RACIAL EQUITY PROGRAMS & RESOURCES

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The Leadership Center of Arlington is committed to community-based leadership training, and we are on a journey of building a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization and society where everyone belongs.

Please use this resources page to learn more about how we can all more effectively lead our communities by listening, learning, and acting. 

To help us learn more about racial equity programs across the Commonwealth of Virginia, please complete this form.

 

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RACIAL EQUITY SUMMIT

2024 Racial Equity Summit

Wednesday, October 30
9:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Virtual

Our wellness is one of our most valuable commodities, and health equity is when everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of wellness. On Wednesday, October 30, from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m., we held our 2024 Racial Equity Summit which convened thought leaders from around Virginia to discuss how we can ensure everyone has an opportunity to be healthy. Experts with backgrounds in policy, community programs, and the maternal health crisis shared how they work toward equity in Virginia every day. Presenters addressed the state of Virginia's health, social drivers of health, best practices in wellness, and how they impact the future.

SPEAKERS

Lesley Daigle

Lesley Daigle

CEO
Arlington Free Clinic

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Lesley Daigle began her tenure as Arlington Free Clinic’s Chief Executive Officer in January 2024. As only the third leader in AFC’s 30-year history, she has led staff through a key transition to continue AFC’s mission to provide high-quality, whole-person healthcare to uninsured Arlingtonians. Prior to joining AFC, Lesley had a ten-year career at AFC’s critical community partner, VHC Health. In addition to serving as Compliance Manager and Director of the inpatient Postpartum unit at VHC, Lesley was also the Assistant Director of VHC Health’s clinic for patients living with low income. In this role, she provided direct patient care and support on various grant projects, including a telemedicine pilot and a community collaboration with AFC and the Arlington County government to address social determinants of health, which collaboration continues to this day. In the decade prior to her career in nursing and nursing leadership, Lesley was a practicing attorney in corporate law. She also speaks Spanish proficiently and has a master’s degree in Latin American Studies. She and her husband have raised two daughters in Arlington and enjoy being active in the life of this special community.
Dexter Davis

Dexter Davis

Early Intervention Specialist
Hampton Roads Urban League

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Dexter Davis (He/Him) of Norfolk, VA, is a professional Keynote speaker, sexual health educator, leadership development trainer, and curator of community connections. He works full-time at the Urban League of Hampton Roads as an Early Intervention Specialist and Outreach Coordinator and is pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Psychology at Norfolk State University. He serves as the Board Vice President for the Calos Coalition, a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading TransJoy, and the Vice President of Service for Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity Inc. and a member of Alpha Omega Kappa Fraternity, Inc. His resounding message reminds us all, "Life is both too short and too long to be unhappy! How can you forge a life worth living?" For more insights, visit his website at dexter-davis.com.
Patricia Gibson

Patricia Gibson

Director of Employment & Corporate Partnerships
Hampton Roads Urban League

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Patricia Gibson holds the role of Director of Employment and Corporate Partnerships at the Urban League of Hampton Roads (ULHR). Additionally, she fulfills the position of President at The Urban League of Hampton Roads Young Professionals (ULHR) and has been honored with the 2022 Vice President of the Year Award by the National Urban League Young Professionals. The dual leadership roles she serves demonstrate her impressive capabilities and commitment to fulfill the mission of the National Urban League (NUL) Movement. As one of the oldest civil rights organizations in the country, NUL and ULHR’s mission is dedicated to help African Americans and others in underserved communities achieve their highest true social parity, economic self-reliance, power, and civil rights. Patricia’s role helps the organization fulfill its mission by helping clients and ULHR members find better employment opportunities, build and maintain successful relationships with corporate partners to help diversify their talent pipeline, and continuously assist in establishing the Urban League’s presence in the Hampton Roads community. Patricia started her journey in 2015 with the Urban League as a member of the San Diego Urban League Young Professionals and served as the Membership Chair. During her tenure as the Membership Chair, her focus was on reestablishing the presence of the San Diego Urban League Young Professionals by building strategic partnerships to help with brand awareness. These partnerships included the San Diego Black Professionals, Tasteful Tuesdays Networking Group, Hamilton’s Heart Foundation, San Diego NFL Players Association, and the National Association of Real Estate Brokers – San Diego Chapter. Upon relocating back to the Hampton Roads area, Patricia continued her membership with the National Urban League by volunteering as the Marketing & Public Relations Chair for the Urban League of Hampton Roads Young Professionals. During her term, she has played an instrumental part in building infrastructure to increase brand awareness, community engagement, and membership growth. Her role included creating and implementing strategic marketing and communications campaigns, corporate engagement, collecting and analyzing data, and reporting areas improved and potential growth opportunities. In June 2021, Patricia was elected as Vice President by members of the Urban League of Hampton Roads Young Professionals and continued to serve with a focus on intentional community engagement for the Young Professionals. As Vice President, Patricia has increased membership and brand awareness using various software to engage and connect members with community partners. Within 1 year of serving as Vice President, Patricia was sworn in as President at the 2022 National Urban League Annual Conference in Washington, DC on Wednesday, July 20. As President, she empowers all young professionals by establishing and executing initiatives aimed at enhancing leadership skills through volunteerism, philanthropy, and professional development programs. Before moving to the Hampton Roads area, while serving as a military spouse in Southeast GA with the Marine Corps Security Force Battalion, Patricia was recognized with the 2015 Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year Award. Following her relocation to San Diego, she assumed the role of Vice President of the USS Makin Island's Fleet & Family Readiness Group, providing support and resources to families throughout a 6-month deployment. Patricia Gibson is an alumna of Norfolk State University, holding a B.S. in Exercise Science with a concentration in Kinesiology.
Krysta Jones

Krysta Jones

DEIB Advisor
Leadership Center of Arlington

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Krysta Jones has served as the Racial Equity Advisor for the Leadership Center of Arlington for the last three years. Krysta is a director of congressional and federal relations for the American Psychological Association and she has served as the Director of Outreach for two Members of Congress. Ms. Jones is a recognized leader for her work in politics and advocacy. She is the founder of Vote Lead Impact, an organization which aims to increase the number of Black elected officials. She is also a co-convener for the Black Women’s Roundtable Virginia, International Director of Programming for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and serves on the Eastern Area Legislative and Public Affairs committee for The Links, Incorporated. Krysta is the immediate past president of the National Women’s Political Caucus of Virginia, and has managed local political campaigns. She serves as the Virginia State manager for the National Council of Negro Women Eight State All State Strategy. She recently authored a children’s book, “Ella Goes to City Hall”, to encourage our littlest learners to solve problems in their community and to communicate with local government. Ms. Jones has moderated and hosted a number of conversations, talk shows and podcasts on several cutting-edge issues. Krysta is a graduate of the Sorensen Institute of Political Leadership, Leadership Arlington and the Women’s Campaign School at Yale.
Chanda McGuffin

Chanda McGuffin

Chief Financial Officer
Rise

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Chanda McGuffin has spent her entire professional career volunteering in the community working with young people through education. When she met her business partner seven years ago, they joined forces to create an NAACP Branch. When it wasn’t approved for charter by the national organization, they decided to start their own social justice organization, RISE. RISE’s mission is to give voice and hope back to the Black community. Chanda’s role with RISE is CFO with her 14 year banking background. Chanda graduated from James Madison University (‘93) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management, an MBA from Capella University (‘10) and a Masters of Education in Early Education (2023). She has three brothers in which one is her twin brother, Channing. Her only child, son, Shakil Channing McGuffin is in his second year at Bridgewater College. She was named a News Maker by The News Leader in 2020 and told her story to USA Today on her 50th Birthday in October 2021. A couple years ago, RISE’s Health & Wellness Team researched and found medical resources and doctors for Black families. The racial disparity in medicine is so evident and Black people shy away from getting medical attention. The resource has been used by Black families all over the state of Virginia. Chanda is known by the nickname Lil Warrior, and after meeting her you will know why. With a big heart and a firm hand, she loves young people and has devoted her life to making the world better than it was yesterday. Her and her business partner lives by if not us, then who and if not now, then when?
Vanessa Walker Harris

Vanessa Walker Harris

Director, Office of Family Health Services
Virginia Department of Health

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Vanessa Walker Harris, MD, serves as Director of the Office of Family Health Services at the Virginia Department of Health, where programs focus on nutrition security, chronic disease prevention, and maternal and child health. She most recently served as the Secretary of Health and Human Resources for Governor Ralph Northam, and ensured equitable access to high quality healthcare and social services that promote a healthy Virginia. She advanced to the role of Secretary after serving as Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Resources and playing a key part in addressing Virginia’s maternal health inequities. Originally from Ohio, she earned a BS in Chemistry from Hampton University and a medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She completed internal medicine residency and endocrine fellowship at Johns Hopkins. Dr. Walker Harris is dedicated to advancing health equity as a public health leader.
Estella Obi-Tabot

Estella Obi-Tabot

Senior Health Policy Analyst
Joint Commission on Health Care, Legislative Offices

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Estella Obi-Tabot is a Senior Health Policy Analyst at the Joint Commission on Health Care, a nonpartisan research body serving the Virginia General Assembly. She conducts health policy research and makes recommendations to legislators on ways to improve the health care access and delivery landscape in Virginia. Over the past years, she has studied the aging in place, assisted living, obesity and eating disorders, traumatic brain injury, and strategies to extend health care access to vulnerable populations in Virginia. Estella holds a Master of Science in Public Health in Health Policy Management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her guiding light is the African proverb "If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together."

Hanna Schweitzer

Program Administrator
Virginia Mental Health Access Program and Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services

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Hanna Schweitzer is the program administrator for the Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP) and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. Prior to this role, Hanna worked at the U.S. Agency for International Development where they integrated mental health programming into HIV care. Hanna is passionate about patient-centered care, and works on engagement research with patient-partners to advance the science of engagement and healthcare equity. Hanna received their Master's in Public Health with a concentration in health behavior from the University of Michigan.
Robert Sharpe

Robert Sharpe

Public Health Assistant Division Director
Arlington County Government

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Robert Sharpe is the Public Health Assistant Division Director for Arlington County where he leads public health operations. Robert began his Arlington County career in 2005 as Assistant Human Services Director. He has raised $6.4 million in federal grants for Arlington and was instrumental in establishing the Mary Marshall Assisted Living Residence, a 52-bed residence serving persons with developmental disabilities. Robert played a leadership role in bringing primary medical care serving persons with serious mental illness to the Department of Human Services. He also led community partner service integration for Arlington’s 100 Homes campaign which housed 100 vulnerable persons living on the streets of Arlington using a Housing First model. Having served as the first Resident Ombudsperson for Arlington County, Robert has vast knowledge of local government and constituent services. Prior to joining Arlington County, Robert worked in social justice. A passion for equity inspired him in the year 2000 to co-found the Drug Policy Alliance, the leading criminal justice reform organization advocating for drug policies grounded in science and public health. Robert is one of the most published social justice activists in the drug policy reform movement. Together with a small group of thoughtful, committed people, he has worked tirelessly to change public opinion in support of public health alternatives to mass incarceration. Harm reduction is no longer controversial. The worst punitive drug laws including New York’s infamous Rockefeller mandatory minimum drug laws have been overturned. Racial equity has featured prominently throughout Robert’s drug policy reform work. Robert has a Master of Public Administration from George Washington University and a degree in Spanish Literature from William & Mary. He and his family have resided in Arlington since 2003.
Kenda Sutton-EL

Kenda Sutton-EL

Founder and Executive Director
Birth in Color

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Kenda Sutton-EL serves as the Founder and Executive Director of Birth In Color, hailing from rural Virginia. With a focus on Reproductive Sexual Justice, Birth Justice, Black Maternal Health, and combating Structural Racism, Kenda is a dedicated advocate for the rights of incarcerated pregnant individuals and fights against human rights violations. In addition to training people of color to become doulas and conducting racial bias training for healthcare systems and workers, Kenda is a true leader in the field. Kenda Sutton-EL has spearheaded initiatives to raise awareness and address disparities in Black Maternal Health in Virginia. Birth In Color is at the forefront of providing care for people of color and integrating doulas into the healthcare workforce. Holding a Bachelor’s in Health Science, Kenda also serves as a Doula Trainer, Diversity Equity Inclusion Consultant, and Policy Analyst. Kenda's contributions extend beyond Birth In Color, as she has participated in Vice President Kamala Harris's roundtable discussion on Reproductive Health and holds key leadership positions, including Chair of the Virginia Doula Taskforce, Chair of the Greater Richmond Regional Maternal Child Health Taskforce, and membership in the Virginia Maternal and Data Outcomes Taskforce and Pregnancy Services for Incarceration Workgroup. In 2019, Kenda played a pivotal role in establishing "Black Maternal Health Week" and led the campaign for Doula Medicaid Reimbursement in Virginia. Her relentless pursuit of reproductive justice aims to improve maternal health outcomes for women of color. Kenda's dedication has garnered recognition, including the creation of "Herstory" in partnership with Urban One Radio, and receiving prestigious awards such as the "Women of the Year" ACHI Magazine Award and the Urban One Hometown Hero Award in 2021. Most recently, in 2024, Kenda was honored as the Health Equity Advocate of the Year by Families USA and the 2024 Women of Excellence by Congresswoman McClellan.

2023 Racial Equity Summit

Wednesday, November 8, 2023
8:45 - 10:45 a.m. ET
Virtual

While the path to racial equity depends on several factors, a quality education is critical. Education is largely seen as vital to success in the United States, and our school systems prepare millions of students to be productive members of society. Our schools are essential to ensuring a strong workforce, as well as building youth leadership and future community leaders. Throughout our nation’s history, we have struggled to ensure equitable access to a quality education. Disparities in tax bases, low teacher pay, the “school to prison pipeline,” educational standards, student loans, early childhood education, and racial segregation are just a few of the factors that impact our ability to educate our students.

Watch the recording of our 3rd Annual Racial Equity Summit to learn from experts about the evolution of Virginia’s educational system, how to create a racially equitable system, and our individual and community roles in ensuring our school system prepares all students for a lifetime of success. Together, with education at the center, we can move toward achieving racial equity in Virginia.

Watch the recording on YouTube

2022 Racial Equity Summit

Thank you to everyone who joined us on December 7, 2022, (see full agenda) for this free virtual summit to hear stories that illustrate racial equity programming at work and network with attendees.

Watch the recording on YouTube

2021 Racial Equity Summit

We hosted a virtual Virginia Statewide Summit on Racial Equity on Tuesday, December 7 from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. ET (view agenda). The event celebrated and elevated racial equity work across the Commonwealth of Virginia. The summit was a unique opportunity to learn from leaders who are creatively inspiring their communities to listen, learn, and act. Together, we are striving to reach racial equity.

Watch the recording on YouTube

2021 Racial Equity Listening Sessions

Sponsored by Amazon

In October 2021, we hosted four, separate, regional listening sessions across the Commonwealth of Virginia to discuss diversity, inclusion, and racial equity.

The listening sessions brought together elected officials, economic development and chamber leaders, statewide leadership programs, volunteer centers, and civic engagement leaders.

The regional session goals were to create a brave space for local leaders to hear about statewide programming while at the same time, listen to one another’s hopes, realities, and challenges around achieving racial equity in their local communities.

These events were by invitation only.

Janice Underwood

Special remarks were made by Dr. Janice Underwood, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for the Commonwealth of Virginia

SPONSOR

Thank you to our sponsor for supporting our racial equity initiatives.

Amazon

RESOURCES

ALL Alexandria-Achieving Racial and Social Equity

Learn more about ALL Alexandria’s Vision and Goals on achieving racial and social equity.

 

Brandeis University & [Health] Equity Strategies, LLC

Explore a resource guide for organizational assessment tools for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

 

National Urban League

The National Urban League is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities.

Network2Work

Learn more about how Network2Work matches quality job-seekers with available jobs that pay a decent wage and lead to a career.

 

ONE Virginia

Learn more about the ONE Virginia Plan to position the state as a national leader in building a statewide strategy to advance DE&I.

 

Points of Light

Listen. Learn. Act to End Racism is a Points of Light initiative in partnership with Morehouse College that is designed to empower businesses, nonprofits, and individuals to use their influence to fight against systemic racism.

Realizing Arlington's Commitment to Equity

Learn more about Arlington County’s Vision, where an equitable Arlington is one where all are valued, educated, healthy, and safe regardless of race.

 

Richmond Racial Equity Essays

Explore the collection of 24 essays, 7 video interviews, and 8-episode podcast series focused on racial equity in Richmond. The goal of the Richmond Racial Equity Essays project is to explore what an equitable Richmond looks like, especially as it relates to racial equity and highlight the strategies that will help us get there.