People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond first introduced me to the concepts of structural racism and white supremacy.

Community Change Inc. provided decades of a supportive and nurturing home for me as a white person learning to take on racism.

Peggy McIntosh sharpened my perspective and writing when authoring The Education of a White Parent.

Race Forward’s national conferences equipped me with critical analysis from many of the most strategic racial justice organizers in the U.S. 

Cynthia Parker and many other colleagues at Interaction Institute for Social Change have helped me to continuously hone my training and facilitation skills, particularly as a white facilitator working in multiracial spaces.

john a. powell has pushed me to think in new and provocative ways about the intersections of race and community.

Community organizers in the NeighborWorks network filled in a lot of the gaps in my own understanding of community organizing.

For my earliest learnings, I thank my parents and honor their memory:

Norman Naimark taught me, from an early age, that people of all backgrounds and identities bring value to society, and that it is the responsibility of all of us to stand up to social injustice.

Helen Naimark passed on to me a strong sense of fairness, the skills of staying organized, and a path to serving as a humble leader within community organizations.