Stripping Away the Blinders

Stripping Away the Blinders

Just about arguably everyone goes through life with a set of invisible blinders obscuring their surroundings and others in their peripheral.  This is by no means a biological trait we are born with, but rather a habit that can slowly develop over time.  Before long, a solid and unwavering barrier is established that can go on to be with certain individuals for an entire lifetime.  

This is an unfortunate truth that comprises much of many people’s lives.  Whether such behavior is reactionary or instinctual is debatable, but take a walk through the streets of New York City and one can see how self-involved everyone seems.  In a metropolitan setting as densely populated as New York can seem an appropriate setting for one to keep to oneself, but usually only after a significant amount of time does the evasive nature of the street leave people once at work:  relationships are eventually developed in the workplace and slowly the blinders start to disappear.

Fundamentally living in a cocoon, and developing the courage to break out of that shell, is a process that can take years if not decades for many people who are unawares of these blinders.  It takes time, and information, for individuals to realize they are indeed shutting out much of the world.  Oftentimes, these people are passing judgment on those foreign to them since their personalities have yet to appear on the table.  In order to break down these barriers, educators go out of their way to better inform others of diversity, identity, inclusiveness, and cultural responsiveness either in the classroom or in the workplace.  By educating people on the pitfalls of labeling and judging others, people can become more empowered than ever before. 

Scott Loren Moore is one such individual who commits his time towards educating people on how judging others based on race, gender, social status, and religious background will only further solidify the cocoon that many are living in on a daily basis.  Visit Mr. Moore’s website to learn more about his incentives and teaching methods, and how his workshops and trainings have helped government organizations, educational institutions, non-profits, and major corporations. 

Trans Bodies, Trans Selves edited by Scott Loren Moore

Trans Bodies, Trans Selves edited by Scott Loren Moore

Trans Bodies, Trans Selves, the new book edited by Scott Loren Moore, is due in bookstores in June 2014.  In the way that the classic book Our Bodies, Ourselves has helped generations of women to take care of themselves both physically and mentally, Trans Bodies, Trans Selves was written as a guide for the transgender community.  It has information about relationships, legal issues, transgender history, and health and wellness issues that transgender people often face.  It is also meant to give transgendered people a way to share this aspect of their lives with friends and family, and to give people insight into the issues and problems that transgender people face in everyday life.  It is also meant to guide students, guidance counselors, and teachers who want to help someone they know who is transgendered.

Mr. Moore edited the book because of his passion for social justice and his quest for understanding when it comes to identity studies.  For these reasons, he also conducts workshops in schools and businesses. The workshops are dynamic and engaging, and appeal to a range of ages, from middle school students to the elderly.  These workshops teach about identity, diversity, cultural responsiveness, and workplace inclusiveness, and they also help businesses to increase the cultural competency of their staff.   He also has workshops that raise awareness about LGBTQ issues and gender identity, and workshops to aid in organizations' recruitment efforts.  The workshops are tailored to the needs of the individual or organization that requests them.

Through the new book and his workshops, Mr. Moore hopes to give support and inspiration to people out there who want to generate dialogues about social issues and perform outreach work.

ScottLoren Moore lives in Brooklyn, New York, and is also in education.  He is a consultant with the New York Department of Education, and works to help teachers implement the Common Core curriculum.