Meet the Speakers
WANDA JOHNSON
Keynote Speaker
Mother of the movement. Community organizer.
Wanda is a motivational speaker and activist with a long history of community organizing and speaking to equity. When her son Oscar Grant Il was murdered by an Oakland BART transit officer on January 1, 2009, she embarked on a journey to turn that pain into purpose. Oakland's demand for justice ignited a national movement. Wanda's work also caught the attention of Forest Whittaker, who produced the hit film 'Fruitvale Station', telling the story of Oscar Grant's last day of life.
CHANDA SMITH BAKER
Moderator
Chanda Smith Baker has spent her 25-plus-year career at the intersection of philanthropy, business, government and community. An experienced CEO nationally renowned for her power and poise in leadership, Chanda has proven success leading complex organizations, recognizing and nurturing talent, and engaging and activating audiences toward racial equity and a broadened social impact. Smith Baker brings both her executive leadership experience in philanthropy and the credibility of a life and career spent advancing equity to Conversations with Chanda. Her interview style, rooted in her natural curiosity, love of reading and a deep knowledge of community issues, has struck a chord both locally and nationally.
Chanda is the Founder and CEO of Smith Baker, LLC, Co-Founder in Residence with The Black Collective Foundation, serves on the Board of Directors of several high impact organizations and a Co-Curator of Portraits of Us: A Book of Essays Centering Black Women Leading Philanthropy.
LISA CLEMONS
Panelist
Lisa is the founder and director of A Mother's Love Initiative in Minneapolis.
This grassroots organization is working to reduce gun & domestic violence in our community in order to build a better foundation for families to thrive & succeed.