Growing up in Charlottesville, Virginia, the Gordon Avenue public library was a few blocks from my elementary school. Some days, rather than taking the bus home, I would hang out at the library until my parents could pick me up. I perused the shelves, discovering books and authors, and settling into a comfy chair to […]
I don’t usually make New Years resolutions, but I broke with tradition to identify 3 goals for 2023: 1) buy a hairdryer, 2) listen to a lot of Taylor Swift, and 3) write the next book. Although I accomplished the first two by the end of January 2023, it took me until December to complete
Last month, I spent a weekend as a facilitator for the Chautauqua Forum on Democracy. Chautauqua has a reputation for quality speakers, and they did not disappoint! David Blight recounted a history of democracy from Athens to today, connecting Frederick Douglass’ writings to current challenges. Perspectives on free speech, political engagement, and dissent were offered
August 1998 I received my doctoral degree in August 1998, a quarter of a century ago! I’ve been reflecting on the past 25 years of my career and appreciating the opportunities I’ve had to contribute to my field and beyond. Here are some of the highlights… Dr. Tania Israel Quarter Century Reflections 25 presentations I
People ask me how I can be so optimistic about bridging the political divide. Well, let me tell you about a week I had recently… Tuesday: I Zoom into a meeting of an anti-racist learning circle who read my book, Beyond Your Bubble. Their insights about the importance of listening and non-defensiveness are so encouraging,
It’s Bi Visibility Week! Bisexuals are the largest segment of the LGBTQ community, yet we are largely invisible. This is a week to bring attention to this large and growing population (15% of Gen Z adults identify as bisexual!). The week leads up to Celebrate Bisexual Day on September 23. Here’s my agenda for Bi
People ask me, “how can I have a conversation with someone about politics when we can’t even agree on facts?” It’s true, people on the political Left and Right tend to pay attention to and trust different news sources, which can lead to conflicting knowledge about an issue. In this sort of situation, you might
Did you know that over 86% of adults in the U.S. have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine, including a majority of Republicans? If you weren’t aware of these facts, you’re not alone. I asked Twitter, and the vast majority of respondents got it wrong. Pop Quiz: What percentage of adults in
This summer, I had the distinction of receiving Kappa Delta’s alumnae honor, The Order of the Pearl, in recognition of outstanding contributions to society. The nomination letter, written by my sisters in the Sigma Theta chapter, detailed my decades of research on LGBTQ issues, as well as my more current work on dialogue across political
I recently had the pleasure to speak at TEDx San Luis Obispo. My talk was called How to Win a Political Argument, and (*spoiler alert*) the idea I thought worthy of spreading is that we need to change the way we think about winning. Rather than considering winning to be about proving that you’re right