Real Belonging vs Rainbow Washing: Engaging LGBTQIA+ Communities as Volunteers

Dana Litwin, CVA, is a globally recognized strategic advisor, speaker, and advocate for civic service. Since 2002 she has guided organizations in California's Silicon Valley and worldwide to produce breakthrough volunteer and community engagement programs. Dana is the creator of the YouTube channel “Priceless Advice with Leaders of Volunteers”, served as President of the Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement (AL!VE), and is a founder and facilitator of the National Alliance for Volunteer Engagement. Dana's lived experience as an out lesbian, Lambda award winning writer, and youth activist in the AIDS crises and ongoing fight for LGBTQIA+ equal rights deeply informs her work and values. They recently led the Planning and Advocacy for Strategic Volunteer Involvement working group for the DEI Toolkit development with ADEVI 2 (Assessing Diversity and Equity in Volunteer Involvement) research by CCVA and Arizona State University.

Recognizing & Responding to Bias

Dr. Omari's storied career is marked by a commitment to education and civic service. With advanced degrees in global studies and policy and a PhD from the University of Minnesota, along with impactful roles such as his six-years as an elected regent at the University Board, he has shaped policy and influenced change.

His recognition as a thought leader is evidenced by his inclusion in the Young American Leaders Program at Harvard Business School and as a celebrated figure in Minnesota’s Top 100 People to Know.

Dr. Omari currently serves on the faculty of Carlson School of Management’s Executive Education program and adjunct faculty at Augsburg University. 

By and for Us: Helping Neurodivergent People Make Friends

Mitchell Schaps is the Board President of MNeurodivergent. He is also one of the event organizers for the Twin Cities Chapter of MNeurodivergent. Mitchell also has been diagnosed ADHD Inattentive type since he was 20 years old. In 2022, after having been working from home for 2 years at his job with MNIT, and pandemic restrictions had been lifted, Mitchell was craving friendship. With a woman named Emily Johnson in Milaca, MN, He co-founded the non-profit, MNeurodivergent.

Identity - Understanding Yourself to Understand Others

Kristie Lazenberry is an experienced DEI practitioner and Master Storyteller. As a Diversity Equity and Inclusion lead, Kristie facilitated sessions for the McKinsey & Company Professional Development Program. She has worked with the Itasca Project, a civic-led alliance of business leaders from multiple sectors, designing and leading a continuing education program for their leading body. Currently, Kristie is the Program Director for the DEI Collaborative at the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce and advises the content planning for their Equity Leadership Series and their Equity Summit. Kristie has a deep passion for bringing diverse groups of people together to achieve shared understanding, empathy, and grace.

Breaking the Cycle of White Supremacy

Donte Curtis is the Owner of Catch Your Dream Consulting where he inspires and trains individuals and teams, nationwide, on leadership, racial equity, anti-racism, and making change. Donte brings his 15 years of facilitation and speaking experience with an expectation of getting you energized, you taking practical action and finding hope for a better tomorrow. He currently serves as Co-Chair on the Board of Directors at Social Enterprise Alliance MSP, which supports the purpose driven economy. Donte lives a life that is dedicated to leadership, social justice and liberation and is probably one of the most energetic people you will ever meet. Donte resides in Saint Paul, Minnesota with his wife, Rachel, his 1-year-old son, Malachi and two dogs, King and Moose.

Navigating Microaggressions: Building Inclusive Volunteer Spaces

Dr. Luiza Dreasher is the President and CEO of Mastering Cultural Differences, and she has over 20 years of experience in the areas of DEI and intercultural competence development. Her expertise in global and domestic diversity has led to publications, international speaking invitations, and training opportunities for numerous audiences including the United States Department of Defense, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Schreiber Foods of Brazil, MN Department of Public Safety, and numerous institutions of higher education. As a writer for The Inclusion Solution, her articles have reached an audience of over 226 thousand individuals. She has written about strategies for recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce, the detrimental impact of microaggressions, achieving inclusive religious observance, the impact of age discrimination, how organizations can play a critical role in addressing racial inequities, and how biases and lack of intercultural competence keep diversity out. Dr. Dresher’s expertise has been showcased on prominent platforms such as ABC, NBC, Fox, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, and various other media forums.

Insidious Niceness: Understanding and Responding to the Intersections of Whiteness, Femininity, and Power in Helping Professions

Johnanna Ganz, Ph.D. is a systems-thinking, data-focused pragmatist who looks for opportunities to turn theory and ideas into action. As the founder of J. Ganz Consulting, LLC, Johnanna’s passion lies in increasing the sustainability of mission-driven agencies and their people through education and coaching. In their doctoral research, Johnanna studied occupational and organizational identity development in victim advocates and their agencies using quantitative and qualitative approaches. Johnanna has used this research to develop tools and trainings to work in deep collaboration with mission-driven staff and leaders as they build their skills around healthy occupational identities and sustainable, liberatory organizational cultures. Johnanna approaches every project and relationship with the philosophy of, “Let’s do better, together.”

Reimagining Nonprofit Boards for Equity & Inclusion

Mary brings more than 15 years of strategic planning, nonprofit leadership, governance and entrepreneurship to Compass Pro Bono as its inaugural Managing Director in the Twin Cities. Most recently, Mary spent ten years with Girls on the Run Minnesota as Co-Founder and Executive Director, growing the organization from a small start-up to a robust statewide nonprofit. Mary launched her career in public health and public policy with the National Association of Attorneys General and the Network for Public Health Law. She received her BA in Political Science & Communication from the College of Saint Benedict and her Masters in Public Health from the University of Minnesota. She currently serves as Board Chair for the Brave Like Gabe Foundation and the National CMV Foundation. Mary lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota with her husband and 3 kids.

Ableism is Everywhere: What Disabled People Wish Able Bodied People Knew About Disability in Volunteerism

Ashley Daniels is an AuDHD (autistic and ADHD) educator who has non epileptic seizures. She is passionate about disability inclusion centering an intersectional focus in order to create equitable spaces to accommodate and support her community from a compassion based approach. They hold a Master of Arts degree in Education, and has previously spoken for educators at Saint Paul Public Schools, and at the 2024 MAVA Engagement Leadership Conference combining their lived experiences and professional experience to help audiences identify and disrupt ableism in their professions to champion disability inclusion across a diaspora of fields. 

What's in your bag? How unhealed wounds impact those you intend to help

Jaralyn Roberts is a leadership development practitioner focusing on the intersection of trauma and leadership. She also coaches leaders to use self-discovery as a way to strengthen their leadership and pursue potential. Jaralyn is a wife, mother, sister, and friend who is deeply passionate about acknowledging and nurturing the full humanity of others.

Revitalizing Volunteerism: Co-Creating Solutions for BIPOC Engagement in a Post-COVID World

Dr. Amanda Bolton, a visionary leader in criminology and social justice research, brings over two decades of experience in delivering actionable insights to academia, nonprofits, and government agencies, with a particular focus on diversity and inclusion. As the founder and CEO of TriSight Consulting, she is dedicated to transforming organizations and communities through innovative, inclusive, and empathetic research approaches. Dr. Bolton's work as a Research Consultant for the Anti-Racism Leadership Institute demonstrates her commitment to uncovering disparities related to race, gender, and disability, empowering institutions to foster inclusivity and support marginalized communities of color. Her expertise in conducting equity audits and analyzing policies, practices, and cultural dynamics has made significant contributions to addressing systemic inequalities in education and beyond. As a professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, she has educated and mentored over 500 students, developing curriculum that emphasizes the importance of diversity in understanding and addressing crime and justice issues. Dr. Bolton's involvement with organizations such as the African American Leadership Forum, Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce, and Women's Initiative for Self-Empowerment further underscores her dedication to promoting diversity and empowering underrepresented communities.

Revitalizing Volunteerism: Co-Creating Solutions for BIPOC Engagement in a Post-COVID World

Lorita Sajous is a dedicated HR compliance leader and diversity champion currently serving as the Sr. Manager of HR Compliance & Risk at Bremer Bank in St. Paul, Minnesota. As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team and the DEI Advisory Council, she plays a crucial role in championing diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments and goals across the organization's multi-state footprint. Lorita's passion for fostering inclusive workplaces is evident in her active support of initiatives aimed at retaining diverse talent and promoting a culture of belonging. Her extensive background in affirmative action and equal employment opportunity, honed during her tenure as an HR Compliance Manager at Patterson Companies, has equipped her with the expertise to drive meaningful change in organizational diversity practices. In her current role, Lorita collaborates with partners across Bremer Bank to ensure compliance with employment laws while promoting best practices that support a diverse and inclusive work environment. Her involvement in the ESG Committee further demonstrates her commitment to integrating social responsibility and diversity considerations into the bank's overall strategy and operations. Lorita Sajous has extensive experience in speaking, facilitating, and providing virtual training across a wide range of HR compliance and corporate governance topics. She has conducted in-house training sessions on a national scale, covering critical areas such as internal audits, affirmative action compliance, EEO-1 reporting, ethics training, and various labor law requirements. Her expertise extends to facilitating workshops and presentations on best practices related to code of conduct, enterprise strategies, and employee relations. Lorita has also demonstrated her ability to provide comprehensive training on overall governance at an enterprise level, particularly focusing on employment law. Her experience in delivering these training sessions both in-person and virtually has equipped her with the skills to effectively communicate complex compliance and legal concepts to diverse audiences across organizations.

Uniting Generations: 5 Ways to Overcome Communication Barriers and Resolve Conflicts

Coleen focuses on building bridges in today’s intergenerational workforce through effective communication, breaking down implicit bias, and cultivating teams that thrive on openness, accountability, and a culture of innovation. Her audiences have varied from members of several state bar associations in Oregon, Washington, and California to conferences covering dispute resolution and DEI. She has over 25 years of experience in supplier relations and contract negotiation and has worked for several Fortune 500 companies. Coleen earned her BA in Law and Justice from Central Washington University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. She is a Certified Professional Coach, Certified Trauma Informed Coach, and Published Author. Outside of her passion for public speaking and coaching, Coleen loves reading and hiking with her dogs, Bugsy and Molly.

Storytelling without Exploitation

Jessica Pang-Parks is highly skilled at and incredibly passionate about stewarding relationships, coaching and mentoring others, and developing and improving processes. She is the recipient of the 2021 Alison Caird Young Leader Award in recognition of her leadership and excellence in volunteer engagement and the recipient of the 2023 Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada Exemplary Leader Impact Award in recognition of her contributions to the field as a mentor, leader, trainer, and advocate. 

With 14+ years of experience as a leader of volunteers at both small and large organizations, Jessica has proven success at providing subject matter expertise and leading non-profit learning experiences. Jessica earned her Certified Volunteer Administrator credential in April 2023 and has facilitated Fleming College's Volunteer Management: Spectrum of Engagement (MGMT62) course since May 2022. She has held professional volunteer engagement roles at Crohn's and Colitis Canada, Pathways to Education Canada, the Heart & Stroke Foundation, Volunteer Toronto, and WWF-Canada. 

Jessica has the privilege to work on the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and the Mississaugas of the Credit. Learn more about Jessica at www.learnwithjpp.com. 

Understanding and Navigating Islamophobia

Jaylani Hussein is the Executive Director of the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN), where he leads advocacy and civil rights efforts for Muslims and marginalized communities. He is a passionate leader with expertise in urban planning, community development, and youth development, having over eight years of experience in juvenile treatment centers. Hussein is actively involved with various community organizations, including serving on the board of the American Relief Agency for the Horn of Africa and the advisory board for Anoka Ramsey Community College. He has received several accolades, including the 2015 "Visionary Leader" Award from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and the 2017 Twin Cities International Citizen Award for Social Justice. Additionally, Hussein has been recognized on the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list and served on the One Minnesota Transition Advisory Board. Fluent in English, Somali, and Arabic, Hussein holds degrees in Community Development and City Planning from St. Cloud State University and Political Science from North Dakota State University.

Understanding and Navigating Islamophobia

Suleiman is a dedicated systems builder and community advocate. For over a decade, he has empowered teams and built capacity through leading grassroots trainings and organizing efforts locally and internationally. Suleiman is passionate about youth education and has long supported it through operating a free tutoring program and serving on Education and Arts boards. He is an experienced project manager and fundraiser, managing diverse global projects across sectors. As a skilled trainer, Suleiman has mobilized volunteers across 8 countries for social justice causes. He facilitates critical conversations on diversity, equity and inclusion that stimulate growth through discomfort.

How to be an Ally in Three Steps

Heather Stanley is the executive director of Crisis Line and Referral Service in Brainerd. She is a SafeZone facilitator and volunteered for several LGBTQ organizations in her home state of Alabama. She has served on committees to improve equity, diversity, and inclusion policies and speaks about DEI topics regularly. Heather currently works to provide suicide prevention to at-risk populations.