Conference 2026 | DLA - Education + Leadership Training

2026 Concurrent Virtual Workshop

Nurturing Belonging and Being Good Stewards of the Gift

Workshop #2

DLA workshop #2 invites participants to pause, reflect, and learn together as we explore what it takes to create environments where people feel valued, included, and empowered to thrive. Through meaningful dialogue, practical strategies, and shared learning, participants will gain tools to deepen belonging within their teams and strengthen connections across their communities. Frank Velasquez Jr. invites participants to pause, reflect, laugh, and learn together as they experience the power of belonging in real time. Through personal storytelling, meaningful dialogue, and the science of joy, participants will explore how humor, vulnerability, and connection strengthen trust, psychological safety, and team cohesion. This virtual DLA session brings belonging to life through three experiential circles: Included, Valued, and Empowered. Participants will share stories, reflect on what it means to be truly heard, and discover how joy can foster deeper connections across teams and communities. DLA participants will leave with practical strategies, a personalized Joy-Only Zone for their team, and a free Weekly Joy Forecast Planner to help turn insights into everyday practice.

Presenter

Frank Velásquez Jr.
Storyteller Extraordinaire | Social Justice Warrior | Relationship Cultivator

Thu Nov 19 • 10:00 AM

Frank Velásquez Jr.

Storyteller Extraordinaire | Social Justice Warrior | Relationship Cultivator

Storyteller Extraordinaire, Social Justice Warrior and Relationship Cultivator, Frank Velásquez Jr., relentlessly pursues racial and gender equity, while creatively connecting our stories, preserving the distinct flavor of each one like in a yummy bowl of gumbo. As Founder of 4 Da Hood and the visionary behind the Ascending Leaders in Color program, he forges paths for Peeps of Color to lead with more authenticity, courage, and joy! Because for Frank, advancing equity isn’t just a job – it’s a movement towards building generational wealth for communities of color to thrive! And he’s doing it one connection, one story, one courageous conversation at a time.

4DaHood

2026 Concurrent Virtual Workshop

The Inclusion Multiplier: Reimagining Belonging through Everyday Leadership

Workshop #3

As belonging and inclusion evolve, the frameworks guiding our efforts must evolve with them. What would change if we approached belonging as a leadership capability we can develop and practice every day?

In this interactive virtual workshop, Kamana Khadka invites participants to examine familiar approaches, challenge assumptions about how belonging develops, and explore her proprietary Inclusion Multipliers™ framework. Built around five connected leadership capabilities, the framework helps leaders create conditions where people can contribute, influence decisions, raise concerns, and grow.

Through live polls, a shared workplace scenario, and guided reflection, participants will explore how everyday leadership choices shape belonging in workplaces and communities, and how developing other leaders can extend that impact.

Participants will leave with:

A fresh perspective on belonging as an everyday leadership responsibility.
An understanding of the five Inclusion Multipliers capabilities and how they work together.
One practical leadership action to strengthen belonging, with a plan to help another leader learn it.

Designed for people leaders, HR professionals, and organizational leaders, this workshop connects the promise of belonging to practices people can experience in their daily work.

Presenter

Kamana Khadka
Founder & Chief Multiplication Officer, Inclusion Multipliers

Thu Nov 19 • 10:00 AM

Marion Kelly

Director, Community Affairs

Mayo Clinic, Arizona

retired

Marion Kelly is the Director of Community Relations within Communications at Mayo Clinic, where he leads initiatives to foster strong civic, corporate, and neighbor relations and oversees the external Diversity & Inclusion efforts for the Arizona campus. His diverse background includes roles in education, the U.S. Senate, and the George H. W. Bush White House, where he served as Special Assistant for At-Risk Youth Initiatives and White House Liaison for the Department of Labor. He has held leadership positions at the Mayo Medical School and Indiana University School of Medicine.

Marion is active in his community, serving on various boards and co-founding the Coalition of Blacks Against Breast Cancer and Diversity Leadership Alliance. He holds degrees from Kentucky State University and the University of Kentucky and is a lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Marion has received several honors, including the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame induction in 2023. He is married to Francine Ellison Kelly, with three adult children and four grandchildren.

LINKS
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marion-kelly-4866997
https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=Mayo%20Clinic

Joanna de’Shay

Executive Director

Diversity Leadership Alliance

Joanna de’Shay is an avid Servant Leader who was born in Accra, Ghana on the western coast of Africa to a Nigerian Father and a Russian Mother. An immigrant herself, she believes in being a part of the solution to disrupt systemic inequities. As a DEI consultant, her mission is to create bridges and partnerships by educating companies, non-profits, and educational organizations on the vital need for diverse voices and fresh perspectives. A strong advocate for Social Justice, she left a 15-year Corporate Career to explore her passion for Community Service Leadership focused on belonging, representation, access, and fairness. She currently consults with the Diversity Leadership Alliance, serving as its Executive Director, a role she has held for the past ten years. DLA is the premier Education training organization in Arizona dedicated to eradicating racism, bias, and prejudice. DLA stands for Justice and Equity and continues to serve as a pivotal resource for sustainable changes in the community. DLA’s goal is to create an inclusive Community where each person is equally respected and empowered. Joanna is also an Educator, serving as Faculty at Arizona State University, teaching in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. Regularly featured in business publications, she was highlighted in the Business Journal’s August 2021 issue on Philanthropy & Non-profits.

Joanna was also named one of the top 20 non-profit Executives to watch in 2021! A 2018 recipient of the “MLK Stand up for Justice Award”, she continues to advocate for equity for marginalized communities. Joanna is also the recipient of the 2020 “Outstanding Women in Business Award”. An Entrepreneur at heart, Joanna also owns a clothing label called BLACK RUSSIAN LABEL, designed for Global Chic women empowered by their individual style. This Change maker is also a Warrior Mom to two amazing young men, one a graduate of ASU’s Sidney Poitier Film School and the other a Psychology and Sports Medicine double major at the University of Arizona. With a SunDevil and a Wildcat at home, they are indeed a house divided. Everything she does is to ensure that the World is a safer, kinder, more equitable place for her young men to thrive.

Presence and Purpose: A Collective Community Grounding

In-person Conference Sessions

Presence and Purpose is a transformational closing experience designed to help participants pause, reflect, and integrate the learning, conversations, and connections of the conference before considering what comes next.

Through accessible mind-body grounding, guided reflection, community connection, and intentional practice, participants will create space to notice what has stayed with them, reconnect with what matters, and translate insight into meaningful action. The experience will invite participants to consider the wisdom they carry, the patterns they are ready to interrupt, and the possibilities they want to help create.

Participants will leave with a personally meaningful intention, a specific action they can take within the next 30 days, and a longer-term commitment to what they want to practice, strengthen, or create in the year ahead.

The goal is not simply to leave inspired, but to leave grounded, connected, and prepared to act with intention.

Presenter

Cherish McCombs
Founder
Be Intentional

Fri Nov 20 • 3:00 PM

Cherish McCombs

Be Intentional

Cherish McCombs is a human development strategist, learning and culture leader, entrepreneur, and community builder whose work sits at the intersection of personal transformation, professional development, organizational culture, and community impact.

During more than 16 years with Vanguard, Cherish built a multifaceted career spanning people leadership, culture and inclusion strategy, enterprise learning, and leadership development. As a Divisional Culture and Inclusion Strategist and Global Culture and Inclusion Learning Program Manager, she partnered across the organization to advance culture, leadership, and talent priorities. She designed and led enterprise learning and leadership development strategies reaching more than 20,000 employees and 3,000 leaders globally, helping people think differently, lead more intentionally, and create workplaces where people can thrive.

Her commitment to human development extends beyond corporate spaces. Her experience includes youth development and multicultural arts programming, service with United Way, and co-founding The Buy Black Marketplace. A lifelong entrepreneur, she has also built and operated an event planning business and currently provides coaching, consulting, and business development support to entrepreneurs.

After leaving corporate life, Cherish took an intentional two-year personal and professional development sabbatical centered on international travel, reflection, continued learning, wellness, and exploring meaningful transformation in practice. The experience deepened her perspective on the connection between how we live, how we work, and how we navigate change.
Today, Cherish is the founder of Be Intentional, a human development and transformation company grounded in the belief that meaningful transformation begins by creating space to notice where we are, reconnect with what matters, make conscious choices about what comes next, and practice those choices in how we live, lead, work, and build community. Her work brings together learning and development, leadership, culture and inclusion, entrepreneurship, and whole-person development to help individuals and organizations navigate change with greater awareness, adaptability, connection, and purpose.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and a Master of Business Administration.

At the heart of her work is a question she believes belongs to all of us:
What is your intention and how will you practice it?

Inspirational Keynote

In-person Conference Sessions

Leading with Purpose

Latasha Causey brings an inspiring perspective on leading with purpose, courage, and authenticity. As President of NASCAR’s Phoenix Raceway and the first African American woman to hold the position in NASCAR’s 125-year history, Latasha’s journey reflects resilience, barrier-breaking leadership, and the power of bringing people together. A Phoenix native and longtime community leader, Latasha has spent more than two decades building connections across business, community development, human resources, and organizational culture. Drawing from her personal journey and experiences in the Phoenix community, she will offer a powerful reminder that belonging is built through intentional leadership, courageous conversations, and collective action.

Presenter

Latasha Causey, PHR
President
NASCAR’s Phoenix Raceway

Fri Nov 20 • 9:15 AM

Latasha Causey, PHR

President
NASCAR’s Phoenix Raceway

Latasha Causey is the President of NASCAR’s Phoenix Raceway, overseeing the promotion and operation of the modernized facility that is a top motorsports and entertainment destination in the Phoenix, AZ, market. She is the first African American female to hold this role in NASCAR’s history.

Latasha is a Phoenix native and grew up in the West Valley. Prior to joining Phoenix Raceway she was the Community Development Officer for Bell Bank. She worked with key business leaders and community organizations to guide Bell’s efforts in helping minority-owned businesses, nonprofit organizations, underserved populations and neighborhoods. Causey had necessary conversations, in which she actively listened, built trust and took action to come together for the greater good of the community.

Latasha also worked for over a decade at USAA’s North Phoenix Campus. Holding various leadership roles, responsible for strengthening USAA’s brand and culture in the Phoenix market. She was also responsible for leading the USAA local Foundation and employee volunteerism in the Phoenix community. During her tenure she was also part of the HR Talent Acquisition team, supporting and leading recruitment efforts across all USAA locations.

Over the last 20 years, Latasha has worked for various financial organizations having a vast knowledge of the Community Development and Human Resources fields. Latasha holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Arizona State University, Master of Arts Degree with a concentration in Organizational Management and Professional Human Resources certification (PHR).

Latasha is very active in the Phoenix community, in 2024 she was named to the class of Sports Business Journal’s (SBJ) Game Changers: Women in Sports, 2023 Inspiring Sports Executive of the Year by Women in Sports and Entertainment (WISE), in 2021 as one of the Most Influential Women in Arizona, in 2018 Outstanding Women in Business by Phoenix Business Journal (PBJ). She has been a two time KNOW Book feature, on the cover of 85085 magazine (highlighting her volunteer work with the Girl Scouts) and highlighted in Front Doors magazine for her philanthropic work in the community. She is currently on the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Valley Board of Directors and the Chair of the Board for Valley of the Sun United Way.

Latasha is married to her wonderful husband Sullivan; they have two beautiful boys, Sullivan III and Maysn.

Marcos Garciaacosta
Managing Attorney
Marcos Law Group

Marcos E. Garciaacosta, Esq. is a Business and Intellectual Property Attorney and the founder of Marcos Law. With 27 years of experience as an engineer for high-tech companies such as Intel Corporation, he brings deep technical insight to his legal practice. His work spans industries including restaurants and food, entertainment, wearable technology, journalism, creative writing, software, smartphones, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence.

A multicultural and multilingual professional, Marcos is fluent in English and Spanish, with partial proficiency in French, Portuguese, Japanese, and Chinese. He specializes in contract drafting, negotiation, and intellectual property protection, covering technology licensing, talent representation, trademarks, copyrights, and strategic alliances. Marcos holds a Master’s in Industrial Management, a JD, and is licensed to practice law in Arizona.

Passionate about helping startups and entrepreneurs protect and grow their businesses, he thrives at the intersection of law, technology, and creativity. Outside of work, Marcos enjoys reading about history and law, attending community networking events, and spending time with his wife, activist Carmen Cornejo, and their two sons, both mechanical engineers in Arizona’s high-tech industry.

Niloufar Khonsari (she/they)
Executive Director | Facilitator | Leadership Coach
Bala Rising – Organizational Strategy & Culture of Care

Niloufar Khonsari (she, they) is a Bay Area consultant, facilitator, and former movement lawyer with deep experience supporting nonprofits to build more just, caring, and participatory ways of working together. They co-founded Pangea Legal Services, a worker-led immigrant justice organization, and now lead Bala Rising, advancing organizational development, capacity building, and collective leadership.

Nilou’s new book, The Future Is Collective, offers a practical and visionary guide for transforming how we lead, work, and govern together. Drawing on two decades of advocacy and real-world experience, it speaks to the challenges leaders face in times of growth and uncertainty, and uplifts practices rooted in clarity, care, and community.

Lily Zheng
(they/them)
Lily Zheng Consulting

Lily Zheng (they/them) is a no-nonsense strategist, consultant, and author who helps leaders and practitioners build workplaces that work for everyone. They are the creator of the FAIR Framework, an evidence-based approach giving guidance to those driving the next evolution of workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Lily’s work has been featured in the Harvard Business Review, New York Times, and NPR, and their bestselling books, DEI Deconstructed, Reconstructing DEI, and the forthcoming Fixing Fairness, lay out the practical skills and knowledge anyone can use to create the healthy workplaces we all deserve.

Dr. L. Andrea Brownlee
CIS Faculty | Education and Cultural Studies Adjunct Faculty
South Mountain Community College / Arizona State University

Dr. Lewis Andrea Brownlee, Ph.D., is an experienced educator with over a decade of teaching across K-12 schools, community colleges, and universities. A proud graduate of all three Arizona state universities, he earned his doctorate from the University of Arizona.

Dr. Brownlee is deeply passionate about preparing future educators to meet the holistic needs of students of color through culturally responsive, human-centered teaching practices. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, he began his professional journey as a civil engineer, designing and building infrastructure projects, before transitioning into education.

A lifelong learner and avid fisherman, Dr. Brownlee inspires students and colleagues alike through his dedication to equity, excellence, and the transformative power of education. He is also a proud father of two amazing children: Phoenix, 9, an aspiring astronaut and Pokemon trainer; and Athelyn, 11, an aspiring SPED art kindergarten teacher and future Olympic flag football gold medalist.

Jen Zingg
Product Developer/Trainer
Blanchard Institute

Jen Zingg has over 25 years of dedicated service at the non-profit Blanchard Institute as a curriculum developer, designing leadership content for teaching leadership development to students, as well as adults who might lead them.

Jen has also worked over 35 years as a certified public classroom teacher and physical education teacher, as well as 7 years as an adjunct professor at Chapman University, San Diego CA. Jen is a trainer of trainers and has coached and trained public school teachers during their first and second years on the job.

What excites Jen most? The fact that the Blanchard’s leadership program works! She has facilitated the course over 20 years and has seen positive results. She’s thrilled that the financial barrier has been removed so that students and adults can learn these skills at Zero cost. No kidding!

Kevin Groman
Executive Director
The Welcome to America Project

Kevin Groman is a business executive, entrepreneur, investor, inventor, and community leader with a career spanning corporate leadership, legal innovation, real estate development, and venture capital. He currently serves as Executive Director of the nonprofit The Welcome to America Project, where his leadership has significantly expanded services to support refugee self-sufficiency in Arizona, impacting over 10,000 refugees and growing annual revenues tenfold since 2020.

Formerly General Counsel and later CEO of major public and private companies, Kevin has led IPOs, M&A transactions, and large-scale operational initiatives. He is also a founding partner of multiple startups and Arizona-based venture capital funds, and a director for SNUBA International. Deeply committed to impact and inclusion, Kevin combines business acumen with community focus, serving as a professor at ASU teaching a Venture Capital Practicum course, and holding appointments to the City of Phoenix’s Environmental Quality and Sustainability Commission and the Arizona Supreme Court’s Commission on Access to Justice.

Dr. Lauren Megrew – PhD, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Therapist
Organizational Consultant and Neurodiversity Speaker

Dr. Lauren Megrew is a neurodivergent neurodiversity expert, licensed clinical therapist, and equine therapist with a Master’s in Social Work and a PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. She specializes in supporting and advancing neurodiversity awareness both with individuals and in the workplace, with a focus on strengths-based approaches for high-masking individuals.

Blending lived experience with clinical and organizational expertise, Dr. Megrew speaks internationally to help individuals and organizations better understand, support, and celebrate neurodivergence. Through her therapy practice, equine-assisted work, consulting, and public speaking, she is dedicated to reshaping systems of inclusion.

Outside of her professional work, she enjoys writing psychological thrillers, spending time with her husband and daughter, and caring for their lively ranch family of two Great Danes, three cats, two horses, and two snakes in Arizona.

Dr. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell
Founder and Principal Consultant
Co3 Consulting: Co-Creating Cohesive Communities

Dr. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell widely known as Dr. G is a visionary systems thinker, cultural strategist, and catalyst for personal and collective transformation. A Native Hawaiian scholar and practitioner, Dr. G stands at the crossroads of ancient wisdom and contemporary change, fiercely committed to cultivating a world where equity, belonging, and humanity’s shared potential flourish.

Born and raised in Palolo Valley and Pearl City on O’ahu, Hawai’i, Dr. G is the Founder and CEO of Co3 Consulting, a transformative consulting firm grounded in the guiding principles of A.L.O.H.A. (Ask, Listen, Observe, Heart-focus, Adapt). With a fierce belief in systemic change through personal transformation, she designs spaces where organizations can courageously confront their edges, reimagine leadership, and co-create futures founded on justice and deep relational accountability.

Dr. G holds a doctorate in Transformative Studies and Consciousness from the California Institute of Integral Studies, a Master of Arts in Whole Systems Design from Antioch University, and a Bachelor of Social Science from Washington State University. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Western Washington University and as the Oral History Project Senior Coordinator for the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. She is also the author of Let’s Live ALOHA, an internationally recognized children’s book.

Stephen Menendian
Assistant Director and Director of Research
Othering & Belonging Institute

Stephen Menendian is the Assistant Director and Director of Research at the Othering & Belonging Institute, where he supervises or leads many important initiatives, including projects advising state, local, and federal housing authorities. Stephen is the author of many scholarly publications and journal articles, including the landmark books Structural Racism: The Dynamics of Opportunity and Race in America and Belonging Without Othering: How We Save Ourselves and the World (with John A. Powell) from Stanford University Press.

Stephen’s primary areas of expertise are structural racism, civil rights, fair housing, belonging, affirmative action, targeted universalism, and educational equity. He has been interviewed, and his work covered, by CNN, Time, Newsweek, the Atlantic, the Guardian, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, Axios, Bloomberg News, and many local radio and television stations across the country.

Stephen also regularly advises and provides technical assistance to policymakers, foundations, non-profits and other institutions on creative ways to promote diversity, equity and inclusion within the bounds of law and on equity metrics, such as measures of segregation, opportunity and belonging.

Amy Jin Johnson
Executive Director
Harvard University – Project Implicit

Amy Jin Johnson (she/her) is the Executive Director of Project Implicit, where she helps organizations turn research on implicit bias into practical tools for change. Known for bringing clarity to complex topics, Amy guides leaders from uncertainty to informed, actionable decisions. Her work spans keynotes, conference panels, large-scale facilitation, and strategic consulting, partnering with leadership teams, departments, and community groups. With a focus on building trust and promoting dialogue, Amy moves individuals and organizations from awareness to action, aligning decisions with values in ways that are measurable and lasting.

Before joining Project Implicit in 2019, Amy was on the founding staff of two startups, led a nonprofit digital marketing team, served as an editor on two international academic journals, curated museum exhibitions, and lobbied on Capitol Hill in support of the arts and humanities. This breadth of experience allows her to bridge disciplines and translate research into real-world impact.

Amy holds degrees in History from Kalamazoo College (B.A.) and American University (M.A.), and in American Studies from Brown University (M.A.), where she is currently completing her Ph.D. Rooted in a deep commitment to equity and inclusion, Amy blends academic rigor with practical insight. She believes bias is not just a problem to solve; it’s a pattern to unlearn, one decision at a time.

WORKSHOP #3 – FAIR FRAMEWORK

FAIR FRAMEWORK – Coalition Building

Friday, October 31
12:45 PM – 2:00 PM and 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM

Presenter: Dr. L. Andrea Brownlee (he/him)

Friday’s in-person workshops focus on the FAIR Framework — a new human-centered framework for building organizations that are fair, accessible, inclusive, and representative for all, designed around four principles that hone focus, defuse backlash, and build buy-in. The FAIR Framework was created by Lily Zheng (they/them), a sought-after DEI speaker, author, strategist, and organizational consultant who specializes in hands-on systemic change to turn positive intentions into positive outcomes.

Rather than put the blame for a problem or the onus of problem-solving solely on identity groups, FAIR efforts are achieved through broad coalitions bringing people together across differences to take responsibility and build solutions that work for all.

WORKSHOP #4 – FAIR FRAMEWORK

FAIR FRAMEWORK – WIN-WIN over Zero Sum

Friday, October 31
12:45 PM – 2:00 PM and 2:15 PM – 3:30 PM

Presenter: Juan Taveras (he/him)

Friday’s in-person workshops focus on the FAIR Framework — a new human-centered framework for building organizations that are fair, accessible, inclusive, and representative for all, designed around four principles that hone focus, defuse backlash, and build buy-in. The FAIR Framework was created by Lily Zheng (they/them), a sought-after DEI speaker, author, strategist, and organizational consultant who specializes in hands-on systemic change to turn positive intentions into positive outcomes.

Rather than seeking progress for certain groups but not others or communicating about change in zero-sum ways, FAIR efforts aim to solve the root causes of unfairness and by doing so, build a new status quo that is more beneficial for all.

WORKSHOP #2 – FAIR FRAMEWORK

FAIR FRAMEWORK – Systemic Focused Changes

Friday, October 31
8:45 AM – 10:00 AM and 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM

Presenter: Kamana Khadka (she/her)

Friday’s in-person workshops focus on the FAIR Framework — a new human-centered framework for building organizations that are fair, accessible, inclusive, and representative for all, designed around four principles that hone focus, defuse backlash, and build buy-in. The FAIR Framework was created by Lily Zheng (they/them), a sought-after DEI speaker, author, strategist, and organizational consultant who specializes in hands-on systemic change to turn positive intentions into positive outcomes.

Rather than “self-help” interventions limited to changing one person’s behavior or mindset at a time, FAIR efforts shift behavior at scale by changing unfair workplace systems — policies, processes, practices, and culture — to become fairer and human-centered.

WORKSHOP #1 – FAIR FRAMEWORK

FAIR FRAMEWORK – Outcomes over Intentions

Friday, October 31
8:45 AM – 10:00 AM and 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM

Presenter: Joanna de’Shay (she/her)

Friday’s in-person workshops focus on the FAIR Framework — a new human-centered framework for building organizations that are fair, accessible, inclusive, and representative for all, designed around four principles that hone focus, defuse backlash, and build buy-in. The FAIR Framework was created by Lily Zheng (they/them), a sought-after DEI speaker, author, strategist, and organizational consultant who specializes in hands-on systemic change to turn positive intentions into positive outcomes.

Rather than evaluate FAIR initiatives or strategies by looking for leadership commitment, communications, or appearances, an outcomes-based approach requires us to gauge FAIR efforts by whether they have measurably achieved progress.

CLOSING SESSION

Othering is the problem, Belonging is the solution

Thursday, October 30
2:15 PM – 3:30 PM

Stephen Menendian
Assistant Director and Director of Research, The Othering and Belonging Institute

In this DLA Conference closing session, Stephen Menendian draws upon key insights from his groundbreaking book Structural Racism: The Dynamics of Opportunity and Race in America to unpack the deep systemic forces that shape racial inequality and access to opportunity in the United States. Through an examination of how structures rather than individual biases produce and reproduce racial disparities across education, housing, employment, and health, participants will gain a clearer understanding of the mechanisms that sustain inequity.

Stephen will talk about the dynamics of othering and the solution of belonging, detailing the key elements of belonging and how to build belonging institutionally. This session invites companies, educators and practitioners to engage critically with both the conceptual framework and practical strategies necessary to move beyond mere inclusion toward genuine institutional transformation grounded in equity and belonging.

Moderated by Joanna de’Shay

WORKSHOP #4

BETTER TOGETHER: The business case for immigrant inclusion and a stronger global workforce

Thursday, October 30
12:45 PM – 2:00 PM

The Welcome to America Project
Panel: Marcos GarciaAcosta, Niloufar Khonsari, Kevin Groman

True business sustainability requires more than innovation — it requires harnessing the full spectrum of human talent. This DLA workshop demonstrates how immigrant employees contribute to market expansion, organizational adaptability, and long-term success. Combining data, lived experience, and actionable strategies, participants will gain practical tools to build globally inclusive workplaces where every individual thrives. By investing in inclusion, organizations unlock resilience, drive measurable growth, and strengthen their role as leaders in a diverse economy.

WORKSHOP #3

The Science of Implicit Bias and its influence on perception, judgement and decision-making

Thursday, October 30
12:45 PM – 2:00 PM

Amy Jin Johnson
Executive Director, Harvard University – Project Implicit

This captivating workshop is designed to explore evidence-based strategies for improving decision-making and interpersonal interactions by understanding subconscious cognitive patterns. Project Implicit’s PATH Curriculum is centered on four key competencies that serve as the foundation of our educational services. Through this framework, participants build practical skills that enhance decision-making, improve collaboration, and lead to stronger, more thoughtful workplace dynamics.

WORKSHOP #2

GRACIOUS ANGER: A force for courage, protection and healing

Thursday, October 30
10:15 AM – 11:30 AM

Dr. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell
Founder and Principal Consultant, Co3 Consulting

WORKSHOP #1

Unleashing Hidden Superpowers: Inclusion through neurodiversity, disability & mental health awareness

Thursday, October 30
10:15 AM – 11:30 AM

Dr. Lauren Megrew – PhD, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Therapist | Organizational Consultant and Neurodiversity Speaker

In 2025, leading organizations recognize that true inclusion means embracing the whole person, including those navigating neurodivergence, disability and mental health diversity. This workshop explores how a holistic approach to accessibility and well-being not only cultivates a more compassionate workplace but also unlocks the full potential of diverse talent. DLA workshop attendees will gain insights into how inclusive practices such as trauma-informed leadership, sensory-friendly environments, flexible work structures, and universal design support psychological safety, creativity, and resilience. We will examine the evolving business case for disability and mental health inclusion and provide actionable strategies for fostering a workplace where every employee can thrive.

OPENING SESSION

Reimagining DEI commitments in a shifting business landscape

Thursday, October 30
9:00 – 10:00 AM

Presenter: Lily Zheng

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives are caught in the crossfire of shifting political, economic, and social pressures. Will companies choose to drive innovation, growth and long-term success through DEI, or look to achieve these goals by redirecting investments. As organizations navigate this challenging climate, the stakes are clear: decisions made now will ripple across business performance, stakeholder satisfaction, and employee morale for years to come.

Moderated by Marion Kelly

Allison Rodriguez
News Anchor
Today in Arizona, 12 News

Allison Rodriguez is an experienced television journalist with over 12 years of experience covering Arizona. She joined 12News and the Today in AZ team in 2023. Known for her high attention to detail and ability to work under tight deadlines, Allison excels in news writing, videography, and non-linear editing.

Originally from Chicago, Allison holds a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from Columbia College Chicago. Her journalism career began in Yuma before moving to Phoenix in 2013, where she anchored and reported for ABC15. A seasoned morning show anchor, Allison has been dedicated to telling impactful stories from the Navajo Nation to the Mexico border. Now a proud Arizona resident, Allison is passionate about connecting with the community and sharing their stories.

Elliott M. Francis
Principal DEI Program Manager
SoFi

Elliott is a seasoned business leader with over 20 years of experience across private, federal, and non-profit sectors, specializing in equity, diversity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies and board governance.

Currently as the Principal DEI Lead at SoFi Technologies, he leads the global DEI strategy, conducts deep data analysis, and recommends initiatives to address opportunities areas identified through the annual Enterprise-wide Organizational Health Reviews. Previously, as Senior Manager for DEI Programs at Meta, he directed a global team supporting the Family of Apps to implement DEI action plans, enhance diversity, and establish accountability metrics.

Elliott also led the Global Inclusion, Diversity & Equity (ID&E) Learning & Inclusion Team at Amazon Web Services (AWS), collaborating with senior executives to design impactful learning strategies and drive cultural change. Earlier in his career, Elliott served as Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). In addition to his professional roles, Elliott is an active board member of PetSmart Charities.

Alex Lahmeyer (they/them)
Founder and DEI Consultant
Boundless Arc

Alex Lahmeyer (they/them) is a queer, non-binary, and neurodivergent DEI consultant and career coach who helps people understand their role in expanding access to opportunity. With a talent acquisition and organizational development background, Alex works with clients to weave DEI into the fabric of their operations.

Building on their work driving grassroots DEI initiatives in tech startups, they served as Thumbtack’s first DEI leader, where they developed the company’s global strategy and served as a trusted advisor to employees at every level. In 2020 they received the For All Leadership Award from Great Place To Work for their lasting impact on Thumbtack’s culture.

Today, Alex is the founder of Boundless Arc, serving as a Fractional DEI Business Partner for organizations and a career coach for LGBTQ+ job seekers and allies. They believe intentional, equitable design is key to transforming careers and workplaces alike.

Juan Taveras
Founder, CEO, and Podcast Host
DEI Pro Finder

Juan Taveras is a people-oriented Human Resources and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) professional with 17+ years of experience designing, orchestrating, and championing inclusive workplace initiatives that foster psychological safety, strengthen organizational alignment, and increase engagement.

Juan is a highly engaged, intuitive, and collaborative leader who builds deep and caring relationships with his peers and clients. He has a talent for advising and coaching leaders, gaining trust, and convening stakeholders to co-create vision and strategy.

In addition to his professional experience, Juan is a husband, a father, and an entrepreneur. He lives in Phoenix, AZ with his wife and three daughters and is the co-founder and CEO of DEI Pro Finder, a public online directory for DEI consultants.

Zhou Fang (she/her/tā/她)
Founder, Intersectionality Coach, Leadership Consultant
Intersectional Group, LLC (COBID Certified)

Zhou Fang is the founder and principal consultant of Intersectional Group LLC, a leadership practice with a focus on intersectionality, empathy, compassion, intentionality, and curiosity.

Zhou is a passionate advocate for pay transparency and equity, mental wellbeing, immigration reform, and climate justice, as well as a committed ally for the LGBTQ+ and Indigenous communities. Currently, Zhou serves on the board of Portland HR Management Association. She is also the producer and host of The Intersection, a podcast program about intersectionality, identity, leadership, and personal journey.

Intersectional Group builds relations and works with clients based on their needs, emphasizing the importance of making EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion) part of a company’s business and strategic planning, rather than an add-on or stand-alone function. Intersectional Group is a COBID Certified Business in Portland, Oregon.

Krystal Cobran
Founder & Principal Consultant
Good Impact

Krystle Cobran is here to help you create an inclusive culture — one that Starts with Story. A graduate of The George Washington University Law School, Krystle served as a judicial law clerk in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia, and a NAACP/Kellogg Law Fellow before building two conversation-driven undergraduate university courses from scratch at the University of Georgia as a Visiting Lecturer.

Krystle discovered her love for synthesizing multiple perspectives while facilitating difficult conversations in university classrooms, which led her to begin serving as a private consultant in 2017. She published her first book, The Brave Educator: Honest Conversations about Navigating Race in the Classroom in 2018, and became the inaugural Inclusion Officer of Athens-Clarke County in 2019.

Today, Krystle continues to build her inclusive culture practice, delivering tailored training, strategic advising, and support to C-Suite Executives and teams searching for an inclusive path forward that Starts with Story.

Hady Mendez
Founder and CEO
Boldly Speaking, LLC.

Hady Mendez is a NY-based Amazon best selling author, Latina speaker, and ERG coach. She is the founder and CEO of Boldly Speaking LLC, a company that is transforming the professional experiences of women and people of color by empowering underrepresented employees with the skills to self-advocate, self-promote, and ascend into leadership roles within Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and across organizations.

With a diverse career spanning over 25 years, Hady has served as Head of Equality for a major tech firm, held multiple customer-facing roles in high tech and financial services, served as a leader and advisor across various Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), volunteered as an international champion for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women, and served as Community School Director at an elementary school in the South Bronx.

Hady’s essays have been featured in Business Insider and #WeAllGrow Latina and her thought leadership has been leveraged by organizations such as Hack.Diversity, Power To Fly, Lean in Latinas, and many others. Hady is a Latinas in Tech Luminarias 2022 Honoree, a Women of ALPFA 2023 “Latinas to Watch”, and a LinkedIn “Top Coaching & Mentoring Voice”.

Andre Bradford
Motivation Speaker | TEDx Talk Speaker and Poet
SCSAYS Poetry

Andre Bradford, also known by his stage name S.C. Says, is a beacon of inspiration and creativity in the world of spoken word. As a TEDx Talks speaker and a celebrated Austin-based motivational speaker, Bradford brings a profound depth to his craft that resonates with audiences nationwide.

Since 2013, he has captivated and challenged listeners through his electrifying slam poetry performances, establishing himself as a national champion and a vital voice in the community. His work has garnered attention and acclaim from prominent media outlets, including the Huffington Post, Write About Now, The Edge Radio, The Culture Trip, and Blavity.

He is a two-time Austin Poetry Slam Champion and the 2022 Texas Grand Slam Champion. His poetry collection, “Golden Brown Skin,” is a profound and personal narrative about mental health, surviving depression, and finding God. His poetry delves into a rich array of subjects, from the complexities of being mixed race to the urgent calls for social justice and mental health awareness.

Slam poetry, for Bradford, is not merely an art form; it is a sacred space for storytelling that embraces transparency and fosters dialogue. Spoken word to him is where diverse cultures and experiences converge, allowing for an exchange of ideas that bridges gaps and builds understanding.

MODERATED PANEL DISCUSSION

Sustaining the Mission: Cultivating Resilience and Preventing Burn Out for DEI Champions and Allies (Part 2)

Friday, October 4
10:00 – 11:00 AM

CLOSING SESSION

The Power of Connection: Using DEI Strategies to Build Meaningful Connections

Thursday, October 3
2:00 – 3:30 PM

The true strength of our communities lies in our ability to forge genuine, meaningful connections. This wholistic session is designed to harness the principles and reclaim the power of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to deepen and enrich our interpersonal interactions.

This DLA closing session will guide participants through a journey of self-discovery and relational growth. By exploring innovative DEI strategies, we will uncover how embracing diverse perspectives, practicing empathy, and fostering an inclusive environment can lead to profound and authentic connections. Participants will receive resources to help do some internal work and reflective exercises that will challenge existing biases, celebrate differences, and cultivate a deeper understanding of one another.

WORKSHOP #4

Building a Culture of Trust: Creating Better Strategic Alignment and Metrics for DEIB Within Organizations

Thursday, October 3
12:30 – 2:00 PM

This DLA workshop is designed to help leaders, employees, and practitioners forge stronger connections between Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) goals and organizational success through strategic alignment and definitive measurements.

Participants will delve into how cultivating a culture of trust can drive meaningful engagement and accountability across all levels of the organization. They will learn how to design and implement metrics that track progress, foster transparency, and build employee confidence. Participants will also gain practical insights on aligning DEIB initiatives with your organizational vision and develop actionable strategies to embed trust and effectiveness into your DEIB framework.

Join us to enhance your ability to lead with integrity, create an environment where DEIB goals are seamlessly integrated, and foster a collaborative environment where your employees have agency over their DEIB initiatives.

WORKSHOP #3

Sustaining the Mission: Cultivating Resilience and Preventing Burn Out for DEI Champions and Allies

Thursday, October 3
12:30 – 2:00 PM

WORKSHOP #2

Beyond Apologies and Backlash: Charting a Clear Course for Radical Inclusion

Thursday, October 3
10:30 AM – 12:00 NOON

WORKSHOP #1

The ERG Advantage: Harnessing Employee Resource Groups to Foster a Cultural Momentum Shift in the Workplace

Thursday, October 3
10:30 AM – 12:00 NOON

In this dynamic and timely DLA workshop, participants will discover how Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) can be powerful catalysts for driving systemic change and fostering a vibrant, inclusive workplace culture.

“The ERG Advantage” delves into strategies for leveraging ERGs to amplify diverse voices and ignite a cultural momentum shift within your organization. Participants will explore best practices for establishing and sustaining impactful ERGs and learn how to align ERG initiatives with broader organizational goals. By harnessing the collective power of ERGs, attendees will gain the tools to champion equity, drive social justice, and create a more equitable and inclusive environment where every employee can thrive.

Join DLA to unlock the full potential of ERGs and lead your organization toward powerful and intentional cultural change.

OPENING KEYNOTE

Storytelling for Transformation: Elevating DEI Through Powerful Personal and Organizational Narratives

Thursday, October 3
9:00 – 10:00 AM

Join DLA as we open our 23rd annual Social Justice conference with an inspiring keynote that speaks to the transformative power of storytelling in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Explore how compelling personal and organizational narratives can ignite change, bridge divides, and elevate DEI efforts from mere rhetoric to impactful movements. Discover the art of crafting stories that resonate, engage hearts and minds, and drive meaningful action toward a more inclusive future where your employees are seen, heard, and valued.

Dee Person
Assistant Director (veteran and veteran spouse)
Arizona Coalition for Military Families

Dee Person is the Assistant Director of the Arizona Coalition for Military Families — a public/private partnership in Arizona that leads statewide and national efforts to support service members, veterans, and their families with resources to bolster their financial, emotional, physical and educational wellness to reduce stress and prevent suicide.

Dee is a veteran of the United States Navy. Her service in the Surface Warfare community included two deployments in support of Operation Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. She also served as a subject matter expert at Naval Surface Warfare Center Corona gauging the Navy’s warfighting capability of weapons and integrated combat systems from unit to force level, through assessment of those systems’ performance, readiness, quality, supportability, and the adequacy of training.

Emory Flagg
Career Navigation Specialist
Be Connected / ACMF (US AIR FORCE Retired)

Sandra Ballester
Be Connected Community Engagement Coordinator
(Veteran spouse)

Sandra is a proud wife to a USAF combat veteran. She has a passion for being of service to service members, veterans, and their families. She has an essential role in the success of operations in statewide upstream suicide prevention programs.

Betty Thompson
Senior Health Educator (Retired)
University of Arizona – Maricopa County Cooperative Extension

Sarah Kearney
Executive Director
Blue Zones Project – Scottsdale

Sarah Kearney has over 16 years of leadership experience in tourism and community development. She most recently worked as the Director of Partner Development for Experience Scottsdale. During her tenure there, Kearney held multiple leadership positions and specialized in worldwide leisure sales, partner development strategy, membership and community engagement, and program development.

Kearney has also led a wide array of local Scottsdale organizations, including as the Board President of Scottsdale Leadership, Board President of Community Celebrating Diversity, a Board Member for Scottsdale Sister Cities, and the Vice President of Community Outreach at GiGi’s Playhouse Phoenix/Scottsdale. She holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix and a bachelor’s degree in communication from Arizona State University.

The Blue Zones Project is a community-led well-being initiative designed to help people live better, longer lives with lower rates of chronic disease by transforming the environments where they live, work, learn, and play. The initiative was launched in Scottsdale in March of 2023 through an innovative partnership between Blue Zones, HonorHealth, Cigna Healthcare, and Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona.

BeConnected

At its core, Be Connected is a partnership effort. There is a network of hundreds of public and private sector organizations statewide who serve and support military members, veterans and their families day in and day out.

Be Connected puts the Ecosystem of Support into action with our navigation services provided by phone, online and in-person. All service members, veterans, family members, caregivers and helpers are encouraged to reach out. Our team is here for you!

Rhodes Perry (he/him)
Rhodes Perry Consulting / Belonging at Work

Rhodes Perry (he/him) is a bestselling author, award-winning entrepreneur, and an internationally sought-after keynoter. He helps senior executives and people leaders build belonging at work by establishing psychological safety and trust. Nationally recognized as a diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) thought leader, he has over 20 years of leadership experience having worked at the White House, the Department of Justice, the City of New York and PFLAG National.

Media outlets like Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and the Associated Press have featured his powerful work. Both of his books, Belonging at Work (2018) and Imagine Belonging (2022) debuted as #1 Amazon bestsellers. He earned a BA from the University of Notre Dame and a MPA from New York University. He currently serves on the National LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce’s Transgender Inclusion Task Force, and the Cascade AIDS Project’s Board of Directors.

Dr. Maysa Akbar
Groundbreaking Psychologist
Best-selling Author and Healer

Dr. Akbar is a thought leader and expert in racial trauma, allyship, diversity, equity, and inclusion. She is an engaging and dynamic speaker who is sought by corporations, philanthropies, nonprofit organizations, urban school districts, and social service agencies in their efforts to promote antiracism and advance racial equity. She brings insight, courage, and passion to her conversations with communities of color and white communities alike.

In her first book, Urban Trauma, A Legacy of Racism, Dr. Akbar introduces the Urban Trauma™ framework, unpacking how people of color live in a state of crisis due to oppressive societal systems, resulting in feelings of anger, rage, and hopelessness. In her second book, Beyond Ally: The Pursuit of Racial Justice, with wisdom and compassion, Dr. Akbar advances her racial justice work through the creation of the Ally Identity Model, which details the stages of allyship in dismantling systemic oppression.

Dr. Akbar is a board-certified clinical psychologist and has held an Assistant Clinical Professor position at Yale University, School of Medicine. She is also the founder of Integrated Wellness Group, a psychotherapy practice in New Haven, CT specializing in treating race-based trauma since 2008.

Dr. Lauren R. Powell
President and CEO
The Equitist

Recently named among Fortune’s 40 Under 40 in Healthcare, Dr. Lauren Powell serves as the President & CEO of The Equitist and has previously served as the inaugural Vice President of US Health Equity & Community Wellness at Takeda Pharmaceuticals. In this trailblazing industry role, she moved the pharmaceutical industry’s commitment to drive health equity, to impact.

As the founding leader of The Equitist, she helps systems and leaders move from embracing health equity in theory, to action by equipping them with the tools to dismantle racism and other oppressive forces operating within our healthcare systems. Through immersive workshops, executive and individual coaching, and keynote speaking she shifts mindsets, sways opinions, and enlightens the leaders who are shaping policies and making decisions that impact everyone’s health.

For more than a decade, Dr. Powell has been immersed in broad and progressive leadership positions where she’s been unapologetically outspoken about racial injustices and health inequities. Her professional and personal experiences spearheading equity efforts in healthcare, state government, academia, and public health, make her a nationally sought-after leader, speaker, and consultant on all things health equity.

Formerly the Director of Health Equity for the Commonwealth of Virginia, Dr. Powell was the youngest Black woman and the first with a Ph.D. to serve in this powerful role where she led statewide strategic plans and initiatives towards pushing Virginia’s 8.5 million residents closer to health equity.

Dr. Powell has an established track record as a community-engaged, social epidemiologist with doctoral training on systems change thinking, and how to leverage data for equity. She earned a Bachelors of Science in Biochemistry from Xavier University of Louisiana, a Master in Public Administration at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical and Population Health Research at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

Dr. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell
Founder and Principal Consultant
Co3 Consulting: Co-Creating Cohesive Communities

Dr. Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Co3 Consulting: Co-Creating Cohesive Communities. Dr. G earned a doctorate from the Department of Transformative Studies and Consciousness at the California Institute of Integral Studies. She received her Master’s from Antioch University, Seattle, in Whole Systems Design and a Social Science major with an emphasis in Psychology and Anthropology from Washington State University.

Dr. G identifies as a Pacific Indigenous scholar, a transformative leader, and a designer of change. She was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, and now resides in Seattle, WA. With grace and Aloha, Dr. G understands that the HARD work of Transformation evolves into the HEART work of Liberation.

A certified trainer of the Institute of HeartMath’s Resilience Advantage program, Dr. Gerry teaches the power of resilience alongside co-creating change and leans into the tension where learning and growth reside. Co3 Consulting, LLC is SHRM Recertification provider.

Jeremy Tunnell, M.A.
Principal Consultant and Facilitator
Co3 Consulting: Co-Creating Cohesive Communities

Jeremy Tunnell is a Principal Consultant and facilitator with Co3 Consulting and specializes in facilitating groups in identifying and dismantling whiteness, resilience conditioning, and guided worldview evolution. Jeremy graduated from Antioch University – Seattle in the Whole Systems Design Master’s program. The Whole Systems paradigm provides a perspective into organizational and social structures through a lens of interconnectedness. With this perspective, Jeremy works with groups, organizations, and individuals to find the harmful feedback loops and prevent meaningful success towards positive change. He is a certified training of the Institute of HeartMath’s Activating the Heart of Teams certification. Co3 Consulting, LLC is SHRM Recertification provider.

Together, they are the hosts of the Plowline Podcast, where they engage interesting guests on relevant subjects such as Diversity + Equity + Inclusion & Belonging, Newtonian & Quantum Intuition, Unified Field Physics, and human consciousness to name a few.

EQUITY TOWN HALL

Leading with Equity, Empathy & Advocacy

Friday, November 3
8:00am – 12:00pm

(Continental breakfast served, lunch on your own)

In today’s world, pursuing equity is an urgent and vital mission. The DLA Equity Town Hall will provide a dynamic platform for participants to gather in person and engage in open, courageous conversations about the pivotal role of equity in leadership and community building. Join us as we explore strategies, share stories of impact, and rally around the principles of empathy and advocacy to drive meaningful change in our organizations and communities.

This Equity Town Hall event is designed for leaders, change agents, educators, students, activists, and community members dedicated to championing equity in their spheres of influence. At DLA, change starts with conversation, education, empathy, and action. Together, we can lead the way towards lasting change.

This will be held in-person.

CLOSING FIRESIDE CHAT

Racial Socialization: How did your Parents and Community Raise You to View/Address Racism?

Thursday, November 2
2:00 – 3:30pm

In DLA’s ongoing quest to foster a more inclusive and equitable society, understanding the intergenerational aspects of racial socialization is essential. This conference fireside chat is a panel discussion that invites participants to explore how racial perspectives, values, and strategies for addressing racism have evolved within families and communities over time. Through candid conversations and lived experiences with individuals from different generations, we’ll uncover the diverse approaches to raising awareness about racism and promoting racial equity. From the wisdom of elders who navigated civil rights movements to the insights of today’s youth, this panel offers a unique opportunity to explore the interplay between family, community, and the ever-changing landscape of racial awareness.

This is a virtual presentation.

WORKSHOP #4

Resisting Erasure: Honoring the Diversity and Tapestry of Indigenous Cultures

Thursday, November 2
12:30 – 2:00pm

Indigenous cultures have a rich and diverse heritage that spans generations, encompassing unique languages, traditions, and perspectives. Yet, they often face the erasure of their identities and struggle to gain genuine recognition and inclusion, especially in the workplace. In this DLA conference workshop, we invite participants to explore and celebrate the vibrant tapestry of Indigenous cultures, fostering a deeper understanding of their history and contributions.

Participants will explore the historical injustices and systemic challenges faced by Indigenous communities, acknowledge the impact of colonization, and learn respectful ways to engage honoring their sovereignty and resilience. Participants will leave with a practical action plan to advocate for Indigenous rights and culture within their workplace and community.

Key takeaways:
Uncover effective strategies for creating inclusive spaces that embrace Indigenous voices and perspectives.
Gain insights into the vast diversity of Indigenous cultures, languages, and traditions, dispelling common stereotypes and misconceptions.
Learn the importance of avoiding cultural appropriation and supporting Indigenous-led initiatives.

This is a virtual presentation.

WORKSHOP #3

It’s Not Just About Me: A Workshop on Allyship and Leadership

Thursday, November 2
12:30 – 2:00pm

WORKSHOP #2

Building a Gender Inclusive Workplace: A Conversation with Rhodes Perry

Thursday, November 2
10:30am – 12:00pm

Do you want to create a more gender inclusive organization for transgender and nonbinary employees and stakeholders? If so, join fellow colleagues and understand why the future of work will become increasingly nonbinary, and what you can do to prepare today. You will have the opportunity to learn about cutting edge inclusion strategies through a casual conversation with Rhodes Perry, 2 times best-selling author of Belonging at Work and Imagine Belonging. After this session, you will leave empowered to take your gender inclusion commitments to the next level.

Key takeaways:
Appreciate what we all share – no matter our gender identity or expression.
Understand who transgender & nonbinary people are, and why they experience higher rates of poverty, un-and-underemployment, and discrimination.
Learn 3 reasons why the future of work will become increasingly nonbinary.
Gain inclusion strategies to reduce workplace barriers & build a greater sense of belonging for people of all genders.
Commit to one personal action you can take after this learning opportunity.

This is a virtual presentation.

WORKSHOP #1

Embracing Veterans in the Workforce

Thursday, November 2
10:30am – 12:00pm

Embracing Veterans in the Workforce is a comprehensive DLA conference workshop designed to foster an inclusive workplace environment that recognizes and leverages the unique skills, experiences, and perspectives that military veterans bring to your organization. This dynamic workshop will equip participants with the knowledge and tools to create a diverse, equitable workplace that values veterans and honors their contributions.

Participants will also learn key strategies to create and foster a workplace culture that values its veterans and provides them with the necessary tools, support, and resources to thrive.

Key takeaways:
Cultivating an inclusive workplace culture that embraces Veterans.
Overcoming biases in the hiring and integration of Veterans.
Translating military skills into civilian job requirements.

This is a virtual presentation.

CONFERENCE OPENING SESSION

RACISM: A Public Health Crisis

Thursday, November 2
9:00 – 10:00am

The insidious underpinning of Racism is not just a societal problem; it is a public health crisis and everyone at some point will feel the effects of its impact. Individuals from marginalized racial backgrounds are severely impacted and are often navigating a complex landscape of microaggressions, systemic bias, and overt discrimination. These experiences take a toll on their mental health, affecting their self-esteem, self-worth, mood, disposition, and overall quality of life. In this compassionate and informed opening conference session, we will examine the far-reaching consequences of racism on mental health, shedding light on the often-unspoken impact that racial discrimination has on emotional well-being.

This is a virtual presentation.

Erick Garcia
Advisor
Mayo Clinic – Phoenix

Erick Garcia, MHA, is a dynamic leader specializing in healthcare administration, human resources, and belonging. With over eight years of experience in large, multi-state organizations, he has successfully advanced cultures of inclusion, addressed health disparities, and built sustainable belonging programs. Erick helps organizations create a culture of belonging through education, mentorship, community outreach, and social media initiatives, ensuring all employees feel supported.

Erick holds a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Arizona State University and a master’s in healthcare administration from Grand Canyon University. A proud father and husband to an emergency department nurse, he is a courageous servant leader who challenges the status quo to inspire meaningful and lasting change.

Essen Otu
Senior Director, Diversity and Community Affairs
Mountain Park Health

I spent my early childhood in Nigeria, but call Arizona home because I have been here for more than 30 years. Some may not know this, but when I was little I wanted to be an artist. To this day I still love art, but now I have the ability to appreciate it on a deeper level and collect it.

I have been with Mountain Park since 2008. What attracted me to the organization was its willingness to take risks. I believe it’s so important to build relationships. If you can go out and meet people and get to know them on a personal level, you can help them and they can help you. Over time, these relationships blossom and you become so much more aware of what is happening all around you. I would love to see this organization grow to serve more people, while continuing to maintain the feel that makes Mountain Park unique.

I am a huge proponent of philanthropy. I find it interesting because I never knew anything about it growing up. When I was introduced to it, I was fortunate enough to have resources to give to things I believe in. I consider it a great opportunity to do something positive with what I’ve been blessed with.

Dr. Talee Vang
DEI Consultant
Urban Trauma

Personable, authentic, and engaging, Dr. Talee Vang is a licensed psychologist with expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I), as well as health equity. Her educational background as a social scientist and reputation as an effective educator perfectly positions her to help organizations in their evolutionary growth. Dr. Vang has driven health equity and DEI initiatives in healthcare systems and led as a top consultant with Urban Trauma working with corporations such as Bloomberg, Ecolab, Genentech and more. Skilled at conceptualizing complexity, tailoring strategies and trainings to the unique need of any organization, Dr. Vang has a collaborative style that offers expertise, while establishing sustainable methodology for clients to use into the future. Evidence based theories, as well as strategies, and interventions rooted in human and organizational psychology inform the content and work Dr. Vang brings.

Ashlea Taylor-Barber, LMFT
Marriage and Family Therapist
Favor and Grace Under Fire, Therapy and Consulting
Speaking Favor and Grace Under Fire, Speaking and Engagement

Ashlea Taylor-Barber is an independently licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the owner of the therapy & consulting practice Favor & Grace Under Fire PLLC & the speaking and engagement practice Speaking Favor & Grace Under Fire LLC. Ashlea graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and an Advanced Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy.

With over 11 years of experience in the Behavioral Health field, Ashlea loves utilizing experiential techniques with couples, families, and children, specializing in helping folks move through life transitions and trauma, race-based issues, uncovering generational patterns of dysfunction, and working specifically with women.

Ashlea’s philosophy is to create an environment where the systematic root of inter-and intrapersonal conflicts can be addressed, and where clients’ goals can be met.

Ashlea is also experienced in working with clients suffering from trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and people from various backgrounds. Ashlea considers herself the “Black Therapeutic Mary Poppins”, where she can be there when you need her and gone when you do not.

She is a systemic trauma-trained therapist who finds the root of your issues, eradicates the emotional stress, processes through the problem, teaches you how to live in a functional, emotionally productive, and healthy way and then sends you back into the world to create the spaces and places that fit your authentic voice!

Andréa LaVant
Founder and President
LaVant Consulting, Inc.

Andréa LaVant is founder and president of LaVant Consulting, Inc. (LCI), a social impact communications firm that offers cutting-edge corporate development and content marketing for brands and nonprofits. LCI’s specialty is helping brands “speak disability with confidence.” Andréa is widely recognized for spearheading a global disability justice movement as impact producer for Netflix’s 2020 Oscar-nominated film, Crip Camp, executive produced by President Barack and Mrs. Michelle Obama. In this capacity, she became the first visibly disabled Black woman to attend the Academy Awards. She is a nationally and internationally sought-after disability inclusion expert. Her work has been featured on Good Morning America, NBC, Essence.com, the Root, Paper Magazine, and a host of other national media. As a black, disabled woman, Andréa champions intersectionality and is committed to working toward a future where ALL people, particularly disabled people of color, are seen and valued in culture and society at-large.

Dr. Sherard A. Robbins
Owner, Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Visceral Change

Dr. Robbins serves as the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Visceral Change. For close to a decade, Dr. Robbins has operated as a multicultural organizational development consultant helping organizations and institutions across the country and abroad find new and creative ways to center their professional framework around diversity and inclusion. He has championed efforts to address and exact social change both nationally and internationally, and has been highly revered by corporations, councils, and institutions across the globe.

Dr. Robbins received his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy also serves as a with a focus on organizational design and behavior. In addition to his work with Visceral Change, Dr. Robbins is a professor at Vanderbilt University where he teaches the Leading Inclusive Organizations course in the Leadership and Learning in Organizations program for the Peabody College of Education.

Jim E. Warne
Native Advocate, Filmmaker and Educator
Warrior Society Development, LLC and WSD Productions
Community Engagement Director, University of South Dakota Center for Disabilities
Oyáte Circle, Sanford School of Medicine

Educator-Advocate-Filmmaker Jim Warne is a member of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux) Nation. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and a master’s degree from San Diego State University. Currently, Jim is the Community Engagement & Diversity Director at University of South Dakota (USD) Center for Disabilities, Oyáte Circle Sanford School of Medicine, and an Instructor for USD Pediatrics. Jim is President of Warrior Society Development, LLC. He consults for various government agencies, organizations, Tribal Nations, and academia including University of Arizona College of Medicine. Jim is a Motivational Speaker, Native Advocate and his experience includes Congressional Testimonies, Cultural Diversity, Workforce Inclusion, Film Production, Actor/Stuntman, Professional Football, Youth Athletic/Life Skill Camps, Grant & Organizational Development including Higher Ed Administration. Jim’s WSD Productions Film Division produced “7th Generation” an Award-Winning Documentary and his short film, “Oyáte un Itówapi – Pictures of my People” was featured on the Fox NFL Pregame Show. He has been Nominated for 3 Sports Emmys!

Miguel Joey Avilés
(he/him/él)
Global Diversity and Inclusion Keynote Speaker, Consultant, Coach
MJA & CO, LLC

Nathan Baptiste
(he/him/his)
Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Advisor
EDI Mindfulness Consulting
Certified Meditation Instructor

Eleanor Clifford
(she/her)
Founder
Cancel Culture Consulting

Eleanor Clifford is the founder of Cancel Culture Consulting. Eleanor and her team help organisations be authentically inclusive and equitable through their internal and external communications and behaviours. Whilst businesses strive to avoid offence, Eleanor recognised many lack the skill, experience, and technical knowledge to achieve that outcome. She is astutely aware of the impact reputation has on financial success. Eleanor appreciates how organisations grapple with the fast-moving socio-political landscape and the need to match intent with the nuance of their communication. She is uniquely placed to provide pragmatic advice to businesses seeking to minimise their risk of being cancelled and maximise their authentic voice. Eleanor holds a Bachelor of Science (Psychology major) and a Bachelor of Arts (known as Liberal Studies in the US) from the country’s highest ranked college, The Australian National University. She is further pursuing academia writing a thesis and undertaking psychological research amid topics of inclusivity and diversity. Eleanor is highly attuned to current societal issues and attitudes with enormous insight into cancel culture. She is passionate about equity and inclusion, and her motivation is to assist corporates in this space.

Mr. Kareem Neal

Mr. Kareem Neal
2019 Arizona Teacher of the Year / Phoenix Union High School District

Kareem Neal is a self-contained special education teacher in Phoenix, AZ. He has taught students with cognitive delays for 25 years. He is the recipient of the 2019 Arizona Teacher of the Year award, and was recently awarded an honorary doctorate from Northern Arizona University for his contributions to special education in Arizona. He is a 2019-2021 Understood Teacher Fellow and is also on the board of directors for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
Kareem’s passion is connecting all students in schools, springing from his awareness that students with learning differences did not truly feel like members of their school communities. He is now a restorative justice trainer for the Phoenix Union High School District, focusing on building community through eliminating bias that comes from lack of connection with people who are different from each other.
Friday, November 19 • 2:15 – 3:30 pm
Closing Session: Can You Unlearn Hate? Becoming an Anti-Racist Nation

Dr. Jannah Scott

Dr. Jannah Scott
Director / Ramsey Consultancy for Social Justice, Racial Equity & Diversity

Dr. Jannah Scott is the Director at Ramsey Consultancy for Social Justice, Racial Equity & Diversity. She is also a member of the Arizona Interfaith Movement and has been involved with Central Arizona Shelter Services, bringing decades of experience in social justice advocacy and community engagement to her work.
Friday, November 19 • 2:15 – 3:30 pm
Closing Session: Can You Unlearn Hate? Becoming an Anti-Racist Nation

Dr. Mitchell Kusy

Dr. Mitchell Kusy
Professor, Author and Fulbright Scholar / Antioch University

Dr. Mitch Kusy is a professor in the Graduate School of Leadership & Change at Antioch University, a Fulbright Scholar in organization development, and an organization development consultant nationally and internationally. Author of hundreds of articles and six business books, Mitch is most proud of his latest book, Why I Don’t Work Here Anymore: A Leader’s Guide to Offset the Financial and Emotional Cost of Toxic Employees. This book is a supportive tool and guide on how to design communities of respectful engagement that impact personal well-being, team performance, and organizational productivity.
Friday, November 19 • 10:30 – 12:00 noon & 12:30 – 2:00 pm
Workshop #2: Eroding Toxic Behaviors

Dr. Jonathan Luke Wood

Dr. Jonathan Luke Wood
Vice President of Student Affairs & Campus Diversity / San Diego State University

J. Luke Wood, Ph.D. is Vice President of Student Affairs & Campus Diversity and Dean’s Distinguished Professor of Education at San Diego State University. Dr. Wood also serves as the Co-Director of the Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL), a national research and practice center that partners with community colleges to support their capacity in advancing outcomes for underserved students of color.
Dr. Wood has delivered over 1,000 scholarly presentations and his research has been featured by NBC, New York Times, Chronicle of Higher Education, Huffington Post, Fortune Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, San Francisco Chronicle, C-SPAN, and National Press Club. Dr. Wood has authored over 160 publications, including more than 70 peer-reviewed journal articles and 15 books. Luke is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated.
Friday, November 19 • 9:00 – 10:00 am
Opening Keynote: Racelighting – A Racial Reckoning

Mr. Mark Curtis

Mr. Mark Curtis
News Anchor and Decorated Journalist / 12 News

Mark Curtis anchors 12 News at 5, 6, and 10 with Caribe Devine. Mark has been part of Team 12 for more than two decades. He is a decorated journalist, and has won 13 Emmys, a Murrow, and two AP awards for Best Anchor over the course of his career.
Mark made his first on air appearance in the Valley in June 1980. After years covering sports and news across the country — including the 1987 World Series in Minneapolis and stints in St. Louis — he returned to Phoenix in 1995. Over the course of his career, he’s covered two World Series and five different Olympic Games, including Sochi, as well as major political events including President Trump’s 2016 election and the 2018 funeral of Senator John McCain.
Mark went to the University of Georgia and then graduated from American University. His wife Abby and all three of their children attended ASU.
Friday, November 19 • 9:00 – 10:00 am
Opening Session: Racelighting – A Racial Reckoning

Ms. Alika Kumar

Ms. Alika Kumar
Executive Director / Arizona Minority Business Development Agency

A Phoenix resident since 1980, Alika Kumar earned a Master of International Management degree from Thunderbird, School of Global Management, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Arizona State University. The Executive Director of the Phoenix MBDA Business Center, she has served in this important role since 2006.
Alika’s business experience includes consulting for multinational companies conducting research and developing competitive business intelligence; analysis of market research to develop market entry strategies; positioning, and negotiation strategy; and, demand analysis to determine domestic and international markets in various industries. Alika is also an exhibiting Artist who is the proud Mother of three College graduates.
Friday, November 19 • 10:30 am – 12:00 noon & 12:30 – 2:00 pm
Workshop #1: Closing the Pay Gap for Women

Ms. Brenda Herrera Moreno

Brenda Herrera Moreno (she/ella)
Founder & Principal Activator / In.Visible Paradigms

Brenda is an anti-oppression practitioner, consultant & facilitator. Born in Mexico City, but partially raised in India, traveled the world, middle school in South Carolina, high school in Wales, and college in Massachusetts, Brenda identifies as a queer transnational woman of color.
After Hampshire College, Brenda experienced diverse roles in advocacy as a youth program coordinator at a refugee resettlement organization, later as a bilingual counselor for survivors and victims of intimate partner violence, and finally as peer recovery coach.
Brenda built In.Visible Paradigms to support white allies in their connection to the work, community and movement of anti-oppression. Her goal is to go beyond the basics and facilitate transformative spaces for white allies to move forward in the journey of turning silence into language and action.
Friday, November 19 • 2:15 – 3:30 pm
Closing Session: Can You Unlearn Hate? Becoming an Anti-Racist Nation

Mr. Lor Lee

Mr. Lor Lee
DEI Trainer and Consultant / LOR LEE Inclusion Consulting

Mr. Lor Lee brings over 20 years of experience in helping organizations create more inclusive cultures. His expertise spans industries such as k-12 academics, not-for-profits, professional sports, legal, government and healthcare. He is passionate about bringing diverse groups of people together to create a more equitable world where we can collaboratively build on our strengths, breakdown barriers, and move forward towards changing our culture. His Equity practice successfully coaches individuals and teams to advance work for DEI strategies and Health Equity and disparities.
Thursday, November 18 • 12:30 – 2:00pm
Workshop #1: Tolerance to Authenticity

Mr. Jason Sirois

Mr. Jason Sirois, MPA
Organizer, Coach, Facilitator, and Storyteller

Jason Sirois, MPA, is an organizer, coach, facilitator, and storyteller committed to creating opportunities for people to connect authentically across differences. For close to two decades, he has partnered with schools, colleges/universities, corporations, nonprofits, and community organizations in the U.S. and abroad to create more equitable environments.
Jason is the co-host of the In Pursuit of Cross-Racial Friendship podcast and a co-organizer of Constructive White Conversations, a gathering space for White people committed to getting comfortable with the uncomfortable conversations necessary to dismantle the violent systems of white supremacy and racism in the U.S.
Thursday, November 18 • 12:30 – 2:00 pm
Workshop #2: Power & Privilege: Closing the Social Equity Gap

Dr. Kristie Jackson

Dr. Kristie Jackson
Senior Learning Strategist / BloomBoard

Dr. Kristie Jackson, 2012 AZ Teacher of the Year, has worked in education for over 20 years, having taught kindergarten and third grade, as well as held the roles of reading coach/interventionist, site and district level administrator. She has obtained her master’s degrees in educational administration and supervision as well as curriculum and instruction with Reading Specialist and English as a Second Language endorsements.
Her doctorate in higher and post-secondary education focused on teacher preparation and continued professional learning. Northern Arizona University awarded her an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters for her service as a state and national advocate in education. Kristie also serves as an advocate for equity and inclusion in schools and has engaged with Harvard University as a member of a cohort addressing race, equity and leadership in public schools.
Thursday, November 18 • 2:15 – 3:30 pm
Closing Session: Dispelling the Myths of Critical Race Theory

Ms. Jennifer Brown

Ms. Jennifer Brown
Speaker, Author, Humanist / Jennifer Brown Consulting

Jennifer Brown (she/her) is an award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, author, and diversity and inclusion expert who is deeply passionate about building more inclusive workplaces where more of us can feel welcomed, valued, respected, and heard. As the Founder and CEO of Jennifer Brown Consulting (JBC), a certified woman- and LGBT-owned firm, Jennifer and her team design and execute inclusion strategies that have been implemented by some of the biggest companies and nonprofits in the world.
She is the bestselling author of Inclusion: Diversity, The New Workplace and The Will to Change (2017) and How To Be An Inclusive Leader (2019), a shortlist winner of the O.W.L. Award, and winner of the 2019 Nautilus Book Awards’ Business & Leadership category. She also recently co-authored Beyond Diversity: 12 Non-Obvious Ways To Build A More Inclusive World. Jennifer’s podcast, The Will to Change, is downloaded by nearly 15,000 listeners per month.
Thursday, November 18 • 10:30 am – 12:00 noon
Workshop #2: Power & Privilege: Closing the Social Equity Gap

Dr. Lewis A. Brownlee

Dr. Lewis A. Brownlee
Education Faculty, Education Studies / Mesa Community College

Lewis Andrea Brownlee, Ph.D. is an educator who has taught in K-12 schools, Community College, and a University for over a decade. Currently at Mesa Community College he teaches courses in education studies and at Estrella Mountain Community College, as adjunct faculty, he teaches courses in African American studies and ethnic studies. He has attended and graduated from all three State schools, finally completing his Doctorate from the University of Arizona.
His passion is educating teachers in the art of meeting the holistic needs of students-of-color and other marginalized populations. An avid coffee drinker originally from Atlanta Georgia, Dr. Brownlee started his early career as a Civil Engineer designing and building infrastructure projects and systems. He is the father of two beautiful children, Athelyn Brownlee and Phoenix Brownlee.
Thursday, November 18 • 2:15 – 3:30 pm
Closing Session: Dispelling the Myths of Critical Race Theory

Mr. Richard J. Dyer

Mr. Richard J. Dyer
President and General Manager / WUSA9, CBS affiliate — Washington, DC

Richard J. Dyer is the President and General Manager of WUSA9, the CBS affiliate and TEGNA owned station in Washington, D.C. Dyer assumed his new role in January of 2017, returning to his hometown.
Previously, Richard was the President and General Manager of WLWT-TV, the Hearst Television NBC affiliate in Cincinnati for fourteen years. Before joining Hearst, Dyer served as Corporate Vice President of Television Sales at Gannett Television.
A native of Washington, D.C., Dyer holds a Masters’ Degree in Marketing from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Communications from Boston College, where he captained the Eagles football team. Richard and his wife, Yvonne, reside in Bowie, Maryland and have two adult children.
Thursday, November 18 • 9:00 – 10:00 am
Opening Keynote: Race & Inclusion in Media

Mr. Grady Tripp

Mr. Grady Tripp
Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer / TEGNA Inc.

As chief diversity officer, Tripp oversees attracting, retaining and growing diverse talent at all levels of the company, developing training programs to enhance awareness and accountability in diversity issues, facilitating the company’s racial diversity and inclusion employee working group and providing thought leadership to TEGNA colleagues and the media industry.
Since joining TEGNA in 2017, Tripp has been an integral part of the company’s people and culture strategy. He currently leads strategy and execution for TEGNA’s talent acquisition team, in addition to leading a team of human resources professionals supporting television stations in 15 markets.
Tripp holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and an MBA in Finance from Florida A&M University.
Thursday, November 18 • 9:00 – 10:00 am
Opening Keynote: Race & Inclusion in Media

Ms. Rachel McNeill

Ms. Rachel McNeill
Anchor and Journalist / 12 News

Rachel McNeill anchors Today in AZ weekday mornings from 4:30 – 7 a.m., and contributes across all 12 News shows and platforms. Rachel joined 12 News in April 2019.
An Emmy Award-winning journalist, McNeill joined Team 12 from KPRC 2, the Houston NBC affiliate, where she anchored and reported for over 17 years. Earlier in her career, she worked at stations in New Orleans, Louisiana, Raleigh, North Carolina, and Midland, Texas. A proud graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, McNeill earned her degree in Broadcast Journalism.
Committed to community service, Rachel volunteers her time with at-risk youth, and works closely with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Dress for Success. Born in Jamaica, she relocated to Arizona in 2019 with her husband and their two sons.
Thursday, November 18 • 9:00 – 10:00 am
Opening Session: Race & Inclusion in Media

Ms. Tram Mai

Ms. Tram Mai
News Anchor and Journalist / KPNX News, Channel 12

Ms. Mai anchors and reports across all 12 News shows and platforms. As a journalist, the most rewarding part of her job is making a difference in people’s lives.
Tram and her family fled on the last plane out of Saigon before communism took over and she got to take her first steps at a refugee camp at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Her family eventually made their way to southern California, where she graduated from UCLA, majoring in Communications with a minor in Asian American Studies.
From the hurricanes in Florida, to the death of Senator John McCain and the historic ‘Red for Ed’ teacher walkout in Arizona, Tram has covered some of the biggest news stories of our time.
Thursday, November 18 • 2:15 – 3:30 pm — Closing Session: Dispelling the Myth of Critical Race Theory
Friday, November 19 • 2:15 – 3:30 pm — Closing Session: Can You Unlearn Hate?

Dr. Joel P. Martin

Dr. Joel P. Martin
President / Triad West Inc.

Dr. Joel P. Martin, President of Triad West Inc., has more than 20 years’ experience as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion specialist. She is considered “a genuine genius in her approach to transformation” and one of “the best in the nation for delivering breakthrough leadership performance and organizational change.”
Her commitment to creating transformational, inclusive, aligned, and successful organizations has taken her before Fortune 500 leaders and business owners across the US, and to Puerto Rico, Malaysia, Taiwan, China, Russia, the Republic of South Africa, Latvia, and Norway. She earned her Ph.D. in Communications, holds a Masters in Psychology and admission as a Wharton Fellow of the Wharton Business School. She is also the author of “How To Be A Positively Powerful Person” and three other books.
Thursday, November 18 • 10:30 am – 12:00 noon
Workshop #1: Tolerance & Authenticity

Workshop #1

Closing the Pay Gap for Women

Friday, November 19
10:30am – 12:00pm & 12:30 – 2:00pm

It is reported that the average American female worker earns only .82 cents for every dollar the average male worker makes. Over one year after the looming coronavirus pandemic, women are still being paid less. According to the National Women’s Law Center, women have left the workforce to the tune of about 2.3 million women leaving since February of 2020. Women, especially those in our BIPOC and marginalized communities, are not okay and are stretched thin. Some have to down-shift their careers or leave altogether as they are usually the primary caregiver. The result has widened the gender-pay gap and erased years of progress in the workplace for women. In this critical and timely workshop, we will address how to rectify the pay gap for women with dignity, transparency, and an overarching desire to balance and level the long-term financial impacts this inequity has on women well into retirement.

Attendees can expect to walk away with understanding:
How Arizona women fair in the economic impact of wage disparity.
Why gender and race-based parity is critical to the overall health and success of women.
What moral and ethical steps need to be taken to create true equal access for women.

Opening Keynote

Racelighting – A Racial Reckoning

Friday, November 19 • 9:00am – 10:00am

Gaslighting is defined as a process of making someone question their own reality by constantly putting forth a false narrative about them, leading that person to question or doubt their own lived reality or perception. Racelighting, is a racial form of gaslighting and is a lived reality for many in the BIPOC space. It is a form of micro-aggression, stereotyping and use of negative assumptions to demean and oppress people in marginalized communities. It is a modern-day problem that is embedded into a system of oppression and often manifests itself interpersonally. Many people in our community have recognized this very problem and have a desire to not only overcome it, but also learn to live and work in harmony. Dr. Wood will discuss the contemporary challenges facing Black, Indigenous and People of Color and the systemic oppression they continually face.

Workshop #2

Eroding Toxic Behaviors

Friday, November 19
10:30am – 12:00noon & 12:30 – 2:00pm

Building Workplaces of Respect, Dignity & Well-being

Creating safe and respectful workplaces takes more than lip service – it takes understanding and courage to address disrespectful, toxic behaviors in the form of bullying, shaming, and passive hostility. In these uncertain times of racial injustice, political divides, and pandemic polarities combined with disrespectful toxic behaviors, our own mental health and team performance can begin to erode. Dr. Mitch Kusy engages top strategies for restoring our mental health by understanding why toxic behaviors persist and how to take control over what you have the power to influence.

Attendees can expect to walk away with understanding:
How to have a 3-part conversation to bring the right attention to those who engage in toxic behaviors.
How the 4-step apology works when we ourselves violate rules of respect.
How to integrate “values in vivo” in team meetings to make organizational values come alive.

Closing Session

Can You Unlearn Hate? Becoming an Anti-Racist Nation

Friday, November 19 • 2:15 – 3:30pm

In this informative fireside chat, we explore the insidious nature of hate. What causes someone to feel so much hate, anger, and resentment towards others, that they demoralize, dehumanize, and in some extreme cases cause physical harm? The answer is fear. Fear of the unknown with people of a different color, race, religion, or gender identity. This critical dialogue explores how hate happens and whether it is taught, instinctual, or shaped by culture. An anti-racism approach to social justice is proactive and requires having tough and uncomfortable conversations that dismantle the oppressive structures across various systems. To move closer to becoming an Anti-racist nation, we must first take a mindful and intentional approach to acknowledge that hate exists and explore how it seeps into the subconscious, altering our definition of self and others. This critical conversation explores the question: Can you unlearn hatred?

Employer Resource Session

Thursday, November 18 • 4:00 – 6:00 pm

Free and Open to the Public

Join us for this special Employer Resource Session open to all attendees and the public. This session connects employers and employees with valuable diversity, equity, and inclusion resources.

Workshop #2

Power & Privilege

Thursday, November 18
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM & 12:30 – 2:00 PM

Closing the Social Equity Gap

Having power in a company, organization, or even informal group like a board or committee gives an individual the ability, position, stage, title, table, or even capacity to make decisions or act in a particular way that directs or influences the behavior of others. This type of power is held by individuals who have advantages and benefits that they receive solely based on their race, gender, or socioeconomic status. Privilege is not earned but given and is the direct result of systemic inequities that impact the marginalization of individuals in other races, genders, and socioeconomic groups. How, then, can one use their privilege to shape diverse experiences and amplify other narratives? The key to closing this equity gap is Social Justice.

Closing Session

Dispelling the Myth of Critical Race Theory

Thursday, November 18 • 2:15pm – 3:30pm

Critical race theory is being falsely framed and positioned as Marxism and racism and has created a strained divide. Critical race theory is not a racist ideology or practice but a way to challenge the notion that America is a land of equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background. This theory is not new and strives to analyze patterns of inequality that exist, especially within our legal structures. The drive behind critical race theory is to teach neglected, forgotten history and provide a balanced, accurate, and inclusive narrative.

Opening Keynote

Race and Inclusion in Media

Thursday, November 18 • 9:00 – 10:00am

Many in the BIPOC communities have struggled to express, share, and amplify their own narratives and identities because of the systemic controls put in place in the media and entertainment industries which includes film, music, television, and even social media. Does Media have a direct correlation and impact on Racism in America? Our panel of experts will openly discuss race and racism in media and how it has shaped our attitudes, perceptions and subsequently behaviors. We will explore the dire consequences of bias reporting and stereotyping of many in the BIPOC community. These harmful perceptions have created a one-sided narrative of an entire race of people and speaks squarely to the need for broader and more inclusive representation across various media platforms.

Workshop #1

Tolerance to Authenticity

Thursday, November 18
10:30am – 12:00noon & 12:30 – 2:00pm

Featuring Dr. Joel P. Martin: 10:30am – 12:00 pm
Featuring Mr. Lor Lee: 12:30 – 2:00 pm

All Leaders in every organization should strive to be the CIO (Chief Inclusion Officer) and not just the CEO of their organization. They should work diligently every day to create a safe and welcoming company culture that goes beyond tolerance to one where all employees feel seen, heard, and valued. But how can leaders move beyond tolerance to create a place where authenticity can thrive? In this interactive virtual session, we will explore the idea of tolerance, the impact of bias, behaviors associated with inclusive teams, and learn skills to invite true authenticity into the workspace.

Attendees can expect to walk away with understanding:
The foundations of diversity, inclusion and equity.
Bias and the impact bias has on the workplace.
Practical ways to create more authentic workspaces and relationships.

Employer Resource Session

Thursday, November 18 • 4:00 – 6:00 pm

Free and Open to the Public

Join us for this special Employer Resource Session open to all attendees and the public. This session connects employers and employees with valuable diversity, equity, and inclusion resources.

Closing Session

Dispelling the Myth of Critical Race Theory – What it is and isn’t and why YOU should care!

Thursday, November 18 • 2:15pm – 3:30pm

Critical race theory, a “catch-all” phrase among many in our community, is being falsely framed and positioned as Marxism and racism and has created a strained divide. Critical race theory is not a racist ideology or practice but a way to challenge the notion that America is a land of equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic background. This theory is not new and strives to analyze patterns of inequality that exist, especially within our legal structures. The drive behind critical race theory is to teach neglected, forgotten history and provide a balanced, accurate, and inclusive narrative. By giving the whole picture of American history, even the deadly, ugly, racist truths and how it oppressed and marginalized its members in the BIPOC communities, we can get closer to being a nation that protects its citizens…” With Liberty and Justice for All.”

Workshop #2

Power & Privilege

Thursday, November 18
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM & 12:30 – 2:00 PM

Closing the Social Equity Gap

Having power in a company, organization, or even informal group like a board or committee gives an individual the ability, position, stage, title, table, or even capacity to make decisions or act in a particular way that directs or influences the behavior of others. This type of power is held by individuals who have advantages and benefits that they receive solely based on their race, gender, or socioeconomic status. Privilege is not earned but given and is the direct result of systemic inequities that impact the marginalization of individuals in other races, genders, and socioeconomic groups. How, then, can one use their privilege to shape diverse experiences and amplify other narratives? The key to closing this equity gap is Social Justice. By having intentionality around creating equitable spaces, places, and corporate cultures, we can begin to redistribute the power, wealth, and access to opportunities.

Workshop #1

Tolerance to Authenticity

Thursday, November 18
10:30am – 12:00noon & 12:30 – 2:00pm

Featuring Dr. Joel P. Martin: 10:30am – 12:00 pm
Featuring Mr. Lor Lee: 12:30 – 2:00 pm

How Leaders can create authentic spaces for diversity to thrive

All Leaders in every organization should strive to be the CIO (Chief Inclusion Officer) and not just the CEO of their organization. They should work diligently every day to create a safe and welcoming company culture that goes beyond tolerance to one where all employees feel seen, heard, and valued. But how can leaders move beyond tolerance to create a place where authenticity can thrive? In this interactive virtual session, we will explore the idea of tolerance, the impact of bias, behaviors associated with inclusive teams, and learn skills to invite true authenticity into the workspace.

Attendees can expect to walk away with understanding:

The foundations of diversity, inclusion and equity.
Bias and the impact bias has on the workplace.
Practical ways to create more authentic workspaces and relationships.

Opening Keynote

Race and Inclusion in Media

Feeling seen, heard, understood, and accepted

Thursday, November 18 • 9:00 – 10:00am

Many in the BIPOC communities have struggled to express, share, and amplify their own narratives and identities because of the systemic controls put in place in the media and entertainment industries which includes film, music, television, and even social media. Does Media have a direct correlation and impact on Racism in America? Our panel of experts will openly discuss race and racism in media and how it has shaped our attitudes, perceptions and subsequently behaviors. We will explore the dire consequences of bias reporting and stereotyping of many in the BIPOC community. These harmful perceptions have created a one-sided narrative of an entire race of people and speaks squarely to the need for broader and more inclusive representation across various media platforms.

Peggy J. Chase

Peggy J. Chase
President and CEO, Terros Health

Peggy has been a progressive health care leader and innovator for 30 years. Her commitment to service leadership has positively impacted health care policy through her participation on local, state and national boards and committees.
With an extensive background in finance and operations, Peggy has served as the chief financial officer and chief information officer of several companies. In 2014, under Peggy’s strategic vision and leadership, revenues at Terros Health increased from $38 million to $53 million through the expansion of existing services, the growth of primary care services and the acquisition of two local companies.
Thursday, October 29th, 9:15 a.m.
Keynote Panelist: Leading Differently in Difficult Times

Honorable Mayor Corey D. Woods

Honorable Mayor Corey D. Woods
City of Tempe

Corey Woods was elected mayor of the City of Tempe in March 2020. Woods served as a Councilmember for the City of Tempe from July 2008 – July 2016. He was elected to the Tempe City Council in May 2008 and reelected in March 2012.
Woods was instrumental in guiding city policy that led to Tempe’s perfect score in the Human Rights Campaign’s “Municipal Equality Index.”
“I think what our city needs now more than ever is someone who can build a coalition of diverse people and bring them to the table in an open, honest way to discuss some of our toughest topics.”
Thursday, October 29th, 9:15 a.m.
Keynote Panelist: Leading Differently in Difficult Times

Michele Y Halyard, MD, FASTRO

Michele Y Halyard, MD, FASTRO
Mayo Clinic

Dr. Michele Halyard is the Vice Dean of the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine across its 3 campuses in Minnesota, Arizona and Florida, and is also the founding Dean of the Arizona Campus of the medical school. Dr. Halyard is a professor of radiation oncology with expertise in the treatment of breast cancer.
She is a past Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology and past member of the Board of Governors and Board of Trustees of Mayo Clinic.
She is the cofounder and current President of the Coalition of Blacks Against Breast Cancer, which serves to support black breast cancer survivors and provides education to the Black community about breast cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship.
Thursday, October 29th, 9:15 a.m.
Keynote Panelist: Leading Differently in Difficult Times

Closing Session Panel Discussion

A Generation of Oppression – The Past, The Present and OUR Future

This panel will explore a generation of oppression and raise the awareness of the mistreatment of marginalized populations and people in America’s history. Panelists will explore through historical context, where we have been, what we are experiencing now and most importantly what we must evolve into, in order for systemic change to become a part of our future. Hear varied perspectives on the important movements that have shaped the social justice landscape of our country and how moving together as one unified people is going to be the only way to liberate ourselves.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to Justice Everywhere.”

Closing Session Panel Discussion

Am I My Brother’s Keeper – Navigating Society as a Man of Color in America

This personal and insightful panel will give you a glimpse into a day in the life of what it’s like to be a Man of Color navigating Society in America. It is a tale of being relegated to a set of stereotypical characteristics, a monolithic group, where individualism is non-existent. As they have moved through their lives, education and careers many have faced obstacles that have almost broken them, challenged their man-hoods and made them wonder why the skin they were born in is so gravely disrespected, dishonored and feared in American Society.

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

Workshop #4 – A Culture Revolution – Shifting the Culture of Diversity and Inclusion

A psychological disorientation to the Corporate status quo, a Culture shift is a repositioning of individual beliefs, thoughts and behaviors. It is a process of transformation for becoming part of a new and improved normative behavior. Change, although difficult is necessary especially for an organization to approach the work of Diversity, Equity and Belonging in new and innovative ways. In this next level workshop, you will learn the vital tools necessary to create a Cultural turning point within your organization to grow your DEI efforts.

“Culture does not change because we desire to change it. Culture changes when the organization is transformed – the culture reflects the realities of people working together every day.”

Learning Outcomes

Learn how to reposition your individual beliefs, thoughts and behaviors.
Create a Cultural turning point within your organization.
Shift existing paradigms to create new practices and programs.

Workshop #3 – Healing – Trauma of Racism and Discrimination

Racial trauma can be caused by major life experiences of racism such as harassment, workplace discrimination, a hate crime, or even a layering of other smaller incidents such as everyday discrimination, bias and micro aggressions. This critical workshop is Part II to the important work done on day one. In this workshop, we will create much needed space to build genuine connectivity and process through our own narratives so that we can begin a holistic journey of true healing.

“Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

Learning Outcomes

Build genuine connections to yourself and each other.
Develop a process to work through your own narrative towards a holistic journey.
Recognize, repair and hear from experienced life injuries.

DLA AZSHRM Diversity and Inclusion Awards

About the Awards

In 2020, DLA will celebrate and recognize Arizona individuals, Corporations and Organizations that lead by example, creating an inclusive environment that enhances and strengthens the community. The DLA Diversity and Inclusion Award is a joint award given on behalf of Diversity Leadership Alliance and Arizona SHRM. This prestigious award is given to a Corporation or Organization that recognizes and values Diversity, Equity and Belonging. They create a safe space in an inclusive, collaborative work environment where their employees can be their genuine and authentic selves.

In addition to recognizing Corporations and Organizations, DLA will also honor individuals who serve as Diversity and Inclusion Leaders in the Community. These passionate individuals demonstrate collaborative leadership and a visible commitment to the work of Diversity and Inclusion.

Workshop #2 – Co-Conspiracy for Social Justice – Allyship and Advocacy

Co-Conspiracy for Social Justice is about taking Allyship and Advocacy to the next level of action by taking direct responsibility for the power that we each hold and can harness to transform our current systems and spaces. In this workshop you will learn how to be a bold and fierce Ally and Advocate who is willing to disrupt the status quo and truly challenge yourself to become better partners working alongside People of Color to stand in solidarity with marginalized communities and movements.

“The World is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don’t do anything about it.”

Learning Outcomes

Learn the difference between being a Co-Conspirator and Ally.
Discover how to be bold and fierce in your Advocacy.
Define the mindset shift needed to ignite change.

Workshop #1 – Trauma of Racism and Discrimination

Trauma is an experience that is felt worldwide and happens in every community, among every race and at all socio-economic levels without discrimination. Approaching the topic of the trauma experienced from racism and discrimination is difficult, especially overlaid in our current pandemic climate. But we must talk about it, as the trauma is having a profound effect on our work, families, interactions with each other, relationships, health and overall well-being. In this important workshop, you will learn to be mindful and open to others lived experiences and approach racism differently with compassion and consciousness while discovering ways to foster deeper understanding.

“We belong to each other. Together, regardless of race and beyond race, we must want what is right for each other, aspire for better, and work for greater if we are to leave the generations of youth that will come after us a just and equitable society.”

Learning Outcomes

Learn to be mindful and open to others lived experiences.
Foster deeper, more meaningful understanding.
Approach Racism with compassion and consciousness.

Opening Session Keynote

Leading Differently in Difficult Times

Presented by:

Dr. Michelle Y. Halyard – Mayo Clinic
Honorable Mayor Corey D. Woods – City of Tempe
Peggy J. Chase – President and CEO, Terros Health

This Executive C Suite Level panel discussion will give you a chance to see and hear how Executives are reevaluating their own organizations to welcome and embrace Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to amplify the voices, ideas and beliefs of marginalized people, constituents and groups within their organizations. Hear how these Business Leaders have been able to navigate the tension, uncertainty and complexity of the racial issues that their employees have expressed and utilized the moment to create a culture of trust and accountability where positive dialogue, forward movement and progress can occur.

John Loredo

John Loredo
Political Consultant and Former State Representative

Political Consultant and Former State Representative John Loredo is a fourth generation Phoenician who was first elected in 1996.
The Honorable John Loredo is a former member of the Arizona House of Representatives where he served from January 1997 until January of 2005. Prior to his service in the House, he was the Democratic Leader from November of 2002 through November of 2004.
Friday October 30th, 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Panelist: A Generation of Oppression – Panel Discussion

Souta Calling Last

Souta Calling Last
Blackfeet & Blood | Executive Director, Cultural Humility Trainer

Friday October 30th, 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Panelist: A Generation of Oppression – Panel Discussion

Dr. Shirley Yang

Dr. Shirley Yang
PsyD, Psychologist
Arizona State University Counseling Services

Dr. Shirley Yang is a member of the Diverse and Inclusive Arizona State University Counseling Services Team. She is also a member of the Arizona Psychological Association’s Diversity Committee and a board member on the Arizona Psychological Foundation.
Her professional interests and specialties include adjustment and life transitions, mindfulness based interventions, mood disorders, supervision and training, and trauma. She practices with an integrative approach, utilizing CBT, Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.
She earned her Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) from Midwestern University, Glendale and is a licensed Psychologist in Arizona and California.
Thursday, October 29th, 10:30 a.m.
Presenter: Trauma of Racism and Discrimination Workshop

Tyler Walls

Tyler Walls
Onondaga/Hopi – Project Director, Cultural Humility Trainer
Indigenous Vision

Tyler is a member of the Onondaga Nation (beaver clan) and Hopi Tribe (water coyote clan). He grew up in central Arizona and graduated from Arizona State University with a BS in American Indian Studies and a minor in Geography.
As the Project Director for Indigenous Vision, Tyler works with Indigenous nations, communities, and partners to protect the environment and advance social transformation. He was trained as a Cultural Humility Trainer by Dr. Melanie Tervalon and Dr. Jann Murray-Garcia.
He has 13 years of experience facilitating high-impact meetings with various groups and enjoys learning history and sharing stories of culture and the land.
Thursday, October 29th, 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Panelist: Am I My Brother’s Keeper – Panel Discussion

Alberto Olivas

Alberto Olivas
Executive Director, Pastor Center for Politics and Public Service

Alberto Olivas is the Founding Executive Director of the Congressman Ed Pastor Center for Politics & Public Service at Arizona State University, an initiative to help students learn the skills for effective civic and political engagement.
Apart from this role, Alberto provides training and technical assistance on issues related to public dialogue, public engagement and civic education. Alberto has a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from ASU and a master’s degree in Education from NAU.
Thursday, October 29th, 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Panelist: Am I My Brother’s Keeper – Panel Discussion

Sage Ke'alohilani Quiamno

Sage Ke’alohilani Quiamno
CEO and Co-Founder, Future for Us

Friday October 30th, 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Panel Moderator: A Generation of Oppression – Panel Discussion

Dr. Rudy Guevarra Jr.

Dr. Rudy Guevarra Jr.
Associate Professor, Asian Pacific American Studies
Arizona State University

Dr. Rudy P. Guevarra, Jr. is Associate Professor of Asian Pacific American Studies in the School of Social Transformation at Arizona State University.
As a historian and Ethnic Studies scholar, Dr. Guevarra’s work focuses on comparative ethnic studies, race in the U.S., mixed race experiences, and cultural identity and community formations.
He is the author of Becoming Mexipino: Multiethnic Identities and Communities in San Diego and co-editor of Beyond Ethnicity: New Politics of Race in Hawaiʻi.
Thursday, October 29th, 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Panelist: Am I My Brother’s Keeper – Panel Discussion

Mark W. Murphy

Mark W. Murphy
Trainer, FranklinCovey

Mark Murphy has been with FranklinCovey for 27 years and loves the job because he can connect with clients, understand their culture and learning objectives, and then help them create well-tailored solutions that align with their culture and long-term objectives.
He speaks Spanish fluently and has facilitated content in South Texas, Mexico, Argentina and Puerto Rico. Mark has a B.S. in Marketing from BYU with minors in accounting, economics, and Spanish, as well as a Master’s in organizational behavior/industrial psychology from BYU’s Marriott School of Management.
Mark is the Co-author of a book on unconscious bias published by Simon & Schuster, and is a FranklinCovey thought leader on diversity and inclusion responsible for certifying facilitators on the Unconscious Bias: Understanding Bias to Unleash Potential work session.
Friday October 30th, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Presenter: A Culture Revolution – Shifting the Culture Around Diversity and Inclusion!

Dr. Veenod Chulani

Dr. Veenod Chulani
Section Chief – Adolescent Medicine, Phoenix Children’s

Dr. Chulani is one of only a handful of specialists in Arizona who specializes in working with gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) youth, including those seeking cross gender hormonal therapies.
Dr. Chulani is Section Chief of Adolescent Medicine at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and received his medical degree from Ateneo de Davao University. He completed his pediatric residency training at Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York where he also served as chief resident.
Dr. Chulani is board certified in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. His clinical and research interests include adolescent sexual and reproductive health, including the care of GLBTQ youth and eating disorders.
Thursday, October 29th, 12:30 p.m.
Panelist: Trauma of Racism and Discrimination Workshop

Dr. Vicky T. Lomay

Dr. Vicky T. Lomay
Dinè Psychologist, Tsinajini Psychology Services

Dr. Vicky T. Lomay, Ph.D. is a Dinè psychologist in Arizona. She founded Tsinajini Psychology Services, PLLC, in 2010 and specializes in providing psychological services to American Indian communities.
For over two decades, she has focused her direct clinical practice on developing and interweaving culturally appropriate methods into her assessment, testing, and individual psychotherapy work.
Dr. Lomay’s professional contributions include published works on developing and understanding cultural competency in neuropsychological settings and understanding indigenous perspectives of hallucinations, visions and dreams. She maintains strong ties to tribal traditions and the guiding principles of her Dinè identity continue to inform and guide her personally and professionally.
Friday October 30th, 12:30 p.m.
Presenter: Healing from the Trauma of Racism and Discrimination Workshop

Dr. Roy Whitmore, PhD

Dr. Roy Whitmore, PhD
Implicit Bias Scholar, Program Chair
University of Phoenix

Friday October 30th, 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Panelist: A Generation of Oppression – Panel Discussion

Dr. Ray A. Ostos, Ed. D.

Dr. Ray A. Ostos, Ed. D.
District Director for Student Affairs
Maricopa County Community College District

Thursday, October 29th, 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Panel Moderator: Am I My Brother’s Keeper – Panel Discussion

Dr. Michelle Melton

Dr. Michelle Melton
Clinical Psychologist, Melton Psychology Group

Dr. Michelle Melton is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist practicing in the Phoenix Metro area. She has been in the mental health field for over 15 years providing services in a variety of settings including private and state psychiatric hospitals, substance abuse recovery programs, community mental health settings, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Dr. Melton provides trainings in the public and private sectors on mental health hygiene, organizational development, and diversity education and leadership. Dr. Melton’s aim is to use psychological sciences and professional knowledge to improve the condition of individuals, organizations, and communities.
Thursday, October 29th, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. — Panel Moderator: Trauma of Racism and Discrimination Workshop
Friday October 30th, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. — Panel Moderator: Healing from the Trauma of Racism and Discrimination Workshop

Dr. Michael Do, MD

Dr. Michael Do, MD
Board Certified Pediatrician

Dr. Michael Do is a Pediatrician at Valleywise Health in Phoenix, Arizona and the Director of the Valleywise Pediatric Refugee Clinic. He is also an Assistant Professor with the Creighton University School of Medicine and the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.
Dr. Do received his undergraduate degree from Baylor University and medical degree from University of Texas Medical Branch. He completed his residency in Pediatrics at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital / Maricopa Medical Center Pediatric Residency Program.
His professional interests include refugee/immigrant health, global health, and legislative advocacy.
Thursday, October 29th, 12:30 p.m.
Presenter: Trauma of Racism and Discrimination Workshop

Dr. Lesley Williams, MD

Dr. Lesley Williams, MD
Board Certified Family Medicine Physician

Dr. Lesley Williams is a board-certified Family Medicine physician. She received her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and completed her Family Medicine residency training at Mayo Clinic Arizona.
She has worked primarily providing medical care in mental health settings for over 15 years. Dr. Williams currently serves as the Medical Team Lead for Banner Behavioral Health Hospital in Scottsdale, AZ.
Dr. Williams is also a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist. Her areas of special interest include Health Equity and Health at Every Size Advocacy. In 2018, Dr. Williams was named as one of the Top 80 Female Eating Disorder Leaders in the United States.
Friday October 30th, 10:30 a.m.
Presenter: Healing from the Trauma of Racism and Discrimination Workshop

Dr. Lauren C. Taveras, PsyD.

Dr. Lauren C. Taveras, PsyD.
Coral Valley Health

Dr. Taveras is a bilingual, bicultural, licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Coral Valley Psychological Services, a private practice dedicated to addressing the psychosocial concerns of individuals, couples, and families, with a special emphasis upon the Latino/a immigrant community.
In addition to psychotherapy, Dr. Taveras conducts immigration-related psychological evaluations in Spanish and English for detained and out-of-custody immigrants seeking asylum in the U.S.
Dr. Taveras graduated with a Doctorate of Psychology from Long Island University, where she also taught as an adjunct instructor. She holds Masters degrees in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University Teachers College, as well as in Education from Pace University.
Friday October 30th, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Presenter: Healing from the Trauma of Racism and Discrimination Workshop

Dr. Ernesto Reza

Dr. Ernesto Reza
Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Ernesto Reza is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist who graduated from the Arizona School of Professional Psychology at Phoenix, Arizona. He specializes in working with older Spanish speaking persons.
As a bi-cultural, bi-lingual Latinx male he understands the process of having to navigate dual group membership. In his clinical work, he has utilized personal experiences of feeling excluded by the majority culture to develop an awareness of how our own culture influences interactions with others.
He believes that minority identity development is fluid and changes across time. His multicultural background and clinical experiences center on the understanding that we are all equipped with the ability to experience peace, love, acceptance, compassion, joy, and connection to others.
Thursday, October 29th, 10:30 a.m.
Presenter: Trauma of Racism and Discrimination Workshop

Deanna Singh

Deanna Singh
Chief Change Agent, Uplifting Impact

Deanna Singh is an accomplished author, educator, business leader, and champion for marginalized communities. As the Founder/Chief Change Agent of Flying Elephant, Deanna consults with individuals and companies that are looking to make a positive difference in the world.
She is known for giving clients the tools and courage to imagine, activate, and impact the world as agents of change. A social entrepreneur at her core, Deanna is always at the forefront of social change.
Singh earned her Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from Fordham University, a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University, and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. She is also the author of two children’s books, I am a Boy of Color and I am a Girl of Color, and a business book, Purposeful Hustle.
Thursday, October 29th, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
Presenter: Co-Conspiracy for Social Justice – Workshop

Carlos Mavins Jr.

Carlos Mavins Jr.
Founder and CEO, Bridge To Leadership

Carlos is a servant leader with an unparalleled connection to people across the world. He is an innovative entrepreneur, passionate about helping young professionals and the world to discover their purpose in life and thrive within their professional careers.
He has developed a new initiative called Bridge to Leadership which is designed to help young professionals with the transition after college, and to bridge the multigenerational gap within the workplace. Through Bridge to Leadership and other initiatives, he plans to have a positive impact on society and more importantly on the next generation of leaders.
Thursday, October 29th, 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Panelist: Am I My Brother’s Keeper – Panel Discussion

Armonee Jackson

Armonee Jackson
President, NAACP Arizona State Conference Youth & College Division
Founder, National Community Collective

Armonee Jackson is a local activist and community organizer in Arizona who firmly advocates for those within her community and respective communities.
Armonee currently serves as the State Conference Youth and College President for the NAACP in Arizona as well as the East Valley NAACP Women in NAACP Committee Chair. She also serves an appointed committee member of the NAACP National Youth Works Committee.
Armonee is also the Founder of a non-profit organization known as the National Community Collective which focuses on collectivism as a means to push the agenda forward in communities of color.
Friday October 30th, 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Panelist: A Generation of Oppression – Panel Discussion

Workshop 3
ENCANTO ROOM #B, 2nd floor

YOU ARE NOT ALONE: The Power of Allyship in Transformation

Allyship is the intentional process of advocating for groups of people or individuals within a marginalized community by building relationship bridges based on Trust and accountability. In this critical workshop you will explore how to serve as a champion for those that may feel like they don’t have a voice or place at the table.

Panelists

Claire Sarnowski – Teen who helped pass Genocide Bill
Claire fought to help pass the Genocide Education bill which helps students learn about the Holocaust and respect the importance of cultural diversity and human rights.

Angelica Lindsey-Ali – Muslim Women’s Health Advocate
Founder of The Village Auntie Movement, dedicated to education and advocacy for Muslim women.

Julian Melson – Mayo Clinic, LGBTQI Advocate
Julian has been an advocate and supporter of the LGBTQI community for over 30 years and works at Mayo Clinic Arizona.

Moderator

Jacque Starks, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Engagement Coordinator, Maricopa County Community College District

Objectives

Recognize systemic inequalities.
Explore and interpret the Allyship Continuum.
Be a Champion and help change your work culture.

Workshop #2
Phoenix A/B, 3rd floor

BELONGING – Owning Our Stories

Belonging is the actualization of fully accepting all people for their unique traits that make them different from those around them. When your employees feel like they belong to your organization, they feel more confident in their abilities to represent themselves authentically, achieve their goals, and be successful. In this workshop, activist and Diversity Disruptor Calvin Terrell will take you through the exercise of how to create, own and tell your own story.

Presenter

Calvin Terrell, Social Centric Institute
Calvin Terrell is the Founder and Director of the Social Centric Institute, a non-profit built to educate anyone and everyone to be healers of historical trauma around racial intersections, class, religion, gender, and environmental disruption.

Objectives

Define Belonging on their own terms.
Create a framework and articulate your genuine and authentic story.
Apply Calvin’s Process to support personal and professional assets.

Workshop #1
ENCANTO Room # A, 2nd floor

OVERCOMING – Breaking Barriers to Create Our Own Stories

In this powerful workshop, participants will learn the important skills needed to shift and change your mindset about set-backs, life-altering tragedy, adversity, outdated and unfair policies and still shine! Life is all about how we accept and deal with challenges and move through them. This workshop takes a fresh new approach to overcoming by teaching you how to use Inclusion to gain self-awareness of barriers physical, mental, traumatic or even status quo that we put up in our own lives. Our diverse panelist will share their motivation and steps they took to promote positive action and Equity in their fields in order to overcome barriers, increase confidence and celebrate their unique abilities.

Panelists

Capt. Lynn Ripplemeyer – First Female Boeing 747 Pilot
Lynn Rippelmeyer is the first woman to fly the Boeing 747 and also became the first woman to captain the “Jumbo Jet” across the Atlantic Ocean.

Adonis Watt – Visually Impaired Teen Athlete
15-year old Adonis Watt suddenly lost his vision at the age of 5. Following 11 surgeries, he has accepted his diagnosis and is ready to move forward and focus his energy on his passion, playing football.

Kelly Falardeau – TEDx Speaker / Author / Coach
At the age of 2, Kelly was severely burned over 75% of her body. She found a way to go from near-death to success and believes in helping people love their imperfect selves.

Moderator

Jezreel Ramirez, Program Administrator, Department of Veterans Affairs

Objectives

Apply 3 ways to shift mindset from block to rock.
Identify barriers holding you back from your excellence.
Be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Panel Session: Strengthening Community

Our closing panel brings together diverse voices to explore how organizations and leaders can strengthen community ties both within and beyond their walls. A powerful conclusion to two days of connection and growth.

Presenter

TBA

Moderated by Marion Kelly and Joanna De’Shay

Fri Nov 20 • 1:30 PM

Fireside Chat 1: Cultivating Equity

Join us for an intimate fireside chat exploring the ongoing work of cultivating equity in today’s organizations. Our presenter will share personal insights, challenges, and strategies for building more equitable systems and cultures.

Presenter

TBA

Fri Nov 20 • 10:25 AM

Concurrent Breakout Workshops: Nurturing Belonging

Choose your path in our concurrent breakout workshop sessions designed to deepen your understanding and practice of nurturing belonging. Each workshop offers interactive, hands-on learning you can bring back to your organization.

Presenter

TBA

Thu Nov 19 • 10:00 AM

Opening Panel: Cultivating Equity

Join us for our opening panel discussion as leaders from across sectors share their journeys in cultivating equity within their organizations. This dynamic conversation will set the tone for a powerful day of learning, connection, and growth.

Presenter

TBA

Moderated by Joanna De’Shay and Marion Kelly

Thu Nov 19 • 9:00 AM

Dr. Renee Bhatti-Klug

Founder and Principal
Culturally Intelligent Training and Consulting (CITC)

Dr. Renee Bhatti-Klug [Ruh-nay ba-Ha-tee or BAH-tee KLOOG] (she/her/hers) is a culture, inclusion, and belonging strategist, storyteller, world traveler, and connoisseur of fun, as well as an internationally recognized facilitator, leadership consultant, and keynote speaker.

For 25 years, Renee has developed leaders from over 150 nations using her Culturally Intelligent (CI) Leadership Model. Drawing equally on intuitive wisdom and data-informed insight—two ways of knowing she brings together in every engagement—she fosters curiosity, empathy, and compassion through human-centered, action-forward practices. She’s known for her direct yet diplomatic style and her hands-on approach to building cultures of collaboration and trust.

She is the author and facilitator of The Culturally Intelligent Enneagram: Culture, Personality and Integrative Wholeness, a guided experience that pairs Enneagram self-discovery with the CI Leadership Model.

For nearly two decades, Renee taught English literature, creative writing, and language acquisition to diverse college students in the U.S. and abroad. As Director of Advocacy Initiatives and Senior University Trainer at Arizona State University*, she guided nearly 20,000 faculty, staff, and students in enhancing CI through trainings, strategic consultations, and specialized certificate programs.

Renee has served as an editor for Current Issues in Education*, Hampton Shorts* literary magazine, and Proteus* literary magazine, led as faculty fellow at The Human Values Center, contributed to committees and boards, and is a certified advanced Enneagram [any-ah-gram] facilitator.

Her insights on culture appear in various publications and podcasts. Renee is a second-generation U.S. American, the proud daughter of a Punjabi father and Irish-Polish-French mother. She resides with her husband Gregory, a pianist and composer, and their three loquacious children in the Wild West—her hometown of Phoenix, Arizona—where she’s discovered green grass and true community. She has lived in England and France, backpacked Europe, kayaked in Fiji, and educated teachers in Madagascar. In extroversion, she goes to 11—because people are her why.

2026 Concurrent Breakout Workshop: Nurturing Belonging

The Culturally Intelligent Enneagram

Workshop #1

Your Enneagram type forms inside your cultural identity and context, and it lands differently depending on the cultures around you.

This session gives participants a working understanding of their own pattern and shows how that pattern shapes the way they cultivate equity, nurture belonging, and strengthen community.

The session uses the CI Leadership Model. Openness (curiosity) surfaces what is actually present in a room. Awareness (empathy) reveals how a specific person needs to feel belonging. Responsiveness (compassion) puts inclusive behavior into practice.

Belonging and community arrive as the results of that sequence. Newcomers get a clear entry point into their own pattern. Participants who already know their number get something the number alone leaves out, which is how the cultural dynamics that shaped them show up in the way that pattern operates. Everyone leaves able to map who they are, what motivates them, and the cultural context that formed both.

Learning Outcomes

Attendees will be able to identify their dominant Center of Intelligence and the core emotion driving it

Name a cultural rule they absorbed early and trace where it gets rewarded and where it costs them

Recognize the core motivation question their Enneagram type carries into every room

Explain how the same behavioral strategy gets read differently depending on who uses it and in what context

Apply one specific practice for extending belonging to people whose patterns differ from their own

Presenter

Dr. Renee Bhatti-Klug
Founder and Principal, Culturally Intelligent Training and Consulting (CITC)

Thu Nov 19 • 10:00 AM

Fireside Chat 2: Nurturing Belonging

Join DLA for a compelling Fireside Chat with Todd LaPorte, Chief Executive Officer of HonorHealth, as he shares insights on what it takes to nurture belonging across a complex, mission-driven organization. Drawing on more than 40 years of healthcare leadership and his experience guiding more than 20,000 team members, Todd will explore how leaders can create cultures where people feel valued, connected, and empowered to thrive. This honest and insightful conversation will inspire participants to think differently about leadership, strengthen core relationships, and turn belonging into meaningful action.

Presenter

Todd LaPorte
Chief Executive Officer, HonorHealth

Fri Nov 20 • 11:10 AM

DLA 25th Annual DEI Conference Phoenix AZ

Pre-register for the 2026 Conference

We will save your seat and contact you when the official registration opens up!

Todd LaPorte

CEO
HonorHealth

With now 40 years of diverse experience in healthcare, Todd LaPorte leads an integrated health system with nine acute-care hospitals, a surgical hospital, a rehab hospital , a behavioral health hospital, an extensive footprint of outpatient services (through dozens of medical group practices, ambulatory surgery centers, and various forms of urgent care settings), and an array of community services (including a food bank, adult day care, a children’s learning center, and an anchor role with a community well-being Blue Zones project).

To advance HonorHealth’s mission to improve the health and well-being of the community, he creates an environment where every team member – over 20,000 clinical and support staff, volunteers and physicians – collaborates to deliver a top decile patient experience and make a positive impact on the health of our community. The scale of employees makes HonorHealth the fifth largest employer in Arizona.

Since joining HonorHealth in 2001, he has held executive roles where he focused on financial and strategic leadership. He has shaped a system with many access points to provide convenience for patients. He has promoted innovative technologies and engaged employees & physicians at a top quartile level as measured by industry benchmark. In April 2017, Todd became the 10th CEO in more than 150 years of HonorHealth history. Prior to HonorHealth, he held senior management roles for an international CPA firm that served many Arizona healthcare clients, as well as clients in high-tech manufacturing and consumer services. He was also the CFO of a privately held healthcare company that served over a half million Arizonans.

Todd was named CFO of the Year by the Arizona chapter of the Financial Executives International in 2012 and was recognized by Becker’s Healthcare in 2024 as one of the “Great Leaders in Healthcare.” He is a CPA , holds a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Arizona and an MBA from Arizona State University. Todd has served as board chair for a chapter of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Scottsdale Aquatic Club, the Paradise Valley School District’s supporting Foundation for Public Education, and the Health System Alliance of Arizona. He currently serves on the boards of Experience Scottsdale, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council., Health Insights, and the board for Region 8 of the American Hospital Association. He is also a member of Greater Phoenix Leadership and a Scottsdale chapter for C12.

Evener Scott

Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

HonorHealth

Evener Scott serves as the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) at HonorHealth, bringing over 20 years of experience in advancing workplace learning, organizational effectiveness, and inclusive culture-building.

In this role, Evener leads the development and execution of an integrated DEIB mission, vision, and strategy—collaborating closely with leaders and stakeholders to drive operational excellence aligned with HonorHealth’s core values and purpose.

A proud member of the Diné (Navajo) Nation, Evener is a passionate advocate for culturally responsive care and champions initiatives that support equitable experiences for patients and team members of all backgrounds.

Kamana Khadka

Founder & CEO

Inclusion Multipliers

I’m the Founder and CEO of Inclusion Multipliers™, a consulting practice that helps organizations move beyond traditional DEI training to build leaders who create conditions for peak performance, engagement, and belonging. My proprietary 5-capability framework – equips leaders at every level to embed inclusion into how they operate, not as an add-on program but as a leadership discipline that multiplies across the organization.

With 14+ years of cross-sector experience spanning corporate, healthcare, and nonprofit settings, I’ve driven measurable outcomes including reducing attrition by 5% year-over-year, achieving 44% female and 39% ethnically diverse hires, building culture programs with 62% engagement and 100% executive participation, reforming statewide language access systems, and founding Arizona’s first refugee-led medical interpreter microenterprise training 65+ interpreters across 29 languages.

I serve on the WICT Network Southwest Board as Director of Inclusion, where I’ve led programming on inclusive leadership and organized signature events including the “All Voices, One Signal: Reimagining Inclusive Leadership” panel. I received the WICT Southwest Advocate for DE&I Award in 2024 and was nominated for the WICT Global 2025 Woman to Watch. I’m also proud to serve on the Diversity Leadership Alliance board, where I contribute strategic expertise on building leadership pipelines that reflect the communities they serve.

I hold a Master’s in Public Health from Grand Canyon University and completed Cornell University’s Diversity & Inclusion Professionals Program.

I work with organizations ready to stop relying on one-off training and start building leaders who multiply belonging and performance at every level. If your organization is navigating this shift, I’d love to connect.
🌐 www.inclusionmultipliers.com
📧 kamana@inclusionmultipliers.com
📋 Subscribe to The Inclusion Download – my newsletter for leaders building cultures that perform
Multiplying Inclusion | Building Leaders Who Build Leaders | Driving Performance Through Belonging

Erick Garcia

Advisor

Mayo Clinic – Phoenix

Erick Garcia, MHA, is a dynamic leader specializing in healthcare administration, human resources, and belonging. With over eight years of experience in large, multi-state organizations, he has successfully advanced cultures of inclusion, addressed health disparities, and built sustainable belonging programs. Erick helps organizations create a culture of belonging through education, mentorship, community outreach, and social media initiatives, ensuring all employees feel supported.

Erick holds a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology from Arizona State University and a master’s in healthcare administration from Grand Canyon University. A proud father and husband to an emergency department nurse, he is a courageous servant leader who challenges the status quo to inspire meaningful and lasting change.

Greg Troutman

Senior Tax Audit Manager

City of Phoenix

Greg Troutman works for the City of Phoenix as a Municipal Bond Accountant. Mr. Troutman has over 30 years combined accounting, auditing, banking, compliance, finance, non-profit, and public administration experience. He received his Master’s Public Administration and Bachelor’s Accounting, Minor Music. He is passionate about serving and volunteering.

Reid DeSpiegelaere

Reid DeSpiegeleare

Chief Development Officer

Every Child Pediatrics

Reid joined Every Child Pediatrics in 2022 to launch a new development strategy and foster deeper engagement with the Colorado giving community. He started his career in Phoenix, AZ as a corps member in Teach for America, which is a national service program to support underserved communities and grow leadership capacity for its members. While in the classroom, Reid was a public advocate to end child hunger and rallied hunger relief for his students and other children in the local community. He continued his passion for mission-driven work in a robust philanthropic leadership role with the College Football Playoff Foundation, where he managed efforts to give back to the host city through the Extra Yards for Teachers program. From there, Reid joined United Way and led a national effort to foster virtual literacy impact, volunteerism, and corporate investment to address third grade reading deficits. Reid holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska and a Masters Degree from Arizona State University.

Barry G. Stratford

Associate Attorney, Partner

Perkins Coie Law Firm

Commercial litigator Barry G. Stratford defends clients nationwide in multiparty cleanup litigation under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and related state laws, “toxic torts” under state law, and antitrust investigations and cases. Barry also assists clients with disputes involving trade secret misappropriation, construction liability, product liability, and sophisticated contract and business torts. Barry frequently manages discovery in large cases with significant discovery needs. He leverages the latest technologies to create a customized e-discovery litigation plan for every client. Passionate about contributing to the community, Barry’s robust pro bono practice includes litigating civil rights issues and helping LGBTQ+ individuals with immigration matters. He represented same-sex couples in overturning Arizona’s discriminatory marriage ban and successfully tried a pro bono case in federal court under the Federal Tort Claims Act.

Kate Morris

President and General Manager

KPNX 12 News – Phoenix

Kate Morris is the President and General Manager of KPNX / 12News, the NBC affiliate in Phoenix, and KMSB / KTTU, the Fox and CW affiliates in Tucson. With over 25 years of experience in local news leadership, Kate is known for her strategic vision and dedication to community-focused journalism. She has successfully led stations to new heights in audience engagement and public service. Kate began her media career in Phoenix as a local news producer. She later returned to her hometown of Boise, ID, where she became the Executive News Director at KTVB, the NBC affiliate, before becoming President and General Manager in 2018. During her tenure, she transformed KTVB into Idaho’s top news organization, significantly expanding its local news offerings and fostering a culture of innovation. Her leadership earned her and her team numerous accolades, including seven National Edward R. Murrow awards. Since joining 12News in Phoenix, Kate has focused on strengthening the station’s culture, deepening its connection with the community, refreshing the brand, and improving ratings and audience reach across platforms. She is passionate about mentorship and is committed to developing the next generation of leaders in journalism and media. Kate serves on the boards of the Diversity Leadership Alliance and the Arizona State University Cronkite Endowment Board of Trustees.

LINKS
www.linkedin.com/in/ktvbkatemorris/
www.linkedin.com/company/kpnx-12-news-nbc/

Gibs Saint Paul

Director of Customer Modernization

Salt River Project

Gibs Saint Paul is the Director of Customer Modernization at Salt River Project and responsible for modernizing the customer experience to meet diverse and evolving customer needs. As a child of immigrants, Gibs understands the value and empowerment that is provided when you are in an inclusive environment. He regularly mentors’ colleagues and young professionals to ensure they have the support they need to achieve their goals. He has a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Northern Arizona University as a student-athlete.

Tondra Richardson

Director, Engagement Strategy & Program Development

University of Phoenix

Tondra Richardson is the Director of Engagement Strategy & Program Development at the University of Phoenix. She specializes in fostering inclusive strategies and creating impactful professional development programs. Driven by a mission to empower underrepresented communities, she aligns her efforts with organizational goals to break systemic barriers to education and employment. Her leadership style integrates diverse perspectives to catalyze growth and innovation within teams and initiatives. At the University of Phoenix, she has developed programs that emphasize the power of storytelling as a tool for education, connection, and empowerment. Whether responding to shifting industry dynamics or the unique needs of diverse communities, adaptability has allowed Tondra to create responsive, relevant, and sustainable programs that foster inclusive leadership and innovation. As a proud board member of both the Black Chamber of Arizona and the Diversity Leadership Alliance, Tondra is deeply committed to advancing equity and economic mobility. Tondra’s dynamic work with the Diversity Leadership Alliance serving as the Youth Leadership Academy Co-Chair, reflects her dedication to helping youth bridge the gap between their aspirations and the corporate world. Her involvement with NCORE further underscores her passion for promoting equity and helping to build educational systems in which students can thrive. Whether in academic, corporate, or community settings, Tondra remains committed to fostering inclusive ecosystems where every voice is heard and valued.

Francisco Lucio, J.D.

Assistant Dean Francisco Lucio

Diversity and Inclusion

University of Arizona
College of Medicine

Coming Soon

Phil Pangrazio

Executive Director

ABILITY 360

retired

Phil Pangrazio is the Executive Director of the Arizona Bridge to Independent Living (ABIL), one of the largest Center’s for Independent Living in the United States with an annual budget exceeding $25 Million. Pangrazio oversees a wide array of programs designed to empower people with disabilities to achieve or maintain independent lifestyles within the community. Under Pangrazio’s leadership, ABIL has experienced five consecutive years of growth and success. ABIL’s expansion of its personal assistant services program and the additions of both SSA Work Incentives Benefits Planning, Ticket-to-Work Employment, and Youth Transition Services are just a few of his achievements. Prior to his post with ABIL, Pangrazio, 45 was employed for 10 years at Maricopa Integrated Health System and Maricopa Medical Center where he held several positions in hospital financial management and administration. Mr. Pangrazio also served on ABIL’s Board of Directors from 1992 to 2000, and presided as Chairman of the Board for four of those years. Pangrazio, a quadriplegic and wheelchair user for over 25 years, is a knowledgeable source on an array of topics pertaining to the disability community and independent living philosophy.

Marion Kelly

Director, Community Affairs

Mayo Clinic, Arizona

retired

Marion Kelly is the Director of Community Relations within Communications at Mayo Clinic, where he leads initiatives to foster strong civic, corporate, and neighbor relations and oversees the external Diversity & Inclusion efforts for the Arizona campus. His diverse background includes roles in education, the U.S. Senate, and the George H. W. Bush White House, where he served as Special Assistant for At-Risk Youth Initiatives and White House Liaison for the Department of Labor. He has held leadership positions at the Mayo Medical School and Indiana University School of Medicine.

Marion is active in his community, serving on various boards and co-founding the Coalition of Blacks Against Breast Cancer and Diversity Leadership Alliance. He holds degrees from Kentucky State University and the University of Kentucky and is a lifetime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Marion has received several honors, including the Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame induction in 2023. He is married to Francine Ellison Kelly, with three adult children and four grandchildren.

LINKS
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marion-kelly-4866997
https://www.linkedin.com/search/results/all/?keywords=Mayo%20Clinic

Joanna de’Shay

Executive Director

Diversity Leadership Alliance

Joanna de’Shay is an avid Servant Leader who was born in Accra, Ghana on the western coast of Africa to a Nigerian Father and a Russian Mother. An immigrant herself, she believes in being a part of the solution to disrupt systemic inequities. As a DEI consultant, her mission is to create bridges and partnerships by educating companies, non-profits, and educational organizations on the vital need for diverse voices and fresh perspectives. A strong advocate for Social Justice, she left a 15-year Corporate Career to explore her passion for Community Service Leadership focused on belonging, representation, access, and fairness. She currently consults with the Diversity Leadership Alliance, serving as its Executive Director, a role she has held for the past ten years. DLA is the premier Education training organization in Arizona dedicated to eradicating racism, bias, and prejudice. DLA stands for Justice and Equity and continues to serve as a pivotal resource for sustainable changes in the community. DLA’s goal is to create an inclusive Community where each person is equally respected and empowered. Joanna is also an Educator, serving as Faculty at Arizona State University, teaching in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts. Regularly featured in business publications, she was highlighted in the Business Journal’s August 2021 issue on Philanthropy & Non-profits.

Joanna was also named one of the top 20 non-profit Executives to watch in 2021! A 2018 recipient of the “MLK Stand up for Justice Award”, she continues to advocate for equity for marginalized communities. Joanna is also the recipient of the 2020 “Outstanding Women in Business Award”. An Entrepreneur at heart, Joanna also owns a clothing label called BLACK RUSSIAN LABEL, designed for Global Chic women empowered by their individual style. This Change maker is also a Warrior Mom to two amazing young men, one a graduate of ASU’s Sidney Poitier Film School and the other a Psychology and Sports Medicine double major at the University of Arizona. With a SunDevil and a Wildcat at home, they are indeed a house divided. Everything she does is to ensure that the World is a safer, kinder, more equitable place for her young men to thrive.

25th Annual DLA CONFERENCE

25 years of Cultivating, Nurturing, and Strengthening Belonging in the Community.

November 19-20, 2026

Thursday, November 19 (Virtual)

Friday, November 20 (In-person SRP Pera Club)

Conference Description

Featured Speaker

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

VIRTUAL CONFERENCE SESSIONS

Thursday, November 19th, 2026

Via Zoom Webinar

IN-PERSON CONFERENCE SESSIONS

Friday, November 20th, 2026

SRP Pera Club (1 E Continental Dr, Tempe)

2026 Conference

Todd LaPorte

Fireside Chat 2: Nurturing Belonging

Latasha Causey, PHR

Inspirational Keynote

In-person Conference

Dr. Renee Bhatti-Klug

Workshop #1 The Culturally Intelligent Enneagram

Frank Velásquez Jr.

Workshop #2

NURTURING BELONGING AND BEING GOOD STEWARDS OF THE GIFT

Kamana Khadka

Workshop #3

REIMAGINING BELONGING THROUGH EVERYDAY LEADERSHIP

Cherish McCombs

Presenter

In-person Conference

Joanna de’Shay

Opening Session + Live Panel Session Moderator

Marion Kelly

Opening Session + Live Panel Session Moderator

2026 Conference Co-Chairs

2026 DLA Conference Sponsors

“DLA’s content is refreshing and safe place to join important conversations that impart change.”

Fireside Chat 2:
Nurturing Belonging

Workshop #1
The Culturally Intelligent Enneagram

Opening Session + Live Panel Session
Moderator

Opening Session + Live Panel Session
Moderator