Thursday, April 15, 2021: Advancing Equity and Inclusion

 About the Presenters
(listed in presentation order according to the program)

Finding Your Spark, Making Your Ripple: What It Means to Commit to the Journey
Dina Bailey is the CEO of Mountain Top Vision, a consulting firm that generates systemic change within organizations so that they can more positively impact their communities and, so, impact the world. Using a unique approach that combines research in empathy, bias, diversity, equity, and inclusion with strategies and techniques from the fields of education, anthropology, and transitional justice, Mountain Top Vision specializes in supporting organizations as they transform themselves into places that consistently center inclusion in decision-making and action. Dina has over 15 years of experience in formal and informal education. She was the Director of Museum Experiences at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center as well as the inaugural Director of Educational Strategies at the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. Dina also served as the Director of Methodology and Practice at the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience before returning to full-time consulting at Mountain Top Vision. Dina has been specifically interested in working with institutions that focus on the intersection of race, memory and activism.

Museums & Race Report Card: Reimagining the Future of Museums
Presenters: Cris Scorza, Senior Director of Education and Engagement, Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (Moderator); Janeen Bryant, Founder & Principal, Facilitate Movement; Karlisa Callwood, Director, Community Conservation Education & Action, Perry Institute for Marine Science
Presenters are members of the 2020-2021 steering committee of Museums & Race, an industry initiative dedicated to identifying and facilitating dialog around race, diversity, inclusion, and representation. They work in various museums, from science to art and history, with experience in education, exhibitions, and DEAI issues. museumsandrace.org

A Bright IDEA in Balboa Park
Presenters: Ashanti Davis, Exhibition Manager, Fleet Science Center; Shannon Foley, Manager of Education, Mingei International Museum; Tina Zarpour, PhD, Vice President of Education and Collections, San Diego History Center; Chena Popper, Executive Assistant, San Diego Natural History Museum
Ashanti Davis is the Chair and co-instigator of an internal IDEA group. Shannon Foley provides leadership and oversight for K-12 educational and public programs. Tina Zarpour’s, PhD, academic expertise is with the lived experiences of immigrant communities. Chena Popper is a founding member of her Museum’s IDEA team. 

You’ve Got Mail: How Mingei International Museum reimagined how to serve its most vulnerable communities
Presenter: Shannon Foley, Manager of Education, Mingei International Museum
Shannon Foley provides leadership and oversight for the Museum’s K-12 educational and public programs as well as community engagement strategies for adult and family learning related primarily to the Museum’s mission of furthering the understanding of art of the people from all eras and cultures of the world.

Access for All: Providing Equitable Hands-on Learning Experiences in a Digital World
Presenter: Whitney Raser, Director of Education, San Diego Children's Museum
Whitney Raser is a former curriculum director, academic coach, and teacher who brings her knowledge of the formal schooling sector to help inform and innovate the informal education sector and museum education.

Diversity Apprenticeship Program Toolbox: A Model to Create, Foster, and Support a Truly Diverse Workforce
Presenter: George Luna-Peña, Program Manager, Diversity Apprenticeship Program, The Broad

Accessing Advisory: Keeping an Advisory Council on Accessibility Active and Committed
Presenter: Lisa Eriksen, Accessibility Coordinator, Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo
Lisa Eriksen is the Accessibility Coordinator at the Palo Alto Museum & Zoo, where she manages an IMLS-funded project to make the new facility and exhibitions accessible to visitors with disabilities. Lisa also works an independent consultant and futurist who assists museums and cultural organizations by providing innovative foresight training and strategic planning with a focus on planning for a preferred future.