Ebony Adedayo is the founder and creator of the Kinky Curly Theological Collective, a space that centers African and African American women. In this work, she has gathered women of African ascent to build out a theological pedagogy, grounded in healing and liberation, and based in their own experiences and expertise. This collective includes women of various faith and cultural backgrounds, each of whom embodies a commitment to using the lens of spirituality to uproot systems of oppression.
Adedayo is a doctoral student at the University of Minnesota in Curriculum and Instruction, with minors in Culture and Teaching and African American and African Studies. In her studies, she is focusing on culturally affirmative curriculum in the K-12 classroom as well as institutions of higher learning.
Ebony also works for the City of Minneapolis as the Resiliency in Community After Stress and Trauma Program Manager (ReCAST). As the ReCAST Program Manager, Ebony has implemented community-based models to increase the understanding of community trauma, healing and resiliency, and systems change. Prior to her work at the City, she worked with the Alliance for Metropolitan Stability for nearly six years in various capacities, most recently as the Communications and Capacity Building Manager where she designed an asset-based model to equitable development in the Twin Cities.
Ebony holds a Bachelor of Arts in Pastor Studies from North Central University and a Master of Arts in Global and Contextual Studies from Bethel Seminary. Ebony is the author of Dancing on Hot Coals, Embracing a Holistic Faith: Essays on Biblical Justice, and the Gospel According to a Black Woman (coming fall 2020).
A former teacher, instructional coach and award-winning principal, Kurt Hatch has served as a leader in a variety of systems including Puyallup, Kent, University Place, North Thurston and Shanghai, China. Currently based out of Olympia, Kurt serves as Associate Director at the Association of Washington School Principals. His work includes policy analysis, advocacy, and leading the Mastering Principal Leadership Network. Kurt also mentors early-career principals and trains school leaders on the implementation of a school-wide student support system that has helped recapture thousands of hours of instructional time, increase teacher efficacy and eliminate the use of suspensions.
Melissa Merin has been an educator and Restorative Justice practitioner in the Bay Area for over 20 years. She has worked extensively in early childhood education with students, their caregivers and their teachers, supporting families and teachers to embed the principles and practices of restorative justice into their teaching and parenting. For the last five years, she has focused her restorative justice and positive discipline work at home, parenting her own child, while also training and facilitating restorative justice processes for individuals, schools and a variety of nonprofit organizations. Melissa holds a Master's degree in Educational Leadership from Mills College.
Dr. Deidre Franklin (she/her/hers) is the Chief Program and Equity Officer of Oliver Scholars where she leverages her extensive knowledge in the diversity and equity educational space to help establish Oliver as a leader in helping independent schools achieve their DEI goals. Dr. Franklin's career has focused on inclusion, access, and the psychological well-being of historically marginalized groups. Dr. Franklin has extensive experience in both the creation and implementation of culturally responsive training institutes focusing on anti-racist practices and the social and emotional growth of young people. A native New Yorker and graduate of Howard University, Dr. Franklin has a Master’s Degree from Harvard University and received her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Teachers College Columbia University.
Tandra Rutledge, MA, is the Director of Business Development at Riveredge Hospital in Forest Park, Illinois — the largest, freestanding behavioral health hospital in the state. Tandra holds a Master’s Degree in clinical psychology and has over 25 years of clinical experience working with children, adolescents, and adults in a variety of treatment settings. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Illinois Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and is a member of the Illinois Suicide Prevention Alliance. A highly sought-after speaker and mental health advocate, Tandra addresses stigma and suicide prevention at the local, state, and national levels. She holds certifications in both Adult Mental Health First Aid and Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR), a suicide prevention gatekeeper training through the QPR Institute.
Tay Anderson is a product of Denver Public Schools where he graduated from Denver’s Manual High School in 2017. After high school he began to serve the students of Denver as an educator at University Park Elementary and North High School. He has served in the Colorado State Legislature as a legislative aide, where he advised legislators on policy around education, homelessness, gun control and more. Tay has served the Democratic Party in many roles and has been awarded the Murphy Roberts Award by the Colorado Democratic Party for his continuous service to the party. He has dedicated his life on protecting women’s rights, African American rights, Latinx rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, Indigenous rights, Muslim rights, and disabled persons’ rights.
Dr. Tamba-Kuii Bailey (he/him/his) is a faculty member in the Counseling Psychology and Counseling Programs at the University of North Dakota. Tamba-Kuii received his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Georgia State University. Tamba-Kuii’s professional experiences include clinical work in community mental health/school settings, a hospital, and private practice. His teaching and research interests are in the areas of Black psychology, ethics, multicultural psychology, mental health stigma, and community mental health. As a consultant, Tamba-Kuii has presented on exploring cultural privilege, addressing "isms" in clinical work, infusing multiculturalism in courses and navigating conversation related to race in the classroom.
Dr. Lisa A. Wines is a tenured Associate Professor at Lamar University and a lecturer in the Psychological Learning Sciences Department at the University of Houston. She received her doctorate in Counselor Education from Sam Houston State University and holds credentials as a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Certified School Counselor for the state of Texas. She began her career as a classroom teacher in a low socio-economic school, working primarily with African-American students. She currently consults with school districts, and she is the founder and CEO for L & A Professional Services, LLC. Dr. Wines has worked in school, clinical mental health, and marriage, family, and couples’ counseling.
Angela Jones (she/hers) is a school counselor at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She holds a B.S. in Zoology, a M.S. in Counseling from Oklahoma State University and is currently working on her Ed.D in Education Administration, Curriculum and Supervision at the University of Oklahoma. Angela started her career as a high school biology, zoology and botany teacher. After serving one year as an elementary school counselor, she went on to become a high school counselor where she currently serves students' social-emotional, academic and career needs.
Dr. Gholnecsar (Gholdy) Muhammad is an Associate Professor of Language and Literacy at Georgia State University. She also serves as the director of the GSU Urban Literacy Collaborative & Clinic. She studies Black historical excellence within educational communities with goals of reframing curriculum and instruction today. Dr. Muhammad’s scholarship has appeared in leading educational journals and books. Some of her recognitions include the 2014 recipient of the National Council of Teachers of English, Promising New Researcher Award, the 2017 GSU Urban Education Research Award and the 2018 UIC College of Education Researcher of the Year. She is the author of Cultivating Genius: An Equity Model for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy.
Dr. Janine Jones (she/her) is a Professor of School Psychology and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs in the College of Education at the University of Washington. She is a Licensed Psychologist and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Her research focuses on providing culturally responsive school based interventions that address the socio-emotional health of students of color. Her work is framed around the belief that providing culturally responsive services and promoting resilience within the cultural context creates the path toward serving the “whole child.” She also consults with school personnel on culturally responsive practices that enhance teacher/student relationships and reduce some of the barriers associated with intractable opportunity gaps for students of color in schools.
Questions? Please email Jessica Gonzalez at [email protected]