fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
How to make Custom View Controller Transitions In iOS from Scratch.
By: Josh Arnold
Tags: iOS, Animation, Swift, App Development, Programming

An example of some custom View Controller transitions I made. The links to these are at the end of the article!

Introduction

What are UIViewController Transitions?

UIViewController transitions simply refer to how one view controller can transition to another view controller.

Why Learn How to Make Custom Transitions?

Custom transitions allow you to implement interesting UX in your app, for instance, a sliding menu coupled with an elegant animation.

You can make your app feel more seamless and integrated too.

For example, in the GIF above, the image you tap actually expands and jumps out of the view controller, filling the screen to become a new view controller (Instagram & the app store implement similar transitions).

Learning custom transitions from scratch means you have TOTAL control over how your view controllers transition.

Using a third-party library like Hero means you can make quite a few cool transitions, but if you really want to push custom transitions to their limits, it's totally worth learning how to implement them from the ground up.

Ultimately, custom transitions can really add a professional touch to your application. The great news is if you’re already familiar and comfortable with Swift, learning custom transitions is actually pretty straight forward.
How to upload project from FlutLab to GitHub (step-by-step instruction)
By: Myroslava Drobnych
Tags: Flutlab, Github, Flutter, App Development, Flutter App Development

This article is about simple integration between GitHub(cloud-based Git repository hosting service) and FlutLab(Flutter online IDE).

When you just creating your project from a codebase, it is connected to internal FlutLab storage where you can create and restore Project snapshots, just like in some RPGs. It’s very easy and intuitive for beginners because they don’t have to know Git for such operations.

But, if you know Git, and want to use your own repo as a project storage, you can easily switch gears. This is what we’re going to do step by step.

Let’s start.

Go to FlutLab and open your project. Then press the “GitHub” button.

2. Connect your GitHub account in the opened window. FlutLab is doing it in a standard manner — with GitHub Application:

3. Great! Now you can “Create a new repo from the project”.

4. Fill in two fields: Repo Name and Branch name. Flutlab will do the following:

it will create a new GitHub repo with a name provided by you

it will create a master branch from the current state of your project

branch from the current state of your project it will fork a new feature branch from master to accommodate your upcoming changes.

FlutLab is using a simplified GitFlow model where all new changes are being committed to a feature branch, forked from the master. When the feature is ready, you can merge it to the master and then fork a new feature branch for the next change and so on.

5. Now you should see the message about a successful connection to the new GitHub repo. Also, at the bottom of a FlutLab page, you will see the name of your current feature branch — “demo” inside the blue status bar:

6. Go to GitHub and check that your project was created there:

7. Your new branch “demo” is here too

8.Ok! Let’s edit our code ;) Let’s do some changes inside README.md.
App Store Optimization — How To Research ASO Keywords — For IOS Development & Android Development
By: Amir Rimer
Tags: Android App Development, Apps, Apple, App Development, Android

Hi Everyone,

One of the major reasons why many people are not successful with getting people to download their apps is that no one sees their apps.

Many people spend thousands of dollar and countless hours to develop their app, but when it comes to marketing their app they do very little or nothing at all.

In today’s lesson I am going show you how you can drive organic traffic to your app for free.

Here is the lesson:

Feel free to comment with any question or comment that you may have, and I will do my very best to answer.

Curriculum:

Lesson 1: The Secret To Creating A New App Every Single Day

Lesson 2: How To Find WINNING App Ideas

Lesson 3: Create Your Own App Without Knowing Code & Design

Thanks for watching and reading.

Amir

p.s: you can watch more free lessons here

p.p.s: the full course is available here
Advantages of customized web application development
Tags: App Development, Application Development

A web application is considered a client-server computer program, which is stockpiled on a remote server and transported through the internet via a web browser. Some general web applications you have probably performed with consist of Google Docs and so on. Web application development services essentially are an online computer program that can assist you in performing a function, rather than just embrace information.

If you are a business, having a tailored web application can not only benefit your organizational people but can benefit your customers. This blog will show some advantages of a custom web application.

It is tailor-made-

A web application crafted for your business by a web application development company will be accurately what you should solve your problems. The application will be developed to serve the particular purpose you require it for, and you can rest guaranteed your application can undertake all your business prerequisites.

It is scalable-

Sure, off the shelf software may gratify your business objectives mostly, however, it is not as scalable as something custom built. Enduring a custom web application developed will assure that your application can escalate as your venture does, and you won’t be pushed to switch to a more costly program or worry about expensive license purchases.

It is safe-

Online hacking mostly comes from hackers being informed of weak points in generally utilized software that can put a big target on your venture if you utilize one of that software. To hack a tailored coded application would take much more effort and time to learn the program, so it will be a less striking target.

It is adaptable-

If your business already utilizes a few other software, it is no issue to formulate your custom web app to flow smoothly with them. Unlike using several off the shelf solutions that often will not perform together proficiently, a custom web app can be made with your other preferred software in mind, enabling advanced productivity and easy workflow.

It is consistently maintained-

When you utilize commercial software, you are pushed to count on that software development company to maintain your software running. If the organization closes or if they determine to no longer manage that app, you will be pushed to switch software that can be an unexpected expenditure for your venture.

You can save money over time-

Enabling a custom web application built of course is not necessarily cheaper than utilizing something off the shelf, but over time it can accumulate a huge deal of money. You won’t have to pay for licensing packages or buy extra hardware as your application can be established to work with your existing hardware. Also, you will own your application, so you won’t have to pay to utilize it.

If you are searching for custom web application development services in Singapore, look at us- BizzmanWeb. We have developed effective web app development services for clients and expertise and skills to furnish exactly what your business requirements.
Hire Mobile App Developers in Canada
By: Khushbu Muchhadiya
Tags: Mobile App Developers, App Development, Hire App Developer, Hire App Developer Canada, App Developer

Do you want to develop the best app for your business? HourlyDeveloper.io knows what it requires to turn your mobile app development idea into a successful mobile application.

Hire mobile Developers from Top Mobile APP Development Company in Canada, Mobile applications have become an inevitable part of online businesses. The reason for shifting to mobile applications over traditional web applications is increased customer engagement loyalty.

Ready to build a solid team of developers? LET’S TALK THEN..! Call us on +161–97–986983, email us at sales@hourlydeveloper.io
How to use FlutLab Installer (step-by-step instruction)
By: Myroslava Drobnych
Tags: Flutlab, Flutter, Flutlab Installer, App Development, Flutter App Development

FlutLab is very convenient when you want to develop a WEB Flutter app. But for Android, you had to manually upload your APK to the device (and manually remove the previous version), manually install it. A lot of routine work!

But that bad times are over! Now you can use the new Android app, available on Play Market, named (surprise, surprise) FlutLab Installer. You can see the link to this app just inside a new “Devices” tab in FlutLab Settings:

Go to Google Play and Download FlutLab Installer to your Android device.

2. Sign In with your FlutLab account:
School Exposure and Personal Contact Lead to Decreased Bullying Towards Children with Autism
By: Michelle Rianto
Tags: Autism, Inclusion, Bullying

By Michelle Rianto

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are more likely to experience some form of bullying compared to other neurotypical children. It has been found that children and adolescents become influenced to partake in bullying through their school environment and peer groups. This study aimed to explore if neurotypical children exposed to others on the autism spectrum would impact their attitude towards bullying.

It was found that neurotypical children that interacted with other children with ASD experienced an increase in prosocial behaviors in relation to hypothetical bullying scenarios. By increasing their personal contact with people on the autism spectrum, these neurotypical children were able to increase their overall positive attitude towards this population.

In addition, schools that prioritized the teaching of moral responsibility and community led to children being more inclusive to others. By promoting an inclusive culture, children are more likely to engage in positive prosocial emotional reactions thus decreasing their tendency to bully other children. Furthermore, school exposure results in decreased levels of verbal bullying and social exclusion of children with ASD. When schools enforce appropriate social norms that are inclusive to children on the autism spectrum, other neurotypical children learn how to demonstrate greater prosocial responses during their interactions with peers on the autism spectrum. Therefore, classrooms that enforce inclusivity are more likely to include the needs of children with disabilities. This promotes an inclusive environment that teaches neurotypical children to respect their peers for their differences and decrease their tendency to bully others.

Moreover, neurotypical children that increased their personal contact with peers on the autism spectrum developed more positive attitudes towards these children. By spending more time with their peers, neurotypical children were able to disconfirm stereotypes and foster positive beliefs and behaviors surrounding children who were differently-abled. Overall, increased levels of personal contact was linked to positive cognitive attitudes towards individuals with ASD.

In conclusion, these findings highlight the importance of maintaining an inclusive school community and providing ample opportunities for neurotypical children to interact with their peers on the autism spectrum. These two factors promote increased levels of prosocial emotions and behaviors that directly translate into decreased bullying targeted towards children with ASD. By promoting social interaction, neurotypical children learn to be more inclusive and begin to develop a more positive attitude towards their peers on the autism spectrum
Inclusionism Radio w/ Ben Kallos
By: James Felton Keith
Tags: Education, Politics, New York City, Inclusion, Basic Income

Inclusionism Radio w/ Ben Kallos

This week on the Inclusionism radio show on WHCR 90.3 FM, Peter and I talked to Councilmember Benjamin Kallos about his plans to run for Manhattan Borough President. We talked about what he calls "Automatic Benefits" and plans to both streamline and distribute underused services that the city offers regardless of the budget issues from the State of NY. He touched on education spending, housing spending, how he would use the 12 community boards in Manhattan and one of my favorite issues: Universal Basic Income which he thinks can exceed $2000 for New Yorkers.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts.
“Diversity is having a seat at the table, inclusion is having a voice, and belonging is having that voice be heard.”
Tags: Diversity, Inclusion

Buddhism, mixed with my current interests in economics, privilege, immigration, etc. Email <my username>@gmail.com
55 Ways to Be Inclusive: New Year’s Resolutions for You and Your Team
Tags: Diversity, Accelerator, Inclusion Diversity, Goal Setting, Inclusion

Given recent growth on the Fusion team, the nature of our work and industry, and current events that are challenging us all to do and be better, we took 2020 as an opportunity to research and evolve our inclusion practices. We committed to challenging ourselves and each other to confront our own biases and think critically about how to make Fusion an even better team.

We have spent the past year revamping our internal processes to be more inclusive, coaching leadership about inclusion, and joining conversations with external thought leaders to expand our understanding of what it means to be inclusive.

A leader at our company once shared that if you are not inclusive, you have no business being diverse. With this in mind, our team compiled the below list to demonstrate how inclusion can start with a few small, intentional steps. As you read through, consider how you can translate each opportunity into your personal and business goals for 2021.

We humbly acknowledge that there is always room to improve, and we are committed to putting in the work to do so. We hope you join us.

Happy New Year! We look forward to what 2021 brings.
I think that can be true.
By: Rob Doyle
Tags: Work, Web Development, Ageism, Programming, Inclusion

I think that can be true. With age you can be in a job for the long run due to lifes commitments and higher wages.
Mishmash: the Publication
Tags: Reflections, Life, Publication, Experience, Inclusion

Mishmash: the Publication

Photo courtesy of Karim Ghantous | Unsplash

Hello and welcome to Mishmash! Here we value stories that might not fit in other places, whether they don’t exactly fit into any particular category or they fit into too many. From essays, to articles, to all nonfiction literature in between, we host writings from all walks of life about people’s personal experiences.

How to Write With Us

As stated, we’re open to people from all walks on life. If you find yourself wanting to join us in this journey follow the guide below!

The current process to become a Mishmash writer is to fill out a google form for intake, to which we will email you back if we find you suitable for our publication. It’s not as daunting as it sounds, though! Novice writers are welcome to apply as much as those seasoned in the craft.

The application (as seen above) requires a link to your profile, a link to a draft you’d like published with us, and your email so that we can contact you. We also ask for an introduction as well as why you would like to work with us, but those sections are completely optional.

Please give us around a week’s time to reach out to you before assuming we’ve passed. At the current moment, only one person is running this entire publication.

For Those Writing With Us

While we accept many diverse pieces of work, we do have a few requirements.

Some do’s of writing for Mishmash:

Do share your own personal experiences. Your stories/articles/essays/etc. posted here must relate to yourself and your life somehow.

Your stories/articles/essays/etc. posted here must relate to yourself and your life somehow. Do feel free to branch out with topics. Casting a wide net when writing can be beneficial in gaining more viewership as well as getting insight from different walks of life. If you have a niche you write about though, there’s absolutely no problem with sticking to that.

Casting a wide net when writing can be beneficial in gaining more viewership as well as getting insight from different walks of life. If you have a niche you write about though, there’s absolutely no problem with sticking to that. Do support your fellow Mishmash writers. Applaud, read, and comment on their work. We’re here to create a community around sharing our own experiences, not to just push literature onto others.

Applaud, read, and comment on their work. We’re here to create a community around sharing our own experiences, not to just push literature onto others. Do meter your stories if you prefer. Writers who are with the Medium partner program are more than welcome to publish with us as well as meter their content.

Some dont’s.
Yeah, it's tough!
By: Will Offen
Tags: Ｍedium, Marketing, Publication, Writing, Inclusion

Yeah, it's tough!

I started my publication, Youmeus, to create two things:

1. A place for (genre specific) new writers to get support, be published, and belong to a community.

2. To spread my obsession with highly effective communication and motivate people to move above average skill levels.

The 'chicken and egg' syndrome is the hardest challenge; good writers want an audience and audiences want good writers!

What comes first?

Still, Rome wasn't build in a day!

So I will keep plowing on with all that I know to do, and achieve the goal. Always remembering the old adage:

Activity breeds activity - and success. Eventually!
How do you #PlayUnified During a Pandemic?
By: Unified Sports Alberta
Tags: Alberta, Special Olympics, High School, Unified Sports, Inclusion

Have a scavenger hunt!

The Archbishop Jordan Unified Scavenger Hunt team

In November, I conducted a survey of Alberta high schools. It was clear that Unified Sports is an important part of their school communities. The challenge then became: how do we run Unified Sports during a pandemic? Well, we decided to start with a scavenger hunt.

The task list for the scavenger hunt was straightforward. It was possible to do over Zoom or a Google video chat for anyone learning from home, but also fun to do in school and in person. Each task had points assigned to it and teams were encouraged to try and get as many points as they could.

Teams had approximately two weeks to get through the task list and send in their pictures to try to win a prize in one of three categories:

First to complete the scavenger hunt

Highest number of points

Most creative

Task 1: A teacher holding a sign that says #PlayUnified

Unfortunately, soon after the scavenger hunt started, the Alberta government announced that high school students would be learning from home for the rest of 2020. The scavenger hunt was designed to allow students learning from home to participate, this sudden change for teachers and students made it more difficult. A few teachers said they were planning to take part while everyone was in school, but were no longer able to do so with these unexpected changes.

Fortunately, that was the only major hiccup for the scavenger hunt.

Seven schools sent in pictures and videos for the scavenger hunt. Even though the overall participation number was lower than what I usually expect from Unified events, the impact was still huge.

Schools put their own spin on the tasks, showing how uniquely supportive and special each of their communities are. Barrhead Composite got their mascot’s help to do the tasks, Austin O’Brien included a video of an athlete doing a full workout, Louis St. Laurent got A LOT of teachers involved, and Archbishop Jordan spent tons of time outside, adding fresh air to their accomplishments.

The final winners of the Unified Scavenger Hunt are:

First to Enter: Eckville

Highest point total: Cold Lake

Most creative: Notre Dame (Calgary)

In a year of so much distance and hardship, it was incredible to see so many pictures of Unified teams coming together to support one another. There were so many highlights during the scavenger hunt, but also one that came after the challenge ended: Eckville’s livestream of their awards ceremony. Eckville’s three athletes, who were still in school at the time, were presented with a school jersey. Never underestimate the power that a jersey has to create belonging in a school.

Lastly, to anyone looking for ideas to keep their teams connected during this time, I do strongly suggest trying a scavenger hunt. There are so many ways to make it accessible and inclusive. Here’s my rules and task list if you need a few ideas to get you going.
Making Golf More Inclusive
By: Nordo Nissi
Tags: Sports, Diversity, Nordo Nissi, Golf, Inclusion

To many people, golf is a sport that will forever remain associated with upper class elitism and country clubs with restrictive admissions policies. Fortunately, more and more people are discovering that golf is becoming an inclusive sport with something to offer everyone regardless of their background.

Changing Times

Even with a variety of social changes taking place, however, making golf more inclusive isn’t always an easy process: After all, in some areas the sport can be prohibitively expensive to new players. Although they’re becoming rarer these days, moreover, there are still a few snobs to be found here and there on the world’s great courses. But the chance of encountering a few snobs shouldn’t stop enterprising players from discovering the many pleasures of this deeply challenging sport.

So how can golf become more inclusive over the next decade?

A Great First Impression on the Course

In many respects, people must experience the game before they understand why the pastime of golf has fascinated players for hundreds of years. Indeed, simply getting more people out on their local municipal golf course may serve to shift public attitudes about the sport. Not all courses cost an arm and a leg to play on; in fact, most major cities and bigger towns will have well-maintained public courses located not too far from urban centers.

Towards a More Inclusive Game

Although these smaller courses may not have the amenities or resources of the Augusta National Golf Club, they will likely have plenty of great opportunities for challenging play. These smaller courses are a great place to develop a passion for golf; moreover, playing at one of these locations doesn’t require the kind of financial commitment that playing at a bigger course or country club does.

Being the Change

As the saying goes, seasoned golfers must also “be the change that they want to see” as stewards of this compelling sport. If we are to do away with the snobbish attitudes of the past, we must first seek to examine why such attitudes are irrational and unnecessary. After all, a person should be judged on their character rather than on their bank balance.

If we see someone trying out the sport on a course that we frequent, in other words, we might try getting to know them. Making new players feel welcome at a course can really open up the possibilities of golf for a new generation of sports enthusiasts. When we act as good ambassadors for golf as a pastime, we can help make golf that much more of an egalitarian activity. Truly, that is the ethos of golfing at its best!

Originally published on Nordo Nissi’s website.
Diversity And Inclusion Is A Value For CyberSecurity, For The Whole Business, And For Society | Redefining Security With Kurt John, Siemens USA
By: Itspmagazine Podcast
Tags: Technology, Cybersecurity, Diversity, Education, Inclusion

There are entire groups of people who can become effective cybersecurity resources if trained correctly and given the opportunity. Unfortunately, for many, this is not the case. Why?

Why aren’t more people from various backgrounds given a shot to succeed? Why do organizations tend to stick to hiring models that are based on “prove that you can by showing us that you already have” vs. “if you can demonstrate a passion, a desire, and the ability to think critically, we’re ready to give this a shot?” — that’s a good question!

“One of the best risk assessors that I’ve come across had zero background in cyber; he was an accountant. My predecessor had the foresight: he basically said, ‘Hey, I think you are a great critical thinker, a great literal thinker; how about you join the cyber team.’ When [the then-account] said he didn’t know anything about cyber, [my predecessor] said, ‘it doesn’t matter.’ I inherited him and he is phenomenal.” — Kurt John

Suppose we can engage with diverse individuals who can be identified as possessing the types of qualities that we are looking for and offer the education and training necessary to become skilled cybersecurity professionals. That would be the optimal way to develop a workforce that could finally put cybersecurity program leaders in a strong position.

It shouldn’t come as a piece of unheard news by now that diversity makes all kinds of teams, products, services, and companies more valuable and profitable. In many cases, the value can even extend well beyond the individual and the business.

“We can do two things, actually. We can get the type of talent we need for cybersecurity. And we could really move the needle for groups of people who historically have not had access to the same type of socioeconomic opportunities as others.” — Kurt John
Workplace Inclusion. Your questions on best practices for…
Tags: Workplace Inclusion, Office Culture, Diversity, Management, Inclusion

Your questions on best practices for workplace inclusion answered!

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Gender and sexuality are often difficult subjects to brooch in the workplace. Consider these best practices when updating your workplace’s approach to inclusive language.

“I don’t think I really consciously noticed it when I first started code switching…it was more like a ‘backing into a corner’ feeling. Like the impending doom of feeling socially ostracized with the next thing I said, if I wasn’t careful.”

Positions in DEI are on the rise, get a quick rundown on what CDOs do, and what your company can expect from one.

Today, the ADA continues to support many of our workplace policies. To understand its’ history, founding, and implications for our workplaces today, check out this article.

Creating an inclusive team can be tough when, in-person experiences are no longer apart of your routine. We’ve gathered these best practices on how to lead inclusively in a remote workplace.

Service and emotional support animals are a hot topic these days. But what exactly is a service animal? Find out!

Today, we know that confirmation bias affects technology development and when we allow our biases to distort what we think we know, we take a risk. Discover what you can do to catch bias in your work.

Beyond knowledge of legal and compliance requirements, chief diversity officers should be adept at conflict resolution, mediation, collaboration, and change management. These qualities and more are what you should consider when you write your next CDO job description.

Increasing workforce diversity can help break stereotypes. But it’s difficult to create — and more importantly retain — a diverse workforce if the organization’s environment isn’t inclusive.

A value is only as good as the behavior it inspires. What are they and how can they translate to your business?
What’s the biggest challenge HR Leaders must address now and in the next future?
By: Stefano Tacconi
Tags: Talent, Diversity, Human Resources, Automotive, Inclusion

Earlier last week, we had the chance to ask a few questions to Camilla Coppola, Talent Acquisition & Employer Branding Specialist for the iconic automaker Maserati. She shared with us her vision about the future of work & what Maserati is doing for making the Automotive industry more inclusive.

What’s the biggest challenge HR Leaders must address now and in the next future?

I believe one of the main challenges we face, it’s about identifying, understanding, and pulling out the best of our candidates. Working in an ever-changing environment, where technology evolves fast, creates the need to identify human potential and then shape it to perform at its best in a specific role. It’s not about someone who “can do the job” anymore. Now it’s about getting the best out of human potential to set the base to do multiple, evolving roles in a few years' spans.

What’s the blind spot in the “Inclusion, Diversity and Equality” discussion that is happening lately? And how do we tackle that?

The blind spot I see more often is the lack of awareness about unconscious bias. When we think we’re not biased, when we think we are over it because “we get it” by now, there happens to be a huge mistake.

D&I is a topic that has always been close to my heart. Here at Maserati, we strive to build a culture of trust, safety, and openness to others — valuing our diversity. Implementing D&I policies is a positive trend I see happening in other Italian companies as well — and I hope this is just the beginning.

What’s the people initiative you developed that makes you feel the proudest about?

We implemented a women empowerment initiative, aiming at the professional and personal growth of women in the workplace. I can’t underline enough the importance of gender balance and creating actual pathways for women to management and leadership roles.

If you could change anything in the way companies do HR, what would you change? And how?

I would definitely push the management to be more human. As we know, the HR function is the only one with a ‘Human’ in it — so, what’s more, important than valuing and cultivating our humanity first? Whether you are a candidate, an employee, a manager, or an executive, we all happen to be human, sharing similar vulnerabilities, dreams, and needs. Let’s value that and build our management strategy around it to be more human.

Tell us about an untold story, (something good, bad, or funny) you have seen in your HR career.

You see, I have always felt a maternal, protective instinct with the people I hire, especially at the beginning of my career! When I did my first hires, I used to obsessively check in with them, protecting them, feeling a deep sense of caring which was going a little too far! Sometimes I even thought to myself “should I call them to make sure they ate today?”.
I for Inclusion
By: Shagoon Nayyar
Tags: Inclusive Society, Diversity And Inclusion, Inclusivity, Self Love, Inclusion

What are the few things that come to your mind when you think about inclusion? Diversity, corporate trainings, demographics and so on!

Have you ever sat back and thought that “I” plays the biggest role when we talk about inclusion? To accept anyone else, to appreciate the differences, you need to love yourself first. If you are not in love with yourself, how can you possibly love someone else?

The hesitation for inclusive culture is not because of the differences, but because of the threat we as people feel. We do not appreciate the differences, because that other person triggers our insecurities. The more differences we see, the more we gravitate towards the people who are similar to us.

Most of the inclusion initiatives don’t work because we try to change the mindset towards others rather than changing the mindset of how we perceive ourselves. It’s high time we realize that it is not a matter of compliance but culture, a conscious culture.

It’s time we start talking about self-love, being kind to oneself, accepting who we are and how we should not be seeking validation from outside. The moment we are complete within, we will also start appreciating what lies outside of us!

Ultimately, it’s about “Accepting the diverse today & Building an inclusive tomorrow!”.
Hey! I’m Petter
By: Petter Hobæk-Johnsen
Tags: Sustainability, Design, Digitalplatform, Creative, Inclusion

I LOVE to work creatively. I know I’m resourceful, but I’m really struggling to utilize it. After seeking help a while back, I found out that it was my mental challenges that had put an end to my working life and education. As a result of this, I have not had a job for several years. I’ve stopped by a few, but they did not result in anything.

subconsciously, for a long time I have thought that there must be a better solution for those of us who have ended up outside of a working situation. The offers that do exist did not work for me. There are probably many who recognize, and see themselves in this. Many find themselves being outside of work, with lots of hidden skills that go unnoticed . I understand that this is a rather difficult problem to solve, but I think a lot of it starts with giving us some freedom. Doing things on our terms.

That’s why we created HeiPetter. A smarter way to get people in difficult situations back to work.

We are at the the starting point, and have a lot to learn. Therefore, I invite you who reads this, to learn with us so that we can grow together. It is never too late to want to help and understand each other better.

This means a lot to me

Petter
The Water Kid
By: Shringi Kumari
Tags: Art, Poetry, Mithu Sen, Kohl Rivers, Inclusion

Fading mushroom clouds shine on the sinking son of a refugee

The curled bird

forced in the silhouette of its mother

A treed, impatient for love

loses itself in watery paint strands— hung on paper

The father plants aluminium dolls in his backyard

speaks to kept souls of fallen fugitives

Nationalist songs erupt in schools

coriander is being harvested for unplanned recipes— homes.

Inhabitants. Rightful owners. Eaters of land-food, land-animals. The sea is where the illiterate go to sink. Swimming to starve— for what fish eats man and what man eats fish.

The land-man does. The human-fish does.

In the unspoken world.

Drums become angry commands for anthem-fed younglets

What do robots know.

All of science, museums, definitions of English natured pest words

The dance of knowledge

trickles to become the gait of pride?

then of conquest?

thus preservation of diversity?

The children become museums

fed with information given by and through statues

They recite “is this a poem?”

Only as much as a human is.

Only as removed as the sea has become.

The body once in water becomes

both capable of movement and floatment.

Of flying inside water i.e. drowning or diving

willingness still being the question

Bereft of the feet to walk and culture to hold breath in

Every ritual is the schoolboy’s bus bell- to take him to the

assembly

The father builds his son a water-tomb

Land-men banter on the design of a flag

Human-fish circle with bloody teeth

The refugee is everyone (thus)

who can learn how to swim but can not predict if water is land.
Moving Beyond Inclusion with Dr. Shelton J. Goode
By: Jenn T. Grace, Publish Your Purpose Press
Tags: Diversity, Authors, Diversity And Inclusion, Publishing, Inclusion

On this episode of Invisible Stories, I speak with Dr. Shelton J. Goode, diversity and inclusion specialist and president and CEO of Icarus Consulting, a veteran-owned consulting firm that specializes in helping organizations create inclusive cultures that leverage diversity and inclusion for a competitive advantage. Dr. Goode has also written four books, the newest of which is Winter in America: The Impact of the 2016 Presidential Election on Diversity in Companies, Communities and the Country.

Shelton and I discuss how he goes beyond just inclusion in his books, and how he instills his own experiences within his works. Shelton offers wisdom on:
Curious Kindness
By: Brandi Heather
Tags: Play, Kindness, Authenticity, Advice, Inclusion

We cannot lean into the unknown or unexpected without practice.

Remember hide-and-seek? I never loved hide-and-seek because my experience told me that I would find a great place and then wait, hardly breathing while I could hear the seeker walk past. Eventually, they would yell “Gotcha!” and scare me right out of my stillness and stealth. My heart still races when I think of all the little spaces I acrobatically crammed myself into. But it was practice; we practiced getting lost (and found), critically thinking about where to hide and how to stay quiet.

We negotiated who was “it” first and when the game ended (sometimes leaving players to hide for much longer than expected).

What if we could take that skill and continue to practice it today? I don’t mean giant games of hide-and-seek on multiple floors of an office building. (Although I could!) What I mean is that we need to continue to practice the skills of gameplay, strategy, and preparedness for what is around the corner.

Let’s practice active curiosity.

Can we stop assuming we already know what the other person is thinking before starting the conversation?

Let’s choose to be curious without judgment. Can you imagine if we could teach people to ask with curious kindness before making assumptions or drawing conclusions about people?

Lots to think about as we transition to a new year.
This is what it's all about, Quy -- supporting and encouraging each other!
By: Karen Degroot Carter
Tags: Ｍedium, Marketing, Publication, Writing, Inclusion

This is what it's all about, Quy -- supporting and encouraging each other! Thanks for this great overview. I'd only known about Age of Empathy and Home Sweet Home but now follow all these great publications.
Building a ‘Speak Up’ Culture
By: Anne Jacoby
Tags: Culture, Leadership, Vulnerability, Allyship, Inclusion

Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash

Last week Spring Street wrapped up a 4-day virtual summit for a large media/tech client determined to build a ‘speak up’ culture. Despite the challenges of reaching two global cohorts across each day (talk about Zoom fatigue!), participants grew in confidence over just those few workshops, once they experienced the infectious energy of a welcoming culture. By the end of the summit, we could observe the kinds of interactions that build such cultures:

- Everyone felt safe to share a POV, even if it was different or potentially unpopular

- Humility was on display — folks were quick to share credit or admit fault

- It was okay to share stories about wishing you had done things differently — and even more powerful to admit it publicly

- When people courageously admitted mistakes, others virtually wrapped arms around them in the moment, chatting in: “thank you for sharing,” “it means a lot to hear you say that,” “that must have been a hard moment” or “❤”

- Thankfully a respectful culture didn’t mean humorless — but it did mean laughing with people and not at them

- Creativity thrived, starting from a place of “I don’t have all of the answers, but I’m curious and committed to learning more”

- If someone was noticeably struggling to communicate a thought or land a message, they weren’t left hanging out to dry; instead, others actively jumped in to support, ask questions and help clarify the point

Culture is the company’s lived social contract. It’s a collection of social norms for how we show up for each other. A mediocre culture lacks the kind of interactions described above (read: lots of silence). A toxic culture actively works against them (people regularly assume bad intent, are quick to criticize and avoid admitting fault).

Developing a strong, thriving culture takes continuous practice and hard work. It can be uncomfortable. It requires operating in the grey. It demands we bring our authentic selves, even when we wish we had been a better version of ourselves. And when we work to develop that culture, by speaking up and listening to our colleagues, we often find that better version of ourselves develops, too.
A new narrative: The rise of African leadership
By: Sarah Owusu
Tags: Africa, Diversity, African Leadership, Innovation, Inclusion

If one thing has become piercingly obvious as a result of the global pandemic, it is that everything and everyone is deeply interconnected. Whether we are talking about the invisible spread of the virus across borders and other imaginary boundaries, the potential domino effect when one link of a supply chain is unable to survive, or the contribution of the healthcare system to our entire social fabric, it is clear: we are part of (not separate from) a complex system. This is not a new realisation, but never before has it so directly impacted so many people, in a way that is impossible to ignore. I believe that this reminder of interconnectivity points towards changes in the way we will lead; towards more connectedness, less individualism. It means the days of the Lone Ranger or Superhero leader are numbered, and the space for collective leadership opening up. It is in this space that Africa has a lot to share with the world. For my co-founders and I at We Will Lead Africa, collective leadership means a leadership that is relational, human, empathetic. Grounded in dialogue and story-telling, it is deeply respectful of the unifying web that we all form part of. Across African countries and cultures, we see different expression of this we-ness. One example is the term Ubuntu, usually translated to mean “I am because we are”, that has become familiar globally. Historically, African leadership has been portrayed as broken, corrupt, ineffective or even non-existent. Now we are seeing the decisive action of many African governments in the face of this pandemic paying off, and the World Health Organisation recognising these efforts.

A new narrative around Africa and African leadership is emerging. The hierarchical leadership model has been flipped on its head and replaced with something more inclusive and distributed. Across the continent, many locally-led and locally-relevant innovations are emerging, bottom up.

Everyday Africans doing extraordinary things, together, demonstrating solutions to challenges are found through activating collective intelligence and collaboration. It is these stories that we collect, curate and amplify through the We Will Lead Africa platform. It is our contribution to shifting narratives and uplifting African leadership principles. Despite the immensity of the current challenges still to overcome, one of the positive disruptions of this moment will be a return to the principles of what it means to lead as an African and that enable us to respond meaningfully to complexity. It is time for us to share this way of being with the world.

Sarah J. Owusu (Ghana and Denmark) lives in Mozambique and is an award-winning Organisation Development practitioner, innovation consultant and coach with a focus on facilitating conversations for transformation. She is co-founder of We Will Lead Africa (www.wewillleadafrica.com) that collects, curates and shares stories of everyday African leadership.
A new narrative: The rise of African leadership
By: Sarah Owusu
Tags: Narratives, Everyday Leaders, Leadership, African Leadership, Inclusion

If one thing has become piercingly obvious as a result of the global pandemic, it is that everything and everyone is deeply interconnected. Whether we are talking about the invisible spread of the virus across borders and other imaginary boundaries, the potential domino effect when one link of a supply chain is unable to survive, or the contribution of the healthcare system to our entire social fabric, it is clear: we are part of (not separate from) a complex system. This is not a new realisation, but never before has it so directly impacted so many people, in a way that is impossible to ignore. I believe that this reminder of interconnectivity points towards changes in the way we will lead; towards more connectedness, less individualism. It means the days of the Lone Ranger or Superhero leader are numbered, and the space for collective leadership opening up. It is in this space that Africa has a lot to share with the world. For my co-founders and I at We Will Lead Africa, collective leadership means a leadership that is relational, human, empathetic. Grounded in dialogue and story-telling, it is deeply respectful of the unifying web that we all form part of. Across African countries and cultures, we see different expression of this we-ness. One example is the term Ubuntu, usually translated to mean “I am because we are”, that has become familiar globally. Historically, African leadership has been portrayed as broken, corrupt, ineffective or even non-existent. Now we are seeing the decisive action of many African governments in the face of this pandemic paying off, and the World Health Organisation recognising these efforts.

A new narrative around Africa and African leadership is emerging. The hierarchical leadership model has been flipped on its head and replaced with something more inclusive and distributed. Across the continent, many locally-led and locally-relevant innovations are emerging, bottom up.

Everyday Africans doing extraordinary things, together, demonstrating solutions to challenges are found through activating collective intelligence and collaboration. It is these stories that we collect, curate and amplify through the We Will Lead Africa platform. It is our contribution to shifting narratives and uplifting African leadership principles. Despite the immensity of the current challenges still to overcome, one of the positive disruptions of this moment will be a return to the principles of what it means to lead as an African and that enable us to respond meaningfully to complexity. It is time for us to share this way of being with the world.

Sarah J. Owusu (Ghana and Denmark) lives in Mozambique and is an award-winning Organisation Development practitioner, innovation consultant and coach with a focus on facilitating conversations for transformation. She is co-founder of We Will Lead Africa (www.wewillleadafrica.com) that collects, curates and shares stories of everyday African leadership.
Soaring Vision — An All-around View of the Intangible Within and Beyond the Tangible
By: Alan Rayner
Tags: Infinity, Art, Dreams, Nature, Inclusion

‘View from Anchorage’ (Oil painting on canvas by Alan Rayner, 2001) The grounded perspective of explicit landscape features from one direction is dwarfed by the all-round imagination that apprehends infinite space both inwardly and outwardly. What appear from a distance to be clouds above a local mountain summit are recognised from on high to be snow patches on a summitless peak.

Sometime during the 1990s I had a very powerful dream. I had been flown to Anchorage Airport, in Alaska (something I once did experience in real life on a return flight from Japan to the UK). I looked out of the airport window at distant mountains and tried to find Mt. Mckinley, the highest peak in North America. Sure enough I could pick out a distant snow covered peak. But as I looked, I realized that what I had taken to be clouds in a blue sky above this peak were snow patches on an enormous, summitless peak, looming behind it. I told this story to my mother as she lay on her death bed, and it seemed to bring her relief.

The dream, I felt, offered me a glimpse of the intangible infinite presence that both includes and is dynamically included in all tangible material form. In years to come I was to incorporate this vision into what I now refer to as the philosophy of ‘natural inclusion’. My painting, ‘View from Anchorage’ seeks to show how by relinquishing our attachment solely to material form, we can be inspired by an awareness of what resides within and beyond it.

For further explorations of natural inclusion, please feel free to view other essays on Medium and my personal website at http://www.spanglefish.com/exploringnaturalinclusion
I Feel Included When
By: Corina Oana
Tags: Smile, Listen, Uplifting, Ask, Inclusion

I Feel Included When

By author

You ask me a question and listen without interrupting

You cook and say, “Can you chop this?”

I’m folding laundry and you offer to help with yours

During a meeting, I make a suggestion that is acknowledged

And at the water cooler, my coworker follows up on my suggestion

Because they think it’s got potential

We brainstorm how to get it going

While walking down the street, I hear a compliment, not a cat-call

And people’s eyes above their masks

Have turned up corners for a smile ‘hello’

Inspired by this publication’s idea and the curator’s lightness.