Meet The Speakers
CHRISTIE NOLD
Teacher
South Burlington Public Schools
South Burlington, VT
Christie Nold (she/her) lives and works on Abenaki land in Vermont. She is a public middle school teacher in South Burlington, just five miles from her childhood home. In addition to teaching…
MUNTAHA MOHAMED
Lead Facilitator and Head of Youth Programming
Portland Empowered
Portland, ME
Muntaha Mohamed is a Black/Somali woman, artist, and activist living on Abenaki Land. She believes in and works to build community, create safe spaces, and enact the courage it takes to envision and…
KAREN CHEN
Executive Director
The Chinese Progressive Association
Boston, MA
Karen Chen is Executive Director of the Chinese Progressive Association (CPA), a 43 year-old grassroots civil rights organization. Karen’s training began as a 10 year-old when she immigrated to the US…
CYNTHIA MASSILLON
Dean of Students
Somerville Public Schools
Somerville, MA
Experienced Educator with a demonstrated history of working in the education field. Taught secondary history for 8 years, and is currently Dean of Students at a high school in the Greater Boston Area…
CARLON HOWARD
Chief Impact Officer and Co-Founder
Equity Institute
Providence, RI
Carlon is the Chief Impact Officer and Co-Founder of Equity Institute. In his role, he leads organization-wide strategic and operational planning, ensuring EI’s vision is realized through…
BALQIES MOHAMED
Youth Lead Organizer
Portland Empowered
Portland, ME
Balqies Mohamed is a 17 year-old Somali-American living in Portland, Maine. When she is not doodling over her calculus homework, Balqies finds herself engaged in other school related activities…
MARIO FLOREZ
Regional Director of Community Health and Well Being
Trinity Health of New England
Mario Florez is a social service and education professional with over 20 years of experience. He has made it his life’s work and mission to serve marginalized and vulnerable populations through…
GLADYS VEGA
Executive Director
La Colaborativa
Chelsea, MA
Gladys Vega has dedicated more than 30 years of service to the city of Chelsea and The Chelsea Collaborative/La Colaborativa, which she joined in 1990 – just two years after its founding. She took on…
JENNIFER WESTON
Co-Director
Lakota Well-Being Project
Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, North & South Dakota
Jennifer Weston (Hunkpapa Lakota, Standing Rock) is a writer and producer who has worked for nearly three decades with Tribal community programs focused on environmental justice, Indigenous education…
TRACY KELLEY
Interim Director
Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project
Mashpee, MA
Tracy Kelley “Wunushq” is a proud member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. She was born and raised on the unceded territory of the Mashpee Wampanoag where she lives her purpose through youth work and…
ANN SMITH
Executive Director
African Caribbean American Parents of Children with Disabilities, Inc.
Hartford, CT
Ann R. Smith, JD, MBA is Executive Director of African Caribbean American Parents of Children with Disabilities, Inc. (AFCAMP) commonly known as AFCAMP Advocacy for Children, a parent-led nonprofit…