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(she/her/hers) It’s a privilege to be part of this affinity group. I serve as the lead for Ocean Conservancy’s equity, diversity and inclusion work, which has meant a lot of personal learning, vulnerability and seeking on my part. My professional background is in strategic communications.

I am a cisgender woman of color (she/her/hers), an immigrant, an adept code-switcher, a mother.

This photo of my husband Pankaj, son Hridaya and me in Pokhara, Nepal never fails to make me laugh. Someday, we will have small house there to watch the sun rise and set over the Himalayas.

Today, home is the U.S. and Nepal. Home is the company of friends. Home is the sanctuary of a room with a closed door. Home is where I can hear myself think.

How might we move ahead through fear and doubt to build resilient, active and empowered communities?

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Hello! I'm honored and eager to be a part of this community. For my work at The Solutions Project,  I am clear that the denialism of white supremacy and patriarchy in our own movement is a far greater threat than the denial of climate science.

How might we learn from our most vulnerable and powerful experiences building the organizations that reflect our values and for us white leaders, have the practice partners to take far greater risks with the power we hold (and can stop hoarding!)? What can we share and learn to heal and strengthen our relationships for far greater social, economic and political transformation?

Pic of me and my girls on the beach in Buffalo (yep!), my heart home. We live in Oakland!

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Hi Everyone! I'm really looking forward to meeting and getting to know everyone. PAI is working on our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program that kicks off on May 9 during our office No Travel Week. This initiative couldn't have come at a more perfect time.  This is a picture of my typical relaxed state any time I'm on vacation on a beautiful Island.

How might we be more understanding of the challenges that others face in this learning community together?

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Hi all! I am excited and honored to be part of this group to exchange ideas and learn about how we can create more diverse, equitable, and inclusive professional environments as we pursue our collective and respective missions to create a more just world.

This is a picture of me and my partner, George, at the top of Taraw Cliff in El Nido, Palawan in the Philippines, my home country. This picture is special to me because it was during my first trip back to the Philippines after immigrating to the United States when I was just two years old.

How might we learn from each others' lived experiences to create organizations that are diverse, equitable, and inclusive in this learning community together?

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Hi Everyone!  I look forward to meeting you all in person and sharing this space with you to grow and learn together.  Here I am in one of my favorite places, doing one of my favorite activities- it's Mardi Gras in New Orleans, y'all!
We've recently completed an DEI index to look more deeply at our systems and how we can practice as an organization in a more diverse, equitable and inclusive way.  I look forward to sharing  more about this and its progression as part of this space.

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Hello everyone, I look forward to learning and being challenged. This is me in the office this morning - it's a favorite place (most of the time)... IWHC is currently in the process of developing a DEI plan, and we are recruiting consultants to help us along this journey. This initiative couldn't come at a better time, as I feel change starts at the top!

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Wow, what an incredible opportunity and honor to be with this group of leaders who are working to make the world a better place for all. I am eager to listen, learn and grow together. I’ve lived in Washington, D.C., for 20 years. Here is a shot of me in my favorite place, Frida's house in Mexico (2017). I first visited in 1991 and at that time made a personal commitment to always find ways to put myself in a position to create a more just world, putting those who are most marginalized at the center of what I do.
How might we... establish trust, generosity & honesty, while laughing and learning together, in this new community?

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Hey all,
I look forward to sharing collective insights and energy as we all strive to connect, in spite of our daily demands and distractions.  Lets create a world where all of us care for each other, and the Earth that sustains us!
Here is a shot of me, with my wife, daughter and son last winter checking out elephant seals.   Hope to see you all in New Orleans....

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Greetings! It is an absolutely honor to be part of this group and engage in these much needed conversations! I have lived in Raleigh for the last 6 years with my partner and 6 year old son. This picture was taken last year where we are trying our best to give mystic looks like La Jaconde behind us- KD, me, Ari and SpiderMan.

How might we center the voices of those that have the least power but need organizations to invest in their success?

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Hey Folks, I'm excited to engage and meet new folks doing this work. I call Chicago home (this pic is on the Chicago river at Michigan Ave.) and have lived in Oakland for the last 8 years. I am newly married, I teach the dharma and meditation, and I just got a bike for my birthday.

How might we... lift each other up and consider our process as important as our product? I wanna learn!

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Hi there! I'm very excited to co-facilitate with Michelle and meet all of you! In this photo, I'm trying to stay cool, before boarding a puddle jumper to a tiny island off the coast of Tanzania with my best friends. We survived and it was a lovely, wonderful and life changing experience.

How might we stay cool and calm and not only survive and thrive, but also ENJOY the journey through and to equity?

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Hello! I am delighted to partner with Latonya Slack as facilitators of this program. You can usually find me curled up with a good book or dancing with my son in our kitchen. I look forward to meeting all of you!

How might we...
Interrupt dominant culture habits and cultivate resilient practices that center equity?