Alan Grant

My girls

The term “toxic positivity” has taken root in American discourse. I’m not completely convinced positive energy contains toxic properties.

My vision for TedX is an extension of my teaching practices. For the past several years I’ve used my large lecture class at Texas A&M— Introduction to Communication Through Sport—to introduce students to various perspectives and points of view. Through the collaborative lens of team sport, I’ve constructed the course as an intersection of communication theories. I prefer to weave my social justice initiatives into the course as opposed to making them “stand alone” concepts. For instance, I have assembled a team of teaching assistants comprised of students from various nationalities, ethnicities, and sexual persuasions to lead group discussion on a variety of topics. I also assign each teaching assistant a “mini-lecture” on the topic that most aligns with their academic focus. The mini lecture series has included “Understanding Latin X,” “The Korean Exchange,” and “Challenging Binaries.” Through these presentations, and the discussions they inspire, we engage the basic tenets of social justice education, which are 1) Acknowledge who is in the room, 2) Meet the students where they are (ideologically), 3) Institute sessions specifically related to race, class, gender, ability, 4) Acknowledge my own biases, and 5) Encourage students to think critically about everything—including me. My life experience has allowed me to foster relationships with professionals from various industries. As such, my primary vehicle for sharing these relationships is The World View Guest Speaker Series. In past years, I’ve invited Brian Johnson, a White male consultant for Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity initiatives, the late Gwen Knapp, a White female editor for the New York Times, Tina Nguyen, an Asian female reporter for a Las Vegas Affiliate, David Shields, a Jewish professor at the University of Washington who is also a prodigious film maker, and Jordan Nixon, a Black lesbian communication scholar whose is an event leader in Harlem. While the speakers’ sex, ethnicity, or orientation may shape their presentation, there have been times when I have not shared these details with my audience. Instead, I have allowed the narrative to organically find its way into the discussion. And it always has. That is because intellectually curious audiences are always inspired to hear from people whose curiosity and whose ambition mirrors their own. I would relish the opportunity to use the World View Guest Speaker Series to inspire and inform the current and future generation of TedX participants, students, faculty, and community members.

Making guacamole