Colors of Influence Reviews

United Way of the Columbia-Willamette hosted a Community Health Issues Forum on Oct. 8, drawing together a wide range of community leaders and experts in the areas of youth mentoring, prisoner re-entry, and community-based health strategies. The breakout sessions followed Dr. Adewale Troutman 's presentation on the importance of focusing on social determinants to advance health equity in all communities. Dr. Troutman is a nationally renowned expert on health equity issues, and has studied the confluence of race and class in impacting health outcomes in underserved communities. Sharon Gary-Smith Sharon Gary-Smith , Director at Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare, led the session on "Mentoring Strategies To Build Strong Communities," which featured panelists Carolyn Becic, Executive Director, Oregon Mentors; Judy Strand, LCSW, Chief Operating Officer, Metropolitan Family Service; Nancy Ochoa, Program Director, Adelante Mujeres; and Gerald Deloney, Director of Program Adva...

The Root, a daily online magazine that provides commentary on today's news from a variety of black perspectives, came out with a list of top 100 African-Americans who are doing the "most good in the world." Edited by renowned race expert Dr. Henry Louis Gates, the Harvard professor who made national news when he was arrested in his own home in Cambridge, Mass. this past summer. Among those featured include: Joshua Dubois, Director, White House of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships; Donna Payne, Board Vice President, National Black Justice Coalition; Winston "Wole" Soboyejo, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University; and Rabbi Alyssa Stanton, America's first Black female Rabbi. Click here to see who else made the list.

President Barack Obama is re-creating a federal panel to address concerns of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders and to work on improving their health, education and economic status. Excerpts from Obama's remarks at today's signing of the executive order reinstating the White House Advisory Commission and Interagency Working Group: "Our AAPI communities have roots that span the globe, but they embody a rich diversity, and a story of striving and success that are uniquely American. But focusing on all of these achievements doesn't tell the whole story, and that's part of why we're here. It's tempting, given the strengths of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, for us to buy into the myth of the "model minority," and to overlook the very real challenges that certain Asian American and Pacific Islander communities are facing: from health disparities like higher rates of diabetes and Hepatitis B; to educational disparities...

As part of its mission to build exceptional nonprofit boards and inspire board service, BoardSource is interested in learning more about the perspectives and experiences of board members of color. Based in Washington, D.C., BoardSource provides knowledge and resources for nonprofit leaders through workshops, training, assessment tools, an extensive Web site, and a membership program. BoardSource is dedicated to advancing the public good by building exceptional nonprofit boards and inspiring board service. If you are a person of color on the board of a nonprofit organization, please take a few minutes to provide your responses. Click here to go to the survey By understanding the experiences of board members of color, BoardSource hopes to advance the cause of diversity, inclusion, and social justice in nonprofit boardrooms. The survey will ask you as a person of color to identify recruitment and boardroom experiences and practices that have successfully facilitated your best b...