Jeannie Gainsburg is an award-winning educational trainer and consultant in the field of LGBTQ+ inclusion and effective allyship. Formerly the Education Director at the Out Alliance of Rochester, N.Y., she is the founder of Savvy Ally Action and author of the book, The Savvy Ally: A Guide for Becoming a Skilled LGBTQ+ Advocate. Jeannie has a BA in psychology from Brown University and an MA in social work and social research from Bryn Mawr College. She was under the impression that a citation was the result of driving too fast until January of 2019, when she received one from the New York State Assembly for Distinguished Educational & Human Rights Services for her work in promoting LGBTQ+ rights and inclusion. Her encouraging, passionate, and warm-hearted approach will jumpstart even the most tentative ally. Visit her website and download free ally goodies at: www.savvyallyaction.com. Website: https://www.savvyallyaction.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/savvyally Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeanniegainsburgauthor/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeannie-gainsburg/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@savvyallyaction

Leo S. Ullman was born in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in July 1939. After surviving WWIIas a “hidden child,” as chronicled in his book, “796 Days”, and in a documentary film, "ThereWere Good People...Doing Extraordinary Deeds: Leo Ullman’s Story” Harvard College (1961) received law and business degrees from Columbia University. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve. Mr. Ullman practiced law and founded a real estate investment trust, which he took to the New York Stock Exchange and was named Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year.” Mr. Ullman served as a Director of the Anne Frank Center USA, established the Jewish Historical Museum of Amsterdam, and was a member of the Development Committee of the U.S.Holocaust Memorial Museum. At Andover, Leo established the “Ullman Lectures” as part of tolerance education.Leo and his wife, Kay, have co-sponsored the exhibit “State of Deception: The Power of Nazi Propaganda” at the U.S.National Holocaust Memorial Museum. They have also funded the creation of a “Righteous Remembrance Room” atStockton University’s Holocaust Resource Center to honor the persons who saved his life and the lives of others in hisfamily. Mr. Ullman was the goalie in 1960 and 1961 for Harvard’s championshiplacrosse team has completed 145 triathlons, including 3 Ironman competitions, and bicycled across the U.S. in 25days, donated a collection of some 15,000 Nolan Ryan baseball cardsto Stockton University, authored“The Largest and Most Unique Collection of all Things Nolan Ryan” and “Leo, A Hidden Child in WWII,” which includes 19 pages of illustrations by Michelle Shain. Leo continues to be active in lectures and programs on the Holocaust in many schools, universities, churches,synagogues and civic organizations.

L.J. challenges listeners: ‘within each of our roles in society, we have the power and opportunity to take risks’ and to ‘look at yourself, determine your privileges, and go do something different.’ As a proud, queer, and trans high school student in Jacksonville, FL, L.J. Valenzuela started advocating by joining Equality Florida's Youth Leadership Council and some local LGBTQ+ groups in his area. Since then, he has spoken at conferences, including the All Together Now Conference, the Association for Middle-Level Education Conference, and a statewide back-to-school mental health webinar earlier this year. Currently, he is a Field and Advocacy fellow with Equality Florida. He is also working within his community to produce an LGBTQ+ play, Hunger, by Ashlyn Colwell, with the playwright within the upcoming months. From these experiences and his journey, L.J. has committed to professionally supporting his community, planning to incorporate activism into his chosen career through an interdisciplinary approach. He likewise urges everyone to find their power and use it to support the queer community and other marginalized groups through their unique ways.In his free time, L.J. is also an avid theatre kid, animated film enthusiast, and LEGO set builder! You can reach him at @ljvalenzuela37 on Instagram or ljvalenzuela31@gmail.com via email. L.J. clarifies his comments: ‘I’ve become aware that the “red list” for the Thespys program may have been formed for copyright purposes instead of content purposes, though this is unclear. I know we cannot bring anything on the “red list” to the District competition. That said, from my experience, theatrical productions in Florida's schools are still being censored. As a student, I cannot take certain pieces to competition due to their content, and our in-school endeavors must also follow new curriculum laws. I have spoken to my teacher about this, and a main takeaway from official meetings is that many policies have not been fully clarified, so it is difficult to implement them without taking the “safe” censorship route, including censoring LGBTQ+ topics. Therefore, I hesitate to provide a definitive description of the “red list.” However, it should also be remembered that different districts may be handling the situation differently.’

About Natalie Gillard Natalie Gillard is a DEI strategist and the creator of FACTUALITY, a facilitated dialogue, crash course, and interactive experience that simulates structural inequality. Over the last six years, Natalie has led virtual and in-person FACTUALITY facilitations for over 57,000 global participants. FACTUALITY has supported the diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at hundreds of multinational companies, universities, government agencies, and nonprofits (including Google, Twitter, FOX, American Express, Under Armour, Converse, Yale, Princeton, UCLA, Stanford, Boston University, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Rikers, United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, American Heart Association and more). Natalie and FACTUALITY have been featured in Fortune Magazine, USA Today, and Amazon best-seller The Memo: What Women of Color Need to Know to Secure a Seat at the Table. FACTUALITY has also raised and donated over $20,000 to organizations that advance social equity through its Factuality Gives Back program and became an ice cream flavor through a partnership with the social justice ice cream brand, Taharka Brothers.

Quentin McDowell, head of Mercersburg Academy. After arriving at Mercersburg in 2007, Quentin has served as history faculty, director of summer and extended programs, Admission, senior associate director of admission, financial aid, and head boys’ varsity soccer coach for eight years, leading the Blue Storm to its first-ever Mid-Atlantic Prep League championship and the PAISAA state championship game in 2014. Before he arrived at Mercersburg, he was, for two years, a member of the history faculty and head boys’ varsity soccer coach at Cushing Academy in Massachusetts. Quentin has played an active role in professional associations like The Enrollment Management Association, The Association of Boarding Schools, and the Independent Educational Consultants Association, where he has become an engaged educational leader. Quentin is also co-founder of the Erdmann Institute for Enrollment Leadership, co-founder and faculty member of the Future Leaders Institute, and a member of the Forbes Business Council. A native of Washington state, Quentin attended Holderness School in Plymouth, New Hampshire, as a postgraduate student before matriculating to Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in religious studies. He holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and administration from George Washington University. Quentin email mcdowellq@mercersburg.edu Mentions:Muhlenberg college, Holderness School, Erdmann Institute for Enrollment Leadership, Forbes Business Council, TABS, Cushing Academy, Mercersburg, Characteristic Institute, NAIS, Linda McDowell, Katie titus, Peggy Macintosh, Marlo Thomas

Authors, speakers, presenters, and change agents, Cornelius and Kass Minor of Minor Collective share how they live in the space of possibility.Cornelius Minor is a Brooklyn-based educator and part-time Pokemon trainer. He works with teachers, school leaders, and leaders of community-based organizations to support equitable literacy reform in cities (and sometimes villages) across the globe. His latest book, We Got This, explores how the work of creating more equitable school spaces is embedded in our everyday choices — specifically in the choice to listen to kids.Cornelius has been featured in Education Week, Brooklyn Magazine, and Teaching Tolerance Magazine. He has partnered with The Teachers College Reading and Writing Project, The New York City Department of Education, The International Literacy Association, Scholastic, and Lesley University’s Center for Reading Recovery and Literacy Collaborative. Kass Minor is an inclusive educator and community organizer deeply involved in local, inquiry-based teacher research and school community development. Alongside partnerships with the University of Chicago, Teachers College Inclusive Classrooms Project, The Author Village, and the New York City Department of Education, since 2004, she has worked as a teacher, staff developer, adjunct professor, speaker, and documentarian. Kass reads books like other people listen to albums; the classroom is her concert space. While Kass’s organizing work in school communities is inspired by her NorthStars Myles Horton and Fannie Lou Hamer, her pedagogy is centered on joy from the surrounding communities and motivated by the idea that every adult can teach and every student can learn. Teacherhood, paired with motherhood, has driven her love of information sharing and redefining who gets to be a knower in the fiery world we live in today. She is the author of, Teaching Fiercely: Spreading Joy and Justice in Our Schools. Twitter: @MsKass1Instagram: @MsKass1 @theminorcollective LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/kass-minor Clubhouse: @kassminor / House: Joyful NoiseNewsletter: bit.ly/TeachFierceUpdates Website: Kassandcorn.com

Tony Keith, Jr. and Mel Cort share the paths they have walked to ensure understanding of their unstated identities. Lacking windows or mirrors for their historically marginalized identities, poetry created an avenue to express, explore, understand, and speak these identifiers. Bio Anthony (Tony) Keith, Jr., PhD. is a Black American gay poet, spoken word artist, and Hip-Hop educational leader from Washington, D.C. He is the author of the debut young adult memoir in verse “How the Boogeyman Became a Poet” and the young adult poetry collection “Knucklehead,” forthcoming from Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. His feature performances include John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington National Cathedral, and the African Alliance Community Center in Arusha, Tanzania. Tony’s writings appear in the Journal of Negro Education, Equity & Excellence in Education and the Journal of Black Masculinity, and many others. A multi-year fellow of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Tony is the founder and CEO of Ed Emcee Academy, an entrepreneurial extension of his award-winning dissertation research about Hip-Hop culture and leadership for racial equity in American education. He holds a Ph.D. in education from George Mason University and lives with his husband, Harry Christian III, and their dog, Sage, in his DC hometown. Mel Cort, a 'Threepeat' Third Space guest, returns to co-host this episode. Mel is a youth poet at Mercersburg Academy, specializing in Queer and disabled storytelling. They love performing, bookbinding, DEI work, and befriending cats.

Justine Ange Fonte joins Third Space to share her story, wisdom, insights, and challenges for school colleagues. IPOC, who is your community? And White people, what is your role in an ethical community? About Justine Justine Ang Fonte, M.Ed, MPH, is an award-winning health educator, public speaker, consultant, ghostwriter, and professor based in New York City. We can all learn about health but need equal access to it. Justine frames pedagogy through the lens of Kimberlé Crenshaw's teachings on intersectionality and interrogates how our multifaceted identities shape how we experience health. Justine believes it is the responsibility of comprehensive health education to be about social justice because health is a human right. Through my teaching, I promote agency, activate empathy, fight for equity, embrace one's authentic self, and navigate care.

Toni Graves Williamson is a nationally recognized diversity practitioner, consultant, now Director of Equity and Inclusion at Friends Select School Toni is a founding faculty member of the National Diversity Practitioners Institute, served on the faculty of the Student Diversity Leadership Conference, and co-founded Mid-Atlantic Region Diversity Conference. She conducts diversity climate studies, trains educators in cultural competency and best practices, and partners with the Friends Council on Education where she is also on the board. Toni is a principal consultant of the Glasgow Group, co-director and facilitator for The Race Institute for K-12 Educators, and contributing author to The Guide for White Women Who Teach Black Boys and Teaching Beautiful Brilliant Black Girls. Toni is on several boards and is an alumnus of Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and Columbia University. Ali Michael is the Co-Director of the Race Institute for K-12 Educators, she works with schools across the country to make research on race, Whiteness, and education more accessible to educators. Ali is the author of Raising Race Questions, winner of the 2017 Society of Professors of Education Outstanding Book Award and co-editor of the bestselling Guide for White Women who Teach Black Boys and Teaching Beautiful and Brilliant Black Girls. This year Ali co-authored the Young Adult adaptation of Robin DiAngelo’s White Fragility and Our Problem, Our Path: Collective Antiracism for White People. More information at alimichael.org.

Tricia Montalvo Timm is a first-generation Latina board director, venture investor, and speaker. She is on a mission to inspire anyone who has ever felt like an “other” in the workplace to embrace their true selves, owns their identity, and achieve success and fulfillment in their life and career.

Kimberlee is, first and foremost, a humanist, a deep believer in what is possible when humanity is centered. Her mix of authenticity and raw truth permits those around her to choose progress over perfection and bring their whole selves into the room. She is known for finding humor and challenge at just the right moments and, like the best of coaches, leaning in and pushing audiences just enough to believe in the potential she sees. Her approach of connection and compassion makes a consultation feel like a conversation with your best friend, a workshop feel like a workout with your favorite trainer, and a presentation feels like a present from your closest confidant. Kimberlee received a B.A. in Foreign Language Education from the University of Maryland (go Terps!) and an M.S. in Education from Dominican University. She currently lives in Seattle with her partner, where they refuel by being in the community (with other folks of color), reading and reading some more, and relaxing near any body of water. In addition to all of the above, Kimberlee is a daughter, a granddaughter, a sister, a cousin, an aunt, a niece, a dancer, an avid learner of languages (five to date), a free spirit, an empath, and now a writer. Dear White Woman, Please Come Home is Kimberlee's attempt to share with readers what her clients, workshop attendees, and audience members have felt for years. She always brings her entire self, her DC flare, her sass, and her humor. She’s the best friend you didn’t know you had.

Bill Ivey (he/any) is Middle School Dean and teaches Humanities 7, Rock Band, and Academic Skills at Stoneleigh-Burnham School, a gender-inclusive girls' school for grades 7-12 in Western Massachusetts. Bill serves on the NELMS Board of Directors as an equity, inclusion, and social justice advisor and on the AMLE Equity in Middle Grades Education Committee. He earned an A.B. in French at Middlebury College, with a concentration in Music, and a M.A.T. in French from the University of Massachusetts. His writings are notably included in Larry Ferlazzo's Q and A blog and the MiddleWeb website.

Dr. Kelly Pascarella is a 17-year public school educator from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. During her career, she has taught and held leadership positions in two of the top performing school districts in the state of Pennsylvania, Mt. Lebanon, and Upper St. Clair School Districts. Her dissertation research examined teacher access, management, and evaluation of digital education resources amid the Covid-19 pandemic and emergency remote teaching. Kelly's work led to the creation of the Education Blueprint platform, a professional learning network built just for teachers to manage and follow technological development as one educator community. Kelly is a marathon runner, published writer, lover of art and nature, and most importantly, a proud wife and mother of three incredible boys. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jSZxn610-AGy5XO8qFH3sibaYu6WlXOf

Kojo Clarke is currently a Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) at a pre k- 9th grade school. In his role he works closely with school leaders to oversee programming and professional development, while supporting parents and caregivers to explore and understand the world of DEI. As a member of the Leadership Team he also supports work of the school's Board of Trustees in several diversity, equity & inclusion initiatives, all with the communal goal of developing "culturally competent" students and adults and building a truly inclusive environment. Kojo completed his undergraduate degree at Franklin & Marshall College, where he double-majored in French and Psychology. He holds a Masters in Education degree from Northwestern University’s School of Education & Social Policy. He started his education career teaching French at an international school in Ghana, and has also worked in public school. Some of his other roles have included: advisor to student multicultural clubs, member of school diversity committees, and as a leader of faculty and staff diversity and equity work. Kojo is a trained SEED facilitator, and has been "formally" involved with diversity, equity and inclusion efforts since 2015. He is a parent to a strong-willed 1-year old and loves her fiercely.

High School Students reflect on school based DEI work, share advice and ideas for future programming. Student Bios: Ty’Shea Woods (she/her) is a recent graduate Garrison Forest School, and will attend Northwestern University to double major in psychology and international studies with a minor in Japanese. She was President of the School, on DEI advisory board, a member of the Baltimore Girls Student Leadership Coalition, and black student alliance. She has attended, planned, and been a lead facilitator for both the Middle School Student Diversity and Leadership Conference as well as the Baltimore Student Diversity and Leadership Conference. David Velos (He/Him) is a recent graduate of Loyola Blakefield and incoming Freshman at Brown University, Majoring in Engineering (undecided), Leader of Maryland Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Conference. Caleb Woodlon (he/him) is a rising senior at the Boys’ Latin School of Maryland, a student body officer, a member of our Black Awareness Club, and a student leader of our Diversity Club. he has facilitated at the AIMS Gender and Sexual Orientation Conference, been a lead facilitator at the Middle School Student Diversity and Leadership Conference, and a core student facilitator for the Baltimore Student Diversity and Leadership Conference. Katharine Lennon is passionate about justic work and has served as a leader in DEIJ conferences throughout high school. She is excited to pursue a career in criminal justice and psychology in college at Saint Lawrence University and hopes to become a lawyer. Akintola Oluwatoni Erifeoluwa (Toni): A student at Loyola Blakefield and has been involved with DEI work for three years now, and loves how it brings about open, intellectually stimulating conversations that lead to tangible change. Toni’s future goals are to do social impact work that will stimulate the economies of Nigeria and other nations in West Africa, and to reach my full potential as a poet, athlete, and moral thinker. Mentions: AIMS, POCC, BSDLC, Kalea Selmon, Kristen Tubman, Garrison Forest, Loyola Blakefield, Boys Latin, Key School

Liza Talusan returns to Third Space! Liza (LIE-zuh) earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Connecticut College, a Master's Degree in Student Personnel Administration from New York University; a certificate in Human Resources; a PhD in Higher Education from the University of Massachusetts Boston; and her certified coaching credentials from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching. Her scholarship has been published in peer reviewed journals, edited book collections, online platforms, and she has been featured on a number of podcasts and interviews related to education, identity, and inclusion. She serves in a number of national organizations focused on education and equity, and she has consulted with well over 375 schools, organizations, and corporations across the country. Currently, Dr. Talusan (tahLUS-ahn) is a faculty member at the University of Massachusetts Boston where she teaches graduate level courses focused on leadership, equity, and justice. Her new book “The Identity-Conscious Educator: Building habits and skills for more inclusive schools” is published by Solution Tree Press and was released in March 2022. Book ordering through publisher www.bookshop.org and independent book store https://www.solutiontree.com/the-identity-conscious-educator.html

Susan Yao (she/hers) is an educator with experience as a middle school humanities teacher and middle school head. She is passionate about building communities of racial solidarity and believes that collective thriving is possible when we learn how to be in a community together in supportive and authentic ways. Susan has launched professional development programs such as the Friends Institute for New Administrators of Color and the New Teachers of Color Institute at the Gordon School and serves on the New England chapter of the POCIS (People of Color in Independent Schools) board. Susan lives on a homestead with her family and animals in Massachusetts. Laura Dombrowski has provided professional development for educators for the past six years. She works closely with teachers and school leaders to support individualized coaching in schools serving grades PreK through 8. Laura supports UPK programs and literacy and math instruction in kindergarten through 8th grade. She believes in teacher collaboration and professional relationships and builds in-school support systems that promote a culture of continuous improvement. Laura has two decades of international work experience in education. She has taught all grades, kindergarten through sixth, led a teacher team through a school‘s founding and inaugural year, and developed school democracy models for elementary schools. She is passionate about forest schools, has developed a forest school program, and has consulted on outdoor education. Laura has advanced degrees in Psychology, TESOL, and School Leadership, serves on a school board, and co-authored a math instruction book series.

Logan Dechter (he/they) is a May 2022 graduate of the University of Maryland School Counseling Program and a professional school counselor in Montgomery County Public Schools. Logan serves as one of the advisors for his school's Rainbow Club, a developmentally appropriate Genders and Sexualities Alliance for 4th and 5th grade students. Logan also led the charge for the implementation of a Genders and Sexualities Alliance Prince George's County Public Schools middle school. In addition to his work in school counseling, Logan has experience in suicide prevention and crisis intervention, which has greatly influenced his research interests. Logan has worked on the Trevor Lifeline, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and the Lifeline Chat service in addition to various other social service lines, such as the local Homeless Hotline and the Domestic Violence Hotline. Logan's research interests include LGBTQ+ student wellbeing, Latinx student mental health, and suicide prevention. Outside of education, Logan is passionate about Kesem, a nonprofit organization that supports children through and beyond their parent’s cancer, where he serves as a mental health professional and advisory board member for various local chapters. Logan can be reached at Logan_Dechter@mcpsmd.org or at linkedin.com/logandechter.

Kristen Tubman grew up and lives in Baltimore, though she was born on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. She has spent the last 15 years teaching Spanish and engaging in Diversity & Equity work with 6th-12th grade students. Additionally, Kristen facilitates and learns with adults in various white affinity groups and workshops on a wide range of topics including Anti-racism, Whiteness, and Privilege. She has also been honored to be a co-planner of the Baltimore Student Diversity Leadership Conference for high-schoolers and the Middle School Student Leadership in Diversity Conference, both of which are led by brilliant student facilitators. She is always excited to learn more, to engage in dialogue, and to grow from feedback. Jonathan Fichter has been teaching for 17 years, 14 of which have been in independent schools. Jonathan trained as a dialog facilitator in Challenging Racism’s Learning To Lead program. Along with Kristen Tubman, he co-facilitates the Accomplices in Action series under the leadership of The Wells Collective. He has two elementary-age children. Jonathan also works with Washington, DC's chapter of Showing Up For Racial Justice and participates in local housing justice groups. Kristen and Jonathan reference the Wells Collective, follow their work at https://www.thewellscollective.com

Elizabeth Tingle is a secondary teacher from Calgary, Alberta. She recently completed her Master's in educational research and is currently a sessional instructor at the Werklund School of Education and the lab coordinator for the Body Image Lab at the University of Calgary. She is passionate about weight-neutral health education and is the mother to three school-aged kids. She is also a producer and co-host for the Teacher Fanclub podcast https://teacherfanclub.com/podcast and on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc.