Equity in the 413: Western Massachusetts Racial Equity Summit is a convening to support relationship building across several industry areas. This call-to-action will help attendees from our region align our efforts to advance racial equity in the workplaces and organizations across western Massachusetts.
In 2023, close to 400 attendees joined us for Equity in the 413 to participate in their selection of more than a dozen workshops centered on advancing racial equity in workplaces across industry areas. In 2025, we’re excited to offer more workshops, and continue to offer self-care opportunities. We’ll also have the opportunity to celebrate our work at the end of the summit with a DJ. Be sure to check back here to register to join us at Westfield State University on June 12, 2025!
At the Summit you will:
Learn how to analyze and incorporate data in an asset-based framework to understand how racial inequity is impacting our region and drive our efforts to support advancing racial equity.
Learn how to create talent acquisition and employee engagement plans that increase diversity in your workforce while building equitable practices across the employee life cycle in an inclusive culture.
Learn how to develop and enact internal policies and practices that can be changed to support people in moving along a continuum of equitable practices.
Learn lessons from leaders who have begun to advance racial equity in their organizations.
Summit Photos
Gratitude to our 2023 Summit facilitators!
Thank you to our dedicated facilitators for being part of this transformative journey. Your guidance through thought-provoking discussions made this inaugural summit an extraordinary experience and a success.
We’re not done yet! Stay tuned for future opportunities.
2023 Summit Agenda
Click on each agenda item for detailed information.
8:00 AM | Registration and Breakfast
Registration Networking Breakfast
9:00 AM | Welcome and Opening Sessions
Welcome Briana Wales-Thaxton, Vice President for People and Culture, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
Opening Session Behavioral Health Network Steve Winn, President and CEO P. Natasha Mitchell, M.Ed., MFT, LMHC – Social Justice Community Engagement Moderated by Jessica Collins, Executive Director, Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts
10:00 AM | Developing a Capacity Building and Racial Equity Model for Western Mass
Developing a Capacity Building and Racial Equity Model for Western Mass
Dayna Campbell, Assistant Professor at American International College in the School of Health Sciences, Public Health and Executive Leader for Women of Color Health Equity Collective
Wanda Givens, Member, Women of Color Health Equity Collective
Jessica Collins, Executive Director, Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts
Angelina Ramirez, CEO, Stavros
Jaymie R. Zapata, Senior Planner- Public Health, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission
10:30 AM | Concurrent Workshop/Presentation Sessions I
Root Causes: Community Level Connections: Engaging Rural Communities in Discussions Around Racial Equity: From Cultural Humility to Accountability Mahagony Room
Debbie DiStefano, Ph.D., Chief People and Equity Officer Hilltown Community Health Centers, Inc.
Jenise Katalina, MSW, LICSW, Executive Leader and Vice President of the Board for the Women of Color Health Equity Collective
Joan Griswold, Rural Heath Project Manager, Hilltown CDC
Talk the Talk: Engaging in Effective Conversations Around Identity Highland Room
National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ)
Nyaunu Stevens, Director of Programs
Sandra Vonniessen-Applebee, Director of Operations
Structural Inclusion: Baystate Health’s Approach to Advancing Equity and Reducing Bias in the Workplace Worthy Room
Baystate Health
Jennifer Faulkner, MSHC, Vice President, Team Member Experience and Talent Management
Tyonne D. Hinson, DrPH, MSN, RN, NE-BC, Senior Vice President & Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
Kara Rose Wolf, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Consultant
Courageous Leadership: Empowering Equitable Practices Within Organizations Charles Room
Wilbert Weche, Willful Change, LLC
Raising Consciousness and Making Connections: A Model for Challenging Institutional Power King Edward Room
Andre Lynch, Owner/Executive of AMPLE Consulting, LLC, serves as Director for DEI at BART Charter Public School
Kerri Leyda Nicoll, MSW, MDiv, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Social Work at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA)
Michael Obasohan, M.Ed, Chief Diversity Officer (CDO), City of Pittsfield
Cultivating Inclusive Workplace Culture – Leading with Curiosity King George Room
Lynn Turner, Owner, Core XP Solutions
Moving Away from Palatable Diversity Stonehaven Room
Tanisha Arena, Arise for Social Justice
Linguistic Bias, 25 Common Phrases Kilkenny Room
Traci Talbert Racial Justice Community Engagement Leader, Franklin County CDC
Fostering a Culture of Inclusion: Innovative Approaches to Racial Equity and Mental Well-Being Waterford Room
Shawniel Chamanlal, LCSW, Healing Springs Wellness, LLC
11:30 AM | Concurrent Workshop/Presentation Sessions II
Starting Root Cause Discussions in Rural Communities – A Systems Approach Mahagony Room
Debbie DiStefano, PhD, Chief People and Equity Officer, Hilltown Community Health Centers, Inc.
Becky Basch, MA, Senior Planner, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
Alex Nelson, Network Coordinator, Outer Cape Community Solutions
Emily Beebe, Health and Conservation Agent, Town of Truro
Elen Camara, Latino Community Ambassador, Outer Cape Community Solutions
Talk the Talk: Engaging in Effective Conversations Around Identity Highland Room
Nyaunu Stevens, Director of Programs, National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ)
Sandra Vonniessen-Applebee, Director of Operations, National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ)
Self-Fullness…Practices for Sustainability Worthy Room
Dr. Latoya Bosworth, Got H.E.R.S.?
Bridging the Access Barrier: A Community Health Center-led Workforce Equity & Learning Model Charles Room
Caring Health Center Tania M. Barber, M.B.A., President and CEO
Dr. Yedalis Ruiz, Ph.D., M.Ed., Chief Access and Equity Officer and Executive Director of the Tania M. Barber Learning Institute
Johanna DeBari, Director of Workforce Equity and Training
Caring Enough to Make a Lasting Impact – A shift to empathetic leadership can create a lasting impact on your organization King Edward Room LaTonia Monroe Naylor, Monroe Naylor Consulting
Fostering Equity Through Data to Action King George Room
Public Health of Western Massachusetts Kathleen Szegda, PhD, MPH, MS, Sr. Director of Research and Evaluation
Victoria Hill, Data and Equity Manager
Undoing White Supremacy and Fostering Joy in the Workplace Stonehaven Room Ysabel Garcia, Estoy Aqui LLC
JAC Patrissi, Growing a New Heart
Tanisha Arena, Growing a New Heart
At the Kitchen Table Kilkenny Room Vonetta Lightfoot, Lower Pioneer Valley Education Collaborative
James H Lightfoot III
The part that people don’t like…Institutional Accountability Waterford Room
Jenise Katalina, MSW, LICSW, Executive Leader and Vice President of the Board for the Women of Color Health Equity Collective
12:30 PM | Lunch
1:30 PM | Concurrent Workshop/Presentation Sessions III
Developing a Capacity Building and Racial Equity Model for Western Mass Mahagony Room Lisa Ranghelli, Director Capacity Building and Assessments, Public Health Institute of Western MA
Jenise Katalina, MSW, LICSW, Executive Leader and Vice President of the Board for the Women of Color Health Equity Collective
Wanda Givens, Member, Women of Color Health Equity Collective
Angelina Ramirez, CEO, Stavros
Talk the Talk: Engaging in Effective Conversations Around Identity Highland Room
National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ)
Nyaunu Stevens, Director of Programs
Sandra Vonniessen-Applebee, Director of Operations
Self-Fullness…Practices for Sustainability Worthy Room
Dr. Layota Bosworth, Got H.E.R.S.?
Courageous Leadership: Empowering Equitable Practices Within Organizations Charles Room
Wilbert Weche, Willful Change, LLC
Raising Consciousness and Making Connections: A Model for Challenging Institutional Power King Edward Room
Andre Lynch, Owner/Executive of AMPLE Consulting, LLC, serves as Director for DEI at BART Charter Public School
Kerri Leyda Nicoll, MSW, MDiv, PhD, Associate Professor of Social Work at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA)
Michael Obasohan, M.Ed, Chief Diversity Officer (CDO), City of Pittsfield
Fostering a Culture of Inclusion: Innovative Approaches to Racial Equity and Mental Well-Being King George Room
Shawniel Chamanlal, LCSW, Healing Springs Wellness, LLC
Moving Away from Palatable Diversity Stonehaven Room Tanisha Arena, Arise for Social Justice
Sound Meditation: Sound Healing and Inner Cleansing Kilkenny Room Maria Del Carmen, Sound Healer, SoulCare Love, LLC
2:30 PM | Concurrent Workshop/Presentation Sessions IV
Developing a Capacity Building and Racial Equity Model for Western Mass Mahagony Room
Lisa Ranghelli, Director Capacity Building and Assessments, Public Health Institute of Western MA
Jenise Katalina, MSW, LICSW, Executive Leader and Vice President of the Board for the Women of Color Health Equity Collective
Wanda Givens, Member, Women of Color Health Equity Collective
Angelina Ramirez, CEO, Stavros
Talk the Talk: Engaging in Effective Conversations Around Identity Highland Room
National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ)
Nyaunu Stevens, Director of Programs
Sandra Vonniessen-Applebee, Director of Operations
Operationalizing Social Justice Within Organizations: Moving Beyond Just Diversity & Inclusion – A Panel Discussion Worthy Room
Behavioral Health Network
Dr. Audrey Murph-Brown, Ed D, Professional Development Director
Pallavi Bandalli, Business Analyst
Sarah Mixter, Program Director
Natasha Mitchell, LICSW, Social Justice Coordinator
Marco Hernandez Rodriguez, Corporate Investigator
Jane Simonds, Senior Program Manager
Lauren Favorite, Social Justice Director
Designing for Equity: From Startup to Growth-For Us, By Us, With Us Charles Room
Teach Western Mass
Pema Latshang, Founding Executive Director
Melissa Grandison, Director of Residency
Caring Enough to Make a Lasting Impact – A shift to empathetic leadership can create a lasting impact on your organization King Edward Room LaTonia Monroe Naylor, Monroe Naylor Consulting
How to get Started, A Roadmap for DEIB King George Room
Health New England Vivian Williams, MHA, LSW, Manager, Care Management
Katie Bruno, MPH, Public Health and Wellness Program Manager
Moving Away from Palatable Diversity Stonehaven Room Tanisha Arena, Arise for Social Justice
Sound Meditation: Sound Healing and Inner Cleansing Kilkenny Room Maria Del Carmen, Sound Healer, SoulCare Love, LLC
Building Equitable Philanthropic Practices Waterford Room
Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts Nigel Greaves, Director of Development
Jeffery Markham, Jr., Program Officer for Community Impact and Partnerships
Shannon Gurek, Vice President for Finance and Operations
Briana Wales-Thaxton, Vice President for People and Culture
3:30 PM | Closing Remarks
Taking Action in our Spheres of Influence
Briana Wales-Thaxton, Vice President for People and Culture, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
Concluding Remarks
Paul Murphy, Trustee Chair, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
4:00 PM | Networking and Cocktails
Networking and Cocktails
Cash bar and treats
Social Justice Jeopardy with National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ)
5:00 PM | Adjourn and Move to Symphony Hall
Public Forum Event at Symphony Hall Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America
Heather Cox Richardson
Historian, Author, and Podcast Cohost of Now & Then This event is free to all with no tickets required. Doors will open at 5pm.
Additional parking information: There is on-street metered parking, free parking at MGM Springfield two blocks away, or a parking garage right next to Springfield Symphony Hall under I-91 at 1620 E. Columbus Ave, Springfield. If you park in the garage under I-91, you can receive $2 parking. Simply pay for your parking in the lobby of Symphony Hall at the event. Cash only and exact change appreciated.
Heather Cox Richardson is Professor of History at Boston College. She has written about the Civil War, Reconstruction, the Gilded Age, and the American West in award-winning books whose subjects stretch from the European settlement of the North American continent to the history of the Republican Party through the Trump administration. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, the New York Times, and The Guardian, among other outlets.
Questions? Please email Briana Wales-Thaxton, Vice President for People and Culture at the Community Foundation.
2023 Session Presenters
Organizing Partners
2023 Community Partners
Together we amplify the impact in our community. We know that all interested partners do not have equal ability to support the advancement of this important work, but we know that all contributions are valuable and that all potential partners are invested in the work of advancing racial equity in our region. For this reason, we are asking that you to reconsider how we view traditional sponsorship opportunities rooted in hierarchy in a way that celebrates support based on the dollar amounts that a partner contributes and shift to a community partner model to support the conference at a level that your organization is able.
Our goal is to raise $50,000 from our community partners. All community partners will receive 3 tickets to the Summit and have their logo on materials provided to participants on the day of the Summit including any PowerPoint presentations during the welcoming.
Want to learn more? Download the Community Partners packet here.