#M IN DS C IE NC E 2 018
FI GH TI NG RACIS M AN D OTH ER FORMS OF BIAS : WH AT’S WORKIN G!? EQUAL JUSTICE SOCIETY’S MIND SCIENCE CONFERENCE JUNE 22-23, 2018 OAKLAND MARRIOTT CITY CENTER
INFORMATION FOR ATTENDEES CONFERENCE ADDRESS Oakland Marriott City Center 1001 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607 ON-SITE ASSISTANCE Conference staff are on site to provide assistance, information, or support at any time during the conference. Please feel free to approach anyone with badges labeled “Staff” or “Volunteers”. FEEDBACK Please share with us your feedback on the conference via email to mmale@equaljusticesociety.org or by voicemail at 415-288-8708. POST-CONFERENCE MATERIALS Following the conference, we will have digital audio available of all panels available at http://equaljusticesociety.org/mindscience. The audio may exclude portions of presentations that are embargoed or proprietary. SOCIAL MEDIA EJS is on Twitter @equaljustice. We will have Twitter usernames of panelists posted on http://equaljusticesociety.org/mindscience. Our conference hashtag is #MindScience2018. FILMING Extended video recording or filming, including on social media, is not allowed during our conference. Some of our presenters may be sharing embargoed or proprietary information. ACCESSIBILITY If you require services for accessibility or mobility, please see any of our staff at the registration desk. WEBSITE This program booklet and other resource materials will be posted on our conference website at http://equaljusticesociety.org/mindscience.
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WE LCOM E White supremacy and xenophobic views against immigrants of color are fueling the political and cultural agenda of those currently in power. Corporations are profiting off the backs and bodies of Black and Latino people. It seems that every morning we wake up to something new and more appalling. What are people of good conscience to do? We are here together at this conference to help answer that question. Building upon last year’s Resilience of Racism conference, we are expanding our analysis and inquiry beyond implicit bias, to consider different causes and manifestations of bias as part of a spectrum of discrimination. Thank you for being with us at this important gathering to explore how mind science can help us understand and deal with the many faces of racism. I would like to express our deep gratitude to those that made this conference possible, especially Prof. Henry Hecht and The Henry Hecht L. Hecht Family Fund, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The California Wellness Foundation, The California Endowment, and Open Society Foundations; Melissa Male, our conference coordinator, along with Anna Basallaje and Christopher Bridges; the staff at the Oakland Marriott, and all the folks who are volunteering throughout these two days. Your support and efforts made this conference possible!
#mindscience2018 ďťż3
AG E NDA June 22nd -- Day 1 Agenda REGISTRATION (Skyline Room, 21st floor) 9:00 – 9:45 AM
OPENING KEYNOTE (Skyline Room, 21st floor) Eva Paterson, President, Equal Justice Society
9:45 - 10:00 AM
BREAK
PLENARY SESSION #1 – Practitioner & Expert Round Table (Skyline Room, 21st floor) 10:00 – 11:45 AM Roundtable discussing explicit and implicit biases, grounding language, and interplay between mind science and white supremacy, what practical steps they’ve found to be working, if anything at all. Facilitator: Nancy Dome, Epoch Education Rudy Mendoza-Denton, UC Berkeley Jason Okonofua, UC Berkeley Arlene Mayerson, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) 11:45 - 12:45 PM LUNCH (Provided) - Skyline Room, 21st floor Breakout #1 – Reducing Bias in Tech & Employment (Skyline Room, 21st floor) 12:45 - 2:30 PM How do we reduce bias in tech and employment? Facilitator: Darlene Flynn, City of Oakland George Hofstetter, teenage tech genius/entrepreneur Jocelyn Garibay, Code2040 Lisa Gelobter, tEQuitable Beth Hodess, Attorney Breakout #2 – Dealing With Our Nonprofit “Ish”! (OCC Room 202 – 2nd floor) 12:45 - 2:30 PM How do we address the biases we perpetuate in the nonprofit/ civil rights arenas with self-described allies and social justice dogooders? Facilitator: Chris Bridges, Equal Justice Society Gillian Sonnad, OneJustice Tirien Steinbach, East Bay Community Law Center Bill Kennedy, Attorney Jessica Redditt, Bay Area Legal Aid 4 @equaljustice
2:30 - 2:45 PM
BREAK
Breakout #3: Reducing Bias in Healthcare/Medicine (OCC Room 202 – 2nd floor) 2:45 – 4:30 PM A discussion on reducing bias in healthcare/medicine. Facilitator: Mona Tawatao, Western Center on Law & Poverty Silvia Yee, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) Kate Kendell, National Center for Lesbian Rights Dr. Ronald Copeland, Kaiser Permanente Tố Như (Lotus) Đào, Gender Health SF, San Francisco Department of Public Health Breakout #4: Reducing Bias in Housing (OCC Room 203 – 2nd floor) 2:45 – 4:30 PM A discussion on reducing bias in housing. Facilitator: Allison Elgart, Equal Justice Society Leslie Proll, Civil Rights Attorney Maeve Elise Brown, Housing and Economic Rights Advocates Hannah Kim, Legal Assistance to the Elderly (LAE) Breakout #5: Weaponizing Implicit Bias (Skyline Room, 21st floor) 2:45 – 4:30 PM A discussion on Cambridge Analytica, law enforcement, and other ways conscious and unconscious biases are used to weaponize hate and discrimination, especially for the benefit of Trump’s presidency and our current political climate of dysfunction. Facilitator: Dr. Roberto Gonzalez, San Jose State University Eva Paterson, Equal Justice Society Yeshimabeit “Yeshi” Milner, Data for Black Lives 4:30 - 4:45 PM
BREAK
4:45 PM - 5:00 PM
CLOSING REMARKS FOR DAY 1 (Skyline Room, 21st floor)
#mindscience2018 5
June 23rd Day 2 Agenda PLENARY SESSION #2 – Responding to Assaults on Implicit Bias (Skyline Room, 21st floor) 9:00 – 10:30 AM Discussion on how to respond to assaults on implicit bias, debunking arguments, and how implicit bias doesn’t address racism. Facilitator: Hon. Bernice Donald, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Nancy Dome, Epoch Education Rachel Godsil, Perception Institute Margaret Russell, Santa Clara University Jerry Kang, UCLA 10:30 - 10:45 AM BREAK Breakout #6 – Reducing Bias in the Criminal Justice System (OCC Room 203–2nd floor) 10:45AM - 12:00 Discussion on strategies for reducing implicit bias in the criminal PM justice system and the court room. Facilitator: Lisa Holder, Civil Rights Attorney Hon. Mark W. Bennett, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Iowa George Gascon, District Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco William Snowden, The Juror Project Jack Glaser, UC Berkeley Breakout #7: Mindbugs: Debugging Implicit Bias Through Storytelling (Skyline Room, 21st floor) 10:45 AM – 12:00 A discussion on how images and visual storytelling, rather than PM narratives about implicit bias and values, may be an effective tool in dismantling implicit bias. Facilitator: Shakti Butler, World Trust Educational Services Kim Clark, Educator Owen Kent, Filmmaker/Disability Activist Sysamone Phaphon, FilmHero Villy Wang, BAYCAT
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12:00 PM - 1:00 PM LUNCH (Provided) - Skyline Room, 21st floor Breakout #8 – Reducing Bias in Education (OCC Room 203–2nd floor) 1:00PM- 2:15 PM
Discussing strategies that may help reduce bias in K-12 education. Facilitator: Michael Harris, National Center for Youth Law Arlene Mayerson, Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) Nancy Dome, Epoch Education Edward Fergus, Temple University
Breakout #9 – Mind Science in the 2016 Elections and Beyond (Skyline Room, 21st floor) 1:00PM- 2:15 PM Assessing the role mind science has played in the 2016 elections and how it can be used in the future. Facilitator: Eva Paterson, Equal Justice Society Hon. Bernice Donald, United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit Celinda Lake, Lake Research Partners Roberto González, San Jose State University 2:15 PM - 2:30 PM
BREAK
Engineering Change Through the Arts: Healing Justice (Film) - Skyline Room, 21st floor 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM “Healing Justice” film screening and discussion with Shakti Butler, Founder & President, World Trust Educational Services. 4:00 PM - 4:15 PM
BREAK
Conference Review and Reflections - Skyline Room, 21st floor 4:15 PM – 5:00 PM Conference review and reflections.
#mindscience2018 7
FUNDE R S #MINDSCIENCE2018
This conference is made possible through generous grants from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, The Henry L. Hecht Family Fund, The California Wellness Foundation, The California Endowment, and Open Society Foundations. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer, Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life. The Henry L. Hecht Family Fund was founded in 2011 by Henry Hecht to honor the memory of his parents who taught him the importance of charitable giving by their example. The Fund supports organizations that examine the root causes of inequalities and that address the needs of the socioeconomically disadvantaged. The conference is funded in part by a grant from The California Wellness Foundation (Cal Wellness). Created in 1992 as a private independent foundation, Cal Wellness’ mission is to improve the health of the people of California by making grants for health promotion, wellness education and disease prevention.
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S PE A K E R S #MINDSCIENCE2018
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR CONFERENCE SPEAKERS LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS IN THE NEXT SECTION TWITTER USERNAMES OF PANELISTS ARE POSTED ON HTTP://EQUALJUSTICESOCIETY.ORG/MINDSCIENCE
SOME BIOS WERE ABBREVIATED DUE TO SPACE RESTRICTIONS COMPLETE BIOS OF ALL PANELISTS ARE POSTED ON HTTP://EQUALJUSTICESOCIETY.ORG/MINDSCIENCE
#mindscience2018 9
MARK BENNETT
CHRIS BRIDGES
MAEVE ELISE BROWN
JUDGE, U.S. DISTRICT COURT
EQUAL JUSTICE SOCIETY
HOUSING AND ECONOMIC RIGHTS ADVOCATES
Mark W. Bennett is in his 24th year as a
Chris Bridges is a graduate of North-
Maeve Elise Brown is Executive Director
U.S. district judge in the N.D. of Iowa. He
eastern University School of Law. He
and a founder of Housing and Economic
was in private practice in Des Moines,
also holds an MS in Criminal Justice
Rights Advocates (HERA), a unique,
Iowa, from 1975 to 1991, having started
from Michigan State University and a BS
California statewide non-profit law office
his own law firm upon graduation from
in Political Science and BA in Criminal
with a broad, economic justice/anti-
the Drake University Law School in 1975.
Justice, both from North Carolina Central
discrimination mission. She applies her
For sixteen and a half years, he practiced
University. Chris began his legal career in
creative, outside-the-box thinking to her
primarily as a civil rights and criminal
2012 with the ACLU of Northern Califor-
management and guidance of HERA’s op-
defense lawyer appearing in more than
nia as the Racial Justice Project Fellow,
erations and growth. A graduate of UCLA
30 federal district courts, several of the
where he worked on school to prison
Law School, Ms. Brown’s experience as a
courts of appeals and the United States
pipeline issues as a member of the Edu-
public interest attorney includes litigation
Supreme Court. He argued his first case
cation Equity team. He began his work at
and administrative advocacy on behalf
in the Supreme Court less than four years
the Equal Justice Society in Oakland as
of tenants and homeowners, public
out of law school. He had three more
the Butler Koshland Fellow and was later
benefits advocacy, community organiz-
cert. petitions granted before he was
hired full time to focus his advocacy on
ing, fair housing advocacy, community
32. He has taught at both law schools in
school discipline and education issues as
workshops, and trainings and technical
Iowa, the University of Hawaii William
well as inequities within the criminal jus-
assistance for professionals across a
S. Richardson School of Law, and the
tice system. To aid in these efforts, Chris
range of topics. Ms. Brown has organized
University of Nebraska College of Law.
is using social science, structural analysis,
and opened a community development
In the past eight years, he has authored
and real life experiences to help broaden
credit union, designed and has designed
24 law review articles, including four on
conceptions of present-day discrimina-
and taught a course on mortgage lend-
implicit bias in the legal profession and
tion to include implicit bias.
ing and homeownership at UC Berkeley
five on federal sentencing issues. He has
School of Law. For 5 years, she served
been involved in educating more than
on the Consumer Financial Protection
2500 state and federal trial and appel-
Bureau’s Consumer Advisory Board (CAB)
late judges on implicit bias from Alaska to
which she chaired in her final year. She
Florida, and Maine to California. He was
has worked on local, state and federal
the first trial judge in the nation to both
policy initiatives and has driven critically
instruct and discuss implicit bias with
important policy forward, including most
jurors. He has authored numerous other
recently, the Survivors’ Bill of Rights
articles, most often about judging and
legislation for which she was the primary
trial lawyers, is the co-author of a treatise
drafter.
on employment law, and has spoken at more than 500 CLE programs in 39 states and several foreign countries. 10 @equaljustice
SHAKTI BUTLER
KIM CLARK
RONALD COPELAND
WORLD TRUST EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
EDUCATOR
KAISER PERMANENTE
Shakti Butler, PhD, visionary, filmmaker,
Kim E. Clark JD is an inspirational force
Ronald L. Copeland, MD, FACS, is senior
transformative learning educator, wife,
and dynamic educator who brings a new
vice president of National Equity, Inclu-
mother, grandmother and friend to many
approach to critical race theory, spiritual-
sion, and Diversity strategy and policy
- is President and Founder of World Trust
ity and social transformation. Her paper
and chief equity, inclusion, and diversity
Educational Services, Inc., a non-profit
“Critical Race Theory, Transformation
officer for Kaiser Permanente. Through
transformative educational organization.
and Praxis.” Sw. L. Rev. 45 (2015): 795,
multiple collaborations, he leads Kaiser
Rooted in love and justice, World Trust
tells of how she developed her method
Permanente’s program-wide efforts to
produces films, curricula, workshops and
while a Changemaker Research Fellow
ensure our strategic vision for equity,
programs that are catalysts for institu-
at Pacific School of Religion, an Ashoka
inclusion, and diversity is successfully
tional, structural and cultural change.
Changemaker University campus. Ms.
implemented to drive strategic business
Shakti is an inspirational speaker, facilita-
Clark engages audiences with energetic
and mission outcomes, empower com-
tor, trainer and lecturer who is sought
workshops where she shares her meth-
munities we serve, and result in all Kaiser
after by schools, universities, public and
odology with legal and social change
Permanente members achieving health
private organizations, and faith-based
organizations seeking broader support for
and health care outcomes that are high
institutions. Dr. Butler has produced five
their legal social justice goals while stay-
quality, equitable, and increasingly more
documentaries. The first four form the
ing true to their highest human potential.
affordable. Dr. Copeland is a member of
core of World Trust’s teaching tools and
Her work has emerged from years of
Kaiser Permanente’s Executive Equity,
have experienced increased exposure
engagement with spiritual communities
Inclusion, and Diversity Council, a group
-- 23 million views of one clip alone --
and practices and from her commitment
composed of the Chairman/CEO and
generating national dialogue and critical
to social justice. Kim invites her audi-
other C-level leaders who oversee execu-
thinking that is impacting institutions and
ence to grapple with the intricacies of in-
tive accountability for embedding the
communities across the country. These
justice with its intellectual and emotional
equity, inclusion, and diversity strategy
are The Way Home; Mirrors of Privilege:
complexities and their interplay with the
throughout the organization. Addition-
Making Whiteness Visible; Light in the
transdisciplinarity of race, sexual orienta-
ally, he is chair of the Kaiser Permanente
Shadows and Cracking the Codes: The
tion, class, and spirituality. As a social en-
National Equity, Inclusion and Diversity
System of Racial Inequity. Shakti has
trepreneur with solutions to social prob-
Council, which advises, advocates for,
just finished and premiered Healing
lems and who seeks to make large-scale
and monitors the successful implementa-
Justice, intended to popularize a national
changes to society, Ms. Clark collabora-
tion of the equity, inclusion, and diversity
conversation about justice, responsibility,
tively assesses the possibility and design
strategy and policy recommendations.
and healing. She also served as diversity
of critical alliances. As a leader in social
A board-certified general surgeon, Dr.
consultant and advisor on the Oscar-
innovation and changemaking in higher
Copeland joined Kaiser Permanente in
winning Disney animated film, Zootopia,
education, she creates a unity of natural,
1988 after a six-year honorable tour of
which focuses on challenging bias and
social and health sciences in a humanities
duty in the United States Air Force Medi-
systemic inequity.
context, to create an approach to solving
cal Corps.
systemic and institutional global inequity. #mindscience2018 11
LOTUS ĐÀO
NANCY DOME
BERNICE DONALD
GENDER HEALTH SF
EPOCH EDUCATION
JUDGE, U.S. COURT OF APPEALS, SIXTH CIRCUIT
Tố Như (Lotus) Đào (all pronouns) is the
Dr. Nancy Dome has been supporting
The Honorable Bernice B. Donald, a Cir-
Senior Behavioral Health Clinician with
children to overcome institutional and
cuit Judge on the United States Court of
Gender Health SF of the San Francisco
systemic barriers and developing educa-
Appeals for the Sixth Circuit was appoint-
Department of Public Health, the first
tors for over 20 years. Starting her career
ed by President Barack Obama in 2011,
and only program that directly serves
as a Child Care Worker, she has worked
received her law degree from the Univer-
poor and undocumented adults seeking
through the ranks as a classroom teacher,
sity of Memphis School of Law, a Masters
gender-related procedures in the country.
teacher leader, college professor, and
in Judicial Studies from Duke University,
Lotus offers pre-surgical assessments
now co-founder of Epoch Education.
and an honorary Doctors in Law from
and peer navigation for medical transi-
Epoch Education’s primary charge is to
Suffolk University. Prior to appointment
tion, specializing in adults with significant
provide current, accessible and transfor-
to the U.S. Court of Appeals, she served
mental health needs. Lotus is involved in
mational Professional Development for
on the U.S. District Court. She is cur-
developing best clinical practice stan-
educators and students on the topics of
rently Chair of the American Bar Associa-
dards for treating gender dysphoria and
Equity, Critical Race Theory, and Cultur-
tion (“ABA”) Center for Human Rights.
advocating for increased Medi-Cal access
ally Relevant Teaching and Learning to
Judge Donald is a contributing author for
to gender-related procedures. Lotus also
support the development of the neces-
an implicit bias resource book for judges
founded and continues to organize with
sary cultural competencies needed to
and practitioners, Enhancing Justice:
Bloom: Transgender Community Healing
effectively respond to our ever diversify-
Reducing Bias. She served as Chair of
Project, a peer and volunteer-based or-
ing world. The workshops, keynotes,
the ABA Criminal Justice Section, focus-
ganization working to promote a culture
online courses, and trainings utilize
ing on implicit bias, children of incarcer-
of wellness in trans and non-binary com-
myriad modalities to ensure content is
ated parents, mass incarceration, and the
munities. Bloom organizes peer-to-peer
accessible to all ages, gently supports
collateral consequences of incarceration.
holistic health-focused events and offers
stepping into discomfort on hard topics,
Judge Donald has presented on the topic
professional consultation.
and calls for deep personal reflection. Dr.
of implicit bias at numerous institutions
Dome co-created the RIR Protocol, which
including, Third Circuit Judicial Confer-
through the Epoch Conversations Start-
ence, Fordham Law, and Yale Law. Judge
ers provides concrete steps to practice
Donald served as faculty at the National
interrupting dysfunctional systems and
Judicial College, Federal Judicial Cen-
negative behavior through Compassion-
ter, the Judge Advocate General’s Legal
ate Dialogue using the steps of Recog-
Center & School, the National Advocacy
nize It, Interrupt It, and Repair It.
Center, and for the Federal Magistrate Judges Conference. She served as faculty for international programs in over 20 countries.
12 @equaljustice
ALLISON ELGART
EDWARD FERGUS
DARLENE FLYNN
EQUAL JUSTICE SOCIETY
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY
CITY OF OAKLAND
Allison Elgart is the Legal Director of the
Edward Fergus is Assistant Professor of
Darlene Flynn began her career in public
Equal Justice Society. Before joining EJS,
Urban Education at Temple University.
service with the City of Seattle, doing
Allison was an associate in the San Fran-
Edward is a former high school teacher,
policy development and constituent
cisco office of Lieff Cabraser Heimann
evaluator, and community school pro-
services for then Councilmember and
& Bernstein, LLP, primarily focusing on
gram director. Dr. Fergus’ current work is
Land Use Chair, James Street. Following
consumer protection and employment
on the intersection of educational policy
opportunities to work for Seattle Public
class action litigation. Allison is a gradu-
and outcomes with a specific focus on
Utilities and Department of Neighbor-
ate of Harvard Law School, where she
Black and Latino boys’ academic and
hoods, she joined the Seattle Office for
was the Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard
social engagement outcomes, dispropor-
Civil Rights. There she was an early
Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review
tionality in special education and suspen-
program architect, and was the Policy
and worked as a student attorney at the
sions, and school climate conditions. He
and Capacity Building Lead from the in-
Harvard Legal Aid Bureau, representing
has published numerous articles and is
ception of their ground breaking Race &
low-income clients in housing, domestic,
the author of Skin Color and Identity For-
Social Justice Initiative. In this position,
immigration and benefits cases. She has
mation: Perceptions of Opportunity and
she provided strategic planning, policy
degrees in Public Policy and Psychology
Academic Orientation among Mexican
design, implementation and training sup-
from Brown University. Allison has given
and Puerto Rican Youth (Routledge Press,
port to the initiative focused on ending
MCLE presentations on implicit bias and
2004), co-editor of Invisible No More:
institutional racism in City government.
the law to attorneys through nonprofit
Disenfranchisement of Latino Men and
Darlene also served four years, 2003 –
organizations, the Bar Association of
Boys (Routledge Press, 2011), co-author
2007 on the Seattle School Board and on
San Francisco, and the ABA. Allison has
of Schooling For Resilience: Improving
its Executive committee, first as the At-
co-authored numerous amicus briefs on
Trajectory of Black and Latino boys (Har-
large member and then as Vice President.
behalf of sociologists, social scientists,
vard Education Press, 2014) and author
In 2016 Darlene accepted the position
and legal scholars regarding implicit bias
of Solving Disproportionality and Achiev-
of Director of the new Department of
in housing-related cases before the U.S.
ing Equity (Corwin Press, 2016). He has
Race and Equity in Oakland California,
Supreme Court, including Mount Holly
worked with over 65 school districts
where she is currently applying her years
v. Mt. Holly Gardens Citizens in Action
since 2004 on educational equity and
of experience public policy and equity
and Texas Department of Housing and
school reform. Fergus serves on boards
expertise to lead and support Oakland’s
Community Affairs v. The Inclusive Com-
such as NY State Governor’s Juvenile
efforts to create a more just and equi-
munities Project, Inc. In addition, Allison
Justice Advisory Group (2010-present),
table city.
has co-authored “Lessons from Mt. Holly:
appointed in 2011 to the Yonkers Public
Leading Scholars Demonstrate Need for
Schools Board of Education (2011-2013),
Disparate Impact Standard to Combat
and is an expert consultant for the U.S.
Implicit Bias” in the Hastings Race &
Dept. of Justice Civil Rights Division on
Poverty Law Journal.
Educational Opportunities (2014-present) and NAACP Legal Defense Fund. #mindscience2018 13
JOCELYN GARIBAY
GEORGE GASCÓN
LISA GELOBTER
CODE2040
DISTRICT ATTORNEY, SAN FRANCISCO
TEQUITABLE
Jocelyn Garibay is the Director of
George Gascón is the District Attorney
Lisa Gelobter is the Founder and CEO of
Code2040’s Company Culture Transfor-
for the City and County of San Francisco.
tEQuitable, an independent, confiden-
mation program that envisions a world
He is the first Latino to hold the office
tial platform to address issues of bias,
in which workplaces center their Black
in San Francisco and the nation’s first
harassment, and discrimination in the
and Latinx employees’ experiences when
police chief to become District Attorney.
workplace. Most recently, she worked
designing solutions, policies, processes,
Since his appointment in January 2011,
at the White House, in the U.S. Digital
and systems. Where our joy, brilliance,
Gascón has earned a national reputa-
Service, serving as the Chief Digital
history, accomplishments are celebrated
tion as a visionary in criminal justice
Service Officer for the Department of
and amplified for the whole industry
reform. Throughout his tenure, he has
Education. Previously, Lisa acted as the
to see and feel. Our team is small (but
implemented out-of-the-box solutions
Chief Digital Officer for BET Networks
mighty!) focusing on building company
to build a public safety model predicated
and was a member of the senior manage-
culture transformation in the innovation
on reducing and preventing crime. Such
ment team for the launch of Hulu. With
economy through intentional train-
initiatives include trailblazing the global
25 years in the industry and products
ing strategies and consulting. Prior to
effort known as the Secure Our Smart-
that have been used by billions of people,
Code2040, Jocelyn has been an internal
phones Initiative that resulted in SB 962
Lisa has a deep and proven track record
Equity & Inclusion champion in both the
and the drastic reduction in robberies
in software. She has worked on several
tech and non profit sector. Working at
involving smartphones to pioneering in-
pioneering Internet technologies, includ-
Change.org she led their first Diversity
novative platforms such as the Alterna-
ing Shockwave, Hulu, and the ascent of
& Inclusion initiative focused on building
tive Sentencing Program, Crime Strate-
online video. Lisa’s experience ranges
more inclusive recruiting practices and
gies Unit, and the Young Adult Court.
from small, entrepreneurial startups to
designing spaces for employees to sit in
With the same conviction, Gascón has
large, established organizations. She has
conversations about race and privilege.
taken substantial steps to reduce over-
an expansive background in strategy
At the Human Rights Campaign support-
incarceration, creating Neighborhoods
development, business operations, user-
ing their first company-wide Diversity
Courts, the San Francisco Sentencing
centered design, product management,
& Inclusion assessment while rolling out
Commission, and Make it Right. He was
and engineering. Lisa brings consumer
an Employee Resource Group structure
also a driving force behind Proposition
focus and transformative practice to
and unionizing staff for higher wages
36 and Proposition 47. More recently, he
bear in technology, media, and the social
and better overtime policies. Jocelyn is a
was the leading voice opposing the con-
sector. She is also proud to be a Black
queer, feminist, Aquarian, Latina. When
struction of a new jail in favor of more
Woman with a degree in Computer Sci-
she’s not dreaming of a racially equitable
resources towards mental health. In the
ence. Go STEM!
tech industry where Black and Brown
many positions Gascón has held through-
folks thrive, she’s probably off reading a
out his career he has always prioritized
book, dancing to house and soul tunes,
creating a fairer criminal justice system
doing some light community organizing,
for all.
or watching trashy TV with her partner. 14 @equaljustice
JACK GLASER
RACHEL GODSIL
UC BERKELEY
PERCEPTION INSTITUTE
Jack Glaser is a Professor and the As-
Rachel is the Director of Research and
sociate Dean at the Goldman School of
Co-Founder of Perception Institute
Public Policy at UC Berkeley. He joined
and Professor of Law and Chancellor’s
the Goldman School faculty in 2000, af-
Scholar at Rutgers Law School. She
ter receiving his Ph.D. in psychology from
collaborates with social scientists on
Yale University. Glaser is a social psy-
empirical research to identify the efficacy
chologist whose primary research interest
of interventions to address implicit bias,
is in stereotyping, prejudice, and dis-
racial anxiety, and stereotype threat. She
crimination. He studies these intergroup
regularly leads workshops and presen-
biases at multiple levels of analysis using
tations addressing the role of bias and
multiple methodologies. For example, he
anxiety associated with race, ethnicity,
investigates the unconscious operation
religion, and gender, focusing on educa-
of stereotypes and prejudice using com-
tion, criminal justice, health care, and the
puterized reaction time methods, and
work place. Godsil is a lead author of the
is investigating the implications of such
Perception Institute reports including
subtle forms of bias for law enforcement.
PopJustice Volume 3: Pop Culture, Per-
In addition to teaching and conducting
ceptions, and Social Change (2016): The
research at UC Berkeley, Professor Glaser
Science of Equality Volume 1: Addressing
is working with the Center for Polic-
Implicit Bias, Racial Anxiety, and Stereo-
ing Equity, and with support from the
type Threat in Education and Healthcare
National Science Foundation and Google.
(Perception Institute, 2014). She also
org, to develop a “National Justice Data-
co-authored amicus briefs on behalf of
base” of police stops and use of force in-
empirical social psychologists in both
cidents. His book, “Suspect Race: Causes
iterations of Fisher v. Texas and the Na-
and Consequences of Racial Profiling,”
tional Parent Teacher Association in the
was published by Oxford University Press
Parents Involved in Community Schools
in 2015.
v. Seattle School District litigation at the Supreme Court. She is a former Associate Director Counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and has taught at Seton Hall Law School, the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, and NYU Law School.
#mindscience2018 15
MICHAEL HARRIS
BETH HODESS
GEORGE HOFSTETTER
NATIONAL CENTER FOR YOUTH LAWTIVIST
ATTORNEY
TECH ENTREPRENEUR
Michael Harris is Senior Director, Juvenile
Beth H. Hodess is a solo tax attorney
George Hofstetter developed “Cop Stop”,
Justice at the National Center for Youth
and mediator who specializes in tax
an app to help stay safe from police
Law (NCYL). At NCYL, Michael has
controversy, having come to the practice
brutality. George consulted with social
worked on reducing racial disparities in
of law at 54 after twenty-five years as
justice activists, civil rights attorneys,
statewide juvenile corrections systems,
a self-employed management consul-
sociologists and police chiefs to gain their
and he has worked on cases that chal-
tant. In addition, she is focused on tax
input. This was inspired by the murder of
lenge the “school-to-prison pipeline”
issues related to bankruptcy and divorce;
Trayvon Martin. George’s app and again
in Texas, Connecticut, and California.
nonprofits including unrelated business
his commitment to changing the world,
Additionally, he works on litigation to
income, private foundations and lobbying
gained national attention. George has
address implicit bias, and he has deliv-
activities; litigation involving violations
been featured, on Yahoo News with Katie
ered presentations to local and national
of the California Election Code and the
Couric, The Huffington Post, USA Today,
gatherings on the role implicit bias plays
Brown Act; litigation on behalf of inmates
Black Enterprise, The Root, BET, various
in decision-making within the school to
against government agencies and prison
local and national radio and television
prison pipeline and the juvenile justice
guards under 42 U.S.C. § 1983; litigation
networks, including the Golden State
system. Before joining NCYL, Michael
for failure to provide adequate medical
Warriors promotional public service
served as Deputy Director of the W.
care and violation of prisoner privacy
announcements and more. George has
Haywood Burns Institute, working to
rights; the school to prison pipeline,
been nominated and received various
reform juvenile justice systems. Michael
elder abuse and developing cooperative
awards, from the Equal Justice Society,
has worked in California, and Washington
assisted living facilities. She serves as
The Root as one of 25 futurists, The
to reduce racial disparities in the juvenile
vice-president of Chaparral Foundation
Black Global Honor Society, in addition
justice system using a collaborative
Nursing Home and was appointed as a
to local awards from Congresswoman
process to affect systemic reform. Prior
hearing officer to the Alameda County
Barbara Lee, and various high school
to Michael’s work at the Burns Institute,
Assessment Appeals Board by the
awards and more. George has also
he was a Staff Attorney and Assistant
Alameda County Board of Supervisors.
started his own tech company called
Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for
In addition, she is forming a nonprofit
George Hofstetter Technologies, Inc.
Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area
focused on the school to prison pipeline.
George’s mission is to change the world’s
where he worked on a broad range of
She earned her J.D. in 2009 from Golden
perspective on race by using technology,
civil rights cases.
Gate University School of Law with High-
and he is committed to doing the work
est Honors, her LL.M. in Taxation in 2013
to help make that happen. Most recently
from Golden Gate University School of
George is hosting and co-producing a
Law, and her B.S. in Business Admin-
project that is sponsored by Capital One
istration, UC Berkeley, Haas School of
Dev Exchange, called UP to CODE vol. 1.
Business.
UP to CODE is a free mobile curriculum for middle schoolers that is focused on eliminating the digital divide.
16 @equaljustice
LISA HOLDER
ROBERTO GONZÁLEZ
JERRY KANG
ATTORNEY
SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY
UCLA
Lisa Holder began her career as a criminal
Roberto Gonzalez is chair of the Depart-
Jerry Kang is Professor of Law, Professor
trial attorney in Los Angeles in 2000.
ment of Anthropology at San Jose State
of Asian American Studies, the inaugural
For five years, she provided skillful and
University. He is a sociocultural anthro-
Korea Times Endowed Chair, and UCLA’s
effective representation to hundreds of
pologist whose work focuses upon sci-
inaugural Vice Chancellor for Equity,
individuals in a wide range of criminal
ence, technology, and society; militarism
Diversity and Inclusion. A leading scholar
matters. She expanded her practice to
and culture; environmental anthropology,
on implicit bias and the law, Prof. Kang
include civil rights litigation in 2005, de-
and professional ethics. He has con-
has published more than a dozen articles
veloping expertise in cases involving em-
ducted ethnographic research in Latin
on the subject in leading journals includ-
ployment discrimination, police brutality,
America and the United States. Professor
ing the Harvard Law Review. He regularly
and international human rights abuses.
Gonzalez teaches courses on anthropo-
collaborates with leading experimental
Lisa Holder is a nationally recognized,
logical theory and methods, social and
social psychologists on wide-ranging
award-winning trial attorney who has
cultural controls, global processes, and
scholarly, educational, and advocacy
been identified as a “Super Lawyer” by
economic anthropology. He has pub-
projects. Recognized by both the UCLA
Los Angeles Magazine for four consecu-
lished many articles in academic journals,
law school and the entire University as
tive years. Ms. Holder is a recognized
newspapers, and periodicals including
the best teacher of the year, Prof. Kang
scholar and active member of the Bar.
the Los Angeles Times, The Progres-
is widely sought after as a speaker. Prof.
She teaches the Civil Rights Clinic at
sive, Chronicle of Higher Education, The
Kang graduated magna cum laude from
UCLA Law School and is an adjunct pro-
Ecologist, the San Francisco Chronicle,
both Harvard College (physics) and
fessor at Occidental College. Ms. Holder
and CounterPunch. Professor Gonzalez
Harvard Law School, where he was a
served on the Board of Directors for the
has also authored and co-edited several
supervising editor of the Harvard Law
Southern California ACLU for four years
books including: Zapotec Science: Farm-
Review. After clerking for the Ninth
and is currently Vice President of the
ing and Food in the Northern Sierra of
Circuit Court of Appeals, he started his
Board of Directors for the Child Care Law
Oaxaca (2001), Anthropologists in the
teaching career at UCLA in 1995 and has
Center. She is a member of the California
Public Sphere: Speaking Out on War,
visited at Georgetown, Harvard, and NYU
bar, the National Lawyer’s Guild and the
Peace, and American Power (2004),
law schools.
California Employment Lawyer’s Associa-
American Counterinsurgency: Human
tion. Ms. Holder graduated from New
Science and the Human Terrain (2009),
York University School of Law in 2000,
and Militarizing Culture: Essays on the
after obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree
Warfare State (2010). His most recent
at Wesleyan University.
book is the co-edited volume Up, Down, and Sideways: Anthropologists Trace the Pathways of Power (2014). Professor Gonzalez also co-produced the documentary film Losing Knowledge: 50 Years of Change (2013). #mindscience2018 17
KATE KENDELL
BILL KENNEDY
OWEN KENT
NATIONAL CENTER FOR LESBIAN RIGHTS
ATTORNEY
FILMMAKER/ DISABILITY ACTIVIST
Kate Kendell leads the National Cen-
Bill Kennedy is the former Managing
Owen Kent is an actor, artist, and activist
ter for Lesbian Rights, a national legal
Attorney of Legal Services of Northern
with a focus on diversity and equity for
organization advancing the civil and
California in Sacramento. He has spent
the disability community within the me-
human rights of LGBTQ people and their
decades serving low-income families at
dia. Owen recently co-wrote and starred
families through litigation, public policy
California Rural Legal Assistance, Channel
in a feature film entitled Angels of Mercy.
advocacy, and public education. NCLR’s
Counties Legal Assistance and LSNC.
He currently serves as Vice Chair of the
legal, policy, and legislative victories
His has handled major litigation under
Alameda County IHSS Public Authority
set important precedents that improve
Title VII, Section 1983 challenges to
Advisory Board, and as Board Member of
the lives of all LGBTQ people and their
the police practices of the INS, Border
The Center for Independent Living (The-
families across the country. Kate grew up
Patrol and cases that examine the nexus
CIL), in Berkeley, CA. Owen is a graduate
Mormon in Utah and received her J.D.
between land use and civil rights. During
of UC Berkeley, where he received his
degree from the University of Utah Col-
the past 15 years, he has pursued the
B.A. in Film and Media Studies.
lege of Law in 1988. After a few years as
ideal of community-based practice that
a corporate attorney she was named the
seeks to create institutions of change
first staff attorney for the American Civil
soundly in the control of his clients. He
Liberties Union of Utah. In this capac-
has served as counsel to ACORN, The
ity, she oversaw the legal department of
Sacramento Valley Organizing Communi-
ACLU of Utah and directly litigated many
ty (an IAF affiliate) The Mutual Assistance
high-profile cases focusing on all aspects
Network of Del Paso Heights, Asian Re-
of civil liberties, including reproductive
sources, and many other neighborhood
rights, prisoners’ rights, church/state
organizations.
conflicts, free speech, and the rights of LGBTQ people. In 1994 she accepted the position as Legal Director with the National Center for Lesbian Rights and made the move to San Francisco. In 1996 Kate was named as NCLR’s Executive Director. In that capacity, she assists in the development of litigation and strategy, and is responsible for all aspects of agency operation. Under Kate’s leadership, NCLR won the California marriage equality case in 2008 and was later part of the team of attorneys to secure national marriage equality. 18 @equaljustice
HANNAH KIM
CELINDA LAKE
ARLENE MAYERSON
LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THE ELDERLY
LAKE RESEARCH PARTNERS
DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION AND DEFENSE FUND
Hannah C. Kim is a staff attorney at
Celinda Lake is a prominent pollster and
For over 35 years Arlene Mayerson has
Legal Assistance to the Elderly (LAE)
political strategist for progressives. She
been a leading attorney in disability
in San Francisco. In this capacity, Ms.
currently serves as President of Lake
rights law, including playing a key role
Kim practices landlord/tenant law with
Research Partners. Lake’s polling and
in drafting and negotiating the Ameri-
a focus on defending eviction cases
strategic advice has helped candidates
cans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and
brought against low-income seniors and
such as Jon Tester, Senator Debbie Sta-
amendments to the Individuals with
people with disabilities. Before joining
benow, and Governor Bob Wise defeat
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), litigat-
LAE Ms. Kim also practiced housing law
incumbent Republicans and her expertise
ing precedent setting disability rights
at Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach
guided Senator Mark Begich to victory,
cases and teaching disability rights law.
in San Francisco where she focused on
making him the first Senate candidate in
Arlene B. Mayerson has been Directing
helping monolingual tenants navigate a
Alaska to oust the incumbent in 50 years.
Attorney of the Disability Rights Educa-
wide range of housing issues. She earned
She has focused on women candidates
tion and Defense Fund since 1981. In
her B.A. from University of Califor-
and women’s concerns, having worked
addition to her behind the scenes role
nia Los Angeles where she majored in
for Speaker Pelosi, Governor Janet
developing language for the provisions
Political Science and earned her J.D. at
Napolitano, Senator Debbie Stabenow,
of the ADA and its legislative history,
Georgetown University Law Center in
Senator Barbara Mikulski, Mayor Carolyn
Mayerson provided expert testimony
2015. At Georgetown, Ms. Kim worked
Goodman, Mayor Annise Parker, and over
before several Congressional committees
in a year-long clinic helping low-income
a dozen women to the House and Senate
with jurisdiction over the ADA and filed
tenants work toward home ownership
. Celinda worked for the largest indepen-
comments on the Department of Justice
through cooperatives and TOPA (Tenant
dent expenditure to take back the House
ADA regulations for over 500 disability
Opportunity to Purchase Act) in D.C. She
and has been a key player in campaigns
rights organizations. Mayerson has also
is admitted to practice law in the State of
launched by progressive groups such as
litigated historic disability rights cases,
California.
the AFL-CIO, SEIU, Sierra Club, Planned
including precedent for the inclusion of
Parenthood, Vote Vets, HRC, and EMILY’s
public school children with disabilities in
List. Lake co-authored the book What
general education classrooms, and the
Women Really Want with Republican
landmark Netflix decision that internet-
pollster Kellyanne Conway, which exam-
only businesses are covered by the ADA.
ines the way women are changing the
She has also provided representation,
political landscape in America, and she
consultation to counsel, and coordination
also served as pollster for Senator Joe
of amicus briefs on key disability rights
Biden’s 2008 presidential bid.
cases before the U.S. Supreme Court.
#mindscience2018 19
RUDY MENDOZA-DENTON
YESHIMABEIT MILNER
JASON OKONOFUA
UC BERKELEY
DATA FOR BLACK LIVES
Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton is professor of
Yeshimabeit “Yeshi” Milner is co-founder
Dr. Jason Okonofua is an assistant
psychology at the University of California,
and executive director of Data for Black
professor at the University of California,
Berkeley, where he is currently Richard
Lives. Raised in Miami, FL, Yeshimabeit
Berkeley. He earned his PhD at Stanford
and Rhoda Goldman Distinguished Pro-
began organizing against the school-to-
University under the guidance of Jennifer
fessor in the Division of Social Sciences.
prison pipeline at Power U Center for
Eberhardt, Gregory Walton, and Carol
He also serves as Associate Executive
Social Change as a high school senior.
Dweck. Jason’s research program exam-
Dean for Diversity and Inclusion in the
There she developed a lifelong commit-
ines social-psychological processes that
College of Letters and Science. Child-
ment to movement building as a vehicle
contribute to inequality. One context in
hood experiences living in Mexico, the
for creating and sustaining large-scale
which he has examined these processes
U.S., Ivory Coast, and Thailand cemented
social change. Yeshimabeit returned
is that of teacher-student relationships
an early interest in cultural differences
to Power U in 2013 to lead a victori-
and race disparities in disciplinary action.
and intergroup relations. He received his
ous campaign to improve breastfeeding
His research emphasizes the on-going
BA from Yale University and his PhD from
policies at the largest public hospital in
interplay between psychological/mindset
Columbia University. Mendoza-Denton’s
the country. More recently, she was a
processes that originate among teachers
professional work covers stereotyping
campaign manager at Color of Change,
(how stereotyping can influence disci-
and prejudice from the perspective of
where she spearheaded several major
pline) and students (how apprehension to
both target and perceiver, intergroup
national initiatives, including OrganizeFor,
bias can incite misbehavior) to examine
relations, as well as how these processes
the only online petition platform dedi-
causes for disproportionate discipline ac-
influence educational outcomes. He
cated to building the political voice of
cording to race. The intersection of these
received the UC Berkeley Chancellor’s
Black people, and a successful campaign
processes, Jason hypothesizes, under-
Award for Advancing Institutional Excel-
to remove Bill O’Reilly from television.
mines teacher-student relationships over
lence in 2015, and the University-wide
She has a BA from Brown University and
time, contributes to disproportionate
Distinguished Teaching Award in 2018.
serves on the board of the Highlander
discipline to racially stigmatized students,
Center in Tennessee.
and ultimately feeds the “school-to-
UC BERKELEY
prison” pipeline. By investigating basic processes that contribute to misinterpreted and misguided disrespect among teachers and students, he aims to develop novel interventions that empower teachers to reach their teaching goals and interventions that help students – especially racially stigmatized youth – succeed in school and reduce their risk of discipline problems.
20 @equaljustice
EVA PATERSON EQUAL JUSTICE SOCIETY
SYSAMONE PHAPHON
LESLIE PROLL CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY
FILMHERO
Eva Jefferson Paterson is the President
Sysamone Phaphon is a social entrepre-
Leslie Proll is a civil rights lawyer in
and a co-founder of the Equal Justice
neur & advocate for diversity & inclu-
Washington, DC. Currently, she advises
Society. She previously served as Execu-
sion. She is the founder & CEO of the
the NAACP on federal judicial nomina-
tive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee
company; FilmHero. FilmHero creates
tions. She served as Director of the De-
for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay
screening tours for independent film-
partmental Office of Civil Rights for the
Area, where she was part of a broad co-
makers focused on using their film as a
U.S. Department of Transportation under
alition that won a groundbreaking lawsuit
tool to create a social impact or a social
President Obama, where she advised
that successfully desegregated the SFFire
movement. She has worked with Award
the Secretary of Transportation on civil
Department. Paterson has been co-
winning filmmakers like Michael Moore,
rights matters and ensured implementa-
counsel on several landmark lawsuits in
Firas Fayyad, Sarah Moshman. She is a
tion of civil rights laws and policies. For
support of affirmative action: the federal
catalyst for change for storytellers that
many years, she directed the Washington
lawsuit challenging California’s Prop.
want to spark dialogue and call to ac-
office of the NAACP Legal Defense &
209, and litigation against UC Berke-
tion with their compelling stories. She is
Educational Fund, where she developed
ley’s admissions policy limiting access to
also the co-founder of the professional
and implemented strategy on civil rights
students of color. Paterson has served as
women empowerment group-Women
legislation, monitored federal agency
co-counsel on numerous amicus briefs
Supporting Women, In SF. Her women’s
action involving civil rights, and evaluated
in significant cases such as Fisher v.
group has executed various diversity &
federal judicial nominations to ensure
University of Texas at Austin; Farrakhan
inclusion events with major partnerships
diversity, fairness, and independence.
v. Gregoire; and Grutter v. Bollinger. She
like Google, Yelp, Twilio & Runway to help
Ms. Proll has testified before Congress,
served as Vice President of the ACLU Na-
women thrive in tech. Her life goal is to
written articles and opinion pieces for
tional Board for eight years, and chaired
provide inspiration & the tools that any-
numerous national publications, and
the boards of Equal Rights Advocates and
one can harness into action to generate
appeared on television and radio. She
the San Francisco Bar Association. Pater-
more impactful businesses in society.
served as co-chair of the Fair Housing
son has received more than 50 awards,
Task Force of the Leadership Conference
including the Fay Stender Award from
on Civil and Human Rights, where she
the California Women Lawyers, Woman
helped to lead efforts to preserve the use
of the Year from the Black Leadership
of disparate impact under the Fair Hous-
Forum, the Earl Warren Civil Liber-
ing Act and strengthen the obligations of
ties Award from the ACLU of Northern
communities to affirmatively further fair
California, and the Alumni Award of Merit
housing. In 2003, she received the Con-
from Northwestern University, where she
gressional Black Caucus Chair’s Award.
received her B.A. and was elected the
Ms. Proll spent nearly ten years as a civil
university’s first African American student
rights lawyer in Birmingham, Alabama.
body president. Eva received her law degree from UC Berkeley Law. #mindscience2018 21
JESSICA REDDITT
MARGARET RUSSELL
WILLIAM SNOWDEN
BAY AREA LEGAL AID
SANTA CLARA UNIVERSITY
THE JUROR PROJECT
Jessica Redditt is a Staff Attorney and
Professor Margaret M. Russell is a co-
Will is the director of the Vera Institute
Project Coordinator of the Alameda
founder of the Equal Justice Society
of Justice—New Orleans office. In this
County SSI/SSDI Advocacy project at Bay
and former member of its first Board of
role, he continues and strengthens Vera’s
Area Legal Aid (BayLegal). Since March
Directors. She is the Associate Provost
existing partnerships with criminal justice
2014, Jessica has been providing direct
of Diversity and Inclusion at Santa Clara
actors and community leaders while iden-
legal services and public benefits advo-
University and a member of the law fac-
tifying new collaborative relationships
cacy to low-income clients with mental
ulty. An expert in constitutional law, civil
with government entities and community
and physical health disabilities. She
rights, and civil liberties, she serves on
organizations. The collaborations will
was instrumental in founding the Racial
the National Board of the American Civil
focus on improving criminal justice sys-
Justice Committee at BayLegal, which
Liberties Union (ACLU), as a member of
tems in the south. Prior to joining Vera,
aims to improve race relations within the
the American Law Institute (ALI), a mem-
Will was a public defender for five years
organization and promote racial justice
ber of the Bay Area legal advisory board
representing New Orleanians in all stages
principles across all areas of legal practice
of the American Constitution Society, a
of a case from arraignment to trial. Will
and employee recruitment, hiring, and re-
board member of the Tenpyozan (Soto
also developed a focus and specialization
tention. Prior to joining BayLegal, Jessica
Zen) Project and the Princeton Alum-
in advocacy around reforming the proce-
engaged in community-based advocacy
niCorps, and an advisory council member
dures, systems, and policies around jury
at the Oakland City Attorney’s Office,
of the Museum of the African Diaspora
duty in an effort to promote diversity and
provided direct representation to parents
(MoAD-SF) She is a graduate of Princ-
representativeness in the jury box. Will
and children in dependency proceedings,
eton University and Stanford Law School,
leads workshops around the country as it
and represented plaintiffs in civil litiga-
and was a Fulbright Scholar in Tanzania
relates to how implicit bias, racial anxiety
tion. She obtained her law degree from
in 2014.
and stereotype threat influence actors
University of California Berkeley School
and outcomes in the criminal justice sys-
of Law and her B.A. from Georgetown
tem. He received his JD from Seton Hall
University.
University School of Law and a BS from the University of Minnesota.
22 @equaljustice
GILLIAN SONNAD
TIRIEN STEINBACH
MONA TAWATAO
ONEJUSTICE
EAST BAY COMMUNITY LAW
WESTERN CENTER ON LAW & POVERTY
Gillian Sonnad is a Senior Staff Attorney
Tirien Steinbach is the Executive Director
Mona Tawatao is a Senior Litigator with
with OneJustice in the Healthy Nonprof-
of the East Bay Community Law Center
Western Center on Law and Poverty
its Program. She is focused on directing
(EBCLC), the community-based clinic for
(Sacramento Office). She has 27 years of
the Executive Fellowship Program and
Berkeley Law School (Boalt Hall). She is a
legal services experience with a current
consulting with legal aid organizations on
lecturer-in-residence and teaches a com-
focus on impact litigation to enforce the
diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.
panion course on applied legal ethics and
healthcare rights and related due process
Prior to her work with OneJustice, Gillian
community lawyering. She is also a facul-
and language access rights of lower-in-
was a Senior Consultant with the Race
ty advisor for both the UC Berkeley Law
come Californians. Previously, she served
Equity Project and the Sargent Shriver
Students of African Descent (LSAD) and
for 12 years as regional counsel for
National Center on Poverty Law. She was
the UC Berkeley Student Chapter of the
housing and land use with Legal Services
an inaugural fellow for the Shriver Center
National Lawyers Guild. Steinbach joined
of Northern California and as co-lead of
Racial Justice Training Institute and after
EBCLC in 2001, where she incubated the
its Race Equity Project. Mona received
completing the fellowship she has served
Clean Slate Clinic, a community reentry
her J.D. from UCLA School of Law after
as faculty and coach. She also co-au-
program. Steinbach graduated from Boalt
which she clerked for the Honorable
thored the Clearinghouse Review article,
Hall in 1999, where she was co-president
Consuelo B. Marshall in U.S. District
“Putting Race Back on the Table: Racial
of the Berkeley Law Foundation and Vice
Court in the Central District of California.
Impact Statements.” In addition to her
President for Law Students of African
She serves on the board of the Equal
race equity work, Gillian was a supervis-
Descent. Upon graduation, Steinbach
Justice Society and the Advisory Board of
ing attorney with Central California Legal
received several recognitions, including
the Shriver Center’s Racial Justice Train-
Services and a staff attorney with Legal
Equal Justice Works and Berkeley Law
ing Institute.
Services of Northern California where
Foundation fellowships and the inaugural
she advised, assisted, and represented
Thelton Henderson Social Justice Prize,
clients with issues related to public ben-
the BJALP Adhama Award, the 2010
efits, housing, healthcare, education, con-
Sisters of Fire Award, the 2011 LSAD
sumer rights, estates, and immigration.
Alumna of the Year Award, and the 2015
She earned her J.D. from the University
Berkeley Law Young Alumna Award. She
of California, Hastings College of the Law
served on the board of Berkeley Law’s
in 2008 with a concentration in Public
Initiative on Mindfulness and the Law
Interest Law. She earned her B.A. from
from 2010-14.
the University of California, San Diego with a double major in Political Science and Law and Society.
#mindscience2018 23
VILLY WANG
MAURICE WILKINS
SILVIA YEE
BAYCAT
CHAN ZUCKERBERG INITIATIVE
DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION AND DEFENSE FUND
Villy Wang had a crazy dream: to cre-
Maurice is a former urban education
Silvia Yee is a senior staff attorney at
ate a new kind of social enterprise that
leader turned Diversity and Inclusion
Disability Rights Education and Defense
helps kids who, like her, grew up in the
advocate. He currently leads Diversity,
Fund (DREDF) where her work has
projects. Raised by an immigrant single
Equity, and Inclusion in the Chan Zuck-
included projects to increase physical and
mother in NYC, Villy’s desire to tell her
erberg Initiative. He also is the founder
programmatic accessibility and disability
Mom’s story forged a passion for using
of TechNColor, an alliance for under-
awareness in the delivery of health care
digital media arts to capture stories un-
represented people of color in tech that
services, as well as impact litigation to in-
told and to ultimately start a business to
aims to create an inclusive and diverse
crease access for people with disabilities
end racism, one story at a time. Leverag-
community. Prior to joining CZI, he
in myriad aspects of public and private
ing her impressive 25+year background
was a leader at Outco, a job search and
life. Ms. Yee maintains interests in health
in banking, law, education, media, and
interview prep accelerator for software
care reform and the impact on people
nonprofit management, Villy and her
engineers. Maurice is a 2011 gradu-
with disabilities, international disability
team at BAYCAT have been changing
ate of Morehouse College and a native
rights and the strengthening of national
not only the stories that get told, but the
Washingtonian.
disability rights laws and cross-disability
storytellers who get to tell them. Villy
communities, and models of equality.
is a Bay Area Jefferson Award winner, a
Recently, she has had the privilege to co-
TED Speaker, named one of 2017’s Most
teach a disability rights law class at UC
Influential Women in Bay Area Business
Berkeley School of Law. Prior to joining
by SF Business Times, and President of
DREDF, Ms. Yee worked in private com-
the SF Film Commission. She earned a
mercial practice in Canada, and with the
double BA in Engineering and Economics
Health Law Institute at the University of
from Brown University, JD degree from
Alberta, where she published on the top-
Northwestern University and her teach-
ics of Canadian Health Care Standards
ing credential from San Francisco State
and the extent of the nursing profession’s
University.
legal authority. Ms. Yee received her B.Mus., M.A., and L.L.B. degrees from the University of Alberta. Following graduation from law school, she clerked with Justice William Stevenson at the Alberta Court of Appeal.
24 @equaljustice
S H AK E I T OFF A ND TA K E A STE P UP
A story to help us get through these difficult times. One day a farmer’s donkey fell into an abandoned well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old and the well needed to be covered up anyway; so it just wasn’t worth it to him to try to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. Realizing what was happening, the donkey at first cried and wailed horribly. Then, a few shovelfuls later, he quieted down completely. The farmer peered down into the well, and was astounded by what he saw. With every shovelful of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up on the new layer of dirt. As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off, to the shock and astonishment of all the neighbors. Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to not let it bury you, but to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up! And finally, the donkey gave the farmer who tried to bury him a good kicking. Which brings me to another moral for this story - When you try to cover your ass, it always comes back and gets you. Author Unknown
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THE NATIONAL IMPLICIT BIAS NETWORK The National Implicit Bias Network is one of the country’s leading resources and voices on implicit bias and the phenomenon’s interaction with structural racism and the resulting inequality in areas such as the legal system, law enforcement, education, employment and housing. We will be a platform for scholars, organizers, and advocates to translate academic research into practical information and tools that can be used to explain and address inequality. The Network’s objectives are to: Enhance and amplify the work by members on implicit bias. – Aggregate Network members’ work on implicit bias into one online destination (ImplicitBias.net) – Create a forum where implicit bias and mind science experts can share information and learn from each other. – Identify opportunities for Network members to collaborate. – Leverage members’ resources to uplift the work of other Network members (sharing news and developments with our email lists and social media channels). Advance public understanding of implicit bias and its impact in the workplace, the courts, in society – Gain acceptance of implicit bias in the law and by decision-makers in employment, education, housing, contracting, and other sectors. – Advance and deepen public understanding and acceptance of implicit bias and other mind science phenomenon. – Organize regular convenings of academics, activists, and attorneys to share information as well as to identify ongoing research needs. Visit http://ImplicitBias.net to learn how to get involved!
26 @equaljustice
AB OUT E JS
The Equal Justice Society is transforming the nation’s consciousness on race through law, social science, and the arts. EJS STAFF Eva Paterson, President and Co-Founder Anna Basallaje, Director of Development Christopher Bridges, Legal Team Allison Elgart, Legal Director Ginger Johnson, Administrative Assistant Keith Kamisugi, Director of Communications Melissa Male, Conference Coordinator Anna Rodriguez, Law Clerk Miranda Mammen, Law Clerk EJS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Priscilla Ocen, Board Chair Professor of Law at Loyola Law School John Bonifaz Co-Founder and Director, Free Speech For People Alfred Fraijo Jr. Partner, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP Michael Harris Senior Attorney, Juvenile Justice, National Center for Youth Law Raymond C. Marshall Partner, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP Kelly McCreary Actor/Activist Eva Paterson EJS President Jayashri Srikantiah Professor of Law, Director of Stanford Law School’s Immigrants’ Rights Clinic Mona Tawatao Senior Attorney, Western Center on Law and Poverty
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Transforming the nation’s consciousness on race through law, social science, and the arts.
equaljusticesociety.org | @equaljustice