Guests

Kelly Mitchell is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Inclusive Design Group, a Colorado-based consulting firm that helps schools, nonprofits, and foundations design more equitable systems that expand access and opportunity. With a background spanning education, state government, and the nonprofit sector, Kelly brings both strategic vision and practical experience to her work. In her time in schools, Kelly was a middle school math teacher, math intervention coordinator, site coordinator for a teacher preparation program, and Dean of Students. She is known for her ability to bring diverse partners together, uncover common goals, and design collaborative solutions that move communities from ideas to action. Her leadership combines data-informed insight, skilled facilitation, and a deep commitment to equity as a design principle. Prior to founding Inclusive Design Group, Kelly served as Colorado’s Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness Coordinator and as Pathways Director for a …

Kevin Adams is a veteran Secondary Social Studies Teacher in Denver, Colorado. 2023 marks his 18th year working in the Denver Public School district. As an educator, Kevin is committed to Anti-Racists, culturally responsive practices that can liberate and empower students, families, and educators who have been marginalized by White Supremacist Culture, Misogyny, and Cis-gender heteronormativity. Kevin is the co-creator and co-host of the Too Dope Teachers and a Mic podcast with Gerardo Munoz, as well as the Co-host of the Exit Interview podcast with Dr. Asia Lyons. Kevin is a devoted husband and dedicated father of two teenagers.

Khiara Mills-know as "Mills" to most, is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and the Founder + CEO of Motivating Minds Mental Health Counseling PLLC, a Dallas-based private practice dedicated to empowering teens and adults through culturally responsive therapy, education, and wellness initiatives. With over a decade of experience supporting at-risk youth and families — including seven years in school settings — Mills has witnessed firsthand how systemic barriers and lack of emotional resources impact both students and educators. Today, she merges her background in education and mental health to create meaningful change through school partnerships, community programs, and corporate trainings that center wellness, resilience, and self-awareness. Passionate about breaking cycles of trauma and making mental health accessible, Mills uses her voice to normalize healing and inspire others to become their best selves.

Kwame Sarfo-Mensah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Temple University. For nine years, he served as a middle school math teacher in Philadelphia, PA and Boston, MA. Currently, he is the founder of Identity Talk Consulting, a global educational consulting firm that specializes in developing K-12 teachers into identity-affirming educators. Throughout his 17-year career as a classroom teacher, author, and consultant, Kwame has earned numerous accolades for this work, which include being honored as the 2019 National Member of the Year by Black Educators Rock, Inc. and being recognized as a Top Education Influencer by brightbeam, Inc. in 2021 and 2022. His newest book, "Learning to Relearn: Supporting Identity in a Culturally Affirming Classroom", will be coming out Fall 2024.

Dr. Lance Bennett is the President and Founder of The People’s Institute for the Common Good, a non-profit organization with a big vision to create spaces where people come together to learn from each other, wrestle with hard questions, and serve their communities for the common good. He is also a Visiting Scholar at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity & Justice and Center for Minority Serving Institutions at Rutgers University. Dr. Bennett is an adjunct faculty member in the Doctor of Education in Leadership and Higher Education Program at St. Edward’s University. In the higher education profession, he serves on the Editorial Advisory Board of Liberal Education, the flagship magazine of the American Association of Colleges and Universities. He is also a published author with articles published in the disciplines of higher education, teaching learning, and interpersonal communication. He is a graduate of Delaware County Community College (A.A.), Eastern U…

Denver Native, HBCU graduate over 20 years pastoral/chaplain full time ministry. Poet, story teller, husband, father truth advocate

Latoya Turner is a mother, Central State University alumna, children’s book author, filmmaker, and former early-childhood teacher dedicated to celebrating literacy, education, college-and-career readiness, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. She spent 13 years in the classroom and has coached over 90 Black and Brown men into the field of education. She is the owner of Brown Hands LLC, founder and executive director of Brown Hands Literacy, and co-founder of the HBCU Literacy Hub. Latoya authored the Brown Hands book series and created the animated film Brown Hands, Black Schools: HBCUs. She was also inducted into the Central State University Alumni Achievement Hall of Fame for her leadership and impact. Through books, films, literacy initiatives, and community events, Latoya inspires children to dream big, love reading, and see themselves as future college graduates.

Dr. Mary Hemphill is a nationally recognized leader in education and innovation, serving as North Carolina’s first Director of Computer Science and earning recognition as one of the Top 100 EdTech Influencers for 2023-24. With over 20 years of experience as a teacher, administrator, and state leader, Mary has championed transformative leadership strategies to bridge the gap between technology, education, and equity. In 2024, her work earned her a spot on the inaugural District Administration Top 100 Education Influencers in the country, and her thought leadership has been featured in Forbes, where she shares insights on human-centered leadership and mentoring future-ready leaders. As a human-centered leadership strategist and the CEO & Founder of The Limitless Leader LLC, Mary brings academic expertise and real-world impact to inspire leaders across industries. A sought-after speaker, Senior Fellow at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and author of The One-Minute Meeting, she equips profe…

Melissa Leonard-Goodlett is an experienced educator, instructional leader, and literacy advocate with over two decades of experience spanning k-12 and higher education. With advanced degrees in education and educational leadership, she has served as an English and AP teacher, curriculum writer, mentor, and instructional coach dedicated to improving outcomes for diverse learners. Melissa is now launching a consulting business focused on advancing literacy in secondary and higher education through culturally responsive practices, teacher development, and evidence-based instruction grounded in the science of reading.

An award winning educator, Mia Street began her career in education with Head Start and later with New Vision Learning Academy in Monroe, Louisiana. Her journey in education led her to teaching and eventually becoming a district administrator leading transformational work. Her work inside and outside of the classroom has helped to create equitable educational spaces. She currently consults with different organizations and specializes in leveraging partnerships with educational agencies and industry professionals to promote, create and increase equity in education. ​ Mia Street is a true pioneer when it comes to education, as she fully recognizes the significant impact it can have on people's lives. Her dedication to helping students who might otherwise be overlooked is truly admirable and her involvement in the community only adds to her value as an educator. ​ ​ She currently holds the following roles: Kidada Education Design, Founder BH365 Foundation, Executive Director Da…

Educator turned Entrepreneur: Formerly incarcerated community focused business owner with proven expertise in motivating others to achieve goals while also prioritizing and strategizing for youth/community enrichment programs. Holds youth, family, and community in high esteem, and interacts with the greatest degree of professionalism and personal integrity. Aiming to gain more experience in the business world and push for true social equity while holding human and social services close to my heart.

Meet Michelle Emmanuelle, a Wellness Consultant, Changemaker, and Professional Speaker who supports individuals to live a life beyond burnout. Her unique insights and practices empower resilience and serve as an agent for sustainable change. Sought after globally by diverse sectors of business such as Cisco Meraki and the NAACP, Michelle has over 15 years of experience in education, coaching, and consulting. Her clients consistently applaud her creativity, authenticity, and ability to create safe spaces. When she’s not helping others to live a more balanced life, Michelle can be found indulging in French conversation, dreaming up her next travel adventure, hiking, dancing and enjoying good food with good people. Michelle's philosophy is that change only happens when it is sustainable, embodied and accompanied with ongoing support and accountability. Training and Certifications: Somatic Coaching, Healing Race-based Trauma, Somatic Stress and Anxiety Release, 500hr Yoga and …

Monika Robinson is a speaker, workshop facilitator, coach and education advocate with over 15 years of experience working in the education sector. She has served as an elementary school teacher, instructional coach, and nonprofit director, bringing a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in education leadership. In 2020, Monika founded ReparationsEd, a company dedicated to empowering education leaders through workshops, coaching and keynote speaking. Her mission is to address equity, inclusivity, and justice within educational systems, with a special focus on equipping women leaders in education to prioritize their own wellbeing. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at Dallas and a Master’s in Education Administration from Lamar University. She also holds a Texas K-12 Principal Certificate. Her expertise is further enriched by specialized training, including certification from Harvard Online in Outsmarting Impli…

Dr. Nadia A. Bennett is the founder and CEO of When Brown Girls Lead®, a consulting firm dedicated to creating equity-driven schools and districts nationally. Through culturally relevant leadership development, she empowers educators to cultivate anti-racist schools. Her expertise is backed by a proven track record: as a former charter superintendent, she doubled ELA scores, revitalized a struggling district, and improved outcomes from attendance to staff retention. Prior to that, as a principal, Nadia turned around Simon Gratz Mastery High School, boosting performance so significant that the school topped the Philadelphia Charter School ranking during her tenure. Her focus on data-driven decision-making, effective teacher development, and restorative practices led to tangible results for students, staff, and the community. Fueled by a deep passion to dismantle barriers for marginalized students, Nadia earned degrees from Dillard University and Howard University, further honing…

In 2022, Najmah founded The Chisholm Group, a consulting firm dedicated to advancing equity and access in education, economic justice, and organizational strategy. After a 15-year career in education policy and strategy at the higher education, district, state, and national levels, Najmah transitioned into entrepreneurship to amplify her impact and align her work with her vision for collective liberation. Najmah is also the creator and host of The Freed Black Girl Podcast, a platform where she explores themes of healing, joy, and empowerment, centering the experiences and voices of Black women and other marginalized communities. Through her work, Najmah blends her expertise in systems thinking with her passion for storytelling, creating spaces for people to connect, reflect, and reimagine possibilities. Whether through consulting, podcasting, or community-building, Najmah’s work is rooted in a commitment to dismantling oppressive systems, nurturing healing, and fostering joy.

For over a decade, Nye Trusty’s work as a teacher, leadership development coach, and facilitators has helped shape student, teacher, and school outcomes in communities across Maryland, D.C., Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, El Salvador, Mexico, and Brazil. As a certified Yoga Instructor (CYT-200) and Holistic Life Coach, Nye Trusty blends classroom experience, liberatory consciousness, and embodied wellness to help schools retain their best educators and sustain student achievement.

Octavia F. Raheem is a wife, mother, three time author, rest coach, and restorative + Yoga Nidra Teacher. She is the founder of Devoted to Rest® a transformational rest focused immersion for visionary leaders making a high impact in their fields. She teaches passionate and driven individuals how to awaken their fullest potential through the power of rest. With 10,000+ hours of training and teaching experience, she is a true luminary in the areas of rest, restorative arts, wellness, and yoga. Octavia has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Yoga Journal, Well + Good, Tricycle, at Essence Festival (Atlanta) and more. Learn more at www.octaviaraheem.com

Can I let you in on a secret? Its a bit scandalous.. I've been feeling meh lately. I've been yearning for more, even though, I loved the thought of the dream I had intended to live out; educating those around me. It seemed like an appropriate dream given the Bachelors & Masters of Arts in Education I obtained. Nevertheless, this flame began to dull. And that's when it happened; the spark that had been missing ignited the moment I had to adapt professionally, while maintaining a personal well being in the mist of a whirlwind, unprecedented global pandemic. It was then that I had to examine and depart from the business as usual ways of being a professional. With the drop of a dime, this prompt shut down required the ability to attend to many multi-facet problems and address inequities head on. And I can't get enough of these challenges that requires both passion, and continuous learning, combined with the innovation, and analyzation of systems, policies, and legislation.…

I have a definite grasp of child development and a wide range of knowledge and abilities to ensure that each student has the tools available for success. I have experience in teaching one year of high school and two and a half years of 6th-grade science. My graduate school education ranges from early childhood to high school. With my diverse background in teaching, I have mastered creating and implementing hands-on and effective lesson plans that increase student success. I also have experience in teaching students from special education to Pre-AP. In my wide array of teaching experience, I have learned that a stimulating learning environment, the desire to uplift children, and successful research-based strategies can ensure that all children can reach their highest potential. I have also discovered a passion for academic and personal counseling for students of all ages.

Dr. Damia Thomas brings over two decades of dedicated advocacy for students in urban education environments. Having navigated these systems herself as a student and later impacted them as a teacher, coach, school leader, mentor, researcher, and district leader, Dr. Thomas offers a profound understanding of urban schools' multifaceted challenges. Her career reflects a commitment to transformative leadership, marked by her tenure in various roles that have spanned teaching, administration, coaching, and consultancy. Dr. Thomas has demonstrated success in fostering school cultures that prioritize academic excellence and inclusivity, achieving measurable improvements in student outcomes across diverse urban districts, including California, New York, Maryland, Arkansas, Illinois, and Richmond.

Shatiera Porte’e is an international speaker, Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women Black in Business scholar, author, mother, mentor, consultant, member of the National Alliance of Black School Educators, and the New Educator of the Year Black Excellence award recipient. Shatiera has been working in the mental health and ducation fields for almost two decades. Shatiera is the author of the self-help book, I Forgive Myself for Forgetting Myself. Affectionately known as “your favorite school counselor,” Shatiera empowers others by sharing her story and the tools she used to overcome challenges to find herself. Over the past 10 years, Shatiera has implemented programs to over 500 at-risk students. Shatiera has created more than a dozen initiatives for businesses, communities empowering youth, extensive experiences in various counseling capacities, corrections, emergency crisis and psychiatric screening services. Growing from a mentee to now a mentor, Shatiera’s philosophy “counseling be…

Sherinda Bryant is a passionate educator, social justice advocate, and innovative curriculum developer who propels multicultural education forward through her visionary work. With a distinguished career spanning over a decade in the Bay Area, Sherinda has skillfully navigated roles as an Instructional Associate, English teacher, Black Student Union advisor, and Social Justice elective teacher, culminating in her recognition as a 2019 Innovative Teacher by the California Teachers Association. Currently immersed in studying Culturally Restorative theory and pedagogy, Sherinda's educational philosophy focuses on fostering a sense of belonging, boosting student confidence, that as a result will drive academic progress. Sherinda uses Afrofuturism, an exciting blend of speculative fiction, history, cultural aesthetics and future design thinking, as a vibrant backdrop for critical engagement with literature and social issues. As the visionary founder of the Afrofuturism Discovery Acade…