Speakers

Jacquelyn L. Boggess is a Lecturer on Diversity, Oppression, and Social Justice in Social Work at the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In the classroom, she challenges students to…

Erin M. Barbato is the Director of the Immigrant Justice Clinic at the University of Wisconsin Law School. She teaches second and third year law students to represent individuals in removal proceedings and with humanitarian-based…

Barb Blackdeer-Mackenzie (Ho-Chunk Nation) is the Community Advocate Resource and Emotional Support (CARES) Director and Community Healer for HIR Wellness Institute (HIRWI). She was recently asked to work on the Wisconsin Department of Justice Missing…

Dr. Damita Brown is a community-based educator and organizer who specializes in contemplative and creative approaches to racial justice and restorative justice. She holds a doctorate in History of Consciousness and has taught youth who are incarcerated as…

Alysha Clark has been a Certified Peer Specialist in the State of Wisconsin since 2013. She currently works as a Supervisor of Certified Peer Specialists and is the Co-leader with Tara Wilhelmi for the Dane…

Rená Cutlip-Mason is the Chief of Programs at the Tahirih Justice Center. Rena originally joined the Tahirih Justice Center in 2004 and rejoined again in 2017. As the Chief of Programs, Rena is accountable for…

Kathy began her career at Kimberly-Clark Corporation in 1993 focused on Diversity and Inclusion. Kathy’s anti-violence work began in 2002 when working for Harbor House Domestic Abuse Programs in Appleton for 8 years as the…

Cecilia Gentili started Transgender Equity Consulting in the beginning of 2019 after serving as the Director of Policy at GMHC, the world’s first and leading provider of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy from 2016 to…

Carmella Glenn is from Madison, Wisconsin. She has worked in the criminal justice field for over 15 years and has a degree in Culinary Arts and Criminal Justice. She is a Certified Peer Specialist, a…

Jalateefa Joe-Meyers is an advanced practice generalist social worker licensed in school social work, therapy, education administration and special education. She is trained in a multitude of research based models that she has implemented across…

Adriana López is a Co-Director of Client Advocacy at the Tahirih Justice Center, where she leads the implementation of Tahirih’s interdisciplinary service delivery model, oversees social services program standards, monitoring and evaluation, and facilitates best…

Gia Love (she/her) is a black trans woman from New York City. She is a model/activist that centers her work around putting big bodied, black, and trans women at the forefront of every conversation. Gia…

Jeneile Luebke PhD, RN is a post-doctoral nurse research associate at University of Wisconsin-Madison.  She in an enrolled member of Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. She received her early nursing degrees (LPN…

Michele Mackey (J.D., M.S.) is the CEO of Kids Forward. They are responsible for Kids Forward’s transition to a community-reflective, data driven, anti-racist policy advocacy center. Michele leads the strategic vision for the organization, ensuring…

Bethany Matson is member of the conference planning committee and is a student in the Part-Time MSW Program. She is a Social Work Supervisor at Dane County Human Services in Youth Justice, having previously provided…

Monique Minkens has been a part of the anti-violence movement for 10 years.  She is currently the Director of Coalition Programs at End Domestic Abuse Wisconsin, the State Coalition for domestic violence programs in the state.…

Dr. David J. Pate, Jr. is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Social Work department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Helen Bader School of Social Welfare, and an Affiliated Associate Professor in the Department…

Kursten Phelps is the Director of Legal Programs and Operations working with the American Bar Association’s Commission on Immigration in Washington, D.C. In her role, she supports the direction of legal programming and operations at…

Dani Rischall is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked in the field of community mental health for over 15 years. Dani is currently the Executive Director of Chrysalis Inc., a Madison non-profit that…

Erika Rosales is an undocumented immigrant and a DACA recipient. She is also an immigration activist and has helped organize immigration events and rallies locally and nationally. Erika often speaks out about her experience and…

Tim Saubers serves as the Peer Specialist Program Manager for the Wisconsin Peer Specialist Employment Initiative. He became a Certified Peer Specialist in 2016 and has worked in direct support and supervisory roles. Additionally, Tim…

Dr. Sherri Simmons-Horton is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. Simmons-Horton has over 20 years of practice experience in the child welfare system, with a focus…

Wanda Smith is President and Founder of the award winning Peace Network Inc. a mental health consulting service where they empower individuals and corporations to live through these emotionally challenging times through one on one, …

Tara Wilhelmi leads a local grassroots community recovery and wellness organization, EOTO Culturally Rooted. She is a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) and state trainer of Certified Peer Specialists providing support to individuals navigating mental health,…

Dr. Damita Brown is a community-based educator and organizer who specializes in contemplative and creative approaches to racial justice and restorative justice. She holds a doctorate in History of Consciousness and has taught youth who are incarcerated as…

Jacquelyn L. Boggess is a Lecturer on Diversity, Oppression, and Social Justice in Social Work at the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In the classroom, she challenges students to…

Sakara Wages was born and raised in Chicago. She holds a BS in Psychology from UW-Platteville, a Master of Social Work degree from UW-Madison, and is in the fourth year of the doctoral program. Wages…