Steering Committee Spotlights

Our DEIB Conference Steering Committee members are passionate volunteers who work tirelessly to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our schools.

We asked each committee member to share their favorite DEIB quote, and here's what they had to say:

"Race and racism is a reality that so many of us grow up learning to just deal with. But if we ever hope to move past it, it can't just be on people of color to deal with it. It's up to all of us — Black, white, everyone — no matter how well-meaning we think we might be, to do the honest, uncomfortable work of rooting it out."

-Michelle Obama

Tracie Benjamin-Van Lierop

Dena Cox

"Dominator culture has tried to keep us all afraid, to make us choose safety instead of risk, sameness instead of diversity. Moving through that fear, finding out what connects us, reveling in our differences; this is the process that brings us closer, that gives us a world of shared values, of meaningful community."

– bell hooks, Teaching Community: A Pedagogy of Hope, 2003

“Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.” – Jane Goodall

Dr. Kira Krenichyn

Orville Ingram

“Diversity is being invited to the party. Inclusion is being asked to dance.” - Verna Myers, a leading diversity and inclusion expert

Marc Williams

Shafiqah Faust

To be African American is to be African without any memory and American without any privilege —James Baldwin

"Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." Maya Angelou

Temitope Fasoye

Dr. Gloria Wallace

“For me, forgiveness and compassion are always linked: how do we hold people accountable for wrongdoing and yet at the same time remain in touch with their humanity enough to believe in their capacity to be transformed?”

― bell hooks

“If you have come here to help me you are wasting your time, but if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”

― Lilla Watson

Michelle Patterson

Jason Acosta

“The paradox of education is precisely this—that as one begins to become conscious one begins to examine the society in which he is being educated.” - James Baldwin

"I always think about the next generation and creating a different blueprint for them. That's my goal: to let them know there's another way." Janelle Monae

Jessica Brickey

Jay Bastien

"We are each other's harvest; we are each other's business; we are each other's magnitude and bond." - Gwendolyn Brooks

You can cut all the flowers, but you cannot keep spring from coming. - Pablo Neruda

Jeannie Gallego

Joezette Joseph

"Mattering, citizenship, community sovereignty, and humanity go hand in hand with the ideas of democracy, liberty, and justice for all, which are the unalienable rights needed to thrive." -Dr. Bettina Love

“The moment we choose to love we begin to move against domination, against oppression. The moment we choose to love we begin to move towards freedom, to act in ways that liberate ourselves and others.” ― bell hooks

Dr. Malissa Mootoo

Kimberley Coke

“No matter who we are or what we look like or what we may believe, it is both possible and, more importantly, it becomes powerful to come together in common purpose and common effort.” – Oprah Winfrey

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced." James Baldwin

Nona Fontnel

Senyal Walton

"Diversity is a fact. Equity is a choice. Inclusion is an action. Belonging is an outcome."

The greater the diversity, the greater the perfection.

~ Thomas Berry

Steven Birkeland

Lenka Lotze

Freedom Dreaming to me will be a world without hate, colors, and stereotypes. A world in unity, kindness and peace.

We are grateful to our steering committee members for their dedication and their inspiring words. Join us at the 2nd Annual DEIB Conference, and let's celebrate the power of Freedom Dreaming together.

If you have any general questions, or inquires about submitting a workshop proposal for the DEIB Conference, please email the DEIB Conference Planning Committee at DEIBConference@schools.nyc.gov.

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