Can We Talk About It? with Debi Ghate

How did the man who launched Sears Roebuck & Co. into the distribution revolution also revolutionize education for Black students in the segregated South, establishing an astonishing 4,977 schools? In this week’s episode, Julius Rosenwald National Parks Campaign Board Member Curtis Valentine joins host Debi Ghate to share the incredible story of Julius Rosenwald’s philanthropy and Curtis’s personal connection to the schools, the campaign to establish a National Park for the Rosenwald Schools and the importance of school choice today.

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In the 2020 election, Californians voted down Proposition 16 – a measure that would repeal the state constitutional amendment that prohibits preference or discrimination in public schools, public employment and public contracting (Prop. 209). Executive Director for Californians for Equal Rights Wenyuan Wu joins host Debi Ghate in this week’s episode to share the story of the campaign against Prop. 16 and affirmative action, the support of the Asian-American and immigrant community in their efforts and the way in which people of all political persuasions united to keep the constitutional principle of equal treatment.   

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In this episode, Philanthropy Roundtable President and CEO Elise Westhoff joins Debi Ghate for a special conversation about her experience in the philanthropic sector and what inspired her to lead Roundtable with its mission to strengthen a free society. Westhoff shares her direct experiences with both generous donors and with those in the philanthropic sector who are seeking to “bridge” across differences. Finally, Westhoff discusses some of the Roundtable’s recent work, including some op-eds that have sparked controversy as well as a new campaign the Roundtable has launched: True Diversity. Hear directly from Elise Westhoff, who as always, speaks here from the heart.

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Are socioracial dynamics reducible to two categories: The oppressor and the oppressed? Some argue that this reduction fails to recognize the depth of the complexity within each person. However, Chloé Valdary, founder of the Theory of Enchantment, believes that both the oppressor and the oppressed are suffering – and resentment and vengeance only cause more suffering. This week, she joins host Debi Ghate to share the ideas behind her antiracism program The Theory of Enchantment – and how, through teaching a person to show love and compassion to themselves, owning even the parts of themselves they don’t like, they can begin to show that same love and compassion to others.

Check out the Theory of Enchantment
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This interview was recorded on April 9, 2021.

(Warning: This episode discusses sensitive themes such as sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised.)

Victims of sexual violence often have a difficult time talking about their experiences, and this is true around the world. What happens when that violence is linked to immigrants and minorities, as it has in Europe? The topic becomes even more of a taboo. In her second appearance on Can We Talk About It? Ayaan Hirsi Ali joins host Debi Ghate to talk about the theme of her book “Prey: Immigration, Islam, and the Erosion of Women's Rights.” They’ll address some of the complex issues that have arisen as a "rape epidemic" has emerged in some European countries.

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In 2020, crime statistics showed curious trends – while homicides spiked, property crime rates and jail populations both decreased. While the prediction of crime can be difficult, the data and trends can inform conversations and policies. This week, Jake Horowitz, director of the Public Safety Performance Project at Pew Charitable Trust, joins host Debi Ghate in a 2020-recorded interview. They’ll discuss the data, racial disparity in incarceration rates, the decrease in jail populations in 2020, the zero-sum game of public safety budgets and Pew Charitable’s work with state leaders to reinvest resources.

This interview was recorded on December 18, 2020.

Is it possible to seek diversity without labeling others? Honest diversity cares about seeking to understand the plurality within each other, says Irshad Manji, director of Moral Courage ED at Let Grow, their new course “Diversity without Division” and author of the book “Don’t Label Me: How to Do Diversity Without Inflaming the Culture Wars.” This week, Irshad joins host Debi Ghate to talk about this idea of plurality, leading by listening to understand and standing your ground with integrity while also seeking common ground.

Check out the Moral Courage ED course: "Diversity Without Division: Introducing Educators to the Moral Courage Method."

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This interview was recorded on April 2, 2021.

Is it possible to undo past discrimination through new discrimination? Professor of Law at Cornell University William Jacobson would argue "no," but his expression of this point of view has brought condemnation – first by outsiders to the organization, then by faculty and student boycotts in response to his writings on controversial topics at his blog Legal Insurrection (est. 2008). In this week's episode, he joins Debi Ghate to address mandated anti-racism training, critical race theory and freedom of speech in the university, and his new project CriticalRace.org. 

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This interview was recorded on March 24, 2021.

For years, critics of philanthropy have called for increased regulations around the ways foundations choose to spend their funds. Those calls have increased recently. In this week’s episode, Carrie Tynan, a 5th generation executive director of the Adolph Coors Foundation joins Debi Ghate to discuss these criticisms. They discuss the realities of earning a position in a family foundation, founder Bill Coors’ intent to give people the opportunity to develop self-reliance, personal responsibility, and integrity to reach their full potential, plus their decision to support non-profits based on the mission and outcomes, rather than the outward identities of the people they serve.

This interview was recorded on March 5, 2021

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Rick Turner was the youngest child in his family and helping others was his way of life. After the loss of several family members, he struggled with mental illness and increased drug and alcohol abuse. During an undercover operation, at 37, he was arrested, convicted and sentenced to 40 years in prison on four counts of drug crimes and having a firearm while dealing drugs. The gun did not belong to him, nor did he use it. He had no prior criminal record. Amid appeals for prison transfer, Rick Turner died in prison in Colorado on June 13, 2019. Joining Debi Ghate, Rick’s sister Mandy Richards shares the story of her brother’s life, her search for answers to his death and the urgent need for reform in the criminal justice system.

Interview was recorded in November, 2020

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