Diversity Speaks Series 2026
Virtual presentations typically held from January-May.
Resist. Reimagine. Rebuild: A Call to Action for Education Equity and Racial Justice
February 20, 2026: A PHRC virtual Diversity Speaks featuring Sharif El-Mekki, CEO & Founder, Center for Black Educator Development (CBED)
Intersecting Legacies: Racism’s Enduring Impact on Community Health and Mental Health Disparities
January 29, 2026: A PHRC virtual Diversity Speaks featuring Kyaien Conner, PhD, LSW, MPH, Director, Center on Race and Social Problems Professor and Donald M. Henderson Endowed Chair
Past events
- Resist. Reimagine. Rebuild: A Call to Action for Education Equity and Racial Justice [Link] (February 20, 2026)
- Justice-Centered Leadership: Thinking and Acting Critically [PDF] (February 11, 2026)
- Intersecting Legacies: Racism’s Enduring Impact on Community Health and Mental Health Disparities [Link] (January 29, 2026)
- "Intro to Supportive Services for Veteran Families" [Recording] featuring Becky Verduzco, SSVP Case Manager and Outreach Coordinator., Soldier On (May 29, 2025)
- "Creating Schools of Wellness," [Recording] featuring Dr. Harrison Bailey, III, Superintendent of Schools, Wilson Area School District (April 17, 2025)
- "Recruitment and Retention of Police Officers, Threats in the Community and Active Threat Assessment, 21st Century Policing," [Recording] featuring Garth Warner, Chief of Police, Derry Township Police, Hershey PA (March 20, 2025)
- "Healing Through History: Fostering Healing, Humanity, and Community Care Through The Lens of Black Experiences," [Recording] featuring Marcus Sankofa Nicks, a historian, educational leader and healer-activist (February 28, 2025)
- "Inclusion & Equality for Disabled People," [Recording] featuring Leann Firestone, Founder & Director of Neurodiverse Network Nonprofit (January 23, 2025)
- "Don't Believe Everything You Hear: My Positive American Experience (Part 3)," featuring Amer Al Fayadh (April 24, 2024)
- "Best Practice Solutions to the Mental Health Consequences of Child Sex Trafficking," featuring Ruchira Gupta (January 11, 2024)
- "Breaking Barriers: Embracing the Colors of Unity," featuring Hagir Elsheikh (January 5, 2024)
- "State of Black Pennsylvania," featuring state Senator Art Haywood (December 19, 2023)
- "Gendered Islamophobia: Muslim women at the intersection of faith, race, and gender (Part 2)," featuring Margari Hill (December 13, 2023)
- "Islam and Islamophobia in the American Context: What has changed since 9/11? (Part 1)," featuring Dr. Ahmet Selim Tekelioglu (December 7, 2023)
- "Alarming Rise of Antisemitism," featuring Jonathan A. Segal (November 7, 2023)
- "DEIB: Adding More Seats at the Table," [PDF] featuring Loki Mulholland (December 8, 2022)
- "Teacher Diversity: Catalyst for Organizational and Leadership Diversity and Transformation, [Recording]"featuring Denise Pearson, Ph.D. (October 12, 2022)
- "The State of Latinos in Pennsylvania, A Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Conversation during National Hispanic Heritage Month,[Image]" featuring Norman Bristol Colon. (September 14, 2022)
- "The Impact of DEI in Turbulent Times,[Recording]" featuring Dan Jurman (March 3, 2022)
- "Advancing Transportation Equity for Inclusion, [Recording]" featuring Myneca Ojo (Feburary 3, 2022)
- "Strenghtening Diversity in the Workplace,[Recording]" featuring Varsovia Fernandez (June 14, 2021)
- Historic Significance of Relationship Between Blacks and Jews [Recording] (October 27, 2020)
- Pandemic of Hate Combating Systematic and Structural Racism in the 21st Century [Recording] (June 30, 2020)
- No Child Left Behind, Educational Equity in the Digital Era, featuring state Rep. Dan Miller [Recording] (October 16, 2020)
