FEATURING
Tawanna A. Black - Founder & CEO, Center for Economic Inclusion
Tawanna A. Black is a nationally recognized thought leader known for influencing, inspiring, and equipping cross-sector leaders to transform a personal conviction for equality into actions that produce equitable and thriving communities.
In 2017, Tawanna launched the Center for Economic Inclusion, the nation’s first organization dedicated exclusively to creating inclusive regional economies by equipping public and private sector employers to dismantle institutional racism and build shared accountability for inclusive economic growth.
As Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Tawanna leads a team of people who offer ground-breaking consulting products and services to move businesses and local and regional governments from diversity and inclusion programs to triple bottom line results that are good for employees, employers, and communities; foster shared accountability for regional inclusive growth; change the narrative about the economic imperative and value of closing racial wealth gaps.
Tawanna is a Non-Resident Senior Fellow of the Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program. She has a Bachelor of Public Administration Degree from Washburn University in Topeka, KS.
Tiffany Wilson-Worsley - Director, Employer Learning & Engagement, Center for Economic Inclusion
Tiffany Wilson-Worsley leads the Center for Economic Inclusion’s work to build the knowledge and capacity of public- and private-sector employers in ways that position their leaders to take, sustain, and scale anti-racist, data-informed and market-responsive actions. She works collaboratively across all Center departments and with clients to develop and support the fidelity of design and implementation of the Center's approach to anti-racist, systemic change.
Tiffany joined the Center with more than 10 years of experience in racial equity work to eradicate generational poverty. Her discipline, analytical skills, and personal investment in racial equity and economic inclusion are key assets to the Center.
Tiffany is trained in the Collective Impact model using a Results-Based Accountability and anti-racism approach to ensure alignment in cross-sector partnerships to achieve bold outcomes and catalytic impact. She believes that by establishing then fostering key partnerships and relationships, better performance results and racial equity and inclusive growth is advanced.
Tiffany studied Psychology at Grambling State University and received a Master of Education in Family Education from the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development.
PANELISTS
Khadija Ali
Khadija Ali - Founder & CEO, Global Language & Staffing Connections
Khadija is a successful entrepreneur in the language services, staffing and cultural competence industries, and she has become a leader in creating opportunities for immigrant communities.
Born in Somalia, Khadija immigrated with her family to the United States in 1996, via the refugee camp in Kenya. After high school and learning English in school, she began serving as an interpreter for her family members. An experience within her own family, where language became a life-threatening barrier to health, led her to pursue a career in health care.
While studying nursing she worked as a medical assistant, then as a medical interpreter, before founding her own interpreter agency. Khadija saw a growing workforce shortage, and immigrant communities with great work ethic, but not all the skills to fill those jobs. She began to understand that future economic vitality depends on accelerating the success of immigrants. In 2015, she founded Global Language & Staffing Connections, to focus beyond language services, to include staffing and recruiting, and teaching cultural competence to corporations and other organizations. These organizations are seeing measurable improvements in employee recruiting, retention, and productivity.
Amran A. Farah
Amran A. Farah - Partner, Greene Espel
Amran Farah is an experienced investigator, litigator, and counselor with a tenacious knack for identifying creative solutions to complex problems. Amran provides investigation-related guidance and strategic counseling to clients confronting challenges and opportunities in the workplace. She assists cities and national employers to address sensitive workplace matters and conducts employment investigations related to claims of discrimination, retaliation, fraud, toxic workplace culture, and sexual harassment.
Additionally, Amran conducts DEI audits and review, and provides strategic advice and counseling about potential litigation.
In addition to her employment practice, Amran litigates complex commercial matters in an array of areas, including breaches of contract, construction, and social media. She has broad experience successfully representing clients in state and federal court, as well as arbitration proceedings.
Amran’s talents are widely recognized. She was awarded Minnesota Lawyer’s Attorney of the Year award and recognized by Best Lawyers as “One to Watch.” The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal also selected her as a 2021 40 under 40 honoree. Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith selected Amran to serve on the Judicial Selection Committee for the open seat on the federal court bench, and appointed her to the selection committee to select Minnesota’s U.S. Attorney and U.S. Marshall, and Amran is routinely asked to assist in hiring executive officers.
Dr. Angela Spranger