Speakers
Proud to bring inspirational leaders and change agents from NYU Wagner and NYC
 Arthur T. Matthews, J.D.Arthur T. Matthews J.D. is the Chief Operating Officer and principal partner of Matthews & Matthews Consulting aka diversityofficers.com which is a boutique firm specializing in divergent aspects of labor, human capital management and the workforce. His clients are primarily government entities, corporations, non for profit organizations and labor unions. He currently serves on the faculty at NYU, Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations and the University of Arkansas. |  Hon. Dr. Anthony D. AndrewsAnthony D. Andrews Jr. holds a Masters in Public Administration and Ed.D. in Executive Leadership. He has served as Chief of Staff for NYC Council member, Thomas White Jr. He left the City Council in 1994 and became employed at York College (CUNY) as the Director of the Government and Community Relations. He is currently the Assistant Director of Student Activities, and an Adjunct Professor of Political Science. |  Tamara DewsMs. Dews currently works for Thomson Reuters (TR) as a Program Manager. In this role, she works to articulate the goals and objectives of various programs that impact TR’s Financial & Risk business. She works closely with the Managing Director and Head of Market Development & Operations to identify innovative solutions in developing the firm’s strategic plans to ensure continued growth and profitability. |
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 Robert Soriano-Hewitt, J.D.Robert Soriano-Hewitt is a Staff Attorney for The Legal Aid Society, our nation’s oldest and largest non-profit organization providing free legal services and policy advocacy on behalf of New York City's low-income families and individuals. As a staff attorney within its Housing Unit, Robert's primary responsibilities include: defending tenants in eviction proceedings, helping tenants obtain or preserve housing subsidies and public benefits, and advocating for the enforcement of housing safety. |  Quintin HaynesQuintin is an Alum of NYU Wagner. He has served as trusted adviser to the Obama Administration’s U.S. Secretaries of Commerce Rebecca Blank and Penny Pritzker. Prior to that appointment, Quintin served as the Director for Finance at the White House. He previously worked as the Director of Human Resources and Diversity/EEO Officer at NYC Mayor's Office. He is currently the Chief of Staff at the NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services. |  Chizzy IgbokweChizzy Igbokwe has spoken on stages around the world serving audiences at Proctor & Gamble in Toronto, The US Embassy’s American Center in Prague, and the Startup Institute in New York City, to name a few. She started her career as a brand marketing strategist turned event international event producer, turned community builder. In the past she has advised major corporations and global communities. |
 José DoblesJosé Dobles has over fifteen years of youth development and community organizing experience. He has been the Director of several youth leadership groups and provided community organizing trainings nationally as a Senior Program Associate for the Annenberg Institute for School Reform. He is currently a Program Manager at the NYC Department of Education Office of Community. Schools. José has won a number of awards for his commitment to social justice. |  Anthony ThomasAnthony Thomas has over fifteen years of experience in the fields of community organizing, youth development and environmental justice. He developed the organizing capacities of young people and community residents in the Bronx River/Soundview area of the Bronx, which resulted in over $30 million in investment for the redevelopment of the South Bronx waterfront. |
Leaders of a New Era
Our Roles as Black Leaders in Our Current Political Climate
Lunch, Workshops, Keynote, Reception & Networking
April 1, 2017
11:30am - 5:00pm
NYU Wagner's First Annual Black Alumni Conference, entitled "Leaders of a New Era," is intended to cultivate community among NYU Wagner’s Black alumni and student body. The conference is sponsored and supported by NYU Wagner administration, NYU Leadership Initiative, and NYU Center for Multicultural Education and Programs.
By hosting a conference, the Wagner Black Student Association (BSA) hopes to show that Black students are strongly supported at Wagner and that there is a strong connection and community among students of color. The BSA envisions that the conference will be a space for alumni/student mentorship and career opportunities as there will be workshops, speakers, and a networking lunch and reception.
For decades, many elite institutions (Harvard, Yale and Columbia, etc.) have recognized the value of supporting Black alumni conferences. However, there has not yet been a formal convening of this kind among the community of NYU Black alumni. We are inspired to establish this conference so that NYU Wagner alumni can learn from and formally meet other change agents and community leaders. This is a significant opportunity for both NYU Wagner and the University as a whole.
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AGENDA
11:30am-12:30pm | Registration and Informal Networking Lunch
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12:35pm-1:00pm | Opening Remarks
Jessica Reid (Wagner '13), Jermaine Blakely (BSA President)
Corey Blay (Associate Director for Graduate Leadership Programs)
Brian Alan Stern (Alumni Relations Director)
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1:05pm-2:05pm | Panel/Breakouts (2)
Group A
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Panel: What are our roles as leaders of color in local and federal politics in this current
political climate?"
Panelists: The Hon. Doctor Anthony Andrews (Assistant Director of Student Activities, York
College) | Tamara Dews (Past Senior Policy Advisor for Economic Development,
Current Program Manager at Thomas Reuters) | Robert Soriano-Hewitt, J.D. (Staff Attorney
for The Legal Aid Society)
Moderator: Quintin Haynes (Chief of Staff, NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services
Group B
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Workshop # 1: Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Black Community : How to Defy the Laws of Global Leadership Over the Next Four Years
Speaker: Chizzy Igbokwe (International Speaker)
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or
Workshop #2: People Power!: An Introduction to Community Organizing
Facilitators: Anthony Thomas (Community Organizer) and Jose Dobles (Program Manager at the NYC
Department of Education Office of Community Schools)
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2:05pm-2:15pm | Break 10 minutes
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2:15pm-3:15pm | Panel/Breakouts (2)
Group B
​
What are our roles as leaders of color in local and federal politics in this current
political climate?"
Panelists: The Hon. Doctor Anthony Andrews (Assistant Director of Student Activities, York
College) | Tamara Dews (Past Senior Policy Advisor for Economic Development,
Current Program Manager at Thomas Reuters) | Robert Soriano-Hewitt, J.D. (Staff Attorney
for The Legal Aid Society)
Moderator: Quintin Haynes (Chief of Staff, NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services)
Group A
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Workshop # 1: Entrepreneurship and Innovation in the Black Community : How to Defy the Laws of Global Leadership Over the Next Four Years
Speaker: Chizzy Igbokwe (International Speaker)
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or
Workshop #2: People Power!: An Introduction to Community Organizing
Facilitators: Anthony Thomas (Community Organizer) | Jose Dobles (Program Manager at the NYC Department of
Education Office of Community Schools)
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3:15pm-3:25pm | Break 10 minutes
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3:30pm-4:30pm | Keynote
Keynote Speaker: Arthur T. Matthews, J.D. (COO and Principal Partner at Matthews and Matthews Consulting; Adjunct Professor at NYU Wagner)
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4:30pm-Until | Closing Reception
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NYU Wagner BSA
What is the Wagner BSA?
The Black Student Association aims to provide support for our membership through academic and professional programming and to increase the presence of the Black community at Wagner through the recruitment and retention of Black students, faculty, and staff. We also aim to promote awareness of issues pertaining to the Black Diaspora through forums and service.
Sponsors
