Diversity & Inclusion Council
AThe HRC Diversity & Inclusion Council was founded in 2008 to support the Human Rights Campaign's stated commitment to diversity and inclusion at every level of the organization. From professional diversity consultants to leading business executives, religious leaders, youth, advocates from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, and civil rights principals, the Council consists of individuals who represent the broad tapestry of the communities in which we live and work.
Michael Bell
Michael Bell is co founder, president and CEO of InPartnership Consulting, Inc., an organizational development and strategic change firm specializing in global cultural competence and leadership development. He designs state-of-the-art training, leadership development programs and organizational change initiatives for foundations and non-profits. He is an international consultant and executive coach with special expertise in organizational assessment, teambuilding and mentoring programs. He is an expert in assisting organizations in understanding their cultures and their need for transformational learning. Michael also aligns the work of diversity councils with key business goals and provides measurements by which councils can demonstrate their vital contribution to the entire organization. He thinks from a systems perspective, making him an acclaimed leader in the fields of organizational development and strategic planning.
Kylar W. Broadus
Kylar W. Broadus is a professor, attorney, activist and public speaker from Missouri, and is the board chair for the National Black Justice Coalition. Kylar is an associate professor of business law at Lincoln University of Missouri, a historically black college where he served as interim chair of the business department from 2007 to 2008, and is on the American Bar Association’s Committee-Section for Individual Rights and Responsibilities. He has maintained a general practice of law in Columbia, Missouri since 1997. Formerly, he was State Legislative Manager and Counsel at the Human Rights Campaign. Since 2003, Kylar has been actively speaking to various law audiences about transgender issues. In August 2005, he, along with two other panelists, was the first to present information before the American Bar Association regarding Transgender clients. Kylar continues to speak and lobby on the national, state and local levels in the areas of transgender and sexual orientation law and advocacy, and is a founding board member of a national think tank, The Transgender Law and Policy Institute.
Dee Dee Chamblee
Dee Dee Chamblee is a Certified Non-Profit Accounting Professional, an Executive Director and Founder of LaGender, Inc., and a seasoned advocate within and for the Transgender community. LaGender was founded by Dee Dee as the first agency created by and for the Transgender communities of Color. As its Executive Director, she supervises a volunteer and paid staff in excess of 20 who provide education, intervention, and outreach services to the Transgender community in the Metro Atlanta area. She brings over 18 years of community organizing experience on issues that include Transgender transition and health, HIV prevention, substance abuse prevention, mental health issues and intimate partner violence and Spiritual Counseling. Dee Dee is the recipient of the 2004 Spirit Award and the John Kappers Award, and since 1994, she has been a lecturer and consultant to numerous agencies and organizations regarding the unique needs of Transgendered People, including the CDC, SAMSHA, HRC, Atlanta Lesbian Women’s Initiative, Emory University, Georgia State University, Clark Atlanta University, the Interdenominational Theological Center, Fulton County Health Department, Saint Joseph’s Hospital Mercy Mobile Health Center, Grady Memorial Hospital, AID Atlanta, Atlanta Interfaith AIDS Network, NAESM, ANIZ Inc., and HIV Housing Task Force.
Oscar De La O
Oscar De La O is a founding member and President & CEO of Bienestar Human Services, Inc. (BIENESTAR). BIENESTAR is the largest HIV Latino organization in the country. Oscar has been an advocate for Latinos affected by HIV and AIDS for over twenty-seven years. His community involvement represents thirty-five years of service and advocacy for the Latina/o community. His love for and dedication to the community came from his mother who instilled in him the need to serve others in order to have a fulfilling and rewarding life. Oscar makes it a priority to hold true to his “grass roots” identity in his community work and interactions. He firmly believes in the empowerment and the full and active participation of all segments of the community. Oscar has received numerous recognitions and awards during his many years of community services, and is involved with many community organizations, including the Mexican-American Political Association, National Minority AIDS Council, Latinos Unidos, Just Detention International and the Children’s Leukemia Society of Ensenada, Mexico.
Marlon Fixico
Marlon Fixico is an organizing member of the Two-Spirit Society of Washington, DC. He is an enrolled member of the Southern Cheyenne Nation of Oklahoma. He is a graduate of Haskell Indian Nations University. He regularly attends gatherings/camps with other two-spirits leaders across the country. He has served on the organizing committee for the annual Tulsa Two-Spirit Gatherings, and recognized as the Washington, DC liaison for two-spirit community at-large. He is a public speaker, a massage therapist, life coach, and spiritual mentor to many men and women in 12-step recovery. A long time resident of Washington , DC , he is originally from Oklahoma. He has staffed and served on the boards of several native organizations locally and nationally, including the National Congress of American Indians and American Indian Science and Engineering Society.
Charlie Frew
Charlie Frew currently serves as Executive Director of Jerusalem House, an organization that provides more than 50% of the permanent supportive housing for homeless people living with HIV/AIDS in metropolitan Atlanta. Jerusalem House maintains three programs – the Adult Program, the Family Program and the Scattered Site program. Charlie is the former Director of Diversity for AT&T Corporation. Charlie’s career spanned 22 years at BellSouth prior to AT&T’s acquisition of the company. During his final six years at the company, Charlie participated in the development and implementation of the nationally recognized Diversity and Inclusion effort of BellSouth. This initiative leveraged and incorporated every area of BellSouth’s business structure. Charlie is also heavily involved in community activities. Charlie served as President of the Board of AID Atlanta, the Southeast’s largest AIDS service organization, for 2+ years and served on the Board for 2 additional years. Charlie serves on the Board of Governors and is Co-Chair of the Atlanta Steering Committee. He just completed serving six years on the HRC Business Council. In addition, Charlie formerly served as a member of the Board of Childkind, a foster parent organization for medically fragile and disenfranchised children.
Reverend Elder Darlene Garner
Reverend Elder Darlene Garner was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio, and celebrates herself as a lesbian Christian woman of African, Cherokee, and Irish ancestry. She was baptized into the National Baptist Church at the age of 7 and joined the Episcopal Church as a young adult. She came out as a lesbian in 1973 and joined MCC Washington, DC, in 1976. Rev. Garner was ordained to the professional ministry in 1988. She served Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) in various offices and pastoral capacities in Washington, DC and MCC’s Mid-Atlantic District; in Philadelphia, PA; in Baltimore, MD; and in Northern Virginia. Since 1998, she has been the convener of the biannual Conferences for African-American Leaders in the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC). She has been a member of the Board of Elders since 1993, and served UFMCC for ten years as Clerk of the Board of Elders. Rev. Garner is now the Elder serving Region 6 (which includes Antarctica, Central America, Mexico, South America, and the U.S. states of Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico, southern California, and southern Texas).
J. Robby Gregg, Jr.
J. Robby Gregg, Jr. is principal of J.R. Gregg & Associates, a global strategic relationship consulting firm located in Washington, DC. Robby consults on extensive growth strategies in the areas of diversity, emerging industries, global markets, communications, and corporate responsibility for both private sector and non profit businesses. Previously, as Director of Diversity Communications at AOL, he designed and led an extensive, multifaceted communications effort to develop, support and expand workforce knowledge about diversity. Recently, Robby has been actively involved in developing and maintaining strategic alliances with businesses and nonprofits to cultivate the Johnnetta B. Cole Institute Global Diversity & Inclusion Institute, with a primary focus on the POWERgirls Magazine and Network, as well as the Chief Diversity Officers Forum; and other related diversity and community investment issues of the organization. Throughout Robby’s career, he has developed workplace diversity initiatives that increase opportunities for professionals from all segments of society, especially those with disabilities.
Rebecca Haag
Rebecca Haag is Executive Director of AIDS Action Council, a national membership organization dedicated to the development of sound policies and programs in response to the HIV epidemic. She is also President and Chief Executive Officer of AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, Inc. (AAC), New England's first and largest AIDS organization. Rebecca has a track record of successfully growing and revitalizing organizations. At the AIDS Action Committee, she bridged HIV/AIDS and non-AIDS service communities during a period of progressive public budget cuts; built new prevention programs targeted at youth, gay men and women of color; stabilized services to those living with HIV/AIDS; and reduced operating expenses by over $500,000. AAC also achieved a major legislative success by passing Pharmacy Access legislation, which creates a statewide program to ensure that clean needles are available for sale in drug stores. This was accomplished by building a coalition of business leaders, health care providers and public safety officials. Before serving at the AIDS Action Council and AAC, Rebecca had worked as an executive and senior manager in a variety of corporate and government settings for more than 27 years.
John P. Isa
John P. Isa represents employers in all aspects of employment law. His clients include domestic and international companies in the retail, insurance, healthcare, banking, technology and hospitality industry. Isa defends employers in class actions as well as single plaintiff/multiple plaintiff cases under Title VII, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. He also represents employers before government agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the U.S. Department of Labor. He conducts workplace investigations that include, but are not limited to, harassment and discrimination based on sex, race, disability, pregnancy, age and sexual orientation. Isa has handled many sensitive internal racial and sexual harassment cases.
Isa frequently counsels and trains employers on their compliance with federal, state and local laws as well as internal employment policies, employee handbooks and benefit plans. He also advises employers on diversity best practices and the implementation of related initiatives. While at Paul Hastings, Isa represented and worked on-site and in-house for two years at the headquarters of a major Fortune 5 client in their legal department where he counseled and advised on employment matters and litigation prevention. Before practicing law, Isa served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Glenn T. Harrell, Jr. in the Court of Appeals of Maryland, the state’s highest court. During law school, he clerked full-time for the General Counsel of the Sheet Metal Workers’ National Pension Fund in Alexandria, Virginia.
John received his JD, cum laude, from the Washington College of Law at American University. Prior to law school, he received his MA in International Commerce & Policy, summa cum laude, and his BA in International Studies, with honors, from George Mason University.
John currently serves on the Board of Governors and House Council for the Human Rights Campaign and he was recently co-chair for their 25th Anniversary Gala.
Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch
LTC. Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch was born in a tiny Texas barrio. She overcame poverty, discrimination and illiteracy. Breaking barriers and setting records in the military, she became the highest-ranking Hispanic woman in the Combat Support Field of the US Army. Acknowledged as a charismatic, passionate and entertaining speaker, she carries her powerful message of what it takes to be an effective leader in today's global marketplace to audiences worldwide. She has received numerous awards for leadership and was named one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanics in America by Hispanic Business magazine.
Jani Lopez
Jani Lopez came to Shell Oil Company in Houston, TX in 1976. She started as a file clerk in the Exploration and Production department file room, and is presently the Corporate Executive Event Manager to the President / Country Chair for Shell Oil Company. Jani became active in Shell’s Diversity Initiative in 1997. In 1998, she joined the SEA Shell (GLBT) network and was selected to the team responsible for creating the first SEPCO Diversity Performance Standard. Two years later, she was elected as a team member for the SEPCO Employee Value Proposition team. From 2000 to 2005, Jani co-chaired the SEA Shell network, and assisted with the addition of Gender Identity to Shell’s EEOC policy. She is also an active member of Shell Hispanic Network and Shell Women’s Network. Jani has been involved as a board member and/or co-chair of the Houston GLBT Chamber of Commerce, of HRC at both local and national levels and in various capacities, Houston Black Tie, and Uncommon Legacy. She loves to skydive, and volunteer for a number of non-profit organizations.
Andy Marra
Andy Marra is the National News Media Strategist for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). She is responsible for securing fair and accurate media coverage on issues relating to gender identity and the LGBT Asian Pacific Islander community. She provides communications strategy and technical assistance for LGBT organizations and leaders throughout the U.S. and overseas including China, Korea, and Japan. Her commentary and stories have been in Asian Week, The World Journal, Ta Kung Pao, The San Francisco Chronicle, Sing Tao Daily, Ming Pao Daily News, The China Press, The Korea Times, The New York Times, KoreAm Journal, The Associated Press, MTV, MSNBC, ABC, and NPR. Andy is on the board for the New York Association for Gender Rights Advocacy and the Chinese for Affirmative Action Helen Zia Fellowship Program Advisory Board. She has also served on boards and advisory councils for National Center for Transgender Equality, GLSEN, The Funding Exchange, and Asian Equality. Andy was awarded the GLSEN Pathfinder Award, NGLTF Creating Change Award, and The Colin Higgins Foundation Courage Award, and was featured by The Advocate as a young LGBT leader to know.
Bea Y. Perdue
Bea Y. Perdue is the President and Executive Director of the Johnnetta B. Cole Global Diversity & Inclusion Institute since 2006. She joined Bennett in 2002 as a member of Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole’s fundraising team when Dr. Cole became Bennett’s 14th President. As Bennett’s Director of Development, Bea’s fundraising efforts helped to erase a $3.6 million deficit at the College and remove the College from SACS probation for financial instability. She also spearheaded the development of the highly successful Chief Diversity Officers Forum at Bennett, which led to the launch of the Johnnetta B. Cole Global Diversity & Inclusion Institute. Bea spent almost twenty years in the corporate arena working in sales and marketing positions, for firms such as Dow Jones & Company, Information America, and BellSouth Advertising & Publishing. Additionally, she is a founding principle of a consulting firm that provides training in sales and personnel development to businesses, corporations and educational institutions. Bea is heavily involved with Greensboro Cultural Center, Preservation Greensboro, Women’s Resource Center, North Carolina Women’s Advocacy Partnership, Human Rights Campaign, North Carolina Leadership Smart Start, and the Diversity & Inclusion council for the National Human Services Assembly. Bea began her career as an educator after graduating from the University of Alabama, and resides in Atlanta, GA with her husband and son.
Bishop Tonyia M. Rawls
Bishop Tonyia M. Rawls is the founding pastor of Unity Fellowship Church Charlotte, NC, and in April 2008 was consecrated as one of the first women Bishops in the Los Angeles-based Unity Fellowship Church Movement’s (UFCM) history. Bishop Rawls's rapidly growing Charlotte church is the first of the denomination's churches to open in the Bible Belt of the United States. Its various ministries touch areas such as domestic violence, praise arts, HIV/AIDS, literacy and wellness. She has received numerous awards, including the Equality Award from The Human Rights Campaign of The Carolinas and The Charlotte Business Guild's Don King Service Award. Bishop Rawls is on the UFCM National Board, and has been a leader of the UFCM National Office of Communications; the National Black Justice Coalition; Black Clergy United Against AIDS; People United For Education, which advocated for urban youth in the Charlotte school system; The Freedom Center for Social Justice; and Grassroots Leadership. As can be demonstrated through her work, Bishop Rawls is a social, spiritual and criminal justice activist committed to the liberation of those who are on the margins of society.
Andre Rosario
Andre Rosario is a native Washingtonian (of Washington, DC) and attended Wilson Senior High School, where he was part of WAMU's 'Youth Voices,' a group of small students that created radio stories about issues affecting their community. After entering Howard University to pursue a degree in Biology, he served a stint as assistant producer to the program. Currently, he is in his senior year at Howard, and is Vice President of Beta Kappa Chi Scientific Honor Society. Andre also serves as Vice President of the Bisexual Lesbian and Gay Organization of Students at Howard (BLAGOSAH) and Chair of Community Service Outreach. In his role as Chair of Community Service Outreach for BLAGOSAH, one of Andre's missions is to involve himself and members in projects that affect the LGBT community and the broader community worldwide. With the ultimate goal of pursuing an MD/PhD dual degree, he hopes to do research relevant to diseases like HIV/AIDS and cancer. As a black gay man, he feels connected to researching these issues as they disproportionately affect the LGBT community and communities of color.
Howard J. Ross
Howard J. Ross is a nationally recognized expert on diversity, leadership, and organizational change. He has successfully led large-scale organizational culture change efforts in leadership development, managing diversity, and cultural integration in professional services corporations, Fortune 500 companies, and retail, health care, media, and government institutions. Among his clients are the United States Senate, AT&T, DC Public Schools, GEICO, National Geographic, the Washington Post, National Public Radio, the American Red Cross, and Howard University. In perhaps his most high-profile case, Howard was hired by the Atlanta Braves to help them manage the aftermath of the infamous John Rocker incident, working directly with the Braves’ major and minor league players, managers and coaches to be more diversity-sensitive, and establishing an ongoing diversity plan. Howard was the Johnnetta B. Cole Institute 2007-2008 Professor of Diversity in Residence at Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, NC. A former teacher, Howard volunteers on the boards of organizations that create opportunities for youth leadership. He can also be heard on NPR the first Monday of every month as a regular guest on the Kojo Nnamdi Show.
LaWana Slack-Mayfield
LaWana Slack-Mayfield serves at Grassroots Leadership as the Mecklenburg Justice Program Coordinator. LaWana serves as the Diversity Co-Chair and National Female Diversity Co-Chair of the Human Rights Campaign, addressing concerns in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. She also serves on the Board of Advisors for the Charlotte Lesbian and Gay Fund. LaWana worked for the American Red Cross for over six years in their financial department and volunteered in Disaster Services prior to joining Grassroots Leadership.
John Stickeler
John Stickeler joined Freddie Mac in 2004 and now serves as their Senior Diversity Advisor. His role focuses on corporate diversity strategy, leading the company’s affinity groups, development of their diversity training programs, and daily operations. Prior to Freddie Mac John began his career in the field of diversity & inclusion at American Express, helping develop and launch the company’s initial diversity strategy in 1995. While serving as a Regional Diversity Leader for the company, his responsibilities included design and development of corporate diversity training, policies, and the diversity engagement structure. He served as a consultant and partner to corporate senior leadership across the southern region of the U.S., representing more than 15,000 employees. John pioneered and developed the company’s first international diversity strategy, launching diversity work across their Latin American operations. John’s experience includes 15+ years of corporate diversity leadership, and more than 17+ years of people leadership across human resources and business operations. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, John now resides in the Metro DC area.
Khadijah Tribble
Khadijah Tribble has over 10 years experience working as an agent of change in the social justice community. Most recently she has been a staunch advocate for youth in the District of Columbia. She is Executive Director of Pediatric AIDS/HIV Care, and has worked with many youth development organizations in and around the District of Columbia. Khadijah is the CEO and founder of Trifecta Consulting Group, a provider of mobilization and political power solutions for organizations dedicated to social and economic justice. In addition, she serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Women in the Life Association, (WITLA), a social justice organization advancing the rights of lesbians of color through cultural affirmation, education and advocacy. In her capacity as a board member with WITLA, she chairs the coordinating committee of the Wanda's Will Project.
Marshall Wong
Marshall Wong is a native of Los Angeles and has served as a Senior Intergroup Specialist with the L.A. County Human Relations Commission since 1999. He is the Commission's Hate Crime Coordinator, has developed human relations curricula for County employees, and established the agency's Hate Crime Victim Assistance and Community Advocacy Initiative. Previously, he held positions with the Smithsonian Institution and in the Office of the Mayor of Washington, D.C. From 1991-1994, he was a Fellow in the Kellogg National Leadership Program and has been a recipient of the Community Service Award from the National Multicultural Institute, the Abacus Award from the Organization of Chinese Americans, and the Mayor's Distinguished Service Award from the District of Columbia. Currently, he serves as Co-Chair of API Equality-LA, a coalition mobilizing support in the Asian community for the freedom to marry. Additionally, he has studied Spanish in Cuernevaca, Mexico and Antigua, Guatemala; has co-authored "Organizing in Communities of Color: Addressing Inter-Ethnic Conflicts" for Social Justice; and has written articles for the Washington Times and Asian Week.