Learn how to create lasting change

After spending nearly a quarter-century evolving into an Equity Influencer® myself, I am even more passionate and committed to helping people lead efforts to create inclusive, equitable environments where everyone feels valued, respected and challenged to continuously deepen their capacity to effectively meet the needs of the increasingly diverse populations they serve.

Equity Influencers understand that their own social identities impact why and how they lead stakeholders in small and large-scale movements to mitigate the impacts of inequities. Through leadership development, staff training, organizational consulting, and executive coaching I have supported leaders and staff to develop the competencies and determination to create more inclusive practices, policies, programs, and services and create the organizational infrastructure necessary for sustainable, systemic change.

I partner with Equity Influencers to design and implement strategic activities to increase the readiness for change, deepen internal capacity, and institutionalize shifts to transform organizational culture and daily practices.

I welcome the opportunity to talk with you about current issues and dynamics as well as your vision for a more inclusive, equitable organization and society.
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Reclaiming Black Education: Schooling is a Mechanism for Racial Control
2 Lessons
Free
Reclaiming Black Education: Schooling is a Mechanism for Racial Control
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About the Instructor
Shelley Henderson, ​M.S.Ed ​CEO & Principal Consultant/Lead Facilitator
Shelley M. Henderson is the Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion for FIRST—For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology—a global New Hampshire-based nonprofit that offers accessible, innovative programs to motivate young people to pursue education and career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and math, while building self-confidence, knowledge, and life skills. She leads its national STEM equity initiative to design and implement strategies that will not only improve the diversity of K-12 program participation but will also embed inclusion within the FIRST organization and field implementation. Shelley has defined and prioritized underrepresented and underserved populations to design laser-focused strategies aligned with metrics for optimal impact. A thought leader in this space, Shelley is a nationally-sought speaker and has contributed to Education World, Scholastic and the FIRST Inspire blogs.
About the Instructor
Equipping adults to address inequity and advance social justice has always been a priority throughout her professional journey. Shelley has spent over 20 years working as a youth development specialist, certified teacher, nonprofit executive, university program coordinator, community organizer, public policy advocate and volunteer for a number of organizations and initiatives locally and nationally. Because of her commitment to empowering a critical mass of equity-focused change agents, any given semester she is teaching adjunct courses at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and Nebraska Methodist College ensuring that pre-service teachers and health care practitioners are culturally responsive.

Shelley earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education and her Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision of Secondary Schools from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. She is a student in the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Education Policy, Organization & Leadership Department’s Doctor of Education program studying Diversity & Equity in Education with an emphasis in Human Resource Development.



"Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time," Marian Wright Edelman. This is Shelley's personal conviction and joy.  Shelley lives in Omaha, Nebraska with her five children. She spends too much time on social media--sharing professional resources, social justice rants and her personal journey. Follow her on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Ask her what she’s reading if you come in contact with Shelley as she is an avid reader as well.