Article content 'Tech Thursday has played a crucial role in fostering a vibrant tech community in both Calgary and Winnipeg,' said Amanda Broos, Chief People Officer at Neo Financial. 'The events offer invaluable opportunities for tech professionals to connect, learn, and collaborate, all of which contribute to the development of world-class tech companies right here in Canada. We're proud to support Tech Thursday and we're thrilled to see their impact expand into new markets.' Article content 'Winnipeg has seen firsthand what can happen to an ecosystem when you bring the tech community together on a regular cadence,' said Paul Card, CEO of Manitoba Innovates and Tech Thursday's Winnipeg Lead. 'Tech Thursday has significantly grown the ecosystem in Manitoba. People are choosing to keep their companies in Winnipeg, or are inspired to start companies because of the community that's being built at the events.' Article content The expansion to Ottawa and Edmonton is guided by influential local leaders committed to curating meaningful, community-rooted programming. In Ottawa, a steering committee will guide the city's launch, featuring: Article content In Edmonton, the chapter is led by Ken Bautista and Seanna Baxter of Edmonton Unlimited, with strategic guidance from Tessa Vriend, AVP of Engagement and Brand at API. Each Thursday, events are hosted at premier local venues and revolve around four curated themes: Article content Technical Deep Dives Local Trends Business Growth & Strategy Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Article content 'It's an honour to help bring Tech Thursday to Ottawa alongside an incredible group of local leaders,' said Darryl Bandoro, Principal at VU Venture Partners and Ottawa Tech Thursday Lead. 'Our goal is to spark the collisions that drive innovation by creating a weekly forum where serendipity thrives, insights are shared, and connections turn into big ideas — all in a format that feels like a live podcast with the boldest minds in tech.' Article content 'We're excited to bring Tech Thursday to Edmonton as a weekly community gathering for meaningful dialogue on how technology and innovation is shaping our world,' said Ken Bautista, VP, Venture & Community at Edmonton Unlimited. 'By featuring diverse perspectives from local innovators and national thought leaders, we're creating a space that enriches important conversations and showcases Edmonton as a key hub in Canada's tech network.' Article content Whether you're a marketer, product leader, investor, or founder, Tech Thursday offers a fresh, accessible format where insights are shared, connections are made, and Canada's tech future is shaped — every week. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
