Posted by Nellie Mae Ed. Fdn.
For the past several years, Nellie Mae Education Foundation has welcomed a new cohort of education leaders into our Speakers Bureau. After a year and a half characterized by the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and systemic racism, and where our schools were forced to rethink where, when, and how learning happens, we are thrilled to welcome our newest cohort of Nellie Mae Education Foundation Speakers Bureau members committed to advancing racial equity in our public education system.
This year’s cohort brings together a group of experts from across the region who are united in their quest to create an equitable education system for all. Education has been thrust into the political spotlight as opponents of equity are working overtime to hinder the ability of our nation’s children to learn the truth about the nation’s founding, as well as ask the critical questions about how we can close the opportunity gaps that have been created and reinforced over the decades.
Our new cohort includes administrators, non-profit leaders, students, teachers, family advocates, and more. These leaders recognize that schools can’t begin to educate our youth without creating environments where students feel seen, known, and empowered. We have long realized that schools are about much more than teaching or leading specific subject matters or helping students perform proficiently on tests. They are also about creating the global citizens of tomorrow and shaping a more just and equitable future for all of us
We couldn’t be more excited about this new cohort and the passion, expertise, and fortitude they will bring to the education ecosystem over the course of their time with us. Please see the list of our new Speakers Bureau members below:
Ann R. Smith, JD, MBA, Executive Director, AFCAMP
Mario J. Florez, Regional Director of Community Health and Well Being, Trinity Health
Carlon Howard, Chief Impact Officer and Co-Founder, The Equity Institute
Muntaha Mohamed, Lead Facilitator and Head of Youth Programming, Portland Empowered
Balqies Mohamed, Youth Organizer, Portland Empowered
Jennifer Weston, Director, Wopanaak Language Reclamation Project
Tracy Kelly, Language Teacher Wopanaak Language Reclamation Project
Cynthia Massillon, Dean of Students, Somerville Public Schools
Gladys Vega, Executive Director, La Colaborativa
Karen Chen, Executive Director, The Chinese Progressive Association
Christie Nold, 6th Grade ELA Teacher, South Burlington Public Schools
Book a speaker for an upcoming event by visiting our Speakers Bureau site!