Chris Singleton

Chris Singleton, a nationally renowned speaker who has touched many with his powerful message of unity, forgiveness, and resilience, will join us as our keynote. A former professional athlete drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2017, Chris became an inspirational speaker and best-selling author following the loss of his mother in a racially motivated mass shooting. He has shared his message of unity and racial reconciliation with NFL and NBA teams as well as multiple Fortune 500 companies across the country. Annually, he speaks to over 100 organizations and more than 50,000 students. Chris resides in Charleston, SC, with his spouse and three children.

Melanie Huggins

Melanie Huggins, Richland Library’s Executive Director. Whether helping organizations lead with a focus on equity and social justice, improving customer experience, designing impactful spaces, or contributing to the creation an entrepreneurial city, Melanie is led by her belief that libraries are uniquely positioned to make communities more livable, resilient, and inclusive.

Beth Ruffin

Beth Ruffin, “The Everyday Inclusionist.” Beth is a DEIB expert, TEDx speaker, author, host of the “You Belong Here” podcast, and passionate advocate for “Self-Inclusion” – the work of taking back your own belonging. Known as “The Everyday Inclusionist,” she helps women discover doable, “everyday” steps that add up to realizing potential and belonging at their organizations and within themselves. Based in South Carolina, Beth partners with clients globally.

Brenda Thomson

Brenda Thomson, Executive Director, is an experienced leader and nonprofit business manager with expertise in board governance, human resources, advocacy, community relations and cultural competency. Thomson manages the daily operations of Arizona Humanities and advocates for the humanities statewide. Prior to joining Arizona Humanities, Brenda served as the Director of The Center for Law Leadership and Management at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU, and as Executive Director of the Maricopa County Bar Association. She currently serves on the boards of the Phoenix Historic Preservation Commission, Phoenix Burton Barr Library Advisory Board, George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center (President), and Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame. B.A. in English, Yale University. J.D., Yale Law School.

LaVanda Brown

LaVanda Brown has led YWCA Greater Charleston as executive director since February 2016, bringing over 30 years of experience in social services. She has guided various nonprofit and for-profit organizations, focusing on underserved populations in behavioral health, employment, and community services. Raised by civil rights advocates, LaVanda champions gender equality, diversity, and racial equity. Her efforts have earned her numerous awards, including the 2021 Trident Literacy Founder’s Award and the 2018 Martin Luther King, Jr. Picture Award. LaVanda holds degrees in psychology and sociology from Wesleyan College and a master's in counseling from Georgia Southern University. She is a proud mother and grandmother.

Tanya Rodriguez-Hodges

Tanya Rodriguez-Hodges is the Executive Director of Latino Community Development, a South Carolina-based 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering low-income Latino and Afro-Latino individuals through intercultural partnerships. Under her leadership, the organization provides essential services, including financial literacy, healthcare education, food distribution, and multilingual language support in Spanish, Burmese, Korean, and Mandarin, effectively addressing critical community needs. Her leadership emphasizes honoring heritage, fostering independence, and promoting affordable housing and health equity, aligning with the organization's vision of creating equitable communities where everyone thrives.

Speakers

The Power of Conversation | 11-13 September 2024 | Columbia, SC