About Us

Moderator

• Jackie Glenn https://linkedin.com/in/jackie-glenn/ is the founder and CEO of GLENN DIVERSITY Inclusion & HR Solutions. She began her career in the year 2000 when she joined the human resources department of EMC Corporation, a Fortune 500 company in the technology sector. The experience of working in HR proved to be Jackie’s “aha” moment. She immediately saw that her life’s journey could help EMC and others to create corporate cultures that reflect the diverse world they are aiming to serve. As Jackie states in her critically acclaimed book, Lift As I Climb: An Immigrant Girl’s Journey Through Corporate America, “There is a special place carved out that only you can fill.” Jackie’s adaptation to American culture as a Jamaican immigrant led her to cultivate a distinctive and insightful skillset for navigating the corporate world. This foundation uniquely qualified her to lead EMC’s efforts of building a diverse workforce and creating an environment that would retain top talent from around the globe. At EMC, Jackie quickly progressed to Global Chief Diversity Officer, overseeing a workforce of 60,000 employees around the world. Within this role, she conceived, planned, and enacted programs in organizational development, leadership consulting, and employee training. During her tenure, she created a groundbreaking transgender reassignment and benefits program, multiple women’s corporate advancement immersion experiences, and recruiting partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The HBCU collaborations feature a summer internship that builds a pipeline of high potential future employees in the STEM field. EMC merged with Dell Computer in 2016. During the transition, Jackie served as Global Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion and supervised the melding of corporate cultures for the combined entity’s new workforce of 150,000 employees worldwide. In addition, during Jackie’s time at the helm as Chief Diversity Officer of the technology giant, DiversityInc listed EMC as a Top 25 Noteworthy Company and Disability Matters named EMC a Leading Employee. Also, under Jackie’s guidance, the company had a five-year run with a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index. Jackie’s success in corporate America is paralleled by the tremendous impact she’s had as a mentor and sponsor. She has helped countless mentees realize their career potential, break down gender and cultural barriers, and defy industry trends. “With Jackie’s help, I went from working at an early stage start-up to getting my first job at Google. That was huge. Now, due in tremendous part to Jackie’s counsel, I am a CEO, and one of the few women of color to rise to such ranks in the technology field,” says Melissa James, CEO of The Tech Connection. In addition to consulting, executive coaching, and helping corporations implement strategies and best practices through GLENN DIVERSITY Inclusion & HR Solutions, Jackie is a dynamic speaker, hosts national and international conferences, and participates on industry panels. Jackie holds a Master of Science degree in human resources management from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA and a bachelor’s degree from Emmanuel College in Boston, MA. Her love for community advocacy and civic leadership includes service on the Board of the Children’s Services of Roxbury (MA), the Board of the Museum of African American History (MAAH) Boston, and the Board of Overseers of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital. Lift As I Climb: An Immigrant Girl’s Journey Through Corporate America is Jackie’s instructional biography on how she employed her ten self-created “gems” to guide her journey from a nanny all the way to Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer at Dell EMC, author, and CEO. Within its pages, Glenn reveals a vow she made to herself, alone at a cold bus stop soon after she arrived to the U.S. “When life gets better for me, no one will be left at the bus stop.” Her life is a reflection of that conviction.

• Rebecca May https://linkedin.com/in/rebecca%E2%80%94may/ Rebecca May is the current Director of Innovation at NYC Emergency Management (NYCEM), and an EOC Manager during emergencies. She has held various roles within the agency during her time with NYCEM. One of her roles during COVID-19 was leading NYCEM’s heat planning efforts. She credits the cooperation of other city agencies, and the aptitude of her colleagues for the program’s successes. Coming from a background in the nonprofit field, Rebecca responded to her first disaster, Hurricane Katrina, while on staff for Habitat for Humanity.

• Julia Mejia https://boston.gov/departments/city-council/julia-mejia Like many residents in the City of Boston, immigration is part of Julia’s story. Julia was born in the Dominican Republic and arrived in Dorchester when she was five years old. Raised by a single mother who was undocumented, she began advocating at a young age on behalf of her mother and others in her community in order to access vital city services. She went on to graduate from the Boston Public School system, becoming the first in her family to graduate high school and college. Elected to the City Council of the great city of Boston starting in 2020, Julia serves with the reminder that nothing about us, without us, is for us. Since being elected, Julia has fought for language access, police reform, and food security in communities most impacted by COVID-19.

Panelists

• Charles Clemons Muhammad Community Service, Leadership, and forward-thinking are just a few words that describe Boston native, Charles Clemons Muhammad. For over 25 years, Charles has created numerous businesses in the city of Boston that has helped to fulfill employment opportunities for hundreds of residents and resources to families and local businesses. Businesses such as: 1. Touch 106.1 FM– a radio station that reached over 190,000 dedicated listners. 2. CC Sounds– a DJ service that has entertained weddings, events, and graduations for 30 years. 3. And First Choice Limousine—a 24-hour transportation service are only a few of Charles’s entrepreneurial endeavors. Charles’s commitment to community engagement is energizing and inspiring! A few of his activities in civic leadership include: Member of the Nation of Islam 1970 to Present, Boston Families for Austism, Garrett Pressley Resource Center, Grove Hall Neighborhood Development Corportation, Boston Bengal Pop Warner Football, Juneteenth Celebration, Candidate in 2017 & 2018 for District 7 City Councilor and State Representative in the 11 Suffolk District and Ten Thousand Fearless Peace Makers. Charles is a published author and host of TOUCH TV. He is a cherished member of the Bosotn Community and our 2020 recipient of the 10th Annual Juneteenth Empancipation Observance Award!

• Shirley Shillingford www.dotnews.com/2019/it-s-shirley-s-pantry-now-renaming-honors-longtime-manager-mattapan Shirley Shillingford, President of Caribbean American Carnival Association of Boston ( C.A.C.A.B.) was elected to the past in 1990 and served until 1993. After a two -year hiatus, she resumed position in 1995 to the present. Shirley Shillingford is originally from Jamaica, but she has been a resident of Boston for over 45 years. She has remained political for 40 years and has been working for city government for 40 years in different capacities. She has been recognized for her contribution, not only her community but also throughout the City of Boston and the Commonwealth including other states where there is a Carnival presence. More recently “2012” was honored by City of New York State Senator for her contribution to the Carnival Cultural. Vice President for the World Carnival Commission • 2010 Woman of Distinction Award of Massachusetts • 2011 Woman of the year Leadership Award by the Black Woman Leaders of Massachusetts • 2012- Mother of the year – Carib News of New York • 2014 Woman of distinction Award of Massachusetts in Leadership She is currently the Resource and Marketing Coordinator for the Boston Public Health Commission, Healthy Baby/Healthy Child Program, Board Member of the Roslindale Health Center, Founder and President of CASA. Honorary Member of the Caribbean Political Action Committee. Mrs. Shillingford has been recipient of numerous community awards. In 2008, she was honored by the Boston Public Health Commission as an Outstanding Employee an in 2007, she was honored by Commonwealth Employee as one of Massachusetts Unsung Heroes. Her belief in service is the blood of any organization and so she continues to advocate for the more vulnerable in our society. She strongly believes that with GOD all things are possible.

• Zoe Davis https://linkedin.com/in/zoesadavis/

• Anna Pham https://linkedin.com/in/anna-pham-2b3a4b86 Anna Pham has been working with Speak for the Trees Boston the past two summers - advocating for a more equitable distribution of trees throughout the city, and is continuing community work with trees as an intern this fall. She is currently a second-year undergrad at UMass Boston studying environmental science and is excited to expand her network as well as share some of the work she’s been a part of.

• Jane English NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice, Program Manager and serves as the Mid-Atlantic/Northeast States Field Organizer with Regions I, II and VII. Jane is an experienced human rights and social justice organizer/activist. From her early activism in the struggle for desegregation, membership in the Glass Bottle Blowers Association-AFL-CIO, Local 155-156, to landlord-tenant organizing, anti-apartheid protest, voting rights advocacy, criminal justice reform and GOTV, to picket lines and marches in support of workplace justice issues, Jane has remained vigilant. She has accomplished work in civil rights enforcement that consists of her work with the Fairfax County, Virginia’s Human Rights Commission. Jane served as a member of the Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ Board of Social Action, and served as its chair 2002 – 2010. This faith based social justice work, includes support for reparations for African Americans, fair trade product education, anti-war, labor solidarity and Haitian support work. She is a graduate of Marshall University and she completed two years of law school at the West Virginia University College of Law.

• Jacqui Patterson https://naacp.org/naacp-leadership/jacqueline-patterson/ Jacqueline Patterson is the Senior Director of the NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program. Since 2007 Patterson has served as coordinator & co-founder of Women of Color United. Jacqui Patterson has worked as a researcher, program manager, coordinator, advocate and activist working on women‘s rights, HIV&AIDS, racial justice, economic justice, and environmental and climate justice. Patterson served as a Senior Women’s Rights Policy Analyst for ActionAid where she integrated a women’s rights lens for the issues of food rights, macroeconomics, and climate change as well as the intersection of violence against women and HIV&AIDS. Previously, she served as Assistant Vice-President of HIV/AIDS Programs for IMA World Health providing management and technical assistance to medical facilities and programs in 23 countries in Africa and the Caribbean. Patterson served as the Outreach Project Associate for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, and Research Coordinator for Johns Hopkins University. She also served as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in Jamaica, West Indies. Patterson holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University. She currently serves on the Steering Committee for Interfaith Moral Action on Climate, Advisory Board for Center for Earth Ethics as well as on the Boards of Directors for the Institute of the Black World, The Hive: Gender and Climate Justice Fund, the American Society of Adaptation Professionals, Greenpeace, Bill Anderson Fund, People’s Solar Energy Fund, and the National Black Workers Center Project.

• Nancy B. Smith https://linkedin.com/in/nancy-smith-b3840361/ Program Manager for Community Resilience and Engagement at Office of Public Health Preparedness (OPHP), Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) located in Boston, Massachusetts. Ms. Smith is responsible for developing community relationships in support of emergency preparedness and community resilience in close coordination with other Public Health Departments and Boston Emergency Management Services (BEMS). Nancy earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Northeastern University and has a Certificate in Maternal Child Health from the Boston University School of Public Health. Nancy completed Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health “Community Health Leaders” Program. Nancy has worked in different departments of the Boston Public Health Commission, Substance Abuse Bureau, Homeless Commission, and the Child Adolescence and Family Health Bureau. Co-Developed “Healthy Relationships” curriculum” under the 3-city Community Healthy Marriage Initiative (CHMI) site report that includes Boston on the ACF website. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/news/press/2008/hmi_three_cities.html Nancy is currently working on several special programming exploring (rising tides and heat island) Climate Change Adaption for the City of Boston. Ms. Smith is lifetime member of Black Emergency Managers Association International, and member of Team Rubicon. Ms. Smith is member of Massachusetts State Conference 2020 NAACP Transit Environment Climate Justice Committee. Lead-Planner 2019 May and September Community Movie Series “Cooked: Survival by Zip Code” hosted in Boston and Cambridge. Lead Planner 2020 Summer of Extremes: Racism, Health Inequity and Heat