Dominique C. Hill
She/Her/Hers

Dominique C. Hill, PhD, is a citizen of the world committed to scholarship, cultural work, and creative practices that foreground the voices and experiences of often disappeared and/or silences populations. Her interdisciplinary scholarship utilizes methodologies that oppose pathologizing and flattened narratives of Black experience and is dedicated to developing theories and practices that emanate from the lived experiences of Black girls and women. She devises and makes legible how girls and women' bodily movements and presence traverse, shift, and critique cultural and educational spaces and generating and making legible theories and knowledge produced at the nexus of race, gender. Overall her scholarship sutures the academic fields of Black and women of color feminism, Black expressive culture, qualitative inquiry, girls’ studies, and critical pedagogy as articulated through the disciplines of Gender Women & Sexuality Studies, Education Policy, and Cultural Studies. Hill is the 2017 recipient of the Illinois Distinguished Qualitative Dissertation Award in experimental design and an A. Lindsay O' Connor Fellow in Women's Studies at Colgate University.

AJ Holly Huth
She/Her/Hers
AJ Holly Huth is originally from Tampa, Florida. She graduated August 2000 from The University of South Florida with a Bachelor of Arts. AJ has lived in Las Vegas for several years with her wife, daughter, and their dog. During her time in Las Vegas, she has immersed herself in activism and advocacy for the LGBTQIA2 communities. In 2009, she began working as an in-home mental health provider. AJ decided to go back to school and in August 2014 received a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from The University of Phoenix. During her time in school, AJ worked for Elements of Motivation, Gender Justice Nevada, while completing internships at Community Counseling Center of Southern Nevada’s satellite location at Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services and Mobile Mental Health. AJ is currently the Youth Services Manager and PREP Coordinator at The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada. She facilitates QVolution and special projects like Youth Thanksgiving and Youth Prom as well as co-facilitating Pivot.  In addition to those duties, she also teaches Comprehensive Sex Education at The Center and at other partnering facilities.

Kate Blanchard, Managing Director, Alumni Impact 
Kate Blanchard is the Managing Director of the Learner Variability and Special Education Initiative at Teach For America.  The Initiative works to propel Teach For America staff and participants forward in their leadership development for systems change and educational equity – particularly when it comes to addressing ableism, and the ways in which it intersects with racism, classism, and other forms of systemic oppression.  

Kate collaborates with internal and external partners and advocates on disability justice, the neuroscience and theory behind Learner Variability and Universal Design for Learning, and the mindsets, knowledge, and skills leaders need to use the system of special education as a tool of empowerment, rather than a tool of oppression. Kate has worked in education for more than a decade. She was a 2005 elementary special education teacher in Las Vegas and taught at Robert Lunt Elementary (go, Lions!). She then joined Teach For America staff as a teacher coach and has worked in education systems and programs ever since. Kate holds a Juris Doctor, a Master’s degree in Special Education, and a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature. She currently resides in Omaha, Nebraska.

Dr. Durell Callier
He/Him/His

Durell M. Callier, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Educational Leadership at Miami University. Situated at the intersection of queer, cultural, and educational studies, his current research analyzes how Black expressive culture created by Black, queer youth, girls, and women through informal educational institutions and practices are used toward Black survival and knowledge creation.  His research and teaching focuses on the ways Black and queer performances of culture and memory through literary texts, embodied performances and visual art act as educative sites for staging critical resistance, practicing and actualizing freedom.  In his research and creative projects, he employs feminist and queer methodologies to explore issues of race, gender, sexuality, love, violence and belonging. An artist-scholar Callier has also written, performed, and produced plays (Tell It!: A Contemporary Chorale for Black Youth Voices), performance texts (Bodies on Display; Love, Funk, and Other Thangs; Connected, OUT) and created mixed media art installations (disclosure, Staging Blackqueer Possibilities)

Ashante Herring
She/Her/Hers

Ashante Herring is the Lead Youth Program Volunteer at the Gay & Lesbian Center of Southern Nevada. She has taught for five years in Las Vegas Valley, with a focus on LGBTQIA+ representation, gender identity, self-acceptance, and social kindness infused throughout her curriculum. She is from El Paso, Texas and has a master’s degree in Education with a focus on Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Nevada - Las Vegas.

Drake Allsop, Managing Director, Alumni Impact 
Drake taught in the Las Vegas Valley for seven years and began his journey as a 2010 Las Vegas corps member. He believes deeply in the power of meaningful adult learning experiences and has held a variety of roles from leading teachers in CCSD's Math Cadre to leading new corps members as a Teacher Education Facilitator during Teach for America Las Vegas' Institute. He is also an avid hiker and a fervent Golden Knights fan. He looks forward to partnering with alumni in Las Vegas to achieve their desired impact towards ending educational inequity within our community.

Stephen Barney
He/Him/His
Stephen Barney is the Summit Coordinator for the Las Vegas Summit. Originally from Phoenix, he moved to Las Vegas to join the Corps in 2016 after graduating from the University of Arizona.  He has been teaching middle school English at his placement school, Mike O'Callaghan I^3 Learn Academy, for the last three years, going on year four. In addition to teaching, he has been the Drama Club adviser, the improv team coach, soon to be archery team assistant coach, and the adviser for the Equality Club. Advising O'Callaghan's Equality Club has been his favorite part of teaching, and has impacted his focus as an educator and leader within Teach For America, and the educational world at large. Queer students are often overlooked and their experiences are too seldom shared in the classroom. Stephen hopes to change the conversation and make sure queer students and stories are not only heard, but celebrated in ways that other stories are. With this in mind, he is so thrilled to support the Las Vegas region in hosting one of Teach For America's Brave Education Summits.

John Waldron, Ed.D
He/Him/His
John Waldron, Ed.D, is the current Executive Director of The Center in Southern Nevada. John spent 25 years in newspaper advertising operations, where the teams he led consistently won many local, national, and international awards for creativity and design in newspaper over two decades. During his time in the newspaper business, John helped create the leadership development program LEAP. LEAP is a six-month course for emerging and seasoned leaders that helps participants discover and create greater purpose in their roles as leaders. John continued to coach and mentor leaders while working with Opportunity Village and Boyd Gaming in las Vegas. John has worked with local organizations to raise funds and provide school supplies for local elementary students in at-risk communities, serves a mentor to junior and senior students at UNLV, and worked with students in both private and public schools in Las Vegas facilitating events helping prepare students to succeed as leaders. John is a proud member of the LGBTQ family and considers it an honor to work with the team at The Center to strengthen its role in serving the LGBTQ community in Southern Nevada.

Tim'm West
He/Him/His

Tim'm West is a pioneering author, poet, educator, and Hip Hop artist who can be best described as a Renaissance man, leveraging a broad and diverse set of skills and interests to advocate for marginalized communities. Since 2014, he has served as Senior Managing Director for Teach For America's LGBTQ+ Community Initiative, which advances safer and more supportive classrooms for students and their educators. Since returning to his hometown of Cincinnati in 2017, Tim'm has served his community as a CPS Strategic Planning and Engagement Committee member, a Wordplay Board member, and member of the Chase Elementary LSDMC, among other points of engagement. Tim’m taught at both secondary and post-secondary institutions, including Oakland School for the Arts, Cesar Chavez in Washington, DC, Humboldt State University, and Houston Community College. Prior to TFA Tim’m served as Director of Youth Services at Center on Halsted, Chicago’s LGBTQ center and the largest in the Midwest. A graduate of Duke, The New School, and Stanford universities, In 2018 Tim'm released his definitive music anthology, Prodigal Son, which captures 20 years of Hip Hop soul music across 6 solo projects.

Jotina Buck
She/Her/Hers
An Educator by life’s calling, Jotina Buck has over 10 years of experience & education as a spiritual teacher, minister, thought leader, Soul alchemist and healer. She has served as a teacher and now school counselor at KIPP Prime College Prep Academy for 7 years and currently serves on Teach For America’s Houston’s Prism Board as one of its proud non-alum leaders. The Amazon Best-Selling Author of Change Your Language, Change Your Life, Jotina has been featured in several publications including Huffington Post, Houston Chronicle, Humble Observer, Essence, Fox, CNN, KPRC, iHeart Radio, and other global platforms. She received her Bachelors of Science in Psychology & Child Development at Houston Baptist University and a Masters in Professional Counseling at Houston Graduate School of Theology. A complete soul child who believes in love as her religion, she is a rebel with a cause, and an advocate for social justice & human equity. As important as anything, Jotina is the proud mother of an intelligent high schooler, Lauryn. For booking and more details on her books visit www.jotinabuck.com.

Samual Farrand
He/Him/His or They/Them/Theirs
Samual is currently a sophomore in high school. He enjoys drawing and mixed arts, as well as being around and riding horses. Samual relocated from Idaho and has taken notice of the extreme differences between Boise and Las Vegas. LGBTQIA+ pride is not as big in Idaho and getting a job can be difficult. A frequent excuse Samual heard was "looking gay". Samual is participating in the panel to be a stronger voice for his community. He knows how far it has come and believes there is much more that needs to be done.

Ethan Dodds
He/Him/His
Ethan is in the 10th grade. He plays the guitar, loves to draw, and never gets sleep. Ethan's middle school was not the most accepting environment and he used to get teased for his identity. Ethan attended a high school that focused on art and creativity and enjoyed being in an environment where the students and staff were so accepting. Unfortunately, he transferred to a new school and initially felt the need to go back in the closet. Ethan wants to share how critical it is for educators to be supportive of their students so that they can flourish.

Olive Da Silva
They/Them/Theirs
Olive is a sophomore in high school and has identified as non-binary for over a year and a half. Olive enjoys drawing, sculpting, studying, photography, and reading. Their friends would consider them to be the artistic parental friend. Olive knows the impact that educators can have on students and wants to provide insight into the ways educators can improve their practice with regards to LGBTQIA+ and non-binary students.

Chrystal Morrison
She/Her/Hers
Chrystal is an 18-year-old adamant transwoman that has been through a somewhat difficult high school life. She dealt with teachers in a very hands-on way to help educate them on LGBT customs and boundaries, and specifically on transgender people. Chrystal went to a high school in Georgia and relocated to Las Vegas due to the lack of support and acceptance from her dad and stepmother. Chrystal has always fought to be herself and upon graduation, had formed many meaningful relationships with faculty members that understood her and accepted her as the woman Chrystal is today, despite being unable to present as such at the time. Chrystal is excited to participate in the panel and provide guidance on the ways educators can interact with students to ensure they are providing a more supportive classroom experience for all students.

Alex Bybee
He/Him/His
Alex sees educational equity as a moral imperative that is required to fulfill America's promise to our children and families. He brings this truth to his role as the Director of Strategic Partnerships for Communities in Schools of Nevada—an affiliate of the nation's leading dropout prevention organization that serves close to 70,000 students in 68 schools across Southern, Western and Northeastern Nevada.

He is proud to sit on the National Board of Governors for the Human Rights Campaign which envisions a world where LGBTQ people are ensured of their basic equal rights, and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community. Fair warning: If you become Alex's friend, chances are he'll likely ask you to donate to causes he's engaged in.

Outside of education nonprofits and politics, he loves interior design, the arts and being in nature. He is a lifelong Nevadan and lives in Las Vegas with his partner and two rescue dogs. Connect with him on LinkedIn or tweet him at @AlexBybeeNV.

Alray Nelson

He/Him/His

Alray Nelson is a movement builder & innovator of change from the Navajo Nation. With 18 years of community organizing and campaign management experience, he was a senior advisor for two Navajo Nation Presidents, served as the Native American Vote Organizer for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and was the Native American Outreach Director for the gubernatorial campaign that elected New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.  Now the Director of Communications & Partnerships at Teach For America, Alray is the founder and lead organizer for Diné Equality – one of the largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations in the country. He is a recipient of the prestigious Nááts'íilid Rainbow Champion Award and was honored by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development as a Top 40 Native American Leader Under 40. Alray is a nationally-renowned leader for indigenous human rights and continues to dedicate his life to mentoring young people in Sovereign Nations around the United States. He resides in the Four Corners region with his partner Brennen, just served his second year as the Board Chairman of the Equality New Mexico Foundation, and is gearing up to be a political consultant for several 2020 Democratic presidential candidates.

Erika Vilar

She/Her/Hers

Erika Vilar is the Executive Director of T.R.Y - Trauma Recovery Yoga, and teaches classes in Las Vegas at the Downtown Yoga and Wellness Co-op. The mission of Trauma Recovery Yoga is to “help people, help people.”  They aim to raise the I.Q. of emotional intelligence globally, inspiring compassion with ripples of healing pain, disease, suffering, isolation, and violence.  It calls into action acceptance, empathy, social justice, and shared experience without fear of judgment or shame, empowering others while inspiring a more inclusive society.

Tristan Willar 

They/Them/Theirs or He/Him/His

Tristan is in the 9th grade and loves amateur radio. They love the idea of communicating without the need of a cell phone or the internet. Now that Tristan is coming into their own with regards to their gender identity, they have realized that more can be done when supporting students. Tristan is ready to experience a greater focus in schools on acknowledging LGBTQIA+ contributions and increasing the awareness and accommodations for students. Tristan is looking forward to participating in the panel to provide greater clarity for allies.