About Us

If there is one thing you need to know about us, it is this: We owe so much of our confidence to approach conversations about race and racism to Jody Grey (Director of the Office for Diversity & Inclusion at University of Minnesota) and Kristin LaHurd at the ALA Office of Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services.

We have also learned a lot (and want to pay thanks & homage to) Ijeoma Uluo, Ibram X Kendi, Jay Smooth, and a variety of other amazing people who we consider to be Social Justice Warriors.

Amrita S. Patel

Amrita S. Patel, alumna of University of Central Florida, is an Outreach Coordinator/Supervisor at Charlotte Mecklenburg Library, providing sensory, literacy & workforce development programs and services to non-traditional populations. Amrita has a passion & skill set for sharing what she learns and has designed and presented training curricula on a local, state and national level on a variety of subject matter, including the relevance and importance of sensory programs in libraries, developing inclusive customer service strategies, the benefits of outreach programs and services, and more recently racial equity and inclusion. With a delicate and deliberate approach, Amrita creates safe spaces to discuss challenging ideas. She also serves as the Board President for Disability Rights & Resources, a grass roots agency whose mission is “to create a fully inclusive community in which all people, with and without disabilities, may pursue their own goals and choices for living and working together.” Contact me at howtotalkaboutrace@gmail.com

Denise LaForce

Alumna of Alfred University and SUNY Albany, Denise is a seasoned trainer and facilitator leading workshops and conversations about equity, inclusion, systemic racism, oppression, immigration, and understanding refugee crises. A passionate community advocate for the underserved, she is driven to educate, invite dialogue, and drive meaningful change. Denise has always had a passion for learning about the world and the people who inhabit it, and she currently works as an independent equity consultant in Charlotte, North Carolina.