DEI speaker series:
Becoming Partners in Antiracism

fostering positive change

let’s talk

Who is this for?

Our Community.

Schools, local businesses, and organizations wanting to see culture change should participate in this series. Those who are aspiring to do better and be better and have an impact on the community around them should engage in this series, creating spaces for everyone.

Why this Program? This program helps develop the necessary skills to help individuals with personal and professional growth and adopt an antiracist mindset.

Each workshop design will be accompanied by a 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge© designed for action, accountability, and building equity (antiracist) skills.

jesse rhodes

inclusion, Diversity, Equity Leader | Board Member | Entrepreneur | Restaurant Owner

Jesse Rhodes is a DEI leader, social entrepreneur, and philanthropist with over 24 years of professional and Big 4 experience. He is currently the Head of Inclusion, Diversity & Equity for Infrastructure Services at Amazon Web Services; Chair of After School All-Stars, Puget Sound Chapter; and the owner of Poco Bar & Lounge located in Seattle, Washington.

Mr. Rhodes also serves on several boards – positions include Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors of Columbia Tower Club, and National Board member of NABA, Inc., where he has held lifetime membership since chartering the student chapter at his alma mater, Drexel University, in 1994. Jesse also chartered the Drexel University/Univ. of Penn undergraduate chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and remains a proud member. Additionally, Mr. Rhodes conducts extensive humanitarian work with Love Orphanage in Haiti in partnership with We The Village Organization, and also volunteers with several foundations, including Wonder of Women International, which focuses on serving Black women and girls, among others.

Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr.

Founder | President | TPI

Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr. has pursued and achieved success in academia, business, diversity, leadership and community service. In 1996, he started America & MOORE, LLC to provide comprehensive diversity, privilege, leadership and #BecomingAntiRacist trainings/workshops. He is recognized as one of the nation’s top speakers and educators. His interview with Wisconsin Public Radio won the 2015 Wisconsin Broadcasters Association's Best Interview in Medium Market Radio, 1st Place, he is featured in the film “I’m not Racist….Am I?” and in the article 5 Clear Ways to Tell Whether You'll Be a Good Leader in 2021.

Dr. Moore was recently named one of Wisconsin's 51 Most Influential Black Leaders and in 2022 was the recipient of the ABA Section of Labor and Employment Law’s Honorable Bernice B. Donald Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Legal Profession Award.

to learn more about Dr. Moore and his work, please visit www.linkedin.com/in/eddiemoorejr

What’s the problem?

All talk, no action.

People often don’t know how to take measurable action towards becoming anti racist.

Exposure + Education

People don’t have access to speakers and educators who discuss topics around racism and justice.

Places + Spaces

People are lacking access to community spaces where they can engage in these kinds of discussions with people.

What’s the solution?

Action = Change

The #becomingantiracist series focuses on giving attendees tangible and achievable techniques to aid in their journey in becoming anti racist.

Qualified Speakers and Educators

The series includes talented, influential, and passionate speakers anchored by a commitment to having a comprehensive understanding of complex issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion and antiracist skills and strategies.

Safe Space for Growth

Poco provides a space where connection and growth is encouraged where people can come and not only be themselves but expand through Purposeful, Organic, Captivating, Optimistic connections

With talks by

  • Jesse Rhodes

    Owner of Poco Bar & Lounge, leverages his authentic style by sharing personal testimonies and work experience that provide an innate way of seeing opportunities where others do not; driving results and inspiring you beyond what you or your team see as achievable. Jesse provides guidance on disrupting unconscious bias and embracing diversity in the workplace and beyond.

  • Eddie Moore, Jr.

    Has pursued and achieved success in academia, business, diversity, leadership and community service. In 1996, he started America & MOORE, LLC to provide comprehensive diversity, privilege and leadership training/workshops. Dr. Moore is recognized as one of the nation’s top speakers and educators.

  • Monique Clark

    Is a California native and born into Deaf Culture, CODA (Child of Deaf Adults), where American Sign Language was her first language. With 20+ years in the ASL Interpreting industry from Sign Language Interpreter, DEI in the Disability spaces, to Corporate Executive Leadership positions ranging from Operations, People & Culture, and full lifecycle employee management. Monique is most passionate about, and thrives in, partnering with community members surrounding accessibility, diversity and disability inclusion where she and others could show up as their most authentic selves.

  • Joshua V. Barr, Esq.

    Is an Emmy award-winning, transformational leader from South Carolina. In 2015, he became the director of the Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Commission. As director, he increased the number of complaints filed in the office by 170% and the number of probable cause discrimination cases by 500%. He also spearheaded the Bridging the Gap initiative where the Commission conducted community dialogues to develop policies designed to increase opportunity and make a safe, more just community for all. *hablo español

  • Carmen Iannarelli

    Is the Chair of the Humanities, Behavioral and Social Sciences department at Chippewa Valley Technical College, with nearly 18 years of experience in higher education and human services. She began her career providing essential services to clients with chronic mental illness and cognitive disabilities, later working with clients exiting the prison system and finally with clients struggling with addiction issues.

  • John G. Igwebuike

    Is founder and non-profit leader of Guanacaste: The Lead Listening Institute. Guanacaste is a quiet revolution--a unique movement dedicated to advancing and championing the positive power of effective listening in human relationships. Dr. Igwebuike is a highly motivated individual who values education, personal growth, and development.

  • Marguerite W. Penick

    Received her PhD from the University of Iowa in Curriculum and Instruction. She was a High School teacher in an urban school in Kansas City, KS. She currently serves as a Professor in the Department of Leadership, Literacy and Social Foundations at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Coming Soon to Poco’s Unique Space

  • The case.

    10.21 7:00-8:00PM

    Can you really become an antiracist? How? What skills are needed? This session will explore all these questions and Moore. Additionally it is focused on changing mindsets and improving skill sets.

    RSVP

  • A is for Ability

    10.21 7:00-8:00PM

    #RealConversation about my experience as a Coda and how we can make our spaces, and work, more accessible and welcoming to people with disabilities. We can not do the work of DEIB without the A for Accessibility!

    RSVP

  • EFFECTIVE LISTENING

    10.21 7:00-8:00PM

    Listening as a powerful tool, and acknowledges listening as a radical social justice tool to advance diversity, understanding, respect and individual and institutional change.

    RSVP

  • Micro-agressions

    This interactive, informational, challenging, and energetic session examines and explores issues of diversity, bias, and oppression in the workplace across America.

    RSVP

  • Racial & Historical View

    This workshop works to improve the racial literacy of attendees by examining the history and impact of race and racism and how race still impacts all of us today

    RSVP

Natalie Rasmussen
Ph.D., Asst. Professor, Department of Educational Leadership, Minnesota State University, Mankato.

“Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr.'s keynote address at our Leading Courageously for Racial Equity Conference was both poignant and powerful - engaging the audience both emotionally and intellectually - inspiring and challenging us all to be better and to do better for all students. He provided us with tools and strategies to see and address racial inequities in our educational system. This is important work and Dr. Moore is definitely a clarion voice leading the way.”

Mayzong Lee
Program Coordinator, College of St. Benedict & St. John’s University

“Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr. was incredibly engaging from beginning to end! He helped us find tools within ourselves and how to critically think in order to continue the conversation with our students, peers, colleagues, and campus community. I look forward to bringing Moore back!”

Jennifer Odogwu
Mimecast Cybersecurity

“A HUGE THANK YOU FOR JUST BLOWING US AWAY! Humor, Warmth, Truth Telling, Story Telling, FACTs and so much more…we couldn’t have wished for your session to have gone any better. Honestly, I haven’t been THAT inspired in ages and the zoom/slack has just been flooded with compliments of you and your session! FYI, Kirsty also noted that some of our notorious resistors to DEI also gave positive feedback of you and your content so that’s an added win!”

Want to be involved?

Become a presenting sponsor of this series and you’ll receive all the benefits offered for your chosen sponsorship tier!

To learn more about how YOU can join the fight against racism, please download our sponsorship deck below.