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Praise & Reviews
David Stewart
Educator and Film Maker
Author of The N-Word Carol
Why are we cowards when it comes to talking about race? Walking Our Talk addresses this question and many others that speak to our declining growth of truly inclusive communities. This book is must read for anyone who seeks to understand the true meaning of diversity in the twenty-first century. Through personal stories and experiences, the authors seek to upgrade the readers cultural competency in the areas of microaggressions, stereotype threat and implicit bias. This book goes beyond theory by providing specific strategies and activities to initiate and encourage difficult conversations surrounding all areas of diversity.
Anthony Locke
Dean of Students
Crossroads School, Santa Monica
This book is great! I love the honesty from which these authors speak. As a black kid going to a mostly white private school, I remember living in distinctly different circles from my classmates. While reading it, I felt a personal connection to the stories and imagine many others felt the same. I have no doubt you have helped save countless relationships. Im going to read it again and figure out how we can introduce chapters to our school communities. Thank you Thank you Thank you!
Cecilia Peck
Documentary Film Maker
Women's Rights Advocate & Activist
Regarding your gorgeous book "Walking Our Talk", I love it, love both your voices, love what you're saying, its so readable and real and it sounds like a genuine conversation that we are all a part of. I'm so moved by it. Congratulations on your thoughtful, impactful and loving contribution to such a meaningful dialogue.
Susan Glusker
Psychotherapist
UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute
This book is a thoughtful in depth discussion of race and culture as it played out in the real world with two real friends. As a family therapist, I would recommend it to my clients as a fabulous tool to get to know themselves on a deeper level. It's a great discussion starter for everyone!
Tony Wright
Captain
Los Angeles Fire Department
Refreshing and informative. In this time of racial awareness, how refreshing to read about the journey of two friends who are defined by their similarities in style, education, and character. Their differences are not just based on race, but a deeper since of self, interest, and reality. Go figure, two young women who know their heritage and appreciate each others journey. They laugh, cry, and learn together as each takes a different path but remain connected. I love this book!!! A must read and a must share for kids off all ages.
Nick Melvoin
Educator, Attorney
Member of Los Angeles Unified School Board
This is up there with Beverly Tatum’s esteemed book "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria: And Other Conversations About Race” as a must-read for those working across lines of difference in our schools and communities. As a white teacher from an affluent part of Los Angeles teaching at a middle school comprised exclusively of students of color and situated in a less-affluent part of town, I struggled with the questions addressed in this book daily. And I often struggled silently. But what I realized when I began having frank conversations with students, their families, colleagues, and others in the community is that, as Maya Angelou puts it in her poem “Human Family,” "We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.” This book is a guide in how to navigate difficult conversations to reach Angelou’s conclusion. And it’s more important now than ever that we get there.
Amy Kawadler
The central message from these two women resonates so closely with my beliefs. "Be curious and stay connected" My professional life as a photographer, curator, event manager and personal life as a dedicated traveler, are centered on connection, telling stories, education, inspiration and support of the imaging community. In a world filled with fear and division, the deceptively simple advice from the authors that its harder to hate someone with a name, a face and a story makes us all connected, breaks down the walls and opens doors in a very simple way.
Rhoda Weisman
Dean of Graduate School of Management
I love this book! As the Dean of the Graduate School of Nonprofit Management at American Jewish University, our mission is to develop the strongest leaders of all backgrounds to lead nonprofit orgs and start-ups that greatly strengthen society. The wisdom in this book, along with its wit, humor and excellent writing is a wonderful, new guide for all of us to navigate the complexities of multiculturalism with grace. This is especially so for organizational leaders. We will study this book in the core leadership class on harnessing individual potential in the Fall - - with our students from Jewish, African-American, Korean, Filipino, Hispanic and other backgrounds to leverage the importance of it's lessons in their social-change work throughout Los Angeles. Thank you Kari Bower and La Fonda Riggins for a breakthrough book.
Jason Neidleman, PhD
Professor of Political Theory
Two women with different backgrounds come together to share insights and inspire change. The great thing about the book is the way it uses the lens of friendship to discuss what might be the most urgent issue in American society. Their friendship offers a model for everyone interested in understanding and valuing our differences. The authors share their personal struggles and successes in coming to terms with what can sometimes be uncomfortable truths about race and racism. They also share their experiences working in diversity training and cultural competency, so the book is infused with both clinical expertise and anecdotal lessons. The book is a pleasure to read in spite of its difficult topic. Its hopeful, optimistic tone gives us confidence that we are not helpless, that there is so much we can do to overcome the things that keep us divided.