Diversity Cafe - Expanding Beyond the Headlines

Diversity Cafe - Expanding Beyond the Headlines

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

During this program, participants will have the opportunity to choose from two of the following topics during this program:

- Expanding and Responding to DEI within Schools (ideal for college/university professionals) Speakers: Kevin K. Martins & Stef Nelson

- Expanding LGBTQIA+ competencies for community allies (ideal for Allies and those seeking to deepen awareness) Kevin Matta & Michael Campbell

- Expanding Anti-Racism in the workplace (ideal for those looking to go beyond DEI awareness and steps on how to address it in the workplace) Rachael Gavin

- Expanding Anti-Racism in my community (ideal for those looking to go beyond DEI awareness and steps on how to address it through community) Adama Brown and Alex Pastor

SCHEDULE:

Location: 

Executive Office of Health and Human Services

      3 West Road, Cranston, RI 02920

      Parking is available directly in front of the building.

This program has been submitted for HRCI and SHRM credits.

PRESENTER:

Kevin K. Martins (he/him/his)

Dr. Kevin Keith Martins is an educator, activist, and thought leader dedicated to inclusion and justice. With over fifteen years as a higher education practitioner, he recently left Bryant University where he served as Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for a new role as Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer at Care New England.

As a first-generation Cape-Verdean American, Dr. Martins grew up in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He currently serves on the Pawtucket Mayor’s Community Board working to bridge community engagement with city government. He is also co-founder and chair of the Shea Alumni Association, a group focused on supporting current high school students at his alma mater through programming and college scholarships. As an advocate for mentorship, Dr. Martins works closely with Brothers On a New Direction (B.O.N.D.), an organization for young men of color centered on the values of brotherhood, leadership, service, responsibility, and mentorship. And he also serves on the board of 617Peak, an organization that helps Boston area youth develop their creative abilities through writing and performances.

Dr. Martins earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island, as well as a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Johnson & Wales University.

Above all else, Dr. Martins is a husband and a father of three.

Stef Nelson, SHRM-CP (they/she)

Stef is a dedicated advocate for workforce development, allyship, and lifelong learning who finds fulfillment in mentoring and coaching, facilitating understanding, and inspiring empathy. Throughout their career, whether leading teams in the fashion industry or launching new products and departments in the financial services industry, Stef has elevated employee engagement by facilitating a sense of community. In their previous roles, Stef has designed, implemented, and facilitated DEI trainings and workshops with a focus on implicit bias, gender diversity, and team building. Stef possesses a natural ability to forge trusting, collaborative relationships and instill enthusiasm through purpose-driven communication. Stef believes in the transformative power of intentional connection and authentic sharing, and the collective value of diverse experiences and perspectives.

Stef has been working with the Schmidt Labor Research Center as a Graduate Teaching Assistant since August 2021, while pursuing their Master of Science in Labor Relations and HR (to be conferred this May). In their current role, Stef organizes the Center’s annual Labor Arbitration and Labor & Employment Law conferences, serves on the SLRC Advisory Committee, and manages marketing projects for URI’s graduate programs in Labor Relations and Human Resources. Stef has also proudly served URI’s student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management as the Chapter President nearly two years, and earned their SHRM-CP certification in January of 2023. Stef looks forward to taking on a volunteer leadership role supporting the Rhode Island SHRM chapter beginning in the summer of 2023.

Currently, in their spare time, Stef is consulting with the National Academy of Arbitrators NE Region’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee to develop their first-ever educational curriculum on the subject of implicit bias. Stef’s wellspring of energy also feeds their love of karaoke, dancing, and volunteering to speak on the unique challenges and needs of other nontraditional and adult students. Stef hopes to continue their work aligning organizational strategies, engaging communities, and empowering individuals with a full-time role in learning & development or DEI following their graduation 

Kevin Matta (he/him/his)

 Kevin Matta (he, him, his) brings an extensive understanding and focused attention to the areas of diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging. Working closely across and in the community, Kevin listens deeply, with empathy, to fully understand their challenges and needs. Applying his insights and experiences, Kevin works in partnership to help shape the journey to raise awareness, expand connectedness, and strengthen inclusive practices. He also brings a sharp focus on client success and human engagement with his brilliant ability to make connections.

A strategic differentiator, comfortable challenging the status quo, Kevin brings both passion and experience to his role as Chief Human Resource & Diversity officer at Amos House. Bilingual in Spanish-English, he has worked in the non-profit, healthcare, financial services, small business, and within academia. He has a transformative effect on the numerous non-profit organizations he supports

through his volunteer work including serving as President of the Board for DAIP (Diversity and Inclusion Professionals, Vice President and Director of Operations for Society for Humans Resources Management (SHRM) of Rhode Island, and serves on the board of Progreso Latino.

Kevin is a native Rhode Islander and known for his kindness. You’ll find him happily walking his rescue dog, Chloe, in Providence.

Michael Campbell (he/him/his)

Michael J. N. Campbell, MA SHRM-CP is a human resources professional specializing in organizational development, talent acquisition, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), training and development, data analytics, compliance and strategic planning. He is currently employed as a Sr. Human Resources Consultant at PPL Corp, which is the parent company of Rhode Island Energy. Michael's background includes experiences working in multiple industries including higher education, public administration, healthcare, technology, and the non-profit sector. He holds a bachelor's degree in Communication from Rhode Island College and a Master's Degree in Organizational Psychology from William James College. Michael's passion for HR management stems from his belief in the power of HR to drive and reinforce culture change across our organizations and institutions in order to create a healthier, safer, freer and more equitable society.

Rachael Gavin (she/hers)

Rachael is a strategist, facilitator & consultant who specializes in equity-centered, diversity and inclusion solutions. She has 10 years of experience working within the social justice and education sectors across the U.S., U.K., and Europe. She has served as a member of The Day Newspaper’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Advisory Board and the Southeastern Connecticut Cultural Coalition’s Board of Directors, where she sat on the governance committee.

Rachael is an experienced researcher, facilitator, and educator and utilizes her unique insight as a global citizen and a Black-multiracial, queer woman to root her work in empathy and compassion, while amplifying the voices of folks facing marginalization. Rachael is a first-generation college graduate, holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication from the University of Connecticut and a Master's in Social Research from Goldsmiths, University of London; the United Kingdom’s leading college for radical approaches to the social sciences. Throughout her time living abroad, she developed cross-atlantic research examining best practices for equitable solutions in industries such as education, health and social sectors.

Rachael is an empath, certified community herbalist, lover of nature, medicine maker and strong believer in holistic health and communal healing. She is dedicated to liberation by living out a life which prioritizes radical rest, rejuvenation and joy. In her free time, you can find her traveling, farming, meditating, savoring vegan goodies, tending to her collection of plant babies and spending time with loved ones.

Adama Brown, Director, Research and Data Analytics, UWRI

As Director of Research & Data Analytics at United Way of Rhode Island (UWRI), Adama oversees UWRI’s research and data analytics activities, the learning, evaluation and impact of UWRI programs and investments, and works with academic and community research partners to identify and undertake research to inform UWRI’s community investment and policy strategies.  

At United Way, she is particularly interested in the ways that data and narrative inform philanthropic work and can act as a catalyst for change. Adama and her team utilize quantitative and qualitative approaches to better understand and reimagine UWRI’s impact, examine UWRI primary data sources, as well as information and referral data that serve as an indicator of community needs in Rhode Island. Adama also plays a key role in UWRI’s justice, equity, diversity and inclusion work by curating UWRI’s annual Equity Challenge and as a member of UWRI’s culture, equity, and strengths committee.

Adama is a sociologist by training and earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Texas at Austin and a PhD in sociology from Iowa State University with an emphasis in mental health, research methods, statistics, and social policy. She also earned an MDiv from Iliff School of Theology with a specialization in pastoral counseling and spiritual care, currently serving as a clergyperson in the New England Annual Conference (NEAC) of the United Methodist Church.   

Adama is also a sixth generation Texan who is passionate about genealogy, jazz, and intersectional justice. 

Alex Pastor (she/her/hers) DEI Program Manager, IGT

Alex is a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program Manager at International Gaming Technology (IGT). Alex is known for providing critical and timely support to the team and her community. She is known for her sense of calmness and confidence to her work, making others feel at ease.

Prior to IGT, Alex worked with Advancing Workplace Excellence (AWE) as a Client Engagement and Program Manager. Alex also supports the RI Society for Human Resources Management as a Projects Administrator.

Alex received a B.A. in Spanish and Global Communications and a minor in French from Roger Williams University. After graduating college, she followed her dual passions, where she first spent time teaching horseback riding, then spent a year in Barcelona teaching English. After returning to the US, she worked in non-profit, overseeing, managing, and cultivating donor relations, and then began working in the human resources field as a recruiter at a staffing agency before her work with AWE. She also works with the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island and Youth Pride Inc. and volunteers with Amos House. Alex was recently appointed to the town of Barrington’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee.

Alex is a native of Long Island, New York and currently resides in Barrington with her partner, Ben, and their family. Alex spends her free time practicing yoga, cross stitching, baking, cooking, and gardening.

Keep the conversation going, join us at our upcoming programs.

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