Register Here For February’s Program
After registering at above link, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting Tue 2-25-2025, 12 noon to 1:15 PM (ET).
Recently, seismic changes have been made to years of acceptable efforts to promote and encourage equity. These changes, whether they are proposed or implemented, have already affected our lives. The impact has been felt in education, all levels of government, and in the private sector. Directed by the second Trump administration, long-standing DEI activities including admissions, promotions, hiring, training, and even celebrations such as Black history month are being eliminated in federal offices. These federally mandated DEI eliminations even apply to organizational recipients of federal assistance and actions by federal contractors. The Trump Administration even encourages the elimination of DEI efforts in organizations outside of federal control. Some anti DEI policies spring from the courts which have played mixed roles including recently overturning affirmative action in higher education institutions. Sadly, many federal employees involved with DEI have already been placed on paid leave and told they would eventually be laid off. These attacks are especially dangerous since this Administration has not defined what it means by DEI so these edicts could threaten a broad swath of non-discrimination programs.
Despite the backlash against DEI programs and initiatives, many education institutions, companies, and states are finding ways to support diversity, equity and inclusion. Critics say DEI programs are discriminatory and attempt to solve racial discrimination by disadvantaging other groups particularly White Americans. How can these challenges be met? What can be done to move toward equity? This CWI meeting will address ways to achieve equity and equal opportunity even under these adverse circumstances.
Presentations from speakers with experience and solutions to these challenges include:
Moderator: Dr. Alotta Taylor, Retired NASA Senior Executive and VP for Diversity, CWI.
Education: Jeanette Lim Esbrook, Esq., former Acting OCR Assistant Secretary and formerDeputy Assistant Secretary, US Education Department; former DOJ Attorney, Education Opportunities Section, Civil Rights Division. and VP for Legal Affairs, CWI.
Federal Government: Jocelyn Samuels, Esq., recently illegally fired but formerly Trump and Biden appointed Commissioner and Vice Chair, US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, former Acting Deputy Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice, former Exec. Director Williams Institute, UCLA School of Law, former Director, Office for Civil Rights, Department of Health and Human Services, Vice President, National Women’s Law Center.
Private Sector: Janice Mathis, Esq. General Counsel, former Executive Director, National Council of Negro Women, former General Counsel and Vice President of Rev. Jesse L. Jackson’s Rainbow Push Coalition and the Citizenship Education Fund.