 
Thank you to all who attended the 2019 “Our Stories” Conference
2019 Annual Conference & Diversity Awards
Fostering Conversations that Ignite Change!
Sheraton Grand Downtown Phoenix
340 N 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ 85004
#ourstories19
Event Details
“OUR STORIES”, Fostering Conversations that Ignite Change is this year’s conference theme. Storytelling is a unique and powerful way to teach, persuade and understand ourselves and others. It is a uniquely human trait and has been with us nearly as long as we’ve been able to speak. Whether it evolved out of necessity or was simply a by-product of our own intellectual development, stories are deeply embedded in our DNA. Across time and across cultures, stories have proven their worth not just as works of art, historical perspective or amusement, but as catalysts for change. Come listen and learn while you share your story, setting aside judgments and biases and exploring the possibilities that come when we are truly connected.
- Registration and Breakfast starts at 7:00 a.m.
- Program begins promptly at 8:00 a.m.
- Please arrive early and allow additional time for parking and networking.
“I believe that for someone to show respect, they should respect themselves first.”
Student, Trevor Browne
2019 Schedule
7:00am – 7:50am Registration, Continental Breakfast & Networking
8:00am – 8:50am Opening Ceremony, Welcome, Logistics
8:50am – 9:00am Break (Transition to workshops)
9:00am – 10:15am Workshops Session #1 (3 workshops)
10:30am – 11:45am Workshops Session #2 (3 workshops)
11:45am – 12:00pm Break, Youth Speaker
12:00pm – 1:15pm Conference Luncheon and Diversity Awards
1:15pm – 1:30pm Break (Transition to workshops)
1:30pm – 2:45pm Workshops Session #3 (3 workshops)
Workshops

Workshop #1
OVERCOMING – Breaking Barriers to Create our Own Stories
Panelists: Capt. Lynn Ripplemeyer, Adonis Watt, Kelly Falardeau
Moderator: Jezreel Ramirez, Program Administrator, Department of Veterans Affairs
	read more »

Workshop #2
BELONGING – Owning our Stories
Presenter: Calvin Terrell
	read more »

Workshop #3
YOU ARE NOT ALONE: The Power of Allyship in Transformation
Panelists: Claire Sarnowski, Angelica Lindsey, Julian Melson
Moderator: Jacque Starks
	read more »
“The work of Diversity is about critical conversations. See the value of talking, listening and connecting in a moment when there isn’t a crisis.”
Dr. Neal Lester – ASU Project Humanities
2018 DLA Diversity & Inclusion Award recipient
Our Partners
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Champion Partner$20,000 
 
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Partner$10,000 
 
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Advocate Partner$5,000 
 
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Supporter Partner$3,000 
 
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Friends of DLA$1,000Accolade 
 Boeing
 Chubb
 City of Phoenix-Equal Opportunity Department
 City of Phoenix – Water Department
 City of Scottsdale
 Coconino County
 Coconino County – Public Works
 Ewing Irrigation & Landscape Supply
 Girl Scouts – AZ Cactus Pine Council
 Harvest
 Liv Communities
 Nationwide Insurance
 Scottsdale Community College
 Terros Health
 Vanguard
 YWCA
 
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Partnership OpportunitiesAvailableBecome a DLA Partner today to help support all of DLA’s programs. LEARN MORE 
 
Partnership Opportunities
2019 Annual Conference Partnership Levels
Champion Partner $20,000 (2 available)
Partner $10,000 (5 available)
Advocate Partner $5,000 (10 available)
Supporter Partner $3,000 (10 available)
Friend of DLA $1,000 (Unlimited Friendships)

“Growing up as a Muslim in America post 911 you have two choices, you either embrace your identity or you fold. I decided to embrace it and go out and develop my own faith, confidence, education and knowledge and then share it with others.”
Yaser Ali – Yaser Ali Law and “Greater Arizona” Founder
2018 DLA Diversity & Inclusion Award recipient

2019 Diversity and Inclusion Award Nominees
Listed below alphabetically, are all of the individuals and companies that were nominated this year.
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ARIZONA SHRM 
 BREANNE IFFERT
 CHANTEL WEST
 CHUBB
 CITY OF SCOTTSDALE
 COCONINO COUNTY
 DR. SARA BONFIG
 EDWARD JONES
 GIRL SCOUTS
 GOOD WILL INDUSTRIES
 INDIA ASSOCIATION
 KATE GOLDMAN
 KELLA PRICE
 
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KOVILAKONDA BABU
 LAYN ABBOTT
 LUCINDA ANDREANI
 NAACP
 NADIA MUSTAFA
 PAT GILLUM
 ROY TATEM
 SARAY LOPEZ
 SISTERHOOD EXTRAVAGANZA
 TOM FRANKLIN
 UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX
 VANGUARD
2019 Conference Co-Chairs
 
Elouise Nathaniel
ASAP Recruiting
 
Reid DeSpiegelaere
National Director
Velo Tutoring Program
Valley of the Sun United Way

2019 DLA Conference Planning Committee
** Not all committee members pictured above. See full committee list below **
Thank you for your support.
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- Joanna de’Shay, Executive Director
- Marion Kelly, DLA Co-Founder & Executive Board
- Essen Otu, DLA Board of Directors
- Phil Pangrazio, DLA Board of Directors
- Lee Barnett, DLA Board of Directors / Youth Committee Dominic Bartola, DLA Board/Youth Committee
- Michelle Gray, DLA Board of Directors
- Barry Stratford , DLA Board of Directors
- Dr. Mallary Tytel, DLA Board/Education Committee Chair Francisco Lucio, DLA Board of Directors
- Tina S. Drews, DLA Board of Directors
- Leslie Scott, DLA Board of Directors
- Elouise Nathaniel, Conference Co-Chair
- Reid DeSpiegelaere, Conference Co-Chair and DLA Board
 
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- Dr. Brent Scholar, Education Committee / Website
- Alethea Session, Education Committee/Website
- Betty Thompson, Education Committee
- Tyree Boze, Education Committee
- Shannon Walker, Education Committee
- Suzanne Martin, Education Committee
- Kristen Walker, Conference Committee
- Chantel West, Conference Committee
- Victoria Stinson, Conference Committee
- Sam Dias, Conference Committee
- Kellee Salas, Conference Committee
- Jacque Starks, Conference Committee
- Marcia Edwards, Conference Committee
- Kara Saliba, Conference Committee
 
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- Ronda Lewis, Conference Committee
- Dr. Sara Bonfig, Conference Committee
- Shauniece High, Conference Committee
- Gina Read, Conference Committee
- Gabriela Woody, Conference Committee
- Kamana Khadka, Conference Committee
- Jeff Shewan, Conference Committee
- Tikki Carmichael, Conference Committee
- Julie Fink, Conference Committee
- Kim Phillips, Conference Committee
- Tondra Richardson, Conference committee
- RJ Shannon, Conference Committee
- Terry Mitich, Conference Committee
- ASDdesign, Graphic Design
 

 
 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			 
			







