Past People’s Gatherings

Eric   Trayvon   Breonna   Michael   Philando   Sandra   Ahmaud   George   Manny   Tyre

The whole world knows your name, but for the wrong reason. It wearies the soul. We hardly
catch our breath, before it’s taken again. There must be something we can collectively do, besides gasp and mourn?

We can double down.

Double down on our sense of outrage and speak to it.

Double down on how this frequency is wholly inhumane and speak to it.

Double down because it’s too late in the day, to be stuck in the same old place. Fighting the same old battles, around power and privilege and wickedness in the public space.

Double down on becoming an anti-racist leader.

DOUBLE DOWN ON JUSTICE!

Though we are tired. Double Down.

Though we might not feel inspired. Double Down.

It’s our watch and in our day. Double Down.

Change might not seem on the way. Double Down.

Taking Stolen Goods Seriously

Teaching history is now a battlefield. But this is because, in the 21st century, we are closer to seeing the realities of history than we’ve ever been. Too much truth, some critics say! Too much change! Or, could it be that critics are afraid of the robust and powerful messages that we can draw from closely viewing the history of racism in the U.S. and the rich, deep history of resistance to racism? This talk will identify some of those powerful messages and encourage all of us to put them at the center of our activism today.

Beth Kraig earned her Ph.D. in History from UW-Seattle in 1987 and taught classes (often with a social justice theme) at Pacific Lutheran University from 1989-2020. Her research & publications closely examine forms of resistance to injustice, especially in case studies drawn from Seattle’s history in the 20th century. Now in phased retirement, she stays engaged in social justice discussions and programs that especially feature young adults—and folks of any age in The People’s Gathering.

The Way Forward: Six Practices to an Intercultural Growth Mindset

Explore the six Personal Leadership practices that enable you to embody an intercultural growth mindset and discern the best way forward in the face of difference, uncertainty, and change.
Learn to stay centered while the world is spinning and disentangle from automatic-pilot, fixed mindset reactions so you can focus on the self-versus the other in alignment with your vision of living at your highest and best!

Tessa R. Sutton, Ph.D., is the Assistant Superintendent of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the South Bend School Corporation. She oversees equity, diversity, and inclusion strategic efforts, including professional learning to support staff, students, and community members. Tessa is the founder and Executive Producer of the Thought Leadership Conference, bringing business, education, and community leaders to one place to build a connected culture. She is also president of the Intercultural Relations Group and a Certified Diversity Executive.

The People’s Gathering Convener

Melannie Denise Cunningham is the Director of Multicultural Outreach and Engagement at PLU. She is also creator, executive producer and host of The People’s Gathering: A Revolution of Consciousness Conference.

Melannie is known locally, nationally, and internationally for her unapologetic talk and activism around anti-racist community building, social and economic justice, education, and advocacy for Black women and girls. In 2018 she was awarded the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize for her lifetime achievement working towards racial reconciliation. The “prize” she received was an all-expense-paid trip to Oslo, Norway, to represent her South Sound Washington community at the Nobel Peace Prize Ceremony.  She produced a documentary about her travels titled “Peace Queen” that was awarded a 2021 National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Northwest Emmy®.  Click here to view the documentary.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYYGgogSav4&t=648s

Melannie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington State University, an MBA from Pacific Lutheran University, a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership and Change from Fielding Graduate University, and is currently a doctoral student at Fielding pursuing a Ph.D. in Organizational Development and Change.

Joe Bushnell is a lifelong resident of Tacoma Washington; his mother was a refugee that fled from the Cambodian genocide and father was a local environmentalist and recycling pioneer. After graduating from Stadium High School, Joe has dedicated his life to public service and spent 11 years in the United States Marine Corps. He earned a bachelor’s degree from The Evergreen State College with an emphasis in Political Science and Economics. Joe was elected to the Tacoma City Council in January 2022 and is proud to be the first Cambodian American ever elected in Washington State.

Suzanne Pak is the Director of Community Health at Answers Counseling, which provides Maternity Support Services and mental health counseling in 8 counties across Washington State.   Suzanne partners with state and local health agencies to lead the Culturally Responsive Integrated & Strength-Based Parenting (CRISP) education, Potentially Preventable Hospitalization Learning Collaborative, and digital navigation services.  Suzanne serves as the co-chair of the Pierce County Opioid Task Force prevention & education committee and on the WA State Digital Equity Forum – and is a certified trainer for Screening Brief Intervention & Referral to Treatment and Motivational Interviewing.  Previously, Suzanne worked for Microsoft as the group training manager in global marketing and KWA as the community & behavioral health director.

Lua Pritchard was born in the village of Amouli, which is located on the island of American Samoa. She left Samoa at the age of 10 to attend school in San Francisco. Lua attended Pepperdine University in Los Angeles and the Universities of Minnesota and Hawaii.

Lua, her husband and her 5 children moved to Lakewood WA in 1988 to care for her in-laws. She and her husband culturally adopted 16 more children in Lakewood; their family now consists of 21 adult children and 34 grandchildren. During this time Lua also worked for the Korean Women’s Association (KWA) ultimately retiring as the Executive Director of KWA in 2009. She is currently the director of the Asia Pacific Cultural Center. Lua has been recognized with countless awards for her volunteer work in the Asian Pacific Community, Pierce County and Washington State.

• Dr. Traci Harrell is a Trainer, Consultant, Transformational Coach, Mindset Expert, and an International Best-Selling Author.
• Traci is the founder & President of It’s All Bigger Than Me Consulting LLC, a full-service boutique company specializing in Leadership, Inclusion, Diversity, Belonging, and Equity, with a focus on creating permanent Transformations through system change and impactful shifts in Mindset – for individuals, leaders, teams and organizations.
• Traci is a certified Success Coach® with Success Magazine, and a certified Transformational Facilitator & Mindset Coach who is currently leading strategic initiatives through Corporate,
  Collegiate, Civic, and Community collaborations. She is a courageous truth-teller & change agent. She has contributed to 3 books that became international best-sellers in over 14 counties and 18 Amazon Book Categories including: ‘Ignite Happiness’, ‘Ignite Your Inner Spirit’, and ‘Ignite Possibilities’.
• Traci also wrote in ‘Black Writers UnMasked’, African American Writers Alliance.
• Traci designed & offers a proprietary methodology, called, Transformational Inclusive LeadershipTM. She shares proven strategies for achieving success in business and in life, based on > 4700 targeted interviews in the community.
• Dr. Traci has over 25 years of diverse Leadership experience in Corporate America with 8 years at IBM (both domestic and international), 14 years at The Disney Company, and 5 years at Microsoft. Traci trains leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs. She is a Community Leader of Honor. Traci has served with distinction as President of the National Black MBA Association Seattle Chapter. She is currently Vice President of Corporate & Community Affairs.
• She also serves as Co-Chair of The Tacoma Pierce County Black Collective, Economic Development Committee, focused on training and empowerment for Black entrepreneurs and small businesses.
• Dr. Traci Harrell has won several National Leadership Awards including being designated on the exclusive list of ‘Top 50 Leaders under 50’ for nationwide impact.

Born and raised in Chicago. Illinois, Dr. James D. Carter worked as a police officer and investigator with the Chicago Police Department for 23 years. In addition to patrol duties, Dr. Carter worked in the Bureau of Organized Crime – Narcotics Division as an investigative police officer with the Chicago Police Department, was detailed to the Illinois State Police as a narcotics officer and as a case officer with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Dr. Carter has been credited with numerous awards for his service to the City of Chicago.

After joining the United States Air Force, James D. Carter rose through the ranks from Airmen First Class to Senior Master Sergeant. Along with his promotion to Master Sergeant came the promotion to First Sergeant of the 434 th Security Forces Squadron. Due to his tireless efforts he was awarded First Sergeant of the Year for the 434 th Air Refueling Wing. After two years Master Sergeant Carter was transferred to the 434 th Logistics Readiness Squadron. Subsequently within one year, Master Sergeant Carter was transferred to the 434 th Maintenance Squadron where his deployment and care of his troops was applauded by his Commander and he was awarded his second First Sergeant of the Year Award for the Wing and promotion to Senior Master Sergeant. Senior Master Sergeant James D. Carter was the First Sergeant of the 434th Maintenance Squadron, 434 th Air Refueling Wing at Grissom Air Reserve Base, Ind. He advised the Commander on matters influencing the health, morale, welfare, effective utilization, readiness, good order and discipline, and general supervision of more than 175 personnel within the
squadron and served as the Commander’s representative to numerous committees, councils, boards, and military and civilian functions. After Senior Master Sergeant Carter received his DBA in Business Administration from Argosy University, Chicago, IL. he completed his career in the Air Force Reserves as the Wing Historian for the 434 th Air Refueling Wing.

As a professional with over 20 years of experience in management and significant contributions as Executive Director for the Breakfast Group, Education Contract and Compliance Manager with the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle and Director of Corporate Safety and Security with Alaska Airlines Dr. Carter continuously works to give back to the community. As the Executive Director of Breakfast Group, Dr. Carter overseas programs designed to mentor at risk youth in the Seattle area. These programs serve over 1000 youth annually and its students move forward continue their educational pursuits though college readiness and career enhancement training.

In addition to being very active in his community, Dr. Carter is the proud father of 2 young men and is an avid golfer.

As a young child, Maria immigrated to the beautiful Skagit Valley from Mexico with her mother. A graduate of Western Washington University, Maria has expertise in management, policy development, and language access refined through her work in various non-profit and public service agencies. She was appointed by Governor Inslee as executive director for the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs in August of 2018.

Maria lives in Olympia with her partner and Stinky Dingo; is a serial-restorer of craftsman homes; and almost always falls asleep during movies.

Monica Andrade-Hupp is a Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Project Manager with a history of managing large hospital projects and events in healthcare and community settings. She is a graduate of California State University Fullerton with a Bachelor’s in Sociology. She is passionate about project management and the profound social impact projects can have on communities, policies, and systemic change. An advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, Monica hopes to inspire others to do the same, beginning within her own family and in her work as the Latino Leadership Network’s Co-Chair.

Guillermo Medrano was born in Arlington, Virginia but spent his formative years in San Miguel, El Salvador with his grandmother and extended family. These short but impactful years would have a lasting impression to this day on him, as he always strives for justice and equality for all after coming to terms with the reasons that caused his family to immigrate to the US in the 70’s and 80’s.

He currently works as a Project Manager at the National Institute of Health but spends the majority of his free time volunteering and championing impactful work done for the working class within the DC community as well as his family’s motherland of El Salvador.

Renée Roman Nose, MAIS, is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma. She is an activist, artist, actor, poet, painter, photographer, and cultural anthropologist. Her book, Sweet Grass Talking (2017), was published by Uttered Chaos Press and nominated for the Oregon Book of the Year Award for 2017. Her paintings and photography have been most recently featured at the Kallet Theater in Oneida, NY, as well as having had showings in Tacoma and Everett, Washington. Her second book, Have War Paint, Will Travel, is currently with the publisher, and her third book, as yet untitled, is a collaborative book of poetry with Suzan Harjo.

R. Stan Thomas

-Enrolled member of the San Xavier District of the Tohono O’odham Nation in southern Arizona.
-Over 20 years of community development and activism, working with Federal, State and Tribal governments.
-Direct involvement in the development of the Tohono O’odham Community College that now offers academic and cultural classes to tribal community members.
-International development activities via Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) for various communities in targeted 3rd World countries.

Roxane Maiko Byrne is the Coordinator of Equity, Diversity and Cultural Competency at Santa Barbara City College in Santa Barbara, California. Roxane holds an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, Santa Barbara and a Ph.D. in Human Development from Fielding Graduate University. Her research centers on the experiences of multiracial students in higher education with an emphasis on exploring identity and sense of belonging in racial affinity spaces. Dr. Byrne has served the SBCC community for over 16 years as an educational administrator, adjunct faculty member, classified staff member, and a personal counselor. She currently oversees multiple programs and centers within the Office of Equity, Diversity and Cultural Competency including the Center for Equity and Social Justice, the Umoja Center for Black Student Success, The Dream Center for Undocumented Student Success, and the Basic Needs Centers. Dr. Byrne also served as an adjunct professor of psychology and education at Antioch University, Santa Barbara for 4 years.

Isis Castañeda has been working with teens, young adults, and their families in the Santa Barbara area since 1997.  She established her business, Creating Connections in 2016 with a solid history of facilitating teen and parent groups, community outreach, trainings, public speaking, and organizing events.  Isis immigrated to the United States as a young child from Central America and lived in Virginia until her early teens. She returned to live in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Belize throughout her teen years and eventually landed in Santa Barbara. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies at Antioch University of Santa Barbara and is certified in Emotional Intelligence, Restorative Justice, Team Building Experiential Education, and as an Instructor for Youth Mental Health First Aid and teen Mental Health First Aid.

Isis’ global perspective and multicultural and multiracial heritage, her background in youth development, and life-coaching practice allows her to connect easily with teens, young adults, parents, and community service providers.

Laurie Arnold, M.Ed.

I’m a teachable white lady who was raised radical in Hilltop, Tacoma. I am an intercultural traveler who is still learning, unlearning and relearning. I am an antiracist co-conspirator and my karaoke name is Madame Potato Fly.

This is the sixth The People’s Gathering for Ken Sauby who brings 30 years of WA Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) experience. Ken started as a Financial Service Specialist (now called Public Benefits Specialist) and worked as a Leadworker, Supervisor, Region Financial Trainer, Deputy Administrator (Yakima CSO, two years), Administrator (Sunnyside CSO, six years), Strategic Initiatives Program Manager (four years under Dr. Karen A. Johnson), and now five years as Employee Engagement Program Manager under Nichole Ossa in the Pro Equity Anti-Racism (PEAR) Unit consulting primarily for the 2,300 staff of the Community Services Division and assisting the 17,000 staff of DSHS. Ken has attended many EDI training sessions over the years.

Ken is a certified trainer in Crucial Conversations and Crucial Accountability. He is also a certified trainer and Coder/Coach for Motivational Interviewing. In addition to his regular duties he started delivering Shared Strengths Workshops to staff in 2007 based upon the 34 Clifton Strengths from Gallup. With 130 workshops provided to over 2,000 staff, this one day experience is always in popular demand and now is a major part of his regular duties. He manages the Strengths Community of Practice that has over 1,500 members statewide. Strengths, Self-Care, Well-Being, and Trauma Informed are regular topics that Ken presents or facilitates activities around. In 2022 he became a Work + Love Leader and will be a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach within a few months.

Ken is married to Deb (33 years) and they have five sons and seven grandchildren. They share their Moxee home with two Siamese cats, Haven and Lexi, and one dog, Remy, who is a ShihTzu/Bichon Frise mix and provides constant companionship.

Thomas has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership focused on addressingpoverty, hunger and other forms of global injustice all over the world.  After working in Eastern Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, he served as Vice President of Program Partnerships and Learning at CARE, responsible for anti-poverty programs in 95 countries. Since 2017, Thomas has been the CEO of Northwest Harvest where he is focused on advancing equity-oriented policy outcomes; developing a network of human service providers; and distributing nutritious and culturally appropriate food throughout Washington.

Patricia Vogel (she/her) leads philanthropic engagement and strategic planning for donor communities at Northwest Harvest using a community centric model that is grounded in equity and social justice. With a broad range of experience in non-profit leadership, she was previously development director, and yoga instructor, for Yoga Behind Bars – an organization that focuses on trauma-informed yoga and meditation for rehabilitation. Working behind bars and listening to incarcerated people tell their stories was life-changing and led her on a personal journey to become an anti-racist. Patricia believes deeply in the healing power of breathwork, community and connection, and is honored to participate in the People’s Gathering for the fourth time.

There is no question that issues of blatant and systemic racism, hate, bigotry, and oppression continue to permeate America’s consciousness. These are emotionally charged matters, hard to discuss, and most definitely difficult to navigate when behaviors stemming from this mindset show up in the workplace. For our featured presentation – TPG participants will be challenged to examine and explore issues related to bias, privilege, equity, supremacy, and belief systems. Additionally, they will learn how to take action against individual and systemic racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression

We need more leaders for social justice and equity across America. Do you have the skills and ability to lead? Are you changing or progressing?

Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr., Founder/Lead Consultant America & Moore, LLC

Dr. Moore is one of the nation’s top speakers and educators in academia, business, diversity, leadership, and community service (America & MOORE, LLC). He is the Founder/Program Director for the White Privilege Conference (WPC) and The Privilege Institute (TPI), which engages people in research, education, action, and leadership through workshops, conferences, publications, and strategic partnerships and relationships. (https://www.theprivilegeinstitute.com/).  Dr. Moore is also the co-founder of the online journal Understanding and Dismantling Privilege (https://www.wpcjournal.com/about), the author of The Guide for White Women who Teach Black Boys, and the creator of the 21-day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge (https://www.eddiemoorejr.com/21daychallenge).

Melannie Denise Cunningham is the Director of Multicultural Outreach and Engagement at PLU. She is also creator, executive producer and host of The People’s Gathering: A Revolution of Consciousness Conference.

Commissioner Tufono-Chaussee is a first generation Samoan, born and raised in Carson, California.

She began her work in 1979 as a Samoan community youth activist through the Office of Samoan Affairs, where she learned the importance of civic engagement in the Samoan community and advocacy for the disaggregation of Asian and Pacific Islander populations on all government documents. She followed in the footsteps of her late parents, Reverend Alatina and Siva Tufono, by serving her community through various grassroots youth and senior programs throughout Carson and San Diego, California. She also participated in many California based organizations such as Omai Fa’atasi (Come Together) and Samoan Athletes in Action, which recognized the contributions of Samoans in the U.S.

Commissioner Tufono-Chaussee studied Communications and Broadcasting at San Diego City College. She was inspired to pursue this field by three of her brothers who are professional Hip Hop DJs. In 1992, Commissioner Tufono-Chaussee and her brothers formed Samoan4Life Entertainment and worked with hip hop and reggae artists to promote their concerts throughout San Diego. It was then that she decided to become a radio DJ and hosted a radio show on KSDS 88.3 FM playing contemporary jazz. She continued her studies at the National Labor College in Silver Springs, Maryland, studying Union Leadership and Labor Contract Bargaining and Negotiations as a recipient of the Labor Union Minority Women scholarship. In 1995, she relocated to Seattle, Washington, and continued her work in the Samoan community.

From 2007 to 2010, Commissioner Tufono-Chaussee served as the first Samoan Union President of the International Association of Flight Attendants, AFA Local #16. In 2009, Commissioner Tufono-Chaussee and her husband Chris Chaussee founded the International Samoa Health Mission Alliance (ISHMA), which provided assistance to victims of the September 2009 earthquake and tsunami in Samoa and American Samoa. Four medical teams and $250,000 of medical supplies were sent to the disaster stricken areas. This work attracted international media attention in Samoa, Australia, and New Zealand, which led to the formation of ISHMA chapters in Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, and China. Tufono-Chaussee and the medical teams were recognized for their charitable tsunami relief work by Samoa’s Ministry of Health, the Honorable Gatoloaifa’ana Amataga Alesana-Gidlow and Governor Togiola Tulafono of American Samoa.

Commissioner Tufono-Chaussee was appointed to the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs in 2010 by former Governor Christine Gregoire and was reappointed for a second and third term in 2013 and 2016 by Governor Jay Inslee. She currently serves as the Commission’s Chair and is the first Samoan Commissioner to hold this position.

Jack Thompson, nicknamed “the Throwin’ Samoan”, is an American Samoan former professional American football quarterback. Thompson played in the National Football League for six seasons, four with the Cincinnati Bengals and two with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at Washington State.

After his football career, Thompson settled in Seattle and became a mortgage banker, as well as a volunteer quarterbacks coach at Ballard High School. His son Tony, a tight end, followed in his dad’s footsteps in suiting up at Washington State, and a nephew, Tavita Pritchard, was a quarterback at Stanford University.

Commissioner Faitalia is a first-generation Tongan-Samoan, born and raised in California. She recently settled in Covington, WA from Los Angeles, CA. She is the owner of Modern Blueprint Construction LLC and works for United Indians of All Tribes Foundation as the Ina Maka On Track Program Manager. Before moving to the Pacific Northwest, Ms. Faitalia served her Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Community in various capacities including working for the UCLA Center for Community College Partnership and Tribal Learning Community & Educational Exchange Program (TLCEE).

Commissioner Faitalia joins CAPAA Commission with fifteen years of community service and advocacy experience. She completed both her Undergraduate and Graduate education from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Suzanne Pak is the Director of Community & Behavioral Health for Korean Women’s Association (KWA). Her department provides CRISP (Culturally Responsive, Integrated & Strength-Based Parenting) education for BIPOC parents of young children (with DOH funding), Potentially Preventable Hospitalization (PPH) Learning Collaboration education for community and behavioral health professionals (with TPCHD funding), and care coordination and preventative health education services. She serves on the Pierce County Opioid Task Force, Tacoma Pierce County Health Departments’ PPH Steering Committee, City of Tacoma’s Age Friendly Tacoma Committee, Help Me Grow’s Community Advisory Board, and Fred Hutch’s Community Advisory Board. She is a certified trainer in Screening Brief Intervention Referral to Treatment, Motivational Interviewing, and Adverse Childhood Experiences.

Lua Pritchard was born in the village of Amouli, which is located on the island of American Samoa. She left Samoa at the age of 10 to attend school in San Francisco. Lua attended Pepperdine University in Los Angeles and the Universities of Minnesota and Hawaii.

Lua, her husband and her 5 children moved to Lakewood WA in 1988 to care for her in-laws. She and her husband culturally adopted 16 more children in Lakewood; their family now consists of 21 adult children and 34 grandchildren. During this time Lua also worked for the Korean Women’s Association (KWA) ultimately retiring as the Executive Director of KWA in 2009. She is currently the director of the Asia Pacific Cultural Center. Lua has been recognized with countless awards for her volunteer work in the Asian Pacific Community, Pierce County and Washington State.

Dr. Adrian Thompson is the Chief Equity Officer for the Department of Enterprise Services.  He recently came to this role from the Department of Corrections (DOC), where he also served briefly as the Chief Equity Officer after Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Dr. Karen Johnson as the director of the Office of Equity.

By training and experience, Dr. Thompson is a psychologist, researcher, author, lecturer, and community servant.  He has helped research mental health disparities in the court system, advocated for and treated youth who were sexually abused, and co-created a medical mentoring program designed to target disparities in high school achievement and medical school enrollment.

Thompson earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Howard University. While at Howard, Dr. Thompson participated in several nationwide diversity and minority initiatives to increase academic diversity and representation. His research and publications focus on the physiological effects of race and racism, diversity, and social initiatives to increase minority participation.

Shellie Willis is the Senior Director of Collective Impact Workforce Central, the public workforce development council serving employers and job seekers in Tacoma and Pierce County. Shellie serves as an advocate for system partners and the community by facilitating the Pierce County Community TaskForce and provides education and training on continuous quality improvement opportunities and increases access to education and employment by intentionally working with local elected officials, community partners and employers to solve complex problems in a structured way to design and create and equitable result.

Shellie is also the Founder of “Redefining You Foundation,” a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that supports and empowers transitioning service women, women veterans, and military spouses redefine their lifestyles and perspectives following military service. She is a 24-year veteran of the US Army and holds a Master’s Degree in Management- Nonprofit Administration from the University of Maryland, Global Campus.

Volunteer Service: 

• Chair of the Washington State Women Veterans Committee
• Member of the Governors Veteran Affairs Advisory Committee
• Board of Directors for Harborstone Credit Union
• Board of Directors for the Puyallup/Sumner Chamber of Commerce
• Appointed Post Surgeon for VFW Post #2224

Current Title:  Renowned America’s Select Veteran Queen 2022/2023 

LinkedIn:  (7) Shellie Willis, MSM Nonprofit, CDFM-A,LSSBB | LinkedIn

Dr. Plácida Gallegos has been an organization development consultant and executive coach for the past 30 years, engaged in supporting diverse individuals, groups and organizations in thriving and achieving optimal outcomes. Based on sound research, assessment and an appreciative approach, she works with clients to maximize performance, engagement and authenticity. She is deeply committed to co-creating inclusive organizations and teams that support people to learn and grow to their fullest capacities.

Trained as a social psychologist with a Ph.D. in Social and Personality Psychology, she is attentive to how individuals and teams are affected by the systems and structures within which they operate, and how they can constructively influence those systems. Diversity, equity and inclusion have been consistent threads through her research, consulting, and teaching practices.

R. Stan Thomas

-Enrolled member of the San Xavier District of the Tohono O’odham Nation in southern Arizona.
-Over 20 years of community development and activism, working with Federal, State and Tribal governments.
-Direct involvement in the development of the Tohono O’odham Community College that now offers academic and cultural classes to tribal community members.
-International development activities via Non-Governmental Organization (NGOs) for various communities in targeted 3rd World countries.

Roxane Maiko Byrne is the Coordinator of Equity, Diversity and Cultural Competency at Santa Barbara City College in Santa Barbara, California. Roxane holds an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University, Santa Barbara and a Ph.D. in Human Development from Fielding Graduate University. Her research centers on the experiences of multiracial students in higher education with an emphasis on exploring identity and sense of belonging in racial affinity spaces. Dr. Byrne has served the SBCC community for over 16 years as an educational administrator, adjunct faculty member, classified staff member, and a personal counselor. She currently oversees multiple programs and centers within the Office of Equity, Diversity and Cultural Competency including the Center for Equity and Social Justice, the Umoja Center for Black Student Success, The Dream Center for Undocumented Student Success, and the Basic Needs Centers. Dr. Byrne also served as an adjunct professor of psychology and education at Antioch University, Santa Barbara for 4 years.

Isis Castañeda has been working with teens, young adults, and their families in the Santa Barbara area since 1997.  She established her business, Creating Connections in 2016 with a solid history of facilitating teen and parent groups, community outreach, trainings, public speaking, and organizing events.  Isis immigrated to the United States as a young child from Central America and lived in Virginia until her early teens. She returned to live in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Belize throughout her teen years and eventually landed in Santa Barbara. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies at Antioch University of Santa Barbara and is certified in Emotional Intelligence, Restorative Justice, Team Building Experiential Education, and as an Instructor for Youth Mental Health First Aid and teen Mental Health First Aid.

Isis’ global perspective and multicultural and multiracial heritage, her background in youth development, and life-coaching practice allows her to connect easily with teens, young adults, parents, and community service providers.

Beth Kraig, Ph.D. strongest interests center on the history of discrimination and oppression (and resistance to those forces) in the United States, and especially in the 20th century. Her research into the subject include examinations of anti-gay ballot measures in the 1970s, racism in the military in World War II, and feminist voices in popular literature in the post-WWII decades. She is actively involved in interdisciplinary programs and fields of study, including Women’s Studies and Peace Studies, and has participated in research and projects that center on the importance of historical thinking in interdisciplinary contexts. Dr. Kraig is a professor of History at Pacific Lutheran University (retired).

This is the sixth The People’s Gathering for Ken Sauby who brings 30 years of WA Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) experience. Ken started as a Financial Service Specialist (now called Public Benefits Specialist) and worked as a Leadworker, Supervisor, Region Financial Trainer, Deputy Administrator (Yakima CSO, two years), Administrator (Sunnyside CSO, six years), Strategic Initiatives Program Manager (four years under Dr. Karen A. Johnson), and now five years as Employee Engagement Program Manager under Nichole Ossa in the Pro Equity Anti-Racism (PEAR) Unit consulting primarily for the 2,300 staff of the Community Services Division and assisting the 17,000 staff of DSHS. Ken has attended many EDI training sessions over the years.

Ken is a certified trainer in Crucial Conversations and Crucial Accountability. He is also a certified trainer and Coder/Coach for Motivational Interviewing. In addition to his regular duties he started delivering Shared Strengths Workshops to staff in 2007 based upon the 34 Clifton Strengths from Gallup. With 130 workshops provided to over 2,000 staff, this one day experience is always in popular demand and now is a major part of his regular duties. He manages the Strengths Community of Practice that has over 1,500 members statewide. Strengths, Self-Care, Well-Being, and Trauma Informed are regular topics that Ken presents or facilitates activities around. In 2022 he became a Work + Love Leader and will be a Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach within a few months.

Ken is married to Deb (33 years) and they have five sons and seven grandchildren. They share their Moxee home with two Siamese cats, Haven and Lexi, and one dog, Remy, who is a ShihTzu/Bichon Frise mix and provides constant companionship.

Kristy Gledhill founded the South Sound Antiracist Project in the summer of 2019 in response to a growing dissonance in her own life between the reality of racism and the direct attention and action she was applying to understanding and fighting it. A white affinity group that meets monthly, with additional monthly “action group” meetings, SSARP is an active community of white people committed to understanding, adopting, employing and promoting antiracist ideas, policies and actions in all their spheres of influence. On the side, Kristy is a writer living with her husband in Gig Harbor. She has lived and worked—mostly for nonprofits—in the Tacoma area for 26 years.

Thomas has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership focused on addressing poverty, hunger and other forms of global injustice all over the world.  After working in Eastern Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, he served as Vice President of Program Partnerships and Learning at CARE, responsible for anti-poverty programs in 95 countries. Since 2017, Thomas has been the CEO of Northwest Harvest where he is focused on advancing equity-oriented policy outcomes; developing a network of human service providers; and distributing nutritious and culturally appropriate food throughout Washington.