Allyship & Processing Being Black in America: Where We’ve Come in 2 Years
Join us this Black History Month for a conversation on race and allyship in America and what progress we've made over the past few years.
In June 2020, The Diversity Movement hosted its third ever webinar, Allyship & Processing Being Black in America, as a response to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and countless other Black Americans. Nearly 2 years later, we are rebooting this topic to analyze where we’ve come as a society. Has progress been made? Where do barriers still exist? How has the definition of allyship changed?
In this one hour webinar we will discuss:
- Policies that have been enacted, retracted, or amended in response to social injustice
- How societal sentiment and workplace trends have evolved
- What can we do next? Tips for active allyship
Meet the Panel
Shelley Willingham, CDE
VP, Business Strategy, The Diversity Movement
Shelley is a serial entrepreneur and business strategist with more than 20 years of corporate and small business experience. In 2003, Shelley founded the National Organization for Diversity in Sales and Marketing (NODSM), a company focused on helping corporate America recognize the increasing purchasing power of diverse segments and helping them market to these groups without using stereotypes or being offensive. In 2006 she partnered with FORTUNE magazine on a special diversity section highlighting her work in this space. Shelley speaks at various business events and conferences, coaches and consults aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners, and is a frequent on-air contributor to CNBC. Shelley is a Certified Diversity Executive and leads the client acquisition strategy and execution while supporting each of the TDM business units in the development of their respective strategies.
Dr. Henry C. McKoy, Jr.
Director of Entrepreneurship, NC Central University
Dr. Henry C. McKoy, Jr. is a seasoned professional in business, community and economic development, policy, government, finance, philanthropy and the academic worlds. He is a faculty member and Director of Entrepreneurship at NC Central University in the School of Business. He is also on the faculty of the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he is Professor of Practice in Strategy and Entrepreneurship. In addition, he teaches in Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy and is part of the faculty of Duke’s Executive Leadership Institute where he teaches on Public-Private Partnerships. Henry has been a Fellow of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise at UNC-Chapel Hill, an Aspen Institute Scholar, and an Associate Fellow at Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. He is a former Assistant Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
La'Meshia Whittington
Deputy Director, Advance Carolina & NC Black Alliance
Professor La'Meshia Whittington is a national thought-leader in environmental justice and civic participation. Professor Whittington is an activist, fund advisor, orator, and serves as the Deputy Director of Advance Carolina (C4) and Deputy Director of Programs of the NC Black Alliance (C3), statewide, independent, Black-led organizations with a mission to build political and economic power in North Carolina. Professor Whittington serves as an adjunct professor in the Division of Sociology at Meredith College and a Lecturer of Diversity and Environmental Justice in the College of Natural Resources at N.C. State University. Professor Whittington has led guest lectures at N.C. Central University, NC Central Law School, Shaw University, Duke University, and her work has been seen on PBS NC, CSPAN, Bloomberg, Bloomberg Law, and a host of other publications.
James White
VP, Leadership & Curriculum Development, United Health Group Equity Innovation Center of Excellence
James White serves as Vice President of Leadership and Curriculum development for the United Health Group Equity Innovation Center of Excellence. James believes that the idea of diversity must never become a diversion from the critical systemic solutions that lead to equity and inclusion for all. Through the vehicle of facilitation and holistic communication, James has helped organizations and leaders discover their story with the outcome of creating a better story. In addition, he is also an Adjunct Professor at Southeastern Seminary where he teaches a class on Social Justice and Race. He is a highly sought out consultant, speaker and facilitator for several organizations and companies on issues relating to inclusion, equity, and diversity.
