Navigating Diversity

numerous articles on the topics of diversity, ecology, wellness and politics. Patty also develops grant proposals and marketing materials for a wide range of care based organizations. And her "Socha" diversity + effectiveness workshop series helps school districts, corporations and non-profit agencies “Sow, Cultivate, and Harvest" their organizations’ full potential.

Patty's experience as a conflict resolution specialist, diversity trainer and mediator with the Greater Dallas Community Relations Commission (GDCRC) helped her develop an honest and effective communication style that engages the listener. Patty's faith, combined with her involvement in civil rights efforts, has given her a deep appreciation and respect for cultural and ethnic differences that inform all of her endeavors. She earned degrees in Psychology and Philosophy from Austin College.

The anti-racism efforts of the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Journey Toward Wholeness program, the fabulous JTW team at First Unitarian Church Dallas, Visions, Inc. and Crossroads Ministries have informed Patty’s understanding of institutional racism. She balances those challenging perspectives with the mediation training she received from Dallas’ Dispute Mediation Center and the dialogue coaching of Nancy C. Wonders.

The National Coalition Building Institute’s Prejudice Reduction and Controversial Issues models have also been influential as she works with people of disparate viewpoints to find common ground.

Gregory Smith has facilitated diversity education programs for over 20 years. Currently, Gregory serves as a training executive with a major law enforcement academy, where he develops and administers law enforcement training pro-grams in the areas of police management and supervision,

Patty and Gregory met in 1995 when they were both relatively new to the field of diversity training. Both strong Intuitive Thinkers on the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator, they have collaborated together on many training projects over the years. Gregory participated in and facilitated several of the GDCRC’s programs and Patty has been a periodic presenter in Gregory's Diversity Train-the-Trainer program. Their professional friendship has been of great importance to them both. It has weathered many questionable comments as they have bravely explored diversity-related topics that colleagues usually try to avoid, including politics, race, gender, religion, homosexuality, and more.

Patty Bates-Ballard is a writer, editor and mother who advocates respect for the earth and its people. Owner of WordSmooth, a communications company, Patty works from her Dallas home where she and her husband, David, raise their two sons, Kory and Kaden. As a freelance writer, she has written

ethics and ethical decision-making and diversity education.

Gregory teaches police personnel throughout the United States and Canada. Qualified to administer the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator, he also lectures on Ethical Leadership, Developing Effective Teams, Conflict Resolution and Coaching through Psychological Type.

He earned a Bachelors of Science in Sociology with a Minor in Multi-Cultural Education from Ball State University, and his Master of Arts Degree in Social Psychology from the University of Texas at Arlington. Gregory also served in the United States Army and the United States Army Reserve for 21 years and progressed in ranks from private to major.

Gregory’s diversity values and beliefs were strongly influenced by his studies at Ball State University. As a student in the Multi-Cultural Education program, Gregory’s mentor, Dr. Charles R. Payne, academically prepared him to communicate with and teach people from mountain regions of the U.S. to federal reservations, and from inner cities to the rural south.

Gregory’s vision of a nation where we can respect each other’s differences, and even honor them, has been strongly influenced by colleagues Mr. Gregory Jones, Baylor University Medical Center, Ms. Diane Berg, University of North Texas, and Mr. David Snoddy, Ontario Police College, Aylmer, Ontario, Canada.

About the Authors