Inclusion Expert Encourages Company Leaders to Expand Their DEI Conversations

Attracting and retaining diverse talent builds stronger businesses capable of deeper client connections, but are the leaders behind DEI efforts missing a critical piece of the puzzle?

 

“I wanted to expand the conversation around diversity, equity and inclusion because it’s not just race; it’s not just gender; it’s not just sexual orientation — it’s those things but so much more,” inclusion consultant Christopher “CJ” Gross said in a recent interview.

 

That “so much more” Gross refers to is the concept of class division and the brain science behind class bias.

 

“I wrote the book because people were not having that conversation,” Gross noted. “They were having what I would consider a topical conversation about the symptoms of the problem and not the actual problem. And if you don’t address the problem, the symptoms will persist.”

 

In his new book, What's Your Zip Code Story? Understanding and Overcoming Class Bias in the Workplace, Gross takes a deep dive into the ways in which where and how a person grew up can impact employment opportunities and where the discussion regarding class bias fits into a company’s DEI efforts.

 

“The renewed focus on class, race, and equality in the workplace and beyond is making an indelible mark on society,” Gross said. “This clarion call for change is sweeping inequality from every corner of the nation, including law enforcement, schools and businesses.”

 

What’s Your Zip Code Story offers research-based solutions for employees seeking professional growth and for business leaders seeking new ways to engage their teams. Gross provides strategies to help class-migrants — whether college students, recent graduates or overlooked employees — climb the career lattice and transform themselves from undervalued employees into respected leaders. He also offers insights to help organizations understand the impact of diversity on a business’s productivity, turnover and revenue.

 

What’s Your Zip Code Story is a powerful book that expands the conversation surrounding class bias, race and equity in the workplace, and offers effective solutions.

 

“Each of us has our biases and cultural preferences, which makes it very hard for us to understand the perspectives of others,” Gross added. “It’s time we talked about it.”

Cascade of Unworldly Events Surround NYPD Cop and His Serial Killer Target in The Karma Factor

Forced to straddle alternative realities, a blue collar cop must evolve beyond his badge, overcoming his own dark past in The Karma Factor, a work of visionary fiction that explores the boundaries of human consciousness against the backdrop of a classic suspense thriller from author, poet and musician Thomas Lane. With a purpose that transcends the genre, Lane expertly weaves the novel’s wider message in a ground-breaking, white-knuckle ride between worlds, as characters set out to make karmic amendments, right wrongs and re-establish the power of choice.

 

Haunted by a nameless guilt, tired of running from his demons, NYPD detective James Early decides to end his life. Taunting an armed suspect into blind fury, he makes himself an easy target. But the bullets fired at point blank range are mysteriously diverted. There is no blood and no wounds. Instead of the end, Early finds himself, miraculously, at the beginning of a long and arduous quest to solve the riddle of the missing bullets and the search for meaning: “If I’ve been given some kind of reprieve … what in God’s name am I supposed to do with it?”

 

The Karma Factor flips the good-versus-evil theme on its side as it traverses the ages, interlacing past lives with present, on a hero’s quest for redemption. Lane juxtaposes veteran city detectives and an elusive serial killer with a visionary monk sequestered in an abandoned monastery in the Tibetan Himalayas.

 

When protagonist Early sets out to uncover the mysterious force that saved his life, he discovers that, in his previous lifetime, he had been part of a secret mission. Led by a Tibetan sage, a team of advanced thinkers had gained access to the Akashic Records, a repository of every soul’s thoughts, deeds and actions through time. Their goal? To use these records to locate key individuals’ unhandled karma in the past –– and help those souls be accountable for their misdeeds. The mission’s ultimate challenge would be to restore an awareness of possibilities, unburdened by the past, to a world engulfed by denial and fear.

 

Lane adds a unique perspective to the genre: “I see the world as a place of grit and suffering and magic. I wanted to capture those contrasting elements, show them as parts of a whole when viewed through a lens that is vast and kind and timeless. Although the story revolves around a cop and a serial killer, the book is fundamentally about hope –– a hope that understands both bullets and prayers, and the path that goes beyond.”

OUT on Digital Streaming: Please Baby Please

Suze (Andrea Riseborough) and Arthur (Harry Melling) live an outwardly traditional lifestyle as the Lower East Side's most bohemian Eisenhower-era couple. 

The pair's cage is rattled when they discover a gang of sadistic, leather-clad greasers known as The Young Gents. Suze and Arthur's initial thrust of fear evolves into the confusion of thrill and lust. 

This sudden exposure to flamboyant masculinity unlocks the realization that Suze is an aspiring leather daddy who mistook herself for a housewife. 

Meanwhile, the perpetually sensitive Arthur's obsessive gender trouble goes sideways when Young Gent Teddy sparks a queer desire. 

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats sell out biggest show ever at Denver’s Ball Arena

Following an extensive run of worldwide dates in 2022 that included shows at New York’s Radio City Music Hall, Los Angeles’ Hollywood Bowl, Berkeley’s Greek Theatre and multiple nights at Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats played their biggest show ever at Denver’s Ball Arena on December 16. For Rateliff and the band, the sold-out performance held special significance as it was their first ever arena show. In addition, the performance featured a solo set from longtime friend and supporter Marcus Mumford and Hermanos Gutiérrez as well as a surprise sit in from Amelia Meath of Sylvan Esso. Watch/share a recap video HERE, showcasing the band’s lauded performance.  

In support of their third studio album The Future, released late last year, the group performed multiple times on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” and “CBS This Morning: Saturday.” In addition, Rateliff and The Night Sweats will appear on “Austin City Limits” this January 14 for the second time while Rateliff recently sat with Anthony Mason for “CBS Sunday Morning” to discuss the band’s rise to stardom. Rateliff is also slated to perform with Colorado Symphony Orchestra at Denver’s Boettcher Hall on March 3 and 4, celebrating Harry Nilsson’s album A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night.

Available on Earth Day 2023, PLANTING OUR WORLD by Renowned Neurobiologist Stefano Mancuso

Timed to Earth Day 2023, Planting Our World (Other Press Hardcover Original; On Sale: 4/18/23) by renowned neurobiologist Stefano Mancuso, posits that every story of life begins and ends with plants. From the chance to live on this planet, to the pleasure of listening to the croon of a violin: every story’s origin is rooted in a plant’s life. Through charming vignettes on the wonders of plant life, PLANTING OUR WORLD illuminates the primacy of the Earth’s flora. Mancuso combines his scientific background with a unique narrative style as he advocates for the preservation of nature.

There is no getting around it. We animals account for a paltry 0.3% of the planet’s biomass while plants add up to 85%. It is obvious, therefore, that every story on this planet has a plant as its protagonist. Our world is a green world; Earth is the planet of plants. And when, with just a little training, we are able to look at the world without seeing it solely as humanity’s playground, we cannot help but notice the ubiquity of plants. They are everywhere and their stories are inevitably wound up with ours. As every tree in a forest is linked to all the others by an underground network of roots, uniting them to form a super organism, so plants constitute the nervous system, the plan that is the “greenprint” of our world. Not to see this plan, or even worse, to ignore its existence, is one of the most serious threats to the survival of our species.

The neurobiologist Stefano Mancuso is back with a fascinating book, about the greenprint of our world. He does it through unforgettable stories starring plants; stories combining an inimitable narrative voice and remarkable scientific rigor. From the story of the red spruce that gave Stradivarius the wood for his 14 violins, to the Kauri tree-stump, kept alive for decades by the interconnected root system of other trees living nearby. From the story of the slipperiness of the banana skin to the plant that solved the “crime of the century” (the kidnapping and murder of the infant son of the celebrated aviator Charles Lindbergh). In that case, in fact, for the first time in history, botanical tests and analyses led to the identification of the perpetrator of the crime and were admitted as evidence at the trial. The kidnapper was betrayed by the rungs of a wooden ladder.Mancuso’s stories convey the urgency of preserving this greenprint, and warn that ignoring this green existence is sure to result in dire consequences, for our world and our survival as a species. Illuminating the interconnectedness of plant life with that of humanity, PLANTING OUR WORLD is kaleidoscopic look at the importance of flora.

Are You Gay With Something To Say? Bloggers Wanted to Write About Denver's Gay Community

Are you a new or experienced writer or blogger? Do you want to be? Or maybe you're just some gay guy with something to say? Well, what better forum for you than MileHighGayGuy?

MileHighGayGuy is looking for regular and guest bloggers to write about local news and events, do music and movie reviews, or write opinion or feature pieces from a gay perspective.

These are unpaid positions but offer the opportunity to be published in Colorado's Best Gay Blog (2010, 2011, 2012 OUTstanding Awards, Denver 2012 #WebAwards), expand your audience and gain valuable experience. There's also swag available in the form of free movie and concert tickets, music, books and other cool stuff.

If interested, shoot an email over to Drew Wilson at drew@milehighgayguy.com. And if you've got column or story ideas to pitch, this is the place to do it.

Celebrate Outré Films at the 4th Annual "Film Maudit 2.0" Festival

The fourth edition of Film Maudit 2.0, a showcase and celebration of outré films, takes places in person at Highways Performance Space and online @ watch.filmmaudit.org, beginning January 12 and now extended through February 11, 2023.
 
This year, Film Maudit 2.0 will once again feature over 100 works of cinema from 25+ countries including films rarely, if ever, seen in festivals: works addressing socio-political issues and taboo subject matter that challenges conventional artistic assumptions and sexual mores.  The wide range of shorts, narrative, documentary and experimental films selected are  deliberately bold, extreme, confrontational and unusual. 

With its hybrid physical and virtual format, Film Maudit 2.0 is moving forward into the exciting future of the festival-going experience, breaking down an exclusivity that has previously marred the indie landscape and its films/filmmakers, while at the same time allowing the participation and conversation of filmmakers across time-zones who wouldn’t have the ability to travel to festivals. This dual power of both a theatrical experience and a streaming landscape for independent filmmakers allows local audiences back  to experience the richness of the live filmgoing experience with films that typically would not screen locally in such a context, while at the same time, making most of the films accessible to a wider national and international audiences in an online portal @ watch.filmmaudit.org.

Telluride Gay Ski Week 2023 Dining Guide

Telluride Gay Ski Week's 2023 Dining Guide showcases the Telluride dining partners that support the LGBTQ+ community.

Telluride Gay Ski Week's dining partners are an instrumental component of the event experience and are carefully selected for good reasons – TGSW believes in them and their alignment with the LGBTQ community. They believe in us.

These are the restaurants that make Telluride great. Such special places are destined to draw special people. That list includes some of the country’s most celebrated chefs, many of who now call Telluride home. Whether you’re looking for a fresh pizza, foie gras, or free-range steak, this is a collection of restaurants that get our mouths watering just thinking about them.

Explore TGSW's dining partners below and plan ahead because reservations in Telluride fill up fast! 

Gay Travel: This Winter, Visit Some of the Most Beautiful Beaches in Yucatán

Looking to get away this winter? With an average temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit, the state of Yucatán offers the ideal climate for holiday season seaside vacations. Yucatán’s pristine beaches have been awarded “Platinum Beach” by the Mexican Institute for Standardization and Certification, joining the select list of the best strands in the country.

The state’s almost 250 miles of beaches are not only ideal getaways but also stunning gateways to unique settings like jungle environments, picturesque towns, natural reserves, and colorful bodies of water in shades of emerald green and turquoise blue that envelop visitors in a mystical ambiance.

If you’re still thinking about where to spend the upcoming holidays, here’s the list of some of the most beautiful beaches in Yucatán on which to enjoy a warm Christmas, New Year’s or other delightful holiday weekend in one of the top-trending destinations of 2022 and beyond:

Celestún: Without a doubt, a natural and eco-tourism paradise, Celestún is home to exceptional landscapes where extensive beaches rife with abundant coconut palms and mangroves are an ideal setting for lovers of outdoor activities. This area is part of the World Heritage Special Reserve of the Ría Celestún biosphere, which is home to approximately 400 species of migratory birds that arrive in the entity from December to March, making for an incomparable natural spectacle of flora and fauna.

Telchac: One hour away from the capital city Mérida lies the port of Telchac, an ideal option for all those who seek peace and quiet during their vacations. Its peaceful waters are perfect for swimming in complete tranquility. Here, you can also visit the Museum of the Sea, the only such attraction in the area, which maintains an exhibition of various species of marine fossils, snails, shells and more.

Xtampú & X'Cambó: Not far from Telchac is the beautiful Laguna Rosada, with its singular pink color. It comprises part of Xtampú’s lagoon, where — in addition to taking spectacular photos — you can learn about the process of salt extraction. While in the area, you can also learn more about the ancient Mayan culture by visiting the archaeological zone of X'Cambó, one of the few ruins close to the coast, which is believed to have been an ancient fishing port that supplied the main Mayan cities with food.

Cancunito: Located in Río Lagartos — just three hours’ drive from the capital and very close to Las Coloradas, famous for its large pink pools — Cancunito stands out as one of Yucatán’s most spectacular virgin beaches. Tantalizing those who visit with a fantastic natural setting, this tropical paradise has abundant mangroves as well as coastal dunes that, thanks to vegetation, form an extraordinary ecosystem where species such as Hawksbill, White, and Loggerhead sea turtles arrive to spawn.

San Felipe: Half an hour away from Cancunito lies the small fishing and tourist port of San Felipe, where you’ll find rustic wooden houses in a mix of cheerful colors. Enjoy a day at the town beach, where white sands, turquoise waters and peaceful tranquility are just part of a normal day. Today, San Felipe has become one of the most popular spots in Yucatán for nature lovers, thanks to the unique beauty of its surroundings.

Río Lagartos: A small traditional fishing port that today is one of the best kept “secrets” in the Yucatán Peninsula, the town lies right at the entrance to the well-known Ría Lagartos Reserve Natural Park, where you can explore a fascinating environment that’s home to crocodiles, sea turtles and hundreds of species of birds, including flamingos and pelicans.

El Cuyo: At the northeastern tip of Yucatán, El Cuyo is just three hours from the state capital. This little Eden is one of the most unique corners of the state, lying right at the end of the Costa Esmeralda. Its main claim to fame is being the place where the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea meet; the mix of currents and winds make the area ideal for sports such as sailing and kitesurfing.

Books: Beethoven in the Bunker: Musicians Under the Nazi Regime

From Flemish author, radio and television presenter, and classical music connoisseur Fred Brouwers comes a compelling survey that examines the remarkable relationship between the Nazis and classical music through the stories of musicians, composers, and conductors across the political spectrum. BEETHOVEN IN THE BUNKER: Musicians Under the Nazi Regime recounts an extraordinary chapter of musical history, exposing the dramatic stories of classical musicians—many of whom were either Jewish, had socialist sympathies, made modern atonal music, or opposed fascism in one way or another—and their lives under the Nazi regime. Brouwers highlights these musicians' often tragic histories during a brutal and devastating time for humanity, and each of their fates.  

In May 1945, a Soviet military patrol’s search of Hitler’s secret bunker in Berlin. They find bodies, documents, jewelry, paintings—and also an extensive collection of 78 rpm records. It comes as no surprise that this collection includes work by Beethoven, Wagner, and Bruckner. The same goes for a procession of other giants promoted by the Nazi regime: “It seems as if the Nazis put a steel helmet on Mozart, girded Schubert with a saber, and wrapped barbed wire around Johann Strauss’s neck,” composer Robert Stolz once said. But how is it possible that Hitler’s favorites also included “forbidden” Jewish and Russian composers and performers? How is it that Hilter's favorites included these blacklisted musicians? BEETHOVEN IN THE BUNKER explores Nazi’s meticulously tracking of the cultural and musical world, signaling how vital music is as a foundation of humanity. Brouwers discusses the remarkable relationship between the Nazis and classical music. While Hitler sat secretly enjoying previously recorded music in his bunker, musicians made of flesh and blood were denied a means of making a living. They died in concentration camps or in other war-related circumstances. They survived but ended up in psychiatric care; they managed to flee just in time; they sided with the regime—out of conviction or coercion—or they joined the resistance.

Vintage Theatre presents Duke Ellington’s "Sophisticated Ladies"

The musical legacy of The Duke is celebrated in this stylish and brassy retrospective, which has taken audiences and critics by storm. 

Act I takes us from Ellington's early days at The Cotton Club through his widening acceptance abroad, while Act II explores the private man as captured in his music. Numbers include “It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing", "Take the 'A' Train", “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore”, "Satin Doll” and the haunting "In a Sentimental Mood". It's a high-stepping salute inspired by the glamorous nightlife and sensuous highlife of a man who lived to love.

Vintage Theatre presents Duke Ellington’s "Sophisticated Ladies," January 27 - March 5, 2023. Performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. Vintage Theatre is located at 1468 Dayton St. in Aurora. Tickets ranging from $20 - $38 are on sale by calling 303-856-7830 or online at www.vintagetheatre.org.

WalletHub: Top 10 New Year’s Financial Resolutions for 2023

Making a realistic budget and sticking to it, looking for a better job, and staying on top of your credit are among the Top 10 New Year’s Financial Resolutions for 2023.

Free Digital Book: The Year 2022: Great Moments In Our Arts And Culture

Spreading the joy of the arts, Art Report Today presents a gift digital book "The Year 2022: Great Moments in Our Arts and Culture."

 

The free 410-page digital book is a graphic collection of news stories and events that ArtReportToday.com sends out daily through social media. Bright colors, strong images and few words commemorate the many histories, happenings and trends in the fast-moving Year 2022.

 

Click here to download the free digital book: "The Year 2022: Great Moments in Our Arts and Culture".

ArtReportToday.com, an arts and culture news platform, began publishing in April 2019. The site offers over 180 articles and videos, constantly changing, which has earned their tagline 'A Deep, Beautiful Dive into Our Worldwide Arts and Culture.'

 

"Like leaning into a hurricane, the tough year of 2022 flew by fast," says Editor-in-Chief Gordy Grundy. "I found myself looking at our past social media. There were so many big events and happenings that I had already forgotten about. It dawned on me that all of our posts, with cool graphics and few words, provided a unique history of the year. All through the filter of the arts and culture."

 

"World events made the arts and culture a very busy place in 2022," says Gordy Grundy. "Russia invaded Ukraine and the arts responded with artwork and fundraisers. The NFT, the seductive belle of the ball, rose to dizzying heights and cratered dramatically. The children of Stop Oil! defaced valuable property in our hallowed museums. The titanic gallerist Larry Gagosian fell in love with painter Anna Weyant and baby will make three. And that's not all!"

OUT on DVD & Digital: Last Call in The Dog Hous

The Dog House is a legendary New York dive bar, owned by an extraordinary family. Three people from different backgrounds enter at closing time on separate nights carrying the world on their shoulders; but by the time each of them leaves after "last call", their souls are saved, while two of them realize how connected they are.

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