Ariel Vegosen, Founder, CEO & Lead Facilitator
Ariel Vegosen is a professional inclusivity and diversity trainer, workshop facilitator, writer, educator, consultant, coach, and public speaker. For over 20 years Ariel has facilitated trainings, workshops, and retreats for organizations, corporations, nonprofits, schools, communities, and faith based groups. This work has taken Ariel all over the US and internationally. Ariel has facilitated Inclusivity Trainings for major tech companies as well as major policy institutes. Ariel is an ordained Hebrew Priestess and ritualist. Ariel's work focuses on intersectionality, commitment to working from an anti-oppression lens, and creating communities across diverse cultural backgrounds. Ariel loves to play with pronouns, bring joy into all aspects of life, and creatively spark conversations and connections.
Contact: ariel@shinediversity.com
Shalonda Ingram, Facilitator & Strategist
Leveraging decades of experience, Shalonda Ingram is an innovator who embodies this mantra; Strategize. Design. Produce. Shalonda is committed to elevating consciousness and empowering the collective liberation. Shalonda has deployed worldwide for the transformation of people, principles, practices, and systems. Shalonda works with social justice, spiritual and corporate organizations to explore network effect and elevate opportunities for resource sharing while scaling. Shalonda is committed to the creation of whole, connected communities that thrive by building structures of clarity, capacity enhancement and trust. Shalonda has consulted for a range of clients; from the grassroots artists to the enterprise tops. Assisting with product development, experience design and special events. Intersecting creativity and enterprise; Shalonda has served on many boards, commissions and advisory councils.
Contact: shalonda@shinediversity.com
Liat Melnick, Facilitator & Curriculum Writer
Liat is a consultant and curriculum writer with a focus on faith based experience. Liat earned a B.A. from Goucher College where they studied Religion, Psychology and Judaic Studies and is a graduate of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality and Mindfulness. Liat specializes in pronouns, Hebrew language, Judaic texts, summer camp and school environments. Liat serves on the advisory board of Stony Point Center and the Community of Living Traditions, a multi-faith intentional community dedicated to the practice and study of hospitality, nonviolence and justice.
Contact: liat@shinediversity.com
Marlon Williams, JEDI Assessment Expert & Policy Writer
Marlon is a public servant skilled in leading large scale multi stakeholder initiatives. Marlon’s career has focused on improving the economic, social and physical wellbeing of all urban residents with particular emphasis on increasing access and opportunity for low income families and communities of color. Marlon previously served as Director of Cross Agency Partnership for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene where he worked with City agencies to identify opportunities for various City programs, policies and planning processes to maximize the potential to improve the health of local residents. His work includes the Jobs-Plus workforce development program for public housing, financial empowerment programs, and policies. He also served as a Policy Adviser for the Deputy Mayor of New York City focused on housing, economic empowerment and aging. He is a graduate of New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service where he earned a Masters in Public Policy. He has traveled extensively to study issues of urban development in Brazil, South Africa, China and India. He is an avid triathlete and dancer. Specialties: Economic Empowerment, Domestic Violence, Housing, Public Health Community Development, Financial Management, Aging, Public Policy
Contact: marlon@shinediversity.com
Gerardo “gera” Omar Marín, Facilitator & Consultant
GeRa was raised in the Chihuahua desert border of El Paso, TX is Indigenous/MeXicano/Latino of mixed Guachichil Chichimecatl, Ashkenazi, & Spanish descent. He is a passionate Facilitator, Thriving Teams Consultant, Traditional Mexican Healing Arts Practitioner and Deep Fulfillment Coach rooted in interfaith values of love, compassion, determination, and service. He is based in San Antonio, TX (Yanaguana/Somi-Sek) where he serves community-led organizations, youth empowerment networks, leaders, and mission-driven businesses to achieve success on their highest terms. Bilingual facilitation.
Contact: gera@shinediversity.com
Q Wilson, Facilitator & Policy Writer
Q brings non-profit and corporate experience to a deep reserve of skills and practice gained from group leadership in a range of organizations from small business through Fortune 500, conferences, workshops, and academia. Q holds a B.A. in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of South Carolina with a specialization in public relations. He has held his ATD Trainer certification since 2012. With a background in activism spanning two decades, Q has consistently worked to support community ties, and build bridges between communities using the powerful presence of authenticity, a gift for rapport and trust building, and an understanding of the value of relationship capital. Q is able to create comfortable learning environments especially when exploring challenging topics such as gender identity, LGBTQ culture, and gender expression. He has a passion for exploring the intersectionality of complex identities in the workplace, starting with his own and using this as a foundation for trust and credibility.
Contact: q@shinediversity.com
Mija, facilitator, Curriculum Writer & Consultant
Mija is a facilitator with 20+ years of experience. They offer workshops and trainings focused on gender, sexuality, decolonization, HIV/STI prevention, and trans affirming competency for health-care providers. Mija is motivated by Indigenous brilliance. They fight foraccountability and liberation, resisting notions that suggest colonial ideals, beliefs, andpractices are superior. Mija rejects a gender binary that confines bodies and identities totoxic policies and posturing. Mija has presented in person and online for corporations, secondary schools, universities, retirement communities, centers for teen parents, youth groups, community organizations, and Indigenous gatherings.
Contact: mija@shinediversity.com
Elsa Asher, MS, BCST, Consultant & Facilitator
Elsa is a somatics practitioner, full-spectrum doula, and workshop facilitator. They grew up on Duwamish land and live on Lenape land. Elsa is Sefardi, Ashkenazi, and white European, trans, queer, and neurodivergent. They hold a MS in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University, a BA in Healing & the Humanities from Antioch University, and multiple certifications in body-based trauma resolution and facilitation, with a focus on gender, sexuality, the perinatal period, and healing developmental and intergenerational trauma.
Contact: elsa@shinediversity.com