Experience — toward an equitable & creative society.

an uber driver inspired me to re-write my “about me” section.

I was driven to my 5:15am flight by a young man who told me about his experiences as a student—as a young Black boy, he’d been more severely punished than his peers and placed into learning environments that were an educational mismatch for his skills. What he said next surprised me. He told me how grateful he was that these things happened to him. My Uber driver told me that because of the things he experienced, he planned to run for city council to improve those same outcomes for other students like him.—“to give them more opportunities,” he explained.

then my driver asked me what * I * am passionate about.

I hesitated, because I try to actively avoid describing anything I do as something about which I’m passionate. I’ve felt like the phrase “I’m passionate” has been run into the ground by young and young-ish professionals, and understandably so. We were trained to respond to hiring managers with “I’m passionate about helping people” or “I’m passionate about change” even in moments where this might not have been as true as our “passion” for a job—any job—to put food on the table for ourselves or our own families.

For better or for worse, I’ve tried to move away from thinking about my “passions” and toward the way I view the world.

I’d like to think my Uber driver and I approached this notion similarly—that we see the world as it is and how it should be, and that we must create the bridge between reality and possibility, My ideal world is one that is both equitable and creative. It’s a world that has prioritized true liberation for all people in every sense.

As part of that creative process, i view myself as having three directives: to spark curiosity, to drive equity, and to build community.

In my role as a mom and the creator of Our Culture Cards, I aim to spark curiosity and creativity, creating spaces for learning and exploration. Professionally, I’m at the forefront of driving health equity and improving reproductive health outcomes. At Amazon, I serve as the company’s global reproductive health benefits leader, ensuring that our benefits are inclusive and supportive. As the co-CEO of The Equitist, we harness technology to tackle healthcare challenges and promote health equity. Finally, as the founder of the Lillian Dowell Fund, I focus on raising awareness about stillbirth and enhancing maternal and fetal outcomes.

EQUITY IN EVERYTHING

@TheEquitist

I’ve answered the call to advance equity in multiple spaces: in the workplace at the EEOC and the Commission on Human Rights, in healthcare and higher education at UT Southwestern, in the humanitarian space at the Red Cross, and as part of one of the world's largest companies, Amazon. I'd also love to talk more with you about undertaking the monumental task of moving health equity from theory to action-- the raison d'être for The Equitist. I’m honored to support the vision of Dr. Lauren R. Powell as Managing Director of The Equitist. My goal is building partnerships and helping to chart our course as a leader in health equity consulting, curriculum, and training.

WORK Experience : Toward an equitable society

GLOBAL DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

2021-present: Amazon

As Senior Manager of Amazon Experiences, I oversee the strategic vision and execution of our external events, including Represent the Future and Grace Hopper Celebration—the world's largest gathering of women in tech. As part of the Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team, I’m responsible for ensuring these experiences are authentic and inclusive for diverse customers, which ultimately strengthens Amazon’s brand trust and standing as an employer of choice in diverse communities worldwide.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

2020-2021: American Red Cross of North Texas

Diversity in recruitment is critical to establishing an equitable organizational culture. My work as the Diversity and Inclusion Recruitment Lead for the American Red Cross of North Texas allows me to develop and implement strategic initiatives to produce data-driven results in the D&I Recruitment space.

EQUITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION & HEALTHCARE

2018 - 2020: UT Southwestern Medical Center

I’ve taken the lessons learned during my time with the EEOC and at the Commission on Human Rights, and put them into practice in my role at UT Southwestern. I developed a workshop on Gender Affirming Care, which was selected as a qualifying training for the Institution’s application to the Healthcare Equality Index. Each of my equity roles has allowed me to regularly provide this type of training and outreach. Second, In my capacity as Title IX Specialist, I am tasked with providing campus and community resources to individuals who have experienced gender-based harassment or violence.

EQUITY IN THE WORKPLACE

2015 - 2018: Louisiana Commission on Human Rights

I’ve learned the importance of outreach and community engagement as keys to answering equity’s call to action, and the Commission allowed me to hone both of these skills. At the Commission, I identified community groups who would benefit from tailored outreach initiatives. I partnered with VAYLA, a community justice program in New Orleans, to provide support to families in need of immigration services. I also developed and facilitated a symposium following the government’s 2017 immigration legislation, where Louisiana university stakeholders came together to discuss perspectives on acceptance, safely voice concerns related to their rights, and to get answers related to those concerns. The Commission also championed the elimination of systemic barriers to equity, which we addressed as the result of thorough investigations.

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2011-2012: United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

I’ve learned that equity can be deeply personal. This was the driving force behind the time I spent in the Mediation Unit at the EEOC. Mediation provided an individual employee a seat at the table with their employers to resolve issues of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. During this time, I became certified as a mediator through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, and strengthened the skills I would need to thoughtfully guide these parties to equitable resolutions.

EDUCATION: HOW I GOT HERE

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, PSYCHOLOGY: XAVIER university of louisiana (2008)

I recognize that extensive, continuous learning is essential to the process of equity. As part of my honors History coursework, I took a course on the ideologies of Gandhi and King , whose sacrifices for justice and equality have undoubtedly paved the way for the equity work that so many of us are able to engage in today. Xavier instilled a lifelong commitment to cultivating a holistic worldview, and to creating change through service. Since graduation, I have remained an active alumna, and have had the pleasure of sharing my perspectives as a panelist on the Rudy Lombard Civil Rights Symposium.

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JURIS DOCTOR : TULANE LAW (2012)

Law school deepened my understanding of equity through research and service. I presented a paper on the barriers experienced by indigent defendants as influenced by their ability to access neuroscientific technology. I also learned more about the transformative power of mediation and restorative justice. As a result of the concepts I learned from the Center for Restorative Approaches and Turning Point Partners, I’ve been able to implement restorative practices in the context of my current work. In addition, I worked with Ashlye Keaton of the ELLA Project to promote cultural advocacy for New Orleans artists. Among the most meaningful of those opportunities was our work with the Mardi Gras Indians, whom we assisted through the process of copyrighting their iconic work.