Garden State Equality’s annual symposium on inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility in the workplace, Equality at Work 2025, will bring together business and nonprofit leaders, advocates, educators, college students, retirees and other stakeholders.
“In light of the attacks on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, it is more important than ever for our New Jersey companies and organizations to take the first step towards equity,” said Brielle Winslow-Majette, Deputy Director at Garden State Equality, the largest LGBTQ+ advocacy organization in New Jersey. “That starts with learning what an inclusive workplace looks like.”
Equality at Work 2025, which will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 11, at Bell Works in Holmdel, will include four workshop tracks: Corporate, Healthcare, Education, and Young Professionals. Go here for registration information.
“The workplace covers a multitude of locations, and that includes the classroom and school building,” said Justine Evyn Saliski, senior director of Education & Youth Development at Garden State Equality. “We are excited to be able to bring an educational track to the symposium this year, because for youth, sometimes their only inclusive space is the classroom.”
Also new at this year’s symposium is the health and wellness track. “Participants in this track will learn about various aspects of gender-affirming care, best practices for ensuring LGBTQ+ people feel welcome in healthcare settings, and more,” said Layla Orlando, director of Health Equity & Wellness at Garden State Equality.
“The addition of specific tracks has made it easier to ensure that our participants have a tailor-made experience,” said Winslow-Majette. “This has allowed us to pack the agenda with insightful sessions, including a special ‘Know Your Civil Rights’ presentation by the New Jersey Department on Civil Rights.”
A keynote panel of Black and Brown queer women working to advance inclusion across industries will headline the symposium. Panelists include:
- Dominique Jackson, model, actress, and author who is best known for her performance as the lead role Elektra in the television show POSE on FX, and a staunch advocate for representation of the trans community.
- Chisa Hutchinson, playwright and screenwriter, whose work forces her audiences to confront topics of social justice and intersectionality, such as her play “She Like Girls,” which featured New Jersey’s fallen soldier Sakia Gunn.
- Shanesia Davis, a chief talent officer and distinguished leadership expert known for developing high-performing teams, fostering strong workplace cultures, and leading transformational change.
- Suffiyah Webb, board-certified pediatric dentist, who operates a private practice in downtown Newark and believes in the importance of prevention, patient and family education, and total body wellness.
- Marta Esquilin, a social justice educator, higher education administrator, communications expert, and organizational consultant who serves as the board chair of CLAGS, the oldest LGBTQ research center in the country.
- Shenelle Brooks, a SHRM-certified HR professional with over 10 years of experience in talent management and recruitment, who has led global DEI strategies for Fortune 500 companies.
The symposium also features a variety of workshops and offers attendees the opportunity to visit Wellness Space, a relaxing room full of calming activities. Participants can end the day by attending an after-symposium event with drinks, music and classic games.
Equality at Work is sponsored by Fiserv; Ingredion; Hackensack Meridian Health; Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey; Lyft; PSEG; RWJBarnabas Health; Sills, Cummis, & Gross P.C.; and Jersey Freeze.
