Latest news with #Howard
Technical.ly
9 hours ago
- Business
- Technical.ly
Still doing the work: How DEI leaders are adapting to political pushback
As national pressure mounts against DEI programs, some organizations are removing terminology, rewriting job descriptions or folding initiatives altogether. But others are adapting, embedding DEI principles throughout their work and refusing to walk away. Experts addressed these themes during 'What Happens to DEI Strategies Now?,' a panel at the 2025 Builders Conference. Sylvie Gallier Howard, founder of Equitable Cities Collaborative, said she's seen organizations across sectors retreat from public-facing DEI branding. Some, particularly those reliant on federal funding, have even received direct warnings: Don't list DEI as a line item, or risk losing support. 'It's this weaponization of DEI,' Howard said. 'A lot of people I know are saying they're scrubbing those words from their websites, from their literature, because they're afraid of losing funding or becoming a target. They consistently tell me, 'We're still doing the work, we're just not using the words publicly.'' That rebranding might mean swapping language on websites or external communications, explained Alyssa Vasquez from the professional training firm Cultured Enuf. Just because the wording changes doesn't mean the mission is different, she said. These moves are made out of necessity and fear of losing funding from the federal government. Vasquez emphasized that these shifts don't have to signal a retreat — but leaders must be intentional in how they implement work policies. 'My hope is that [companies] shift from 'token' to real strategies integrated into talent management. We help them integrate real questions in interviews about experiences: 'Have you been led by a woman of color? Have you had a Black woman as a supervisor?'' Vasquez said. 'Because if [the answer is] never, that may cause issues. Focusing on day-to-day, making it about competencies, not token hires — that's the direction I'd like to see.' Embedding DEI across operations Vasquez and Howard shared how they're navigating this moment with their own businesses. Howard, whose firm includes 'equitable' in the name, said she's had potential clients question whether she'll rebrand. Even if she won't, she admits that not everyone can make such a firm choice. 'What's the opposite of 'diversity, equity, inclusion?' 'Homogeneity, inequity, exclusion?'' she said. 'Is that what we want? I think we who can stand up, must. But some can't. We have to acknowledge that.' Vasquez, who works nationally across sectors, said she chooses her clients carefully. In early conversations, she's upfront about the kind of work she does — and if an organization can't integrate with it, she walks away. But she acknowledged not everyone has that ability. 'If we're not aligned, that's a red flag,' Vasquez said. 'If you have the privilege, you can do that. Not everyone does.' Howard noted that in her economic development experience, strategies like supplier diversity or equitable small business funding are being reframed around geography, income or disinvestment — still equity, just with a different lens, she said. There are organizations that are doubling down. Vasquez praised the School District of Lancaster as an example of leadership in DEI. 'Maybe they shift job titles, but they're not retreating from the actual pillar of equity. That's real leadership,' she said. If DEI is seen as a standalone program — or a quick post-2020 fix — it will always be vulnerable to political shifts. But when it's baked into operations, it becomes part of how an organization functions and survives. Vasquez cited the interview process and retention strategy as examples of where this integration matters. It's also important organizations and companies work together toward these goals. 'A big part of this is forming coalitions for advocacy,' Howard said, 'to do it carefully but not give up.'
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ron Howard Reveals How He Really Felt About His 'Happy Days' Co-Star Henry Winkler
Ron Howard is revealing if it was a happy day when he met his co-star Henry Winkler. In the 1970s, Howard and Winkler starred in the ABC sitcom 'Happy Days' as Ritchie Cunningham and Fonzie — 'The Fonz' to fans. Now, more than half a century since the show first aired, Howard is reflecting on their first meeting. In an interview posted on Thursday, Howard told People that the two actors 'clicked.' Although it began strictly on a 'professional level' at first, Howard said he 'looked up to' his co-star. 'Henry's a few years older than I am. Yale-educated, and he looked at acting in a way that was — it wasn't Hollywood,' he said. 'It was a little more intellectual. It was theater-based, and that was new to me. But more than anything, we just got along beautifully and worked well together.' Howard also stated that Winkler stood out from others in the industry at the time. The camaraderie between the two may not have initially started jukebox magic, but it grew to a lasting creative partnership and friendship. In a May 22 interview with the outlet, Howard also credited Winkler with helping launch his directing career. While working on their sitcom, Howard was honing his craft — and after he left the series, opportunity knocked in the form of the 1982 film 'Night Shift.' 'Henry was always so supportive of that. When Henry said yes to Night Shift, that's what got that movie greenlit,' Howard reminisced. 'He played a hand in helping my dream ultimately come true, which was to be a studio, Hollywood, feature director.' Henry Winkler Drops The Hammer On Troll In Kimmel's 'Mean Tweets' Henry Winkler Rocks Impressive Lockdown Beard On 'The Tonight Show' Henry Winkler Busts Out Strenuous Fonzie Dance On 'Tonight Show'
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Duke basketball brings back alum after HBCU stint
Duke basketball head coach Jon Scheyer is bringing a familiar face back to Durham: former Blue Devil Tyler Thornton will join the coaching staff as an assistant. Thornton, who played at Duke from 2010 to 2014, returns after a successful coaching stint at Howard University, an HBCU where he served under fellow Duke alum Kenneth Blakeney. Thornton joined Howard's men's basketball program in 2019 and played a pivotal role in the Bison's resurgence. During his tenure, Howard achieved back-to-back MEAC tournament championships in 2023 and 2024, marking their first NCAA tournament appearances since 1992 . In the 2022–23 season, the Bison finished with a 22–13 overall record and an 11–3 mark in conference play, clinching the MEAC regular-season title . They secured the tournament championship with a gritty 65–64 victory over Norfolk State. Thornton's impact at Howard extended beyond team achievements. In his first season, he coached Charles Williams, the MEAC's all-time leading scorer, to All-MEAC honors. He also guided Wayne Bristol Jr. to the 2019–20 MEAC Rookie of the Year award. In the 2020–21 season, Thornton was instrumental in the recruitment and development of Makur Maker, who became the first five-star recruit to commit to an HBCU since ESPN began ranking prospects in 2007. Thornton's return to Duke basketball brings valuable experience from his time at an HBCU, where he contributed to significant program milestones. His coaching journey, marked by player development and championship success, positions him as a promising addition to Scheyer's staff. As Duke basketball continues to evolve under Scheyer's leadership, the inclusion of coaches like Thornton, who have demonstrated success at HBCUs, underscores the program's commitment to excellence. The post Duke basketball brings back alum after HBCU stint appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Miami Herald
a day ago
- General
- Miami Herald
Booker T. grad was one of 3 Black students who integrated Duke, which honors him
There is just something about some people where you know they are in the world for a special purpose. Even growing up in the 1940s and 1950s during the Jim Crow/segregation era didn't diminish that notion. You just knew they were marked for greatness. My friend, David Robinson II, is such a person. At its May 11 commencement, Duke University awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree to David, who was born and raised in Miami's Overtown. David was one of three Black students — his fellow law school classmate, the late Walter Johnson of Greensboro, N.C., and a graduate divinity school student, the late R.L. Speaks — to integrate the North Carolina university in 1961. Months before the three arrived at the school in the fall of 1961, the university's board of trustees had voted to desegregate Duke's graduate and professional schools. It would be two more years before the undergraduate classes would be integrated. 'To have such an honor bestowed on you by an institution like Duke is the icing on the cake,' said David, 85. 'I am glad I am alive for the flowers, and to be able to smell them while I still can.' David was the seventh of nine siblings. Today, he and his 'baby sister' Yvonne Eickett are the sole survivors of their immediate family. I first met David when we both attended Booker T. Washington Jr./Sr. High School in Miami. He graduated in 1957; I graduated in 1956. I still can remember how quiet, friendly and neatly dressed he was. He also was the sweetheart of one of my dear friends, Delores Collie Sands Lockett. While David took part in the usual teenage things — 'going dancing' in the gym after a basketball game, 'taking company' (courting), and attending events in the school's auditorium — there was always a seriousness about him. 'We didn't call people who acted like him nerds back then,' said Georgena Davis Ford, David's classmate and neighbor. 'But that's who he was. He was a good dude. Smart but quiet and friendly — and a very sharp dresser. We used to call each other 'Boolu.' I don't know where we got that nickname, but it stuck.' Graduated top of his class at Howard After graduating from Booker T, David attended Howard University in Washington, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude in 1961. It was while at Howard that his life would change. David was a senior at Howard when Elvin R. 'Jack' Latty, then dean of Duke Law, asked the dean of students at Howard to recommend a student who had the academic credentials and emotional stability to integrate Duke's law school. 'Remember … this was in 1961, years before the Civil Rights Act [of 1964] would be put in place,' David said. 'People were dying just for the opportunity to vote. 'Nobody in my family wanted me to go to Duke. They felt it would be too dangerous, but I saw the scholarship as the opportunity of a lifetime and accepted it. The folks at Duke called me a 'barrier breaker.' But to me, attending Duke University as an African American was simply a no-brainer. I had to go.' David stayed on Duke's campus and said Latty, a professor and dean at Duke Law for 35 years, became a 'father figure' to him. 'I never had a problem the entire three years I was at Duke,' he said. When David graduated from Duke Law in 1964, more opportunities were available for Black students and the Federal Reserve Board in Washington hired him as its first African American attorney. David stayed there for three years before becoming Xerox Corp.'s first Black lawyer — its third lawyer overall. In 1978, he was named senior counsel for Xerox operations on the West Coast When he retired from Xerox in 1988, David was assistant general counsel. By that time, Xerox had gone from its original three lawyers to more than 100, many of whom David hired. But David didn't stop there. 'The third and final leg of my legal career was here in Miami-Dade County, where I was appointed general counsel to the 11th Judicial Circuit. I retired from that position in 1999,' he said. He was the Judicial Circuit's first general counsel. Since his retirement, David has immersed himself in his work at the Second Baptist Church of Richmond Heights, where he heads the seniors ministry and provides pro bono work for seniors. He is a member of the Booker T. Washington High School Alumni Association, where he helps to raise money for college scholarships, faculty support and academic programs. He and his wife of 42 years, Wylene, live in the Falls area in South Miami-Dade. They have a blended family of five children and five grandchildren. 'Duke is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and the folks there still tell me I was a 'barrier breaker,' ' he said with a chuckle. And I say that's an understatement. Grove Arts Festival scholarship winners Kudos to the 15 talented high school graduates who were each awarded a $3,000 scholarship from the Coconut Grove Arts Festival. 'These young artists are truly extraordinary,' said Dave Hill, chairman of the festival's board, said in a press release. 'Recognizing their contributions to our creative community and helping them pursue their dreams through education is one of the most meaningful things we do each year.' The $45,000 is part of the festival's $75,000 annual scholarship fund, which also supports students in Florida International University's art programs. The 2025 high school scholarship winners are: Alexandra Guerra, Design and Architecture Senior High, Anacarolina Paz, Barbara Goleman Senior High; Anisia Mike, New World School of the Arts; Brianna Vargas, Miami Lakes Educational Center; Emma Chala, New World School of the Arts; Gabriela Cabrera-Flores, Arthur and Polly Mays Conservatory of the Arts; and Janae Crespo, New World School of the Arts. Also, Layla Hanfland, New World School of the Arts; Leonna Anderson, Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High; Lucia Adrianzen, Design and Architecture Senior High; Megan Diaz, Miami Senior High; Konstantina Papadaki, Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior; Nyle Jones, Design and Architecture Senior High; Rome Negas, Design and Architecture Senior High, and Sofia Lataczewski, New World School of the Arts.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Steelers rookie Will Howard on Week 1 of OTAs: 'First day was work in progress'
Steelers rookie Will Howard on Week 1 of OTAs: 'First day was work in progress' Will Howard hit a wall on Day 1 of Steelers OTAs — but he's not shying away from the challenge, as he's ready to learn and move forward. Howard's first week of Steelers OTAs is officially in the books, and he recently explained to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette what the experience was like overall: "First day was a work in progress. I didn't feel great about my first day — just coming off the field, but it was a good learning experience," Howard told reporters at OTAs on Thursday. "I wasn't expecting to be perfect on my first day. I'm not going to be perfect. That's the thing — you've got to learn. Especially me, being young, you've got to be able to roll with the punches and know you're going to make some mistakes — especially being a rookie." The Steelers rookie further broke down his performance, stating that Day 1 was more about getting his feet under him, while Days 2 and 3 were better practices. For up-to-date Steelers coverage, follow us on X @TheSteelersWire and give our Facebook page a like.
