Haben Girma, Keynote Speaker

The first Deafblind person to graduate from Harvard Law School, Haben Girma is a human rights lawyer advancing disability justice. President Obama named her a White House Champion of Change, and the World Health Organization appointed her Commissioner of Social Connection. She received the Helen Keller Achievement Award, a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, and TIME100 Talks. Haben believes disability is an opportunity for innovation, and she travels the world teaching organizations the importance of choosing inclusion.

Harnessing the power of the written word to spark advocacy, she wrote and published the book that became a bestseller. Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law takes readers on adventures around the world, including her parents’ homes in Eritrea and Ethiopia, building a school under the scorching Saharan sun, training with a guide dog in New Jersey, climbing an iceberg in Alaska, fighting for blind readers at a courthouse in Vermont, and talking with President Biden and President Obama at The White House. Warm, funny, thoughtful, and uplifting, this captivating book is a testament to Haben’s determination to resist isolation and find the keys to connection.

A spellbinding speaker, her keynotes have touched the stages of Apple, Bottega Veneta, Disney, Google, Microsoft, Oxford University, and many more. Her engaging presentations ignite audiences to make positive changes in their communities.

Dr. Tiffany Mitchell, Panelist

Dr. Tiffany Mitchell is a seasoned leader with a doctorate in clinical psychology and over 20 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. She has dedicated her career to advocating for children, youth, and marginalized communities, focusing on breaking down barriers that hinder their ability to thrive. Her work emphasizes mental health, social support, and equitable access to resources, ensuring that every individual can lead a healthy and fulfilling life.

Currently serving as the Chief Program Officer at Orangewood Foundation, Dr. Mitchell leads innovative programs that empower foster youth and young adults to heal from early adversities and reach their full potential. In addition to her role at Orangewood, Dr. Mitchell is an elected member of the Orange County Continuum of Care Board, where she ensures that homelessness strategies are inclusive of the unique needs of young people.

With expertise in systems change and a deep understanding of the intersections between education, mental health, and stable housing, Dr. Mitchell is a powerful advocate for fostering resilience and success in the lives of foster students. She brings a compassionate, informed perspective to addressing the challenges they face in the educational system.

Shelby Feliciano-Sabala, Panelist

As a social worker, Shelby has worked in education for the past 15 years. Shelby is passionate about creating a culture of curiosity and infusing storytelling with intentional data collection, strategic planning, and community partnerships. In her role as Chief Partnership Officer, she creates and maintains partnerships with cities, districts, and other public entities to ensure youth experiencing homelessness have the resources and support to thrive. She received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Washington, focusing on community-centered integrative practice. She is currently pursuing her doctorate in Educational Leadership at Cal State Long Beach, studying the ways in which social-emotional learning competencies empower students. As a former AmeriCorps member, Shelby is passionate about the importance of community engagement, creating sustainable systems change, and intentional collaboration. She aims to bring her passion for social justice and systems change to Project Hope Alliance to ensure all youth have the opportunity to thrive. Jones earned her certification in Conflict Resolution and Diversity Equity and Inclusion from Cornell University and holds a B.A. in Political Science and History from Savannah State University.

Gregory Allan Datu Cendana, Panelist

Gregory Allan Datu Cendana, the President and Co-Founder of Can’t Stop! Won’t Stop! Consulting and Education Fund is a dancer, cultural and political strategist, facilitator, entrepreneur, and author. Recently, Gregory was named to the UCLA Alumni Association Bruin Business 100. Under his leadership as President of the United States Student Association, the organization played a key role in the passage of both the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, and the Healthcare and Education Reconciliation Act.

As the youngest-ever and first openly gay Executive Director of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, co-founder of Can’t Stop! Won’t Stop! Consulting and Education Fund, and two other organizations – The People’s Collective for Justice and Liberation, and the diversity initiative Inclusv – the first openly gay chair of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans and #1 International Best Selling Author of #BeTheBossNow, Gregory’s work is driven from his commitment to create conditions for others to to live in radical joy and be their full selves –capable of fulfilling their wildest dreams.

Gregory has strong ties to his Filipino family and heritage and serves on the board of directors for United We Dream. He co-published a first-of-its-kind report on the impact of mass criminalization and incarceration on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and has been named one of the 30 Most Influential Asian Americans Under 30, and one of 40 Influential Asian Americans in Washington.

Gregory also previously served a two-year term on the Washington DC, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Advisory Committee under the leadership of Mayor Vince Gray. Following this appointment, the current DC Mayor, Muriel Bowser, appointed him to serve on the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs and Board of Pharmacy. Gregory also co-founded the Washington Highlands Civic Association and served as its Vice President. He has been named one of Washington DC's most influential 40-and-under young leaders, appeared on DC’s Inaugural Power 30 Under 30™ Award Recipients list, and was donned a Capital Pride Hero.

Alicia Jones, Moderator

Alicia Jones is the Director of Network Culture and Organizational Health at the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. She collaborates with organizations to ensure that their internal engagement and work with partner and allied organizations in their state align with our race, equity, and inclusion values and goals. Prior to joining the Center, Jones led key organizing and strategic political activities at the Indivisible Project, including co-creating and executing its electoral organizing model and advancing and stewarding its racial equity, culture, and belonging goals.

She began her campaign and advocacy career in 2008 as a fellow for Obama For America, now known as Organizing for America, in Savannah, Georgia. This initiated her deep investment in local and state elections. Her professional experiences also include leading advocacy and climate justice campaigns for candidates and nonprofits.

Jones has spent the last decade contributing to electoral and social justice work as an Equity Advocate and Restorative Justice Practitioner, having served on various community-focused boards, and as a trainer and equity advisor for movement, C3, C4 and PAC organizations.

Jones earned her certification in Conflict Resolution and Diversity Equity and Inclusion from Cornell University and holds a B.A. in Political Science and History from Savannah State University.

Erica Alfaro, Keynote Speaker

Erica Alfaro is an award-winning author, educational advocate, and international keynote speaker. She received global recognition when her graduation pictures went viral and made headlines worldwide. Her story has been featured in major media outlets such as CNN, The Huffington Post, and Yahoo News. Erica received letters of recognition from the United States Assembly, Congress, Senate, and Vice President Kamala Harris. She has received multiple Latina and business leadership awards, including Constituent of the Month by the House of Representatives and 40 under 40 by Business Street. Erica’s book Harvesting Dreams won the International Latino Book Award and the 7th Latino “Book into Movies” award. Her story was portrayed in Cronicas de Univision, a docuseries based on true stories. In 2023, Erica was honored by the County of San Diego when they declared “Oct 5th as Erica Alfaro’s Day,” in addition to National City, Telemundo, and NBC recognizing her as a community leader by painting her image on a public mural. Erica’s graduation picture and story are now permanently featured in the Angel Island Immigration Museum in San Francisco Bay.

Dr. Yvonne Chan, Panelist

Yvonne Chan, Ed.D., is the founding Principal of the Vaughn Next Century Learning Center in Los Angeles. She has pushed the limits of education and social innovation for more than 50 years as a school leader, policymaker, and the founder of the first conversion charter school in the nation that now serves 3,300 low-income students (PK-12).

Her efforts turned the once failing public school into a community-based learning center and the high-poverty neighborhood into an educational and economic corridor. As a result, the school received the California Distinguish School and the National Blue Ribbon School Award recognitions. She is determined to turn risks into opportunities through her tenacity and forward-thinking skills to do the impossible.

Dr. Chan earned a doctorate in education from UCLA, a Master of Arts in Special Education from California State University, Northridge, a Bachelor of Arts in World Languages from UCLA, and a post-doctoral in Computer Science from UCLA. In addition, she has eight teaching and service credentials and the ability to communicate in four world languages.

Dr. Chan served as a teacher and an administrator at the Los Angeles Unified School District for 20 years. While serving as the Principal of Vaughn, she was also an adjunct professor at California State University, Northridge, and UCLA. In addition, Dr. Chan was a member of the California State Board of Education, a Commissioner of the City of Los Angeles, and is a current LA County Commissioner for Public Social Services and Trustee for the LA County Board of Education.

Dr. Paul Keefer, Panelist

Dr. Paul Keefer bridges the business and educational worlds through his vast experiences in both. Dr. Keefer is co-founder of Pacific Charter Institute where he applies both current 21st century skills will the foundations that he learned at UPS. In addition to leading Pacific Charter Institute as the executive director Dr. Keefer was elected to the Sacramento County School Board of Education in June of 2018 for a four-year term representing Arden-Arcade, Carmichael, College Glen, Antelope, North Highlands, and Sacramento (Area 3). Dr. Keefer was reelected in 2022.

As a charter school leader, Dr. Keefer is able to couple take the experiences from UPS and dealings with Fortune 500 companies and apply them systematically to students in public education that are continually left behind. Dr. Keefer co-founded Pacific Charter Institute in 2005 and works with a team supporting four charter schools including Rio Valley Charter School, Heritage Peak Charter School, Sutter Peak Charter Academy, and Valley View Charter Prep. In 2022 Pacific Charter Institute launched its first site-based school, New Pacific School Roseville, and will launch New Pacific School Rancho Cordova in 2023. The five schools serve over 3,500 students collectively in 16 different counties with revenues of over $54 million dollars and 300 employees. Much like the varying needs of customers at UPS Dr. Keefer works with his team to creates systems to effectively manage an organization that extends across Northern California.

Alton B. Nelson, Jr., Panelist

Alton B. Nelson, Jr. is the chief executive officer of Making Waves Academy (Richmond, CA) and a former founder and school leader of S.A.C. Prep (Sacramento, CA) - both public charter schools. Between 1999 and 2003, Alton worked in the Chicago area at Northwestern University’s office of development and as an associate at the Chicago Public Education Fund where he managed a portfolio of alternative teacher credentialing programs. Before graduate school, Alton was a teacher, coach, and administrator at The Branson School (in Ross, CA). While at Branson, Alton was a two-time recipient of the Mt. Tamalpais Cup teacher award and the Klingenstein Summer Fellowship through Teachers College Columbia University. Before Branson, Alton worked as a Project YES intern at the East Bay Conservation Corps in Oakland, CA. Alton holds a BA degree in history from UCLA and an Ed.M. from Harvard University.