Connecting Awesome People

Shawna on LinkedIn

Tion's LinkedIn profileTion Thomas is a software engineer with nearly 20 years of industry experience with a strong passion for gaming and empathy for consumers. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in computer science from Tufts University in 2004 and his Master’s degree in computer science from Purdue University in 2009 with a focus on computer graphics. Throughout his career, Tion has prioritized helping others and inspiring the next generation of leaders by dedicating his time towards career coaching and mentoring with a focus on increasing diversity within engineering disciplines. Tion often participates in diversity recruiting events, most recenty at Howard University and the University of Maryland, and has volunteered his time to deliver career talks on engineering and gaming to students at various schools including his alma matars Tufts University and Purdue University. While he loves the work that he does and all that he has achieved in his career, his first love is his family consisting of his beautiful wife Candice of 11 years, his amazing 6 year old son “Aston” and 8 year old daughter “Jayla”, and the 2 year old family golden doodle “Bella”.

Ulric's LinkedInJT Flowers LinkedInUlric currently serves as the Executive Director at Surge Chicago, drawing on more than 15 years of leadership in education management. His career in education began as a Chicago Public School teacher, and most recently, he held the position of Director of Purpose at LiberatED Way (AUSL). In this role, he led initiatives to dismantle systemic barriers, working towards providing equitable opportunities for K-12 students. Ulric's commitment to mission-driven leadership is evident in his efforts to develop and manage strategic partnerships on both local and national levels.As an alum of the Surge Institute (Class of 2020), Impact Fellow at the Chicago Urban League, Posse Scholar through the Posse Foundation, and Civic Leadership Fellow at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ulric has consistently demonstrated a deep dedication to fostering positive collective impact. Chicago Scholars recognized his contributions, honoring him as one of the city's impactful professionals under 35. Academically, Ulric holds three Master’s Degrees in Political Science, Education, and Business Administration from the University of Illinois and National Louis University, showcasing his multidimensional expertise.Outside of his professional endeavors, Ulric embraces the spirit of Chicago, savoring the city's tavern-style pizza and upholding culinary traditions—no ketchup on hot dogs. He also immerses himself in the local dance scene, enjoying stepping and footworking. During moments of relaxation, Ulric's adventurous spirit comes to life through global travel and culinary explorations, complemented by the simple joys of Law and Order: SVU marathons. Ulric's impactful journey is defined by his dedication to education and a zest for life's diverse experiences.

CM's LinkedIn profileCM manages several career positions in the fields of interpreting grant administration, teaching, and political campaign training. She is Co-Director for the Protactile Language Interpreting National Education Program and teaches DeafBlind Culture, Communication & Co-Navigating, as well as LGBTQ sociology courses at Western Oregon University. Among her professional accomplishments, CM co-created DiscoverInterpreting.com to encourage those considering a career in interpreting and she successfully ran the national campaign to convince the Unicode Consortium to add the ASL “I Love You” handshape to text emoji options on smart devices.CM is also the incoming Executive Director for Emerge Oregon, a nonprofit political organization dedicated to inspiring, recruiting, and training Democratic women to run for office. She is serving in her second term on the Newport, Oregon City Council and is host and producer of Her Own Wings, a podcast featuring Oregon women leaders in government.

Reggie's LinkedIn profileReggie Wideman is an extroverted introvert. He loves building relationships just as much as he loves the quiet after a job well done. He’ll often gleefully get his hands dirty, if only so that he can clean up and do it over again. He's had a lot of different roles, but mostly in tech and marketing for CPG brands. He focuses on the value he can bring into the lives of the people around him and the world at large. He is a leader and an advocate. He's a problem solver and friendly dissenter. He's great counsel and a quite good friend.Throughout his 23 year career he has worked with iconic brands and industry leaders including Activision, adidas, American Express, Caesars Entertainment, Caterpillar, Coca-Cola, Marvel Comics, Michelin, Nike, Proctor & Gamble and Toyota to achieve success through digital innovation. His professional tenure includes various agencies and start up’s as well as stints at WellsFargo and Cisco. The past 11 years have been dedicated to delivering digital transformation in martech and adtech spaces in data driven roles at Janrain, Salesforce, Lytics and now LiveRamp.He also serves as a co-board chair for the not for profit Write Around Portland, Co-Chair of the Technology Association of Oregon's Tech in Color community, and advocates for mental health through an annual video series during Mental Health Awareness Month (#MHAM) called One Minute for Mental Health. Reggie holds a BA in Philosophy from Goucher College, is an avid writer, and the best Dad in the world (according to his daughters). .

Edgar's LinkedIn ProfileInventing Latino's by Laura E. GomezMexican-American War wikipediaEdgar J. Palacios is the President & CEO of the Latinx Education Collaborative (LEC), an organization that dutifully works to increase and retain the number of quality Latinx education professionals in K-12. Edgar previously owned a nonprofit consultancy (EJPKC, LLC) and has had the privilege of working with organizations such as Community Builders of Kansas City; Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City; El Centro, Inc.; Show Me KC Schools; and the Kauffman Foundation.

Shawna's LinkedIn profileFor more than a decade, Shawna has worked in Positive Youth Development, bringing expertise in program innovation in out-of-school-time settings, organizational strategy, civic engagement, and scaling national partnerships. Shawna joined Camp Fire in June 2013; during her tenure, she has led culture change efforts and leadership transitions at the national office, as well as designed and launched diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA) efforts across the network, including creating an equity task force to address and end cultural appropriation in the organization. Previously, she worked at Thrive Foundation for Youth and Global Kids in New York City. Shawna also spent time in the Middle East, developing and facilitating educational material for various organizations promoting conflict resolution among teens in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, including Seeds of Peace, Just Vision, and Parents Circle-Families Forum. Shawna earned a master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction at University of Wisconsin-Madison. She holds a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in Education and Applied Psychology from University of California Santa Barbara. She lives in Seattle with her wife, Stef, their two children, Raffi and Crosby, and their two dogs.

Jenn's LinkedIn profileGoogle Pixel advertising about "the most inclusive camera" (from Nov 2021)CASA program detailsJenn Klotz is a dynamic accomplished leader focused on building relationships and forging connections to get work done together. She is the Senior Community Relations and External Communications Lead for Genentech in Oregon and has been at Genentech for over 15 years in various roles. During her time at Genentech Jenn has been a leader in creating and implementing strategies that impact the workforce, the community and Genentech’s patients through the lens of equity.Jenn is the Executive Sponsor for an employee led employee resource group focused on fostering belonging and transforming society. As a leader Jenn has specifically focused on mentoring women of color early in their career to provide representation that often was not available to her. She has extensive experience as a speaker, moderator and panelist on various topics. Jenn is a Portland native now residing in Hillsboro. She is a mom of two grown sons, a lover of all things wine country and a professional musician. Jenn has been a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate for foster youth through CASA for Children of Multnomah, Washington and Columbia counties since 2017 and a member of the CASA board since 2020. Jenn’s superpower is connecting ALL people to help improve their lives.

(the recording tool we used shifted the timing of our recording so that at times we talk over each other. There's still a lot of great content from Ulric so we're releasing the episode anyway, but we were not talking over each other while recording.)Ulric's LInkedIn profile (pronounced "YOUR-Rick")Henry Horner wikipedia pageRudy Lozano wikipedia pageHarold Washington wikipedia pageUlric Shannon currently serves as the Executive Director at Surge Chicago, drawing on more than 15 years of leadership in education management. His career in education began as a Chicago Public School teacher, and most recently, he held the position of Director of Purpose at LiberatED Way (AUSL). In this role, he led initiatives to dismantle systemic barriers, working towards providing equitable opportunities for K-12 students. Ulric's commitment to mission-driven leadership is evident in his efforts to develop and manage strategic partnerships on both local and national levels.As an alum of the Surge Institute (Class of 2020), Impact Fellow at the Chicago Urban League, Posse Scholar through the Posse Foundation, and Civic Leadership Fellow at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Ulric has consistently demonstrated a deep dedication to fostering positive collective impact. Chicago Scholars recognized his contributions, honoring him as one of the city's impactful professionals under 35. Academically, Ulric holds three Master’s Degrees in Political Science, Education, and Business Administration from the University of Illinois and National Louis University, showcasing his multidimensional expertise.Outside of his professional endeavors, Ulric embraces the spirit of Chicago, savoring the city's tavern-style pizza and upholding culinary traditions—no ketchup on hot dogs. He also immerses himself in the local dance scene, enjoying stepping and footworking. During moments of relaxation, Ulric's adventurous spirit comes to life through global travel and culinary explorations, complemented by the simple joys of Law and Order: SVU marathons. Ulric's impactful journey is defined by his dedication to education and a zest for life's diverse experiences.

Shawna's LinkedIn profileCampFire.org websiteFor more than a decade, Shawna has worked in Positive Youth Development, bringing expertise in program innovation in out-of-school-time settings, organizational strategy, civic engagement, and scaling national partnerships. Shawna joined Camp Fire in June 2013; during her tenure, she has led culture change efforts and leadership transitions at the national office, as well as designed and launched diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA) efforts across the network, including creating an equity task force to address and end cultural appropriation in the organization.Previously, she worked at Thrive Foundation for Youth and Global Kids in New York City. Shawna also spent time in the Middle East, developing and facilitating educational material for various organizations promoting conflict resolution among teens in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, including Seeds of Peace, Just Vision, and Parents Circle-Families Forum. Shawna earned a master’s degree in Curriculum & Instruction at University of Wisconsin-Madison. She holds a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in Education and Applied Psychology from University of California Santa Barbara. She lives in Seattle with her wife, Stef, their two children, Raffi and Crosby, and their two dogs.

Blaire's linkedInMultipliers by Liz WisemanThe Business of Belonging by David SpinksSee Blaire speak at the CMX Global event on Sept 25, 2024Organization Talk a MileBlaire G. Hervey epitomizes dynamism and impact. Hailing from Dallas, Texas, and shaped by Louisville, Kentucky, she forged her path in Atlanta, Georgia, before settling in Portland. With a robust background in sales, revenue enablement, and executive coaching, she honed her skills at tech giants like Salesforce, AWS, and ZoomInfo, where she earned a reputation as a revenue booster and culture shifter.Transitioning to entrepreneurship, Blaire founded The Corporate Strategist, a thriving agency specializing in DEIBA (diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging & allyship) strategies. Her adeptness in keynote speaking, training, and coaching has empowered countless clients to foster inclusive cultures and drive sustainable change.In her latest role as Vice President of Community Engagement for Girl Scouts of Oregon & Southwest Washington, Blaire harnesses her sales acumen, entrepreneurial spirit, and passion for female empowerment. Her mission is clear: to forge connections, amplify visibility, and advance the Girl Scout mission in underrepresented communities, developing character in confident and courageous girls & women. A committed advocate, Blaire dedicates her time to serving the community. For five years, she has served as a member of the Junior League of Portland and has led as Co-Chair of the DEI Committee, championing equity and inclusion initiatives and now serves on the Portland NAACP board as a member-at-large. Ever the learner, Blaire pursues continuous growth as an MBA candidate at Willamette University, embodying her commitment to lifelong education and growth.

Brett's LinkedIn ProfileBrett graduated in Industrial Engineering from Penn State University, and has worked in supply chain management for over 30 years in multiple industries. For a few years during that journey, he was the creator and President of Flashback Games, a patented, award-winning board game about sitcoms and movies from the 70's, 80's, and 90's.Brett is a native of Newport, RI and has lived in Portland, Oregon since 1995 with his wife and 2 daughters, ages 23 and 16. Brett enjoys working with and meeting new people, but there is nothing more important in his life than his family and friends. Tomorrow is never promised, so he looks to make the most of each day with them.Brett's Youtube channelBrett's LLS Day of Action fundraiser

Children's book "A Tree of My Own" will be released on October 19th at Powell's. We're doing a 10:30am storytime event. https://www.powells.com/book/a-tree-of-my-own-9798990803404/1-1Frances Lu-Pai Ippolito (she/her) is a Chinese American judge, mom, writer, and publisher in Portland, Oregon. Prior to her appointment as a patent judge, her legal practice focused on helping clients secure and maintain intellectual property rights across a broad spectrum of technologies including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and biotech. On the literary side, she is the founder of game and book publisher Demagogue Press and the nonprofit, Qilin Press, which publishes community-based stories. Frances also co-chairs the Young Willamette Writers program that provides free writing classes for high school and middle school students. You can find her on IG @francespaippolito, FB Frances Pai, and at www.demagoguepress.com/about Gigi Little is a freelance book designer and the staff designer for Portland’s Forest Avenue Press. Her cover for Forest Avenue’s novel Froelich’s Ladder won the gold medal in the jacket/cover design category of the PubWest Book Design Awards. She's also the editor and illustrator of their popular short story collection City of Weird: 30 Otherworldly Portland Tales. Her writing for adults can be found in journals and anthologies including Portland Noir, The Pacific Northwest Reader, and Dispatches from Anarres. She has a middle-grade short story forthcoming in the anthology The Magic We Miss, and she wrote and illustrated two published picture books, Wright Vs. Wrong and The Magical Trunk. More info can be found at gigilittle.com.

Nanci Luna Jiménez has committed to her own healing for more than 30 years to be a transformative guide, heart-centered listener, and authentic companion for leaders and change-makers committed to racial healing and social justice. Since founding the Luna Jiménez Institute for Social Transformation in 1994, she has reached tens of thousands of people with her core message of human goodness and connection as a transformational approach to social change.Nanci works from the premise that systems are made up of humans, and unhealed humans perpetuate harm and injustice. Her approach centers healing and authentic relationships as the foundation for sustainable systems change and accountability. She gently reminds people what they already know: oppression can only end with their healing, and, with support, they can completely heal!Nanci coaches and consults with individuals and intact groups who are ready to be lovingly challenged and held with compassion as they unwind patterns which no longer serve their most whole vision for themselves, their work, and their world. Certified as an IAF Master level process facilitator, she expertly speaks to and works with what is unnamed, unspoken, and invisible in the room. Nanci guides organizations, boards, and communities to deal with unaddressed emotions that can block creativity and collaboration necessary for transformative culture shifts.As a sought-after TEDx speaker, Nanci’s vulnerable, insightful, and experiential keynotes leave audiences feeling seen and inspired to take the next step on their healing journey. Nanci imparts new language, fresh ways of thinking, and tangible practices that renew and reinvigorate through her numerous ground-breaking in-person, virtual, and on-demand programs, and courses.Nanci’s approach honors the legacy and teachings of Dr. Erica “Ricky” Sherover-Marcuse, who coined the term “unlearning racism,” and Lillian Roybal Rose, M.Ed., an expert in cross-cultural communication. From them, she learned that ending oppression means coming home to ourselves, each other, and the planet.Nanci was a Fellow with the Presidio Institute’s Cross Sector Leadership Program. She completed the Executive Leadership Program through the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and the Center for Creative Leadership in Brussels, Belgium as a National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI) Fellow. In August 2001 she attended the United Nations World Conference against Racism Non-Governmental Forum in Durban, South Africa as a delegate with United to End Racism (UER) and served as an international observer for the Haitian presidential elections in 1995. She was a Ford Foundation Fellow and a Ph.D. candidate at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and received her BA cum laude from Yale University. She also attended the Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Río Piedras and completed El Programa Interdiciplinario de la Mujer at the Colegio de México in Mexico City.Of Afro-Puerto Rican and Mexican heritage, Nanci was born in Detroit, MI, and raised in Detroit and Tucson, AZ. When she isn’t innovating on the groundbreaking work of her mentors, Nanci enjoys planting native habitat and making meals with the harvest from her Portland, Oregon garden. She loves lifting weights, forest bathing, walking, hiking, cycling, warm ocean swimming, and a very restorative yoga practice. For her spirit, she dances and drums Bomba in Borikén (Puerto Rico) whenever she can!

Vashti's Linked In profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vashtina/Vashti's Bio:Vashti holds a Masters in Humanistic Psychology from the University of West Georgia (UWG) as well as an MBA in Healthcare Administration. Vashti has been in the field of mental health for over 7 years across clinical, research, and administrative realms. Vashti has spent 20 years volunteering and leading in Delta Phi Epsilon (DPhiE), an international women’s organization, as an advisor to members and serving on multiple committees. Vashti was DPhiE's first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Chair and is a current member of the International Governing Board. Vashti also serves on the board of The Living Room for Youth, an agency in Oregon that serves the needs of LGBTQ+ youth.  

Aaron Kier's LinkedInDouglas Rushkoff's book Team HumanContinuum of Becoming an Antiracist Organization

Cinder's next Connect & Learn event is scheduled for July 24th. You can register for that event at this link.Marcus Carter is back, this week discussing the problems with "Assume Good Intent" as a group agreement.

Krystal's LinkedInKrystal has spent over 10 years at organizations in various stages of growth, including start-up, nonprofits, governmental, established, and turnaround settings. She brings her understanding of the interconnectedness of the lives of people, and her strength in facilitating the connection of diverse groups of people that allows for the cross-pollination of ideas and unlikely sparks, to foster an environment of creativity and community for organizations to thrive. Most recently, Krystal has led community engagement and equity and inclusion projects for area nonprofits, and served as the Executive Director for a culturally specific nonprofit. Prior to that, she managed recruitment and hiring at the City of Portland. Krystal earned her Master’s degree in Social Work (MSW) from Portland State University and a B.S. Ed. in Learning and Organizational Change from Northwestern University. Krystal enjoys spending time with her family, harvesting fruits and vegetables from the garden, and making healthy desserts. She loves sports, especially fútbol, and is a self-proclaimed “foodie”.

Mancin's LinkedIn profileMancin grew up between Portland and CA. He started his work in an executive training program at US Bank and then moved on to Workforce-focused efforts at WorkSource, Urban League, and then WorkSystems.

Shakunda's LinkedIn profileConstructing HopeShakunda Murphy-Wilson has over 15 years of experience in Human Resources, and she considers herself more than just a "trainer" or "recruiter." She is passionate about people and takes pride in helping them showcase and develop their skills, goals, and accomplishments. With her diverse background and experience across multiple industries, Shakunda is competent in leading, managing, and coaching teams. She has a heartfelt interest in helping companies create a healthy, high-performing team culture and developing programs that enable employees to reach their full potential. Shakunda is open to discussing Human Resources, Coaching, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion opportunities. If you're interested in connecting with her, don't hesitate to contact her via LinkedIn.