Join us for a virtual panel discussion Wednesday, April 27, featuring local experts in education and diversity, equity, and inclusion that will examine the origins and dispel misconceptions of Critical Race Theory. Breakout conversations as well as a Q&A session will follow the panel, which will be moderated by YWCA Princeton Mission Chair and Board Member, Laila Wilson of Centurion, and Dwaine Williamson, Esq., the Williamson Law Firm.
Meet our Panelists:
Monique Jones, Stuart Country Day School
Monique L. Jones is a mother, sister, therapist, educator, and advocate with a passion for equity and justice for marginalized communities.
A native of Oceanside, CA, Monique earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and African American Studies from Pepperdine University in Malibu, CA, a Master of Divinity degree with a concentration in Theology and Women’s Studies from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ, and a Master of Social Work degree with a focus in Clinical Social Work from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ.
Monique’s professional, community, and ministry experience includes over four years in immigration l aw at Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP; interning with the United States Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pension Committee and India Sunday School Union in Tamil Nadu, India; a fellowship with Community Voices Heard in East Harlem, NY where she focused on the areas of quality job access and affordable housing; Commissioner on the Princeton Human Services Commission Board; Youth & Young Adult Minister at Union Baptist Church i n Trenton, NJ; Parent Education & Community Outreach Coordinator for the Princeton Public School District i n Princeton, NJ where she co-led the district’s Diversity Council and middle school Equity Team; and Parent and Community Engagement Coordinator for Dallas Independent School District’s Racial Equity Office where she facilitated DEI training workshops for its 22,000 employee staffed school district, as well as local civic and professional departments.
She is currently the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Stuart Country Day School i n Princeton, NJ; Associate Therapist with Princeton Family Institute where she provides psychotherapy and education to individuals, couples and families; and Board Trustee for Camp Dudley, Inc., a nonprofit organization enabling campers to lead lives characterized by devotion to others through the development of moral, personal, physical and leadership skills. She enjoys reading, bonfires and beachside waves, food festivals, training for marathons, traveling and simply laughing.
Kendra Lee, Mercer County One-Stop and Workforce Development Board
The name Kendra Lee is synonymous with ‘Excellence in Womanhood!’ Without a doubt, anyone who has interfaced with her will attest to this. She consistently exudes a subtly powerful presence within the local and state community, with her efforts best evidenced by her twenty-five years of community service endeavors as a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. During her membership with the Trenton Alumnae Chapter, Kendra chaired the Program Planning Committee, Social Action Committee, along with the youth groups for elementary through high school youth: Reading Adventures, Delta Academy, and Delta GEMS. Notable highlights of her contributions are the chapter’s locally acclaimed Black History Programs which incorporate the talents of all community youth in high-quality performances to multi-year sold-out crowds. Additionally, Mrs. Lee led the planning team that facilitated a successful virtual ‘2020 Girls Summit’ that has expanded internationally by forging connections in Bermuda and Germany! Additionally, she is the Vice-President of the non-profit board Positive Black Images Connect, which focuses on celebrating the beauty and power of Black people collectively through cultural, economic and community initiatives. She uses her creativity and trailblazer mentality to inspire those around her to envision unforeseeable possibilities to change can’t into can.
So often, we meet people who achieve great feats in the world. But it is a rarity to find someone who mirrors that level of distinction within their family. Kendra’s role as a dedicated wife, mother, and friend are her most extraordinary achievements. She is a strong and committed partner to her husband, modeling what a positively impactful family can be. She and her husband proudly celebrate their children’s achievements including academic and athletic scholarships, earning high honors distinctions while in college and getting an excellent start to their careers in law, finance and medicine. Her youngest son is a skilled scholar athlete who is confident in his potential to excel. Kendra, alongside her husband, entrenched family values through actions. If children are there presentative fruit of their family tree, it is evident Kendra’s branches strongly reach down into the roots.
“What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains.” Kendra possesses a heart for service to others and this is also true as it relates to her long-term career at the Mercer County One-Stop Career Center and Workforce Development Board as the Deputy Director of Programs. She dedicates her time to translating vision into comprehensive strategic plans to improve the performance and productivity of the local workforce development system. Mrs. Lee engages with industry leaders, local employers, educational institutions and community and governmental agencies for the benefit of her customer base. She awards grants, creates policy, develops and monitors programming and initiatives, and coordinates services and events that positively impact the community. She is committed to finding creative ways to assist diverse populations in pursing life changing opportunities, with a particular focus on New Jersey’s most vulnerable citizens.
Taraun Tice McKnight, Trenton Board of Education
Bio coming soon!