Dynamic researcher and scientist, Dr. Angela M. Allen will receive the Positively Woman Award for Medical Leadership on October 16, 2020.

Feb 21, 2020 | ageing, Scientist, techology, Women

Dynamic researcher and scientist, Dr. Angela M. Allen will receive the Positively Woman Award for Medical Leadership on October 16, 2020.

Dr. Angela M. Allen, 2020 Positively Powerful Woman Honoree

Dr. Angela M. Allen is the Clinic Research Program Director of Banner Research Institute and Medical Center and ASU Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation.

I first met Dr. Allen when we were speakers for the Women’s Day event given by Reverend Ozetta Kirby, Pastor, Holy Trinity AME. Dr. Allen is a passionate and powerful speaker who blew me away with her knowledge of Alzheimer’s and dementia research and caregiving. She delivered superior information that was “just right”, easy to understand and easy to act on. She’s a phenomenally caring and dynamic individual who I knew I wanted to bring to the Positively Powerful stage as an honoree so that she could communicate her ability to touch the hearts of her audiences and give more people a sense of hope and understanding as we each approach aging and caregiving.

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What’s the difference? Cultures, honored or tolerated?

Sep 17, 2015 | ageing, Business, collaboration, Diversity & Inclusion, transformation

I love to travel and visit other countries. Training, coaching, speaking and the occasional vacation has taken me to nearly every continent and most recently Australia where I got to represent the ABHOW board on which I serve.

Attending the International Association of Homes and Services for the Aging Conference (IAHSA) in Perth, Australia, I spent time in the great hall listening, learning and observing. Among the ways that the culture was brought to life for me was the “matter of fact” way the speakers spoke with respect for the indigenous people. A significant number of speakers began their presentations with expressions of respect to the Aboriginal People and the sacredness of the land on which they were speaking.

While there, I also met Sister Lucia Raseipone (photographed with Rev. Dr. Marcia Patton and I). Sister Lucia is a Catholic nun and manager of St. Antonines Home for the Aged in Dundee, South African. Her presentation brimmed with her caring and love for the elderly. She finds ways to honor them and their beliefs without compromising her faith.

Visiting museums and tourist attractions in Perth and Sydney, I appreciated videos, exhibits and displays. There were signs like this that read, WARNING: Visitors should be aware that this includes images and names of deceased people that may cause sadness or distress to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.” That was a valuing of Aboriginal sensitivities, art and culture.

I will share these stories in my Diversity & Inclusion programs. They are authentic examples of how to be culturally sensitive, inclusive and practitioners of the Platinum Rule. We know the Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The Platinum Rule is “Do unto others as they would have them do unto them.” Big difference.

When we accept as equally valid the insights, perspectives, opinions and ideas of people who are different from us, when we have and assume a positive intention, it is freeing and joyful.

In all matters, which would you rather experience? Being tolerated or honored?

“Tolerate: Allow the existence, occurrence, or practice of (something that one does not necessarily like or agree with) without interference.” From the Latin word for enduring pain.
“Honor: Respect that is given to someone who is admired. A good reputation; good quality or character as judged by other people.”

If you are interested in learning more about my approach to Diversity & Inclusion, let us talk. With the multi-cultural, generational and global shift in the workforce, this is becoming increasingly important. Contact me to learn more, to attend, or host one of the Triad West Inc. diversity programs.

Fear, It’s a Brain Thing!

Don’t focus on it and it will disappear.

For women, what does equality mean? Have we forgotten?

Dec 11, 2014 | ageing, Business, Diversity & Inclusion, Women

Equality is “the state or quality of being equal; correspondence in quantity, degree, value, rank, or ability” and has always meant this. We notice that there is no exception in this definition. Any person treated differently than another is being denied equal treatment (under the law in the United States). After the 1960s and 70s the hope was that our institutions, organizations and governments would find a way to balance the scales and treat people, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, military service, religion or culture, equally.

Equality is “the state or quality of being equal”

Recently there have been efforts to rescind the gains made towards equality achieved through the civil rights movements and laws of the 1960s for African American and Women. Some of us have forgotten or are totally unaware of what the “fight” was for. The documentary SHE’S BEAUTIFUL WHEN SHE’S ANGRY helps to refocus what Women’s Liberation was and is still about. As one person in the film says, “We are not allowed to retire from women’s issues.” Amen to that.

What does equality mean for you?

Transformation To Me is…

Sep 26, 2014 | ageing, Business, Coaches Corner, leadership

Many people ask me “what is transformation”? For me, in a personal way it is the word that best expresses the way I saved my life. It is the label I give my gift, my passion, my calling. This word is what makes me happy. And that is because of the feelings attached to it when I first heard it and experienced it in a personal large group training program. Before then I was unaware. That was in 1986.

With the advancement of my profession, and that training industry, a lot of new word blurring tags have been added to the word transformation – even a profitable movie franchise and a line of toys. For me, it will always mean the creation of a new way of being, a new context. What is context? It is a word for expressing paradigm, belief system, the set of interpretations out which we live our life, dream about what’s possible and create results.

Within the context, are the contents that naturally exist within that context. For example, I live in Arizona where it is hot and a desert environment (context). What exists naturally within that environment? Rattle snakes, cactus, scorpions, etc. While one might grow a cactus anywhere, in order for it to survive, the conditions that are natural to it must be provided. Too much water, the cactus dies.

How does this work with people? if you were taught that anything was possible for you (context) and you believed that, you would act out that context on your job, in your marriage, relationships, (contents), etc. guided by your context. Another example, if you were told repeatedly that you were never going to amount to anything, that you were too fat or dumb, etc. that belief would become “true” to you and that would be your context. And the content of your life would follow that system of beliefs. Change your context you change your life. I did.

There is this expression about transformation from Eric Butterworth, Author, Discover the Power Within You: “The caterpillar can fly, but not as a caterpillar – only as a butterfly. (She) has the potential, but something has to happen to (her)…. As the caterpillar changes its embodiment. It enters a new world. Suddenly, there is a whole new set of principles at work and (she) releases a whole new potentiality.”

And this from Romans 12:2
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Gracefully Aging

Sep 15, 2014 | ageing, Coaching, Diversity & Inclusion, Women

Maintain your Balance, Life is for Living!

Former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao
doing Tai Chi

Some of us will be “lucky” and will live a long and healthy life. How this will come to be is unclear. However, there is something about our ability to experience balance in our lives that may be a not so hidden secret. Here are some keys:

Balance your diet. Eating well does not need to be expensive or a burden.
Check your medications, are they in balance with one another. Some medications can take away your appetite; others, have you feeling dizzy or dehydrated.
Don’t sit more than you move. Moving, walking and swimming are activities that can help to strengthen muscles and joints giving the possibility of increased flexibility. Too many seniors fall because they can’t keep their balance. When people don’t exercise regularly the aging process is unnecessarily difficult.
Exercise your brain by reading, playing chess or checkers, practicing Tai Chi, going to school and having conversations with people who are younger, older, different ethnicity or cultures other than your own.
Last but not least, pay attention to yourself. If you feel out of balance than more then likely you are. No one knows you better than you. Be rigorous find out why you feel the way that you do by talking with your family, your doctors and nurses, and friends. Often the solution to feeling better is knowing what is wrong and getting to the source.

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Above all, being active in all aspects of your life will have you enjoying your life. Ms. Ernestine Shepherd, who many of you have seen on Oprah Winfrey earlier this year or in the video, will be honored by our friend and colleague, Diana Gregory, at this years’ Annual Diana Gregory Outreach Services Foundation Senior Awards Luncheon, Sept 26 at The Ritz-Carlton, Phoenix AZ. The Foundation does great work with seniors via their mobile “Gregory’s Fresh Market” which services over six thousands seniors in and around the Phoenix AZ.