What is Your Cultural Identity? Why Embrace Diversity?

Hi. I am Dr. Deena Gayle Hitzke. I was born and raised in the beautiful valley of Tucson, Arizona, surrounded by majestic mountains and clear skies, and within a diverse culture, enriched by our proximity to the Mexican border and Indigenous spiritual and land loving communities. During my childhood, the schools and neighborhoods in East Tucson were just becoming integrated, arousing fear in some and wonder in others. It was an excellent time to learn about how images of others can instill bias by the images and characterizations we see, and even by the interpretations of scripture and literature that promote belonging by promoting exclusion. As a Jew, with kinky hair that caused others to question if I was passing for white, and as a person with disabilities, I experienced discrimination growing up that shaped my self and world views. I was raised to fear others, and with good reason. For, it has always been more acceptable to harm those living in the margins as inferiors. Yet, as I gained strength through my connections to the African American, Hispanic, Native American, Gay, and Disabled members of my community, and thereby found a way out of fear through solidarity. My mission in life stems from this experience, and is what led me to engage in the fields of advocacy, counseling, and Celebrancy.