APRIL IS HERE! It's officially spring and with that comes sunshine, warmth and some needed rain! We made it through a not-so-harsh winter and are eager see what beauty pops forth in the next few weeks! |
|
|
In March, we egged the amazing Walt Whitman Elementary School in Pontiac with a whole load of Target Gift cards to go toward books, school supplies and other educational materials to enhance their student experience. This school is filled with happy and energetic kids that made us smile from beginning to end! |
|
|
WHERE ARE THE EGGS THIS MONTH? (Book 2, Chapter 8) April - Israel The Eggs landed in Tel Aviv where they met their new friend Yosef. They began their adventure on a beach on the Mediterranean Sea. They also celebrated a Shabbat meal with Yosef and his family, had an adventure in the Old City in Jerusalem, where they took a walk on top of the wall (the ramparts), and through the Tunnel of Shiloh. They ended their time in Israel by floating in the mysterious Dead Sea! |
|
|
NOW LET'S HEAR FROM OUR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION INTERVIEWEE; MEET OUR APRIL GOOD EGG! |
|
|
Darnell Blackburn is a former law enforcement/education officer who joined WDIV-Local 4 in December 2022 as the Crime and Safety Expert for the station. He has also been invaluable in the academic programs for police and helped develop their training and standards curriculum. He is an adjunct professor at Macomb Community College, where he teaches courses on criminal investigations and business marketing. Mr. Blackburn is also the founder of PRAT (Protecting Resources Awareness Training) International LLC, which is a consulting company that empowers people by enhancing their communication skills to handle a wide variety of situations. Some of that work includes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training such as Understanding Implicit and Unconscious Bias, Cultural Competency, and Be the Change Initiative. He recently received the Educational Impact Award at the 2024 Macomb County Black Excellence Gala. |
|
|
Thank you! The Macomb County Black Excellence Award Annual Gala highlights achievements of Black people who live and work in and around Macomb County. I was nominated and received the Educational Impact Award. It is given to individuals, who through their job and/or personal life, empower the community through education. I train law enforcement in Macomb County, as well as nonprofits, in Understanding Implicit and Unconscious Bias Training. |
|
|
Part of my acceptance speech was to let people know that I want them to be encouraged if they are involved in and throughout the community; whether it be training, teaching, or whatever they’re doing, even if they feel like their work isn’t reaching someone, they really are having an impact. I want them to stay positive, feel supported and encouraged, and know they are making a difference. |
|
|
I want to empower them to be safe, and more specifically, give them information that they may know and not think about, or information that they don’t know, to make sure they are safe alone or with their families, outside or inside of their homes. Information helps to empower people. I'm not talking from the self-defense perspective, but how to be prepared by being aware. |
|
|
Sadly, one thing I recently had to do was talk about how to keep our elderly loved ones safe in response to a recent news story. Please check on them frequently or have neighbors check on them, and install cameras in their homes. Empower them – tell them not to open the door for anyone no matter what they say. If you do not feel comfortable – pay attention to your instinct, and if you determine it to be valid, call the police. |
|
|
A big part of the Understanding Implicit and Unconscious Bias Training is called Empathic Equity, which means to walk in someone else’s shoes by being fair and objective. More specifically, this means helping everyone to see each other’s perspective in a way of understanding, even if we don’t agree. We can all agree to disagree, but at least let's hear and see one another respectfully. Table exercises, role playing, surveys and other techniques during the training go into helping people realize this point. |
|
|
Understanding is most important. If we don’t learn to see differently, we can never change. That really means just to look through another’s lens in order to learn about each other. We have to want to do it, meaning have a desire to learn about each other. If I’m training an organization, they’re a captive audience, and I have a unique way of engaging them to help them see from each other’s perspective. |
|
|
This sparks conversation and a desire to learn. Also, if we just listen to one another - going back to what we learned in kindergarten - respecting each other’s property, thoughts, and wishes, we would be much better off in the world. |
|
|
Mr. Blackburn, our immense thanks to you for this interview! You are truly an inspiring and motivating human being. The work you do in all aspects of your life is a tremendous service to our community and beyond. You are a Good Egg, indeed! (You can watch Darnell Blackburn weekday mornings from 4:30 - 8:00 am on WDIV-Local 4) |
|
|
See you in May! Kindly, Sandy Sandy (Ciaramitaro) Mals Author, Founder and President The Good Eggs Foundation The Good Eggs Media |
|
|
"It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart." Rainer Maria Rilke |
|
|
|
|
