November 7-8  2024 
Virtual Conference Keynote  Speakers
Julia Mejia
Melinda Kremer
​Marques Benton
​All On The Zoom Platform

FREEDOM ON THE TABLE
Defending Democracy, Decency, & DEI

WHERE ARE WE?
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Thursday, November 7, 2024
10 am - 12 am Eastern
JULIA MEJIA

At Carole's November 2018 Multicultural Conference, Julia Mejia was one of the distinguished speakers and ended up announcing her candidacy for the Boston City Council at that very event. She ran for an At-Large seat and ended up winning her election by ONE vote!
Here's her story.
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Boston City Councilor, At-Large, Councilor Julia Mejia is a trailblazer and a dedicated community advocate serving as the Chair of the Committee on Government Accountability, Transparency, and Accessibility in the Boston City Council.
She also serves as the vice chair on the committees for Education, Housing & Development, and Labor, Workforce, & Economic Development.


Born in the Dominican Republic, City Councilor Mejia's journey to Dorchester at the age of 5 shaped her dedication to advocacy from an early age. Raised by a single, undocumented mother, she learned to navigate through the many social service systems and institutions and to advocate on behalf of her needs and those of her family and community.


As the 1st person to graduate from Boston Public Schools and college, Mejia's dedication to justice and equity led her into the role of a community organizer. Her focus was on empowering and investing in the capabilities of individuals across diverse socioeconomic, age, and gender spectrums, enabling them to participate in the political processes that shape their neighborhoods. Making history by winning her first term with a single vote, she became the first Afro-Latina to hold a seat on the Boston City Council.


Over two terms, Councilor Mejia has successfully led the passage of 15 pieces of legislation, highlighting her dedication to advancing policies that invest in Boston's diverse communities. With a belief in addressing the holistic needs of all individuals and a commitment that extends beyond legislative accomplishments, Mejia has secured millions of dollars to address the social, emotional, and financial needs of Boston's constituents.
One of her lasting contributions is the establishment of the Government Accountability, Transparency, and Accessibility Committee within the City Council. Recognizing the significance of government oversight and compliance, Mejia actively works towards measuring the success of protocols, policies, and procedures to tackle persistent issues in education, housing, and transportation.


Now as she enters her third term, City Councilor Julia Mejia remains focused on unifying Boston residents across their differences to bring about meaningful change. Her leadership exemplifies a commitment to inform, influence and inspire to ensure that the Boston City Council and Departments serve the diverse needs of all Bostonians. She actively works towards dismantling barriers and encourages increased participation in the political process because we know that nothing about us, without us, is for us.


To stay connected with Team Mejia and their ongoing efforts, connect through social media at @Juliaforboston on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Joy On Wheels

Salute To Wheelchair Dancing
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Thursday, November 7, 2024
7pm - 8:30 pm Eastern
MELINDA KREMER & The American DanceWheels Foundation

The mission of the American DanceWheels Foundation
(ADF) is to teach the social, rehabilitative, and competitive activity of adaptive Ballroom and Latin Dance to persons with and without disabilities. The Foundation meets this goal by providing training to persons who use wheelchairs and persons who stand, including dance teachers, recreational and occupational therapists, and adaptive sports professionals. 

The Foundation utilizes its own trademarked [and validated] adaptive dance syllabus and employs a certification process for dance teachers and therapists to further disseminate the program. The Foundation undertakes a role in disability advocacy and awareness by offering seminars, demonstrations, and exhibitions of adaptive dance to people of all abilities. 

2024 marks American DanceWheel's 20th anniversary and the launch of our groundbreaking, original dance production, Better Together. The production provides a visual platform of dance, storytelling, and music that changes hearts and minds, giving people the understanding, knowledge, and respect that should be routed in every human encounter.

Where Are We Headed???

Where Are We Headed Beyond The 2024 Elections???
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Friday, November 8, 2024
10 am - 12:00 pm Eastern
MARQUES BENTON

Marques Benton is the Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer at Loomis, Sayles & Company. He joined Loomis Sayles in 2020 from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, where, as Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, he was responsible for implementing a comprehensive strategy to effectively integrate diversity and inclusion into the bank's culture, management practices, talent acquisition, and business activities. 

Previously, as an officer in the bank's public and community affairs department, Marques worked with public and private partnerships at federal, state, and local levels to help thousands of low-to-moderate-income families build, save, and preserve assets and achieve greater financial stability. 

He is a member of the board of trustees for the Boys and Girls Clubs and the board of directors for the Forte Foundation. Marques earned a BA in economics from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and an MBA from the FW Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College.