The Unfailing Optimism of Dr. Gloria Ford Gilmer (1928-2021)
In 2022, Gloria Gilmer became the first Black woman mathematician to have her papers archived in the Library of Congress. Her career blended a lifelong effort to empower students to learn math for themselves with a spectrum of broader civil rights concerns, linking what she sometimes called “mathematical power” to a deep commitment to equity and justice. Rooted in the deep mentorship she received in the classrooms and communities of segregated Baltimore, including at the historically Black Morgan State College, Gilmer developed a pedagogy grounded in research and focused on empowerment and care.
The Charge to Create a World that Works for Everyone
“A vision is not just a picture of what could be; it is an appeal to our better selves, a call to become something more.” – Rosabeth Moss Kanter
The Hidden Cost to Perception
Our joy and freedom is interconnected with those who experience life differently from ourselves. Committing to seeing one another through a lens of love can dissolve our fear of the unknown, and create a world where each of us is truly seen and valued as essential to the whole.
My Three Secrets for Creating Change
Change is at the heart of our experiences and mere existence as human beings. It’s at the core of our desires and at the root of our deepest fears. In this post I share my secrets to creating lasting change.