In this episode of The Culture We Speak, I sit down with Ms. Maria Chisolm for an engaging conversation about the power of sharing our stories and its role in shaping how we understand and serve culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) populations. Together, we explore what it truly means to serve through intentional listening, authentic engagement, and equity-centered practice.

Ms. Chisolm shares powerful insights on how stories connect us, challenge bias, and affirm identity. We also discuss the recent shift away from DEI language within our professional spaces and what that means for those committed to justice, access, and representation. This conversation reminds us that every story matters—and that the way we tell and receive those stories can transform the future of our field.

Maria Chisolm, M.S., CCC-SLP, is a bilingual speech-language pathologist who operates a private practice serving culturally and linguistically diverse children and their families across Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico. With a specialization in early intervention and school-based settings, Maria is dedicated to providing comprehensive, culturally responsive, and linguistically appropriate assessments that honor the unique cultural and linguistic backgrounds of each child and family.

Beyond her clinical practice, Maria is passionate about mentoring private practitioners and supporting professionals and organizations working with multilingual families and learners. Through individual consultations, organizational training, and her online community, she offers tailored strategies for both optimizing business systems and enhancing service delivery to better meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse populations.

Maria regularly presents workshops and seminars on best practices for screening and assessing culturally and linguistically diverse populations, as well as effective strategies for starting, scaling, and managing private practices. Connect with Ms. Chisolm:

https://linktr.ee/layersconsulting

https://www.layers.consulting/

https://www.instagram.com/layersconsulting/

https://www.facebook.com/layersmentor

https://www.linkedin.com/company/layersconsulting/

Private Practice Online Community

CLD Online Community

In this episode of The Culture We Speak, I sit down with Ms. Regina Cline for a profound conversation about the experiences & challenges faced by refugee & immigrant populations, emphasizing cultural humility, active listening, & the value of embracing diversity. Cultural humility is defined as a lifelong commitment to self-evaluation, acknowledging power imbalances, & fostering respectful partnerships. Ms. Cline shares personal anecdotes to highlight the importance of empathy & genuine listening to understand the unique perspectives of refugee and immigrant communities. In our discussion we celebrate the richness that diversity brings & explore how it fosters innovation across settings.

Ms. Cline earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Belhaven University. She earned her Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Palm Beach Atlantic University. Ms. Cline spent her previous career in the Social Work and Addiction fields. She has a passion for diversity and immigrant issues, which was birthed, in part, from her experience as a social worker. She is currently the Founder and Executive Director of Embracing Diversity, a 501(c)3 founded serving the immigrant community. Ms. Cline is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Public Affairs/Public and Nonprofit Management at the University of Texas at Dallas. She has also taught “Diversity in the Public Sector” and “Nonprofit Management” courses. She is a co-author of a book chapter about intersectionality and Human Resource Management during the COVID pandemic and is currently completing her dissertation on refugee policy.

Connect with Ms. Cline:

ravin.cline@gmail.com

https://www.diverseworld.co

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravincline/

In this episode, Rachel Archambault, also known as the PTSD SLP, joins me for an in-depth discussion on Trauma-Informed Care and the vital role speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play in supporting clients exposed to trauma. Emphasizing the importance of cultural humility and collaborative care, we share professional insights and highlight self-reflection as a crucial element of effective care for individuals and communities affected by trauma.

Rachel Archambault, MA CCC-SLP is an SLP Program Specialist for Broward County Public Schools. After experiencing a nationally publicized traumatic experience at her workplace, she looked for ways to help work with students (and herself) after trauma. She found trauma-informed care and has been presenting nationally to SLPs as well as other healthcare providers and educators on how Trauma-Informed Care can be used in their setting.

Connect with Rachel:

rachel@ptsdslp.com

www.ptsdslp.com

https://instagram.com/ptsd.slp

https://facebook.com/ptsd.slp

https://linkedin.com/rachel-archambault

For more information on trauma-informed care:

The Deepest Well - Nadine Burke Harris

How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime – Nadine Burke Harris

My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending our Hearts and Bodies - Resmaa Menakem

SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach

Practical Guide for Implementing a Trauma-Informed Approach

Trauma Informed Oregon

Ted Talk: How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime – Nadine Burke Harris

Equity centered Trauma-informed Education (book) - Alex Shervin Venet

What happened to you?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing (book) – Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey