Dr. Denise O’Neil Green, President and Principal Consultant, Denise O’Neil Green Consulting Last month I was interviewed for a Bright Future podcast episode (Episode 37), moderated by Michael Bassett, Director, Research Impact, at the Conference Board of Canada (CBoC). Drawing upon my experience as a Chief Diversity Officer in Canada and the United States, I shared my perspective on a number of topics related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) roles and their evolution. We explored the evolution of my role as a diversity leader throughout my career and note the challenges that persist t ..read more

The popular saying: “If you build it, they will come” was first introduced in the 1989 baseball movie Field of Dreams.  In searching the origin of this quote, all while thinking about equity work; it was a brilliant accident that I was also drawn to the baseball picture shown here (adapted from The Interaction Institute for Social Change by artist Angus Maguire).  I have observed that many leaders and organizations mistakenly use an equality lens to create or “build” unique services and resources for their Black employees in an attempt to address anti-Black racism. Have you ever wond ..read more

Dr. Denise O’Neil Green As you may already know, I concluded my tenure at Ryerson University (renamed Toronto Metropolitan University – TMU) last year to explore other opportunities, place a greater focus on my health, and spend more time with my family.  I’m very proud of what I accomplished at TMU; however, my next act has enabled me to share my “secret sauce” with other leaders and organizations seeking to actualize their anti-racism goals and objectives. In March 2022, I launched Denise O’Neil Green Consulting as I was inspired to start my own boutique Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion ..read more

Birthplace of Blues and Jazz Legends – Forum Hall, 43rd and Calumet Avenue, Bronzeville During the pandemic and lockdowns, I rediscovered Chicago and where I’m from.  In Canada, people always ask you: “Where are you from?”.  I would be a little salty because I felt I didn’t have a good answer. Of course, I would say: “I’m from the United States”, and most times “Chicago”, without having much knowledge of its Black history. However, when I had time on my hands because folks had to pretty much be indoors, my spouse and I came across a series of WTTW (Window To The World) documentaries ..read more

Most educators would agree that diversity and democracy are universal principles that our higher education community and our public hold dear.  However, a diverse democracy, emphasizing race and ethnicity, requires substantial advocacy and leadership to promote it as a legitimate public good.  Long-standing debates pertaining to inequitable educational opportunities, mortality rates, employment opportunities, affordable housing, income and wealth distribution, and voting behavior continue to shine the spotlight on persistent disparities that affect the ability of marginalized racial ..read more

In recognition of International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Saturday, December 3, 2022, I wanted to repost a blog I did in 2018. Five years ago I had the opportunity to be keynote for the Awards Banquet and Induction Ceremony segment of the 6th Annual International Colloquium on Black Males in Education 2017 held in Toronto, Ontario. When I thought about what remarks I could offer this audience of Black American and Canadian men and women, I couldn’t help but think about my son and his experiences in postsecondary, as a Black man with a physical disability. After a drunk driver hit him ..read more

Too often executive leaders view diversity work as either a numerical problem (i.e. not enough diversity among the workforce or student population) or a problem of compliance that needs managing.  However, to truly integrate the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) throughout public postsecondary institutions, a multifaceted and longitudinal approach is required, as these organizations are complex and decentralized in decision-making, authority, and resources, with a long history of exclusionary policies and practices based on race, class, and gender. According to Stephen Fros ..read more

In the twenty-first century, the processes by which students move from high school to college—including college choice, access, readiness, matriculation, and completion—are more important than ever before. Students from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds must negotiate these processes if they wish to thrive in an information-and-service-driven economy. However, not all students experience these processes in the same ways; for some students, transitioning from high school to college, including community colleges, 4-year institutions, and elite public or private universities, can be extre ..read more

Dr. Denise O’Neil Green Programs that serve underrepresented minority students have long faced many challenges. Court decisions and state referendums have served as barriers to developing effective programs.  The political and legal debates over the years about race-based initiatives have created environments that are more critical and circumspect of programs for Black, Indigenous, and/or racialized college and university students, especially among elite public and private universities. Institutional commitments to these programs have ebbed and flowed over the years, threatening the susta ..read more

Dr. Denise O’Neil Green Technology has fundamentally changed our lives by bringing us closer together and connecting us in ways that make the world seem smaller.  As higher education diversity professionals step into the foray of social marketing and continue to enhance their presence, it becomes even more important that they understand how to leverage important messages of equity, diversity, and inclusion in ways that promote an inclusive society and foster global equality.  In order to carry out effective social media campaigns surrounding EDI issues, it is necessary to foster acti ..read more