Articles & Press

President Trump has issued executive orders to eliminate federal diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, reflecting a broader trend of companies scaling back DEI initiatives. Even before these actions, demand for DEI consulting services had been declining, as many corporations retreated from diversity commitments made after 2020

In 3rd Rail’s debut episode, host Milyna Phillips joins Jini Rae Sparkman and Lawrence Alexander of the Phillips Collaborative to unpack the state of DEI. They dive into tough conversations on education, civil discourse, and admissions—listening, judging, and keeping it real.

In "The Guise of Civil Discourse and the Limits of Tolerance," Jini Rae Sparkman critiques the misuse of civil discourse as a facade for perpetuating racism and intolerance. She references Karl Popper's "paradox of tolerance," emphasizing that unbounded tolerance can lead to the erosion of tolerance itself if intolerant ideologies are not actively challenged.

Performative Inclusivity: Protecting White Comfort with Black Humanity critiques current Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices for prioritizing white comfort over genuine systemic change. The author argues that such performative actions fail to address oppression and systemic racism effectively, calling for DEI practitioners to adopt more active and collective approaches to drive meaningful progress.

Lawrence Q. Alexander II argues that many institutions' commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) were inherently flawed due to their dependence on net tuition revenue (NTR)

As a continuation of our last episode, here is the conclusion to our Affirmative Action series. Since last June, the Supreme Court’s decision to gut affirmative action has been an immensely influential one. It changed the lives of many across the nation which has implications for generations to come. However, in the words of Maya Angelou, "But still, like dust, I'll rise." Many students have overcome what some might see as an obstacle and push everyday to reach for their goals. Listen to what these amazing leaders have to say and we hope you enjoyed the insight this series provides for us all!

In this video, Jude interviews several BB&N admission and college counseling administrators as they bestow their wisdom on us about affirmative action and what it's like to support students throughout the college admissions process. These educational leaders are essential in helping Jude's peers pursue their dreams beyond high school. Stay tuned for part IV, dropping very soon!

As he continues his 3-part series, Jude takes in the student experience of the first class to not have affirmative action in the college admissions process in over 50 years. This piece is crucial in the outcome of the SCOTUS decision last June. Take time to listen to these perspectives from this year’s college applicants! Enjoy! #affirmativeaction#DEIG #studentexperience #scotus