Washington State DEI Empowerment Conference 2023 (archive)
Bridging Gaps and Leaning into Action
The 2023 WA DEI Empowerment Conference, with a theme of Bridging Gaps and Leaning into Action, was held virtually over Zoom each Wednesday in June. We are committed to supporting statewide and agency-specific equity and anti-racism work, with the goal of building more just systems and fostering a culture of inclusion and belonging with our state workforce. The conference was hosted by Dr. Adrian Thompson, chief equity officer for the Department of Enterprise Services.
We encourage all state employees to watch the recorded sessions and provide feedback
While DEI practitioners and agency leadership will find the summit relevant to their work, all employees have the power to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in their workplaces. We encourage you to watch the recorded sessions and use the QR code at the end of the presentations to provide feedback. Each presentation has a unique survey code, so remember to give feedback on each.
For more information
If you have questions about the conference, see the conference FAQs. You can also viewmore information about our speakers and sponsors in the conference program [PDF].
How to watch
Select a tab to see details of sessions on each day. Select the title of the session you want to watch. Click the “View recording of session” button above the session description. To see the ASL interpreters during playback, use the Switch Playback View icon 
in the lower-right corner and select gallery view. All sessions are 90 minutes long, except the keynote sessions, which are 2 hours.
| Session Title | Date | Presenter(s) | Registration/Password |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Keynote with Carolyn Hartness – A Reckoning, An Invitation to Healing | Jun 7, 2023 - 8:00am | Caroline Hartness |
|
| Data Sovereignty, Indigenous Methodologies and Two-Eye Seeing Partnerships for Change | Jun 7, 2023 - 10:30am | Sauncha Romey |
|
| Neurodiversity: What is it? | Jun 7, 2023 - 1:00pm | Renae Smith |
|
| Generational Trauma of Native Americans | Jun 7, 2023 - 3:00pm | Dr. Marie Natrall-Ackles |
|
| Mental Health & Anti-Racism: Prioritizing Wellness in the Workplace | Jun 14, 2023 - 8:00am | Dr. Isaiah Pickens |
|
| De-siloing Your Data Strategy For Equity | Jun 14, 2023 - 10:30am | Dr. Brandeis Marshall |
|
| Creating and Sustaining an Inclusive Workplace Culture using the 3 A’s | Jun 14, 2023 - 1:00pm | Dr. Isaiah Pickens |
|
| Come to the Table: Washington's Efforts to Achieve Equity in Public Spending | Jun 14, 2023 - 3:00pm | Shana Greenberg Barehand, Doug Mora, Shamekia Moultrie, Resie Rogers and Drew Zavatsky |
|
| Drag Story Hour and Fireside Chat | Jun 21, 2023 - 8:00am | Jonathan Hamilt, Sam Mendum-Pardy, and Alex Petrovnia |
|
| The Urgent Matter of Colorism: A Missing Link in Anti-Racist Work | Jun 21, 2023 - 10:30am | Dr. Sarah L Webb |
|
| Incorporating DEIB and Anti-Racism Work into Recruitment | Jun 21, 2023 - 1:00pm | Lisa Grund and Tangi Tash |
|
| Elephant in the Room | Jun 21, 2023 - 3:00pm | Philip "Sharp Skills" Jacobs |
|
| Asian American Inclusion in DEI Work | Jun 28, 2023 - 8:00am | Dr. Joan Sung King |
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| Disability Awareness: Inclusive Language and Practices | Jun 28, 2023 - 10:30am | Linda Clemon-Karp |
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| EQUITY ON TRIAL!: Has the Supreme Court declared Diversity DEAD or ALIVE? | Jun 28, 2023 - 1:00pm | Winona Hollins-Hauge, Delbert Richardson, Jesse Wineberry, Atty, and John Yasutake |
|
| Work Spaces as “Well-Spaces”: The Equity-Hope-Resilience Connection | Jun 28, 2023 - 3:00pm | Lucretia Robertson |
|
8 AM–10 AM Session
Welcome Keynote with Carolyn Hartness – A Reckoning, An Invitation to Healing
Presenter(s):
Caroline Hartness
Presenter(s):
Caroline Hartness
Session Description:
Carolyn Hartness will help us set our intentions for the following month of presentations. In this keynote, you will hear examples of lived experience of various indigenous people as told by Carolyn. For 33 years, Carolyn has served Indigenous and non-indigenous communities, in the United States, Canada, Norway, Australia and New Zealand, offering consultation to agencies, schools, families and individuals around cultural diversity and wellness, and prevention/intervention strategies relating to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (F.A.S.D.), wellness and recovery.
Objectives and Key Takeaways:
- Conference content may be challenging…listen with empathy, compassion and an open mind and heart.
- Hear examples of lived experience of various indigenous people as told by Carolyn
- Healing through songs, story-telling and self-reflection. How did you/we get here?
Audience:
Audience Knowledge and Experience:
Learn about the presenter(s):
Carolyn Hartness (she/her), Eastern Band Cherokee/Norwegian, is a consultant committed to a life of service assisting individuals, families, communities and organizations to create holistic, collaborative, evidence and spiritually based wellness for themselves, and future generations.
For 30 years, Carolyn has served Indigenous and non-indigenous communities, in the United States, Canada, Norway, Australia and New Zealand, offering consultation to agencies, schools, families and individuals around cultural diversity and wellness, and prevention/intervention strategies relating to fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (F.A.S.D.), wellness and recovery.
Carolyn Hartness conducts training of trainer classes, workshops, lectures, and college courses on diversity, wellness and F.A.S.D. Carolyn works on projects with counties and tribes, designs programs, curricula, intervention strategies and assessment tools.
Featured in “Journeys on the Red Road” recovery video (2021), Carolyn also co-created and co-authored an award winning series of videos, DVDs and books on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, “Journey Through the Healing Circle”, with Dr. Robin LaDue, which was nominated for an Emmy, has won many awards and is printed in several languages. The series has been used to help educate teachers, families and children and providers about the reality of having an F.A.S.D.
LueRachelle Brim-Atkins (she/her) will provide a labor acknowledgement for the conference. She is founder and Principal Consultant of Brim-Donahoe & Associates, a firm that focuses on Organization Development and training in the public, private and non-profit sectors. Since 1988, she has designed customized, comprehensive training and education programs that focus on cultural intelligence, diversity, social change, leadership and management. She is particularly effective in working one-on-one with executives, leaders, and staff to resolve cross-cultural interpersonal issues with the goal of enhancing work performance. She helps organizations improve their culture, actively reflect their stated values and achieve their desired vision.
10:30 AM–12 PM Session
Data Sovereignty, Indigenous Methodologies and Two-Eye Seeing Partnerships for Change
Presenter(s):
Sauncha Romey
Presenter(s):
Sauncha Romey
Session Description:
Come learn about Indigenous methodologies, Indigenous ways of knowing, data sovereignty, and how to form authentic partnership with communities and Native people through two-eye seeing and community based participatory action.
The role of quantitative data to replicate white supremacy in our communities and institutions will be explored as well as ways to use qualitative and arts-based community "data" for anti-racist change. There will be examples of community projects, story-telling and videos, critical race methods that can be used across many marginalized communities. How do we engage in co-capacity building to allow community to use anti-racist language and institutions to be ablet to form authentic relationships with community in a non-extractive way the honors, respects, and value community knowledge and lived experience? Learn about Free Prior and Informed Consent, community owned knowledge, and "proprietary" knowledge.
Objectives and Key Takeaways:
Learn about Indigenous methodologies, Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), community-based participatory research (CBPR), critical race theory (CRT), positivism and technical rationality, data sovereignty, Truth and Reconciliation, Two-Eye Seeing, qualitative and arts-based research and evaluation, white supremacy, cognitive dissonance, and a book list of resources for further learning with audiobook options.
Audience:
Audience Knowledge and Experience:
Session Materials:
Learn about the presenter(s):
Sauncha Romey
Sauncha is Tsimshian from Metlakatla, AK and currently lives in Bonney Lake, Washington. She has a Tribal MPA from Evergreen, and is currently working on her Ph.D. in Studies in Higher Education with a specialization in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion from the University of Kentucky online, as well as a second bachelor's in Native Studies at Northwest Indian College.
Romey currently works as staff support for the Washington Environmental Justice Council, and also does Indigenous research and outreach consultation. She weaves critical pedagogies with western knowledge to advocate for communities as the pre-eminent experts with story, dialogue, and lived experience. Romey is hypercritical of the positivism paradigm and technical rationality if the numbers in those systems are not grounded in community reality or usable for communities to make change. Numbers should be derived from asking the right questions, collecting the data in a non-extractive or deficit manner, and analyzed with an equity lens, and the end product must be usable by communities for change.
1 PM-2:30 PM Session
Neurodiversity: What is it?
Presenter(s):
Renae Smith
Presenter(s):
Renae Smith
Session Description:
Neurodiversity: What is it? Have you ever asked yourself this question? Have you wanted to know more about neurodiversity? This presentation will cover defining neurodiversity, offering insights to interacting with neurodiverse people both in and out of the workplace, and give some lived experiences.
Objectives and Key Takeaways:
The take away will be that one will have learned about neurodiversity and be able to have a new understanding of something they didn't know about before or from someone who is in this community that they don't feel so alone anymore.
Audience:
Audience Knowledge and Experience:
Learn about the presenter(s):
Renae Smith (she/her) is currently a Paralegal 2 for the Solicitor General’s Division at the Attorney General’s Office. She founded and is the current chair of the Disabilities Affinity Group at the Attorney General’s Office, where she focuses on education and accessibility for all employees. Renae is the former Communications Director for the Disabilities Inclusion Network, Business Resource Group for the State of Washington. It is her goal to offer inspiration, resources, and support to those who suffer from invisible disabilities. Renae was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 disorder and high-functioning Anxiety. She has had these conditions all of her life.
3 PM–4:30 PM Session
Generational Trauma of Native Americans
Presenter(s):
Dr. Marie Natrall-Ackles
Presenter(s):
Dr. Marie Natrall-Ackles
Session Description:
To understand the present, we must first understand the past. This presentation discusses how the history of boarding schools has caused generational trauma that has been passed down to generations of family including the loss of language and culture. Dr. Natrall-Ackles has lived experience of generational trauma and discusses these impacts of the past five generations in her family.
Objectives and Key Takeaways:
- To understand how generational trauma impacts Native Americans today to be able to bridge resources and services to this population.
- To support all populations that have been impacted by generational trauma.
- Although this is considered history, it is still not far removed and still impacts Native Americans today.
Audience:
Audience Knowledge and Experience:
Learn about the presenter(s):
Dr. Marie Natrall-Ackles (she/her) is Canadian First Nations (Squamish and Northern Tutchone) originally from North Vancouver, BC Canada. Dr. Natrall-Ackles has worked for all levels of government: federal, state and tribal as well as non-profit. Her federal work experience in Washington DC was with the Administration for Children and Families Tribal Home Visiting Program and Zero To Three National Resource Center for Infants and Toddlers. Her tribal work experience was working with the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe in the areas of early childhood, Indian Child Welfare and TANF. Currently, Dr. Natrall-Ackles is the first designated Tribal Affairs Administrator with DSHS BHA administration. Prior to this position, she worked with the Office of Indian Policy as a regional manager. Her educational background includes an Associate of Arts Degree in Indigenous Government, Bachelor of Arts in Native Studies, Master of Public Administration in Tribal Governance and a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration.
8 AM–10:15 AM Session
Mental Health & Anti-Racism: Prioritizing Wellness in the Workplace
Presenter(s):
Dr. Isaiah Pickens
Presenter(s):
Dr. Isaiah Pickens
Session Description:
Managing stress in order to perform at our highest level at work may be the most challenging task we face professionally. The stress we have to manage when doing anti-racism and inclusion work is draining, often grueling, and can be overwhelming. Achieving a sense of accomplishment and purpose at work is one of the most fulfilling experiences and recharges individuals, even in the most stressful of jobs. The skills to gain workplace satisfaction are achieved by understanding and practicing mental wellness principles that provide the inner stability to deal with any stressful situation and the organizational tools to create less stressful work environments. This inspiring presentation will offer tools and strategies to support our own individual wellness, especially at the intersection of our most important identities, while supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. You’ll hear stories and learn science-based strategies for elevating your workplace into one that promotes everyone’s mental and emotional wellbeing.
Audience:
Session Materials:
Learn about the presenter(s):
Dr. Isaiah Pickens (he/him) is a licensed clinical psychologist, national trauma expert, and Founder and CEO of iOpening Enterprises (iOE), a professional development company specializing in professional development and culture change at the intersection of mental health and wellness, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). In this capacity, Dr. Pickens has given numerous keynotes and workshops at events and organizations across the country. He and his team at iOE also work directly with organizations to create and sustain internal culture change at the intersection of DEIB and wellness, through the Elevate Work curriculum, supporting staff and coaching executive leaders.
Dr. Pickens has also developed the Bridge Trauma-Informed Culturally Responsive (TICR) Program, a robust professional development program for educators that provides a practical toolkit for managing youth traumatic stress responses in the school setting. Additionally, he has developed the Think Trauma curriculum to support justice professionals in operating in a trauma-informed way.
As former Assistant Director at the UCLA-Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress—the coordinating site of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), and a former clinical assistant professor at NYU School of Medicine, Dr. Pickens has built a reputation as a national trauma and identity expert and shares practical science-informed lessons about mental wellness and equity with audiences around the world. He aims to continue working toward systemic change and unlocking people’s potential by moving the world from happy to healthy through psychological science.
Born and raised in Washington, DC, Dr. Pickens is a proud graduate of The George Washington University, Fordham University, and School Without Walls High School. He currently splits his time between his home in Los Angeles, CA and Washington, DC.
10:30 AM–12 PM Session
De-siloing Your Data Strategy For Equity
Presenter(s):
Dr. Brandeis Marshall
Presenter(s):
Dr. Brandeis Marshall
Session Description:
Humanizing our data operations is possible when the community is collectively pushing for data transparency, making data/AI systems and knowledge workers accountable while exercising our data citizenship and agency.
In this session, participants are set up to clarify the ethical gaps in their data pipelines so that they can develop practical interventions and action step to making data/AI projects more equitable without disrupting your existing data operations and processes.
We’ll unpack how to separate data policies, practices and products within a single department in order to allow for a holistic approach across multiple departments for sustainable equitable data practices.
Then, we’ll specify common criteria that helps and inhibits equity in their data pipelines.
Last, we’ll identify inclusivity-based recommendations to address limitations within existing data operations.
It’s important to hone in on the areas most palpable for impactful change and developing concrete roadmaps to making data operations less harm-inducing. There will be small group activities to help participants build these roadmaps.
Objectives and Key Takeaways:
When a participant leaves this session, they'll be able to:
- catalog your team’s existing data operations
- identify key markers for ethically weak data operations and standard practices.
- describe strategic analog and algorithmic interventions to mitigate ethically weak data efforts
Audience:
Audience Knowledge and Experience:
Session Materials:
Learn about the presenter(s):
Brandeis Marshall (she/her)
Founder and CEO of DataedX Group, LLC, providing learning and development training to help educators, scholars and practitioners humanize their data practices. She is the author of Data Conscience: Algorithmic Siege on our Humanity (Wiley, 2022). Marshall speaks, writes and consults on how to move slower and build better human-centered tech by highlighting the impact of data practices on technology and society. She has been a Stanford PACS Practitioner Fellow and Partner Research Fellow at Siegel Family Endowment. Marshall has served as a tenure-track faculty member at Purdue University and then Spelman College. Her research work in data education and data science has been supported by the National Science Foundation and philanthropy organizations. She holds a Ph.D. and Master of Science in Computer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Rochester.
1 PM-2:30 PM Session
Creating and Sustaining an Inclusive Workplace Culture using the 3 A’s
Presenter(s):
Dr. Isaiah Pickens
Presenter(s):
Dr. Isaiah Pickens
Session Description:
Increasing emotional intelligence for building an inclusive workplace is an often overlooked key ingredient for fully embracing and implementing DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging). When emotionally intelligent skills are the foundation for inclusive workplaces, not only does the workplace help every member of the workforce feel like they belong, it also gives them tools to be mentally healthy and fit. In this presentation, iOpening Enterprises (iOE) uses its unique 3 A's (Acknowledge, Ask, Adjust) framework - a tool to engage this intersection of wellness and DEIB for an inclusive workplace culture.
Attendees will leave with strategies to counter toxic workplace practices with compassionate workplace tools that promote equity and wellness. With stories and science-based tools for elevating your workplace into one that supports everyone’s mental and emotional wellbeing, the 3 A's strengths-based approach to an inclusive workplace will bring confidence to your journey building an equity-driven and wellness-focused workplace culture.
Session will not be recorded.
Objectives and Key Takeaways:
- Learn key strategies to build a more compassionate workplace in a systematic way.
- Gain a foundational understanding of DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) and how these concepts translate in practice in the workplace using wellness-centered approaches.
- Develop strengths-based and resilience-centered strategies to promote equity and wellness workplace-wide.
Audience:
Audience Knowledge and Experience:
Learn about the presenter(s):
Dr. Isaiah Pickens (he/him) is a licensed clinical psychologist, national trauma expert, and Founder and CEO of iOpening Enterprises (iOE), a professional development company specializing in professional development and culture change at the intersection of mental health and wellness, and diversity, equity, and inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). In this capacity, Dr. Pickens has given numerous keynotes and workshops at events and organizations across the country. He and his team at iOE also work directly with organizations to create and sustain internal culture change at the intersection of DEIB and wellness, through the Elevate Work curriculum, supporting staff and coaching executive leaders.
Dr. Pickens has also developed the Bridge Trauma-Informed Culturally Responsive (TICR) Program, a robust professional development program for educators that provides a practical toolkit for managing youth traumatic stress responses in the school setting. Additionally, he has developed the Think Trauma curriculum to support justice professionals in operating in a trauma-informed way.
As former Assistant Director at the UCLA-Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress—the coordinating site of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), and a former clinical assistant professor at NYU School of Medicine, Dr. Pickens has built a reputation as a national trauma and identity expert and shares practical science-informed lessons about mental wellness and equity with audiences around the world. He aims to continue working toward systemic change and unlocking people’s potential by moving the world from happy to healthy through psychological science.
Born and raised in Washington, DC, Dr. Pickens is a proud graduate of The George Washington University, Fordham University, and School Without Walls High School. He currently splits his time between his home in Los Angeles, CA and Washington, DC.
3 PM–4:30 PM Session
Come to the Table: Washington's Efforts to Achieve Equity in Public Spending
Presenter(s):
Shana Greenberg Barehand, Doug Mora, Shamekia Moultrie, Resie Rogers and Drew Zavatsky
Presenter(s):
Shana Greenberg Barehand, Doug Mora, Shamekia Moultrie, Resie Rogers and Drew Zavatsky
Session Description:
Join a panel of experts from state agencies who will untangle the various recommendations and legal requirements to move towards equity in public spending, from the 2019 Disparity Study, Executive Order 22-01, Department of Enterprise Services' Supplier Diversity Policy and Washington Edge program, to the public contracting plan in the 2022 Equity Summit Report.
Get answers to your questions about which requirements to follow and learn about practices that your procurement teams can implement to move towards mandatory spending goals.
Objectives and Key Takeaways:
- Legal requirements and policies in Supplier Diversity that agencies and higher education institutions need to follow
- Washington State agencies are working together to align, clarify, and simplify the expectations and requirements
- Actionable steps to take in the procurement process to help achieve mandatory spending goals
Audience:
Audience Knowledge and Experience:
Learn about the presenter(s):
Shana Greenberg Barehand, Esq., CDE (she/her)
Shana Greenberg Barehand, originally from Los Angeles, is Mono Indian from the Cold Springs Rancheria in California. Shana has a law degree from Arizona State University and a Bachelor’s in psychology from Cal State Long Beach. Shana entirely supported herself through college and law school. Her previous jobs include working at the Southern California Indian Center, Indian education program counselor, waitressing, and bar tending. As an attorney she has worked at the U.S Environmental Protection Agency as an environmental enforcement attorney, the Federal Communications Commission as the senior tribal advisor to the Commissioner, and the Tribal Liaison for the Washington State Department of Revenue.
Shana's expertise in establishing and leading innovative new programs led her to the Department of Enterprise Services, where she established the Procurement, Inclusion and Equity Program, which helps lead the state’s effort to procure more goods and services from small, diverse, veteran owned businesses. In a volunteer capacity, she coaches soccer, serves on the Tumwater School Districts Equity Committee and is the co-founder of the Wa-Ya Outdoor Institute, the state’s only outdoor camp that teaches outdoor adventure, STEM, and intertwines indigenous culture and knowledge. In the past she has served as the Treasurer of the National Native American Bar Association, Chair of the advisory board for the Washington Internships for Native Students (WINS), Washington DC, and is a founding board member and past Treasurer for the Society of American Indian Government Employees. Shana is married to actor/filmmaker Jeffrey Barehand and has five children. As a family they participate in a diverse array of experiences such as volunteering for important causes, going to Pow Wows, and snowboarding.
Doug Mora, MBA (he/him)
Doug has worked in not-for profit, government, and for-profit sectors in leadership roles, using Lean Six Sigma and project management techniques to move organizations towards efficiency, equity, and insightful business reporting. His goal is to equip state agencies with increasing equity in public spending in his current role as the Equity Toolkit Manager for Washington’s Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises. He occasionally teaches process and project management as an adjunct professor in Seattle University’s Management Department. His interests include whitewater rafting, supporting the arts, and traveling as an opportunity to learn about history.
Shamekia Moultrie, WDVA
Veteran and Servicemember Owned Business Manager, Washington Department of Veterans Affairs. Shamekia Moultrie manages the Veteran and Servicemember Owned Business program at WDVA, where she is the individual responsible for certifying businesses as veteran-owned, encouraging businesses to get certified, and connecting business owners with resources and contracts. She served eight years in the Army as a Human Resource Specialist and upon honorable discharge she work studied with ESD while completing her MBA. She then joined WDVA’s Veterans Services Department before moving to her current role.
Shamekia uses her lived experience as business owner in the state of Washington to improve services to veterans. Shamekia likes to spend time with family and travel when she can.
Resie Rogers, EMPA (he/him)
Serves on the Governor’s Subcabinet on Business Diversity Coordinator with OMWBE. The goal of the Subcabinet on Business Diversity is to maximize opportunities for OMWBE certified businesses to contract with state agencies, helping Washington address equity in public contracting and spend through in and outside the box thinking. Prior to his current role, he was a certification coordinator at OMWBE where he gained expertise in state and federal licensing for historically underutilized businesses. His education includes an Executive Masters in Public Administration (EMPA) from the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance at the University of Washington. Resie brings his lived experience in and a strong passion for community and social service. He volunteers at the local historic cinema, provides volunteer VITA Tax preparation, and has developed an impressive collection of sneakers in his free time.
Drew Zavatsky, JD (he/him)
He is the Procurement Risk Assessment (PRA) Administrator for the Department of Enterprise Services (DES). In that position, he helped co-author the DES Supplier Diversity Policy and Handbook. Before his current position, Drew worked in the Washington State Office of Enterprise Risk Management. He has had leadership in several statewide enterprise risk management initiatives, including creating the state Procurement Risk Management program (2014 – current), implementing the State ERM Initiative (2007 - 2014), creating a risk identification and mitigation plan for the state Attorney General's Office for the federal HIPAA/HITECH regulatory framework (2010-11), and the coordination of the state's risk management program regarding the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Drew has been an attorney for over thirty years, including a decade as a King County Deputy Prosecutor in Seattle, Washington. He lives in Seattle with his wife and rambunctious Poodle-Australian Shepard, Momo.
8 AM–10 AM Session
Drag Story Hour and Fireside Chat
Presenter(s):
Jonathan Hamilt, Sam Mendum-Pardy, and Alex Petrovnia
Presenter(s):
Jonathan Hamilt, Sam Mendum-Pardy, and Alex Petrovnia
Session Description:
In a world where the existence of difference is under threat of prohibition by legislation, state leaders must build compassionate communities where room can be made for everybody’s story, regardless of their ability to tell it.
In this Feature Talk, Jonathan Hamilt of Drag Story Hour and the Trans Formations Project’s Alex Petrovnia, Sam Mendum-Purdy and Ace Sutherland will discuss their work and actions you can take for equity. Learn more about Drag Story Hour and the Trans Formations Project on their websites, linked above.
Audience:
Audience Knowledge and Experience:
Session Materials:
Learn about the presenter(s):
Jonathan Hamilt (he/him) is the Executive Director of Drag Story Hour and co-founder of the NYC Chapter in 2016. Hamilt is the first Executive Director of the organization, taking it from a loose string of a few state's events to a national 501 c 3 with an international chapter network. He has spoken at Harvard, Yale, the Medical Library Association, the American Library Association, Public Library Association, School Library Journal, and SXSWEDU Conference. His activism spreads outside the work with Drag Story as his Drag persona "Ona Louise" hosts drag charity bingos across NYC. Ona Louise's personal goal is healing her inner child by offering affirming and accepting programming for kids which teaches them that it's more than okay to be different and they are loved no matter what!
Alex Petrovnia (he/him) is the original founder of the Trans Formations Project and currently serves as the President and Executive Director. He is a vocal trans advocate, a biologist and a writer. He has a background writing and speaking about trans issues, transmasculinity, scientific and queer history and more. Alex is a multiply disabled, neurodivergent, bisexual trans man.
Sam Mendum-Purdy (she/her) is a founding member and Vice-President of the Trans Formations project. She leads the Record Keeping Team, and is in charge of the collection and organization of the data presented onto the Trans Formations website, as well as keeping all the information as up to date as possible. She has a strong background in human biology, political science, and philosophy, stemming in large part due to her own experiences as a disabled neurodivergent trans woman.
Ace Sutherland (they/them) is an activist based in New York City. They currently help lead Equality New York (EQNY) as the Director of Community Organizing. EQNY is the largest statewide advocacy organization rooted in Queer and Trans liberation.
In addition to their community organizing efforts, Ace is also a content creator who has worked with Adidas, Trans LifeLine, Pinterest, Color of Change, DreamHack, and many more to ensure that Black and trans folx feel included in the gaming space. Ace is also a Board Member for Trans Lifeline, an organization that serves transgender folx through a crisis hotline and microgrants.
They hold a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Buffalo State in Political Science and a Master of Public Administration from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at the University at Albany.
Ace can be found on all social media via @a_typicalqueer.
10:30 AM–12 PM Session
The Urgent Matter of Colorism: A Missing Link in Anti-Racist Work
Presenter(s):
Dr. Sarah L Webb
Presenter(s):
Dr. Sarah L Webb
Session Description:
Participants gain a global, cross-cultural, and intersectional understanding of the lesser known issue of colorism. Dr. Webb clearly explains how colorism impacts workplace culture and professional practices. By the end of this talk, attendees are introduced to a powerful framework for launching a cycle of change. Dr. Webb inspires every audience to see themselves as part of the solution.
Objectives and Key Takeaways:
- Define colorism and related terms such as intersectionality, featurism, and texturism
- Distinguish colorism from racism and other systems of discrimination
- Identify global patterns and nuances of colorism across different cultures
- Interpret research on inequities and disparities created by colorism, especially within a workplace context
- Identify immediate tactics and opportunities to take action
Session Materials:
Learn about the presenter(s):
Dr. Sarah L. Webb (she/her) is the founder and owner of Colorism Healing, a global leader in raising awareness, shifting attitudes, and taking action to address colorism with corporate, consumer, and community strategies. Since 2011, Dr. Webb’s myriad efforts to address colorism include designing college courses, hosting an international writing contest, publishing books, teaching workshops, and mentoring students across the world from Sacramento, California to Sydney, Australia. Dr. Webb has written and contributed to several academic and non-academic articles, presented at numerous conferences, and been featured on regional NPR stations, Fox Soul TV, the Illinois Times, Forbes.com, the Tavis Smiley radio show, and the TEDx stage.
1 PM-2:30 PM Session
Incorporating DEIB and Anti-Racism Work into Recruitment
Presenter(s):
Lisa Grund and Tangi Tash
Presenter(s):
Lisa Grund and Tangi Tash
Session Description:
When navigating authenticity in the corporate America as a BIPOC/LGTBQ+/ or Neurodivergent individual, our experiences are more than a challenge, they feel like an up-hill climb with no end in sight. What if you already have a unique opportunity to bring all that makes you authentically yourself by using internal resources and platforms to yourself and to your organization at large? Within Talent Aquisition, HR and in learning and development roles, we have unique opportunities to create equity and inclusion in very intentional ways in our day-to-day workflow. Join me as we consider a simple approach to establishing authenticity and antiracism as a way of life at work.
Objectives and Key Takeaways:
- Instead of blending or fitting in, be your authentically created self without apology
- For those in positions of leadership, enabling more "brave" conversations and relationships as an intentional act
- Establishing real change by creating intentional internal mobility as a best practice
- Leading Antiracism & strategy unapologetically
Audience:
Audience Knowledge and Experience:
Session Materials:
Learn about the presenter(s):
Lisa Grund (she/her)
Oh, hi there. I'm Lisa. I've worked in the HR/Talent space for two decades. l am passionate about things Talent Acquisition, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. I'm actually sort of a nerd about it. Even during my 6-year gap while I raised my children and supported our household, I developed my knowledge, upskilled and continued to build my network in service to my BIPOC community. As a woman and as a person of color I fully believe that this is what I am called to and will continue to partner with those who wish to be in good trouble. I strive to live authentically as I am and as I am made unapologetically. I value learning from others, I am deeply invested in relationships and forming genuine connections. If you have worked with me, you know that I am an encourager, that I am a process & efficiency ninja, that I will always put integrity and honesty above silence and that I am a natural leader in virtually every space.
Tangi Tash (she/her)
Hi friends! My name is Tangi (Tan-G) Tash. I am currently a Manager of Technology Talent Acquisition. I have spent nearly a decade in Recruiting working for various organizations such as Allegis Global Solutions, Google, and The Walt Disney Company. My passion for recruiting, representation, and DEIB have allowed me to transform teams whose products and services will inspire generations to come. I am a proud Washingtonian (G0 Cougs!) who believes in the power of uplifting community through education, action, and storytelling.
3 PM–4:30 PM Session
Elephant in the Room
Presenter(s):
Philip "Sharp Skills" Jacobs
Presenter(s):
Philip "Sharp Skills" Jacobs
Session Description:
Race is the elephant in the room that many organizations are still not equipped to face despite the symbolic gestures that suggest we live in a post-racialized society. The murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbury, and so many others has forced the United States to reckon with its original and most persistent sin, racism.
Advancing racial equity must be the bedrock of organizational EDI strategy. By starting with race, organizations build the capacity, tenacity, empathy, and wisdom to address all other forms of inequity.
Conversations about race, racism, and racial equity are still difficult to have in our workplaces. What’s more difficult is for these conversations, when had, to lead to impactful change. The “Elephant in the Room” workshop session is designed to create an understanding of why leaders need to start with race when leading equity-centered change in their organizations.
This session will be led by Philip “Sharp Skills” Jacobs, racial equity consultant and author.
Participants will leave this session with more tools in their arsenal for addressing racial inequity that leads to systemic, institutional, and interpersonal transformation.
Objectives and Key Takeaways:
Participants will leave this session with more tools in their arsenal for addressing racial inequity that leads to systemic, institutional, and interpersonal transformation.
Audience:
Audience Knowledge and Experience:
Session Materials:
Learn about the presenter(s):
Philip Jacobs (he/him) has been called a modern-day renaissance man. He is an entrepreneur, award-winning hip-hop artist, speaker, author, senior consultant, and inventor. He was the first Executive Director of Washington Employers for Racial Equity (WERE), a coalition of 80+ companies in Washington state committed to making the region equitable for Black Washingtonians and all people of color. In his time before WERE, he was lead for a solution called Racially Savvy Leadership where he equipped executives and leaders of Fortune 500 companies to have difficult conversations about race before the topic was mainstream in corporate culture.
Philip also works as a change agent in the public sector helping governments, counties, and institutions transform into equitable places where historically marginalized groups can thrive. Philip is a distinguished alum of Seattle Pacific University, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and was awarded the institution’s prestigious Medallion Award in 2019. He holds the PMP credential in project management, is the author of several books, and numerous albums. His proudest accomplishment is being the dad of Philip Jr. and Jonathan. Philip is an Inglewood, CA native, who now calls Washington state home.
8 AM–10 AM Session
Asian American Inclusion in DEI Work
Presenter(s):
Dr. Joan Sung King
Presenter(s):
Dr. Joan Sung King
Session Description:
This presentation will share Asian American biases within society, professional environments, education, and even within DEI work. It will draw attention to the deficiencies in which we discuss racial equity regarding Asian American advocacy and disrupt white-centered expectations of Asian Americans. As DEI work is inherently polarized (Black or White), this training will educate the audience with the harm in continuing DEI work that continues to ignore Asian American experiences with discrimination and racism in America.
The specific topics discussed will be as follows (but not limited to): double eyelid bias, lack of educational support and differentiation for AA students due to the Model Minority Myth, the lack of socioemotional support for AA students when anxiety and intergenerational trauma due to possible immigrant trauma is high, the onus of communication (as discussed by Malcolm Gladwell) within Asian American communities, the impossibility of Asian American stereotypes given their conflicting natures, etc.
Objectives and Key Takeaways:
How to understand the history of discrimination that impacts Asian Americans today, how to make DEI work more inclusive of AA voices, how to address implicit biases, and how to be culturally competent when working with AAs.
Audience:
Audience Knowledge and Experience:
Session Materials:
Learn about the presenter(s):
Dr. Joan Sung King (she/her) is the Director of the AANAPISI program at Shoreline Community College. She is a staff writer for Mochi Magazine and a college professor of Contemporary Asian American English Language Arts. She is a member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association, the National Association of Memoir Writers, the Willamette Writers Organization, and the National Women of Color Network. She has a BA in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing, an MA in English, and a Doctorate in Education. Her articles regarding AAPI voices in literature appeared on the teacher blogs BuildingBookLove and TeachNouvelle and have also been published in TinyBeans.com, the United States Air Force Arctic Warrior and the Seattle Times. She spends her spare time speaking at equity conventions about Asian American advocacy.
10:30 AM–12 PM Session
Disability Awareness: Inclusive Language and Practices
Presenter(s):
Linda Clemon-Karp
Presenter(s):
Linda Clemon-Karp
Session Description:
People with disabilities still experience discrimination in many aspects of daily life, including in education, employment, and community participation. Stereotypes and negative attitudes, even microaggressions, contribute to these experiences of discrimination. In this session, we will learn new ways to think about disability. Have you ever considered that disability is a valuable form of human diversity? We will also discuss new ways of talking about disability, such as the difference between using person-first and identity-first language. We will learn about simple ways we can change our language and behavior to be more inclusive. This session offers valuable content, context, and tools for all participants. Disability awareness is essential to addressing the discrimination that people with disabilities face today!
Objectives and Key Takeaways:
- Develop a deeper understanding of ableism.
- Get comfortable talking about disability!
- Learn best practices for creating inclusive spaces and interactions.
Audience Knowledge and Experience:
Session Materials:
Learn about the presenter(s):
Linda Clemon-Karp (she/her) serves as Continuing Education Specialist and Acting Assistant Director at Northwest ADA Center, part of the ADA National Network. Having acquired a life-changing disability well into adulthood, Linda has an uncommon perspective which she brings to her work as the Center’s lead trainer and curriculum developer, providing live, virtual, and online trainings to increase awareness of the ADA and other disability-related topics, both regionally and nationally. Prior to joining Northwest ADA Center, she worked at University of Washington’s Disability Resources for Students department as Program Manager for Access Text and Technology, overseeing implementation of students’ reasonable accommodation requests and training them to utilize their accommodations.
In her capacity as a certified ADA professional, Linda has a wealth of experience presenting and training about ADA accommodations to educators, service providers, VR professionals, and transition age students in the Northwest and across the country.
Linda recently served as a Content Developer on a collaborative project for the National John F. Kennedy Center, creating online disability awareness curriculum to help arts organizations across the country improve access and inclusion of people with disabilities as employees, artistic partners, and patrons. She is a certified ADA Coordinator (ADAC) and an American Bar Association trained paralegal. She earned her bachelor’s degree at Roger Williams University in RI, and her master’s degree at California State University, Fullerton.
1 PM-2:30 PM Session
EQUITY ON TRIAL!: Has the Supreme Court declared Diversity DEAD or ALIVE?
Presenter(s):
Winona Hollins-Hauge, Delbert Richardson, Jesse Wineberry, Atty, and John Yasutake
Presenter(s):
Winona Hollins-Hauge, Delbert Richardson, Jesse Wineberry, Atty, and John Yasutake
Session Description:
Given the upcoming landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision on race-conscious Affirmative Action, now is the time to reimagine new public policies to achieve diversity, equity and belonging (DEIB).
Washington Equity Now Alliance (WENA), Washington's statewide Pro-Equity, Anti-Racist non-profit organization will not only present our expert analysis on how the high court’s ruling will impact Washington’s DEIB policies, but provide a roadmap for state and local government officials to continue advancing DEIB initiatives while complying with the new federal laws.
Objectives and Key Takeaways:
- History and evolution of civil rights in Washington
- History and evolution of affirmative action in Washington
- History and evolution of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in Washington
- Definitions of equity vs. equality
- Analysis of most recent June, 2023 U.S. Supreme Court ruling on race-conscious Affirmative Action (SFFA v. Harvard, and SFFA v. University of North Carolina)
Audience:
Audience Knowledge and Experience:
Learn about the presenter(s):
Winona Hollins Hauge (she/her)
A licensed clinical mental health therapist, and an alum of the University of Washington, School of Social Work, Winona Hollins Hauge is a well-known community connector and advocate for communities that are underserved. During the pandemic, she was the recipient of both a national award for community building and resource development. The local award came from the NW Asian Weekly Newspaper in combination with the Lilly Company for building sustainable connections for families during the height of the pandemic to access the food, technology, and vaccinations.
During her ten-year career as a Clinical trials and Outreach Manager for Fred Hutchinson in Seattle, Hauge was credited for creating corporate, industry and seamless connections between multidisciplinary communities needing cancer care resources and prevention information and access to care.
Post-career in health care, she has transferred her leadership skill set to the co-founding and building of several non-profit organizations. She has extensive experience training the trainer and training large and small groups around health equity, DEI and anti-racism work. Hauge uses her clinical training to engage audiences and to create creative new pathways to engage learning opportunities around the subject matter of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity. Winona is a long-time member of the UW Health Promotion and Research CAB, where she represents the UW on the National Institutes of Health 's, NCC ( National Community Committee). She is also one of the co-founding members of the Washington Equity Now Alliance (WENA). She is serving on the board and is one of the key coalition builders, team player and advocate of for outreach and full DEIB and Anti-racism education, policy development and takes a special interest in helping to bring policies to fruition for the diverse needs of the communities that they serve in the State of Washington.
Delbert Richardson (he/him) is a community scholar, ethnomusuemologist, and second-generation storyteller of the national award winning “Unspoken Truths” American History traveling museum. Delbert has resided in Martin Luther King County for over 60+ plus years. He is a member of WENA.
Delbert is a proud graduate of Franklin high school and holds a B.A. in Liberal Art (international social justice) from Antioch university Seattle 2016. Delbert has won numerous awards for his national award-winning work including the National Education Assoc. (NEA) Human and Civil Rights Award in 2017, the Governor's Arts & Heritage "spotlight" Award in 2021, the museum of history and industry (MOHAI) educator of the year award in 2021, and was the recipient of the Seattle Public Schools Dept. of Racial Equity Advancement (DREA) Outstanding Educator Award in 2022.
Jesse Wineberry, Atty, (he/him), WENA Co-Founder, Attorney and Former State Representative
U.S. Supreme Court Bar-admitted attorney and native Washingtonian Jesse Wineberry is a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) attorney, 5-term former Washington State Representative, and one of the “Equity on Trial” presenters. He is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Business, Seattle University School of Law and Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
In 1984, when Wineberry was a UW law student, he became the first person of color elected to represent the 43rd Legislative District and the first law student elected to the Washington State House. During Rep. Wineberry’s five undefeated terms in Olympia, he served as House Majority Whip and Chairman of the powerful House Committee on International Trade, Technology and Economic Development. Wineberry’s landmark legislation includes the $100 million Linked-Deposit Loan Fund for Minority and Women Owned Businesses; anti-hate crimes laws, YouthBuild apprenticeship program; Washington Commission on African American Affairs, Employer-Supported Child Care Act, and the Dr. Martin Luther King state holiday.
Today, Rep. Wineberry is a Co-Founder of the Washington Equity Now Alliance (WENA). WENA is the statewide Pro-Equity, Anti-Racist, non-profit, non-partisan organization which led 2022’s successful statewide campaign for Governor Jay Inslee to sign Executive Order 22-02, rescinding Governor’s Directive 98-01 and paving the way for race and gender conscious equity in Washington state. On October 31, 2022, Wineberry represented WENA in Washington, D.C. at the U.S. Supreme Court hearings on affirmative action. In anticipation of the high court’s June, 2023 landmark ruling, Wineberry says, “WENA is ready to guide a new generation of Washington state administrators on DEI policies, starting with the 2023 DEI Empowerment Conference and continuing as long as equity is on trial in America."
John Yasutake (he/him)
As the leave administrator responsible for administration of all employees leaves to include, FMLA, PFML, Veteran’s Leave and Domestic Violence Leave.
As leave administrator responsible for the managing, administering and ensuring compliance with all of the regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
At the United States Department of Justice he worked effectively within a multi-state region to provide technical assistance, support and training for affected groups in conflict as a means to eliminate and prevent violence, escalation of violence and further conflict.
As the manager of Equal Opportunity and Conflict Resolution he worked across departmental and organizational lines within MARTA to determine compliance with applicable Federal laws and regulations and MARTA’s policies ensuring Equity, Civil Rights and Non-discrimination for patrons, employees and the general public.
His extensive experience working in community agencies in the inner-city as a community organizer performing community outreach and liaison activities, performing conflict intervention activities between the police and the minority community, as a program planner developing and implementing programs in the community for Senior citizens, programs for the disabled, developing education and training programs for youth and adult offenders, programs to promote economic development, drug and alcohol abuse awareness and prevention programs, preventing teen pregnancy, reducing juvenile and adult crime, assisting the homeless and working for equity and social and economic justice for all persons.
3 PM–4:30 PM Session
Work Spaces as “Well-Spaces”: The Equity-Hope-Resilience Connection
Presenter(s):
Lucretia Robertson
Presenter(s):
Lucretia Robertson
Session Description:
Recent surveys report that women of color in the workplace, feel undervalued, disrespected, exhausted and invisible. In 2021 nFormation reported that half of the women of color surveyed planned to leave their employers in the following year.
Because of workplace inequities women of color are significantly more likely to report, anxiety, depression, burn out and hopelessness. Understanding the impacts of these stressors, structural factors, and the lack of equitable opportunities for women of color is foundational to building resilient workplaces.
Through a trauma informed and hope centered framework, organizational leaders can reduce harm, cultivate wellness and advance equitable outcomes that transform workplace culture and ensure that women of color feel supported, valued and connected.
This workshop will discuss the equity-hope-resilience connection and provide recommendations on institutional supports to reduce harm and cultivate wellness for women of color.
Objectives and Key Takeaways:
- Understand how workplace (and personal) relationships, self-confidence and ‘sustained productivity’ are undermined by compounding stress factors.
- Explore the equity-hope-resilience connection - a generative process critical to employee well-being.
- Identify strategies to develop institutional supports that reduce harm and cultivate wellness for women of color.
Audience:
Audience Knowledge and Experience:
Session Materials:
Learn about the presenter(s):
Lucretia Robertson (she/her)
A strategic leader and advocate for equity. As a “talent cultivator and change instigator”, she’s deeply interested in ensuring women make and take space as their own advocates and is fortunate to have opportunities to connect women to what matters to them. Lucretia is the principal of Clarity Partnerships, a black-owned, women-led micro-consultancy firm that works with organizations desiring to elevate women's visibility in leadership.
More recently, she is the founder of Women Who Rise, a nonprofit dedicated to elevating women-powered leadership by providing WoC, in informal and formal leadership roles, access to positive mentorship, leadership development, board governance training and tools for confident and resilient leadership. Although she has a lot on her plate she feels blessed to be juggling speaking, connecting and serving in the local community.
Questions about the conference?
State DEI training
- State Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Training (des.wa.gov)
- View the documentary, Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America
- Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America - Viewer Guide
Thank you to our sponsors:
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Past DEI conferences
Download the conference program [PDF] or view below.
