2025 DEIJB Conference

Morning Keynote: Eva Vega-Olds

Making Meaningful Movement in the Age of DEIB Resistance

As DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) initiatives face increasing pushback, organizations and advocates face more significant challenges to meaningful, sustainable change. This climate demands a new level of resilience, adaptability, and innovative strategy to ensure DEIB work remains impactful, grounded, and resistant to the pressures that threaten to undermine it.

This workshop is designed to equip DEIB practitioners, leaders, and advocates with the tools and techniques to navigate and reimagine focus as we ride this wave. Participants will reflect on personal and professional growth areas to maintain the lengthening arc of change through leveraging trauma-informed and pro-community skills development.

About the Speaker

Eva Vega-Olds is an anti-bias, anti-racist educator and diversity, equity and  inclusion specialist with 20 years of professional experience creating change in schools, universities, nonprofit organizations and the corporate world. 

Eva creates DEI educational content tools and training resources, and leads group education through facilitated dialogue, interactive workshops and performance driven keynotes. Melding wellness with equity, emotional intelligence with practical skills building, Eva aspires to better prepare participants to take on the everyday work of personal and professional practices to heal the world. 

Eva is a vivacious introvert who engages in greenspaces for energy, creativity and soul healing by gardening, hiking, and year-round walking meditation in her suburban neighborhood in Rutherford, NJ.

Eva received a Master’s Degree in Sociology from the New School for Social  Research and is a Certified Professional Coach.

Afternoon Keynote: Dr. George James

I Give Myself Permission

I Give Myself Permission is Dr. George James' signature talk that will help uncover the multiple layers that keep us from giving ourselves permission, understand the burdens that weigh us down, provide tools to help each person start or continue practicing self care and lastly encourage each person to release any limits they have by giving themselves permission.

About the Speaker:

Dr. George James, LMFT, MBA and CEO of George Talks, is a renowned counselor and assistant professor at Thomas Jefferson University. He specializes in helping individuals with relationship struggles and personal development, serving a diverse clientele including professionals, couples, and young adults. Dr. James holds degrees in psychology, family therapy, business administration, and clinical psychology, and is recognized for his leadership and community service. In his personal life, he is a dedicated husband and father to two children.