Samantha Bobila, Moderator
Samantha Bobila is the Director of Fund Development at YWCA Princeton, a nonprofit with a mission to eliminate racism and empower women through human and social service programs. In her role, she oversees all fundraising, marketing, and communications efforts. She is personally invested in racial justice, particularly the inequities faced by women of color in the workplace, so she uses her platform to uplift the voices and visibility of other women of color. She serves on the Board of the Trenton Circus Squad and chairs their Fund Development Committee. She is also a member of the Mercer County Government and Policy Committee and advocates for policies that support and strengthen the nonprofit community. She is deeply committed to progressive democracy and grassroots advocacy efforts, and volunteers with Action Together New Jersey. Bobila also volunteers for local, state, and federal campaigns. She has a Masters in Women’s and Gender Studies from Rutgers University and a Bachelors in History from Saint Joseph’s University.
Panelists
Dr. Pamela Pruitt
Grammy Award-winner, Dr. Pamela Pruitt, is the Executive Director for the Center for Diversity and Inclusion at Rider University, where she is responsible for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion among the campus community through programs, training, celebrations, and community outreach. She is also a part-time lecturer at the School of Communication & Information (SC&I) at Rutgers in New Brunswick, NJ, and an adjunct professor for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Department of Communication and Journalism at Rider.
She has an extensive and diverse background in media, having held significant positions at major corporations across the country. She has produced and hosted her own television show, Let’s Do Lunch with Pamela, and she authored a book entitled, Train the Trainer, for the Delta Air Lines Automation team, as Pamela Young. She is also a songwriter as Pamela Moffett, having written songs for Smokey Robinson, the Supremes, and others. She participated in a Grammy Award-winning CD (2008 for 2007) by Ne-Yo entitled, Because of You. Her song (as Pamela Moffett), Baby Come Close, can be heard as the background music for his song, Leaving Tonight, featuring Jennifer Hudson. She is currently penning a book relating to her survival of the events of September 11th at the World Trade Center complex in New York City. Dr. Pruitt is a recognized community leader in the City of Trenton, New Jersey. She also serves on boards and committees for local and national organizations. She has received numerous awards, commendations, and was selected as one of “Twelve Women to Watch” by the Times Picayune [PICK-E-YOON] in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Kiya Green
Kiya Green, M.Ed. is a Trenton resident and has worked in Education for over 15 years. Her professional experience began as an educator for Trenton Public Schools, although her passion and skill developed long before. In addition, she started and ran a successful after-school and summer enrichment program for several years for children and families in East Trenton, one of the most impoverished wards in the Capital City region.
Five years ago, Kiya transitioned to homeschooling her sons and began more community involvement including, organizing a Youth Service Project Panel for Princeton Community Works. She is an advocate with the Youth Task Force for the Campaign to End the New Jim Crow, and is an executive board member for the National Council of Negro Women’s Mercer County Section. In 2017, Kiya graduated with her Masters degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Rutgers University including both Supervisor and Principal certifications. Her undergraduate work was completed at American University in Washington, DC.
Due to rising interest, Kiya opened the doors of her school to include other children who attend daily. Additionally, she teaches children online who are being home-schooled in other states. Two years ago, in conjunction with Thomas Edison State University, she started a consulting business mentoring and coaching teachers to be more culturally and linguistically responsive to their student populations. One of her future goals includes creating educational resources for parents who desire to see African American culture and heritage reflected in their child’s curriculum and daily learning experiences.
https://ubuntueducates.com/
kiya@ubuntueducates.com
Elizabeth Williams-Riley
“You never know how much your past will affect your future until it shows up in your present.”
Elizabeth Williams-Riley is the founder of Elizabeth Williams-Riley D.A.S.H. Consulting LLC, where her primary focus is Developing Assets for Successful Habits (D.A.S.H.). Mrs. Williams-Riley also serves as President & CEO for the American Conference on Diversity and has more than two decades of experience in the field of diversity and inclusion, locally and nationally.
Elizabeth is an award-winning diversity and inclusion expert. She was named Girls Scouts of America 2015 Woman of Distinction, and 2013 Diversity Journal’s Woman Worth Watching. Mrs. Williams-Riley is the 2016 NAACP Corporate Community Service Award Winner. She is a connector and helps individuals navigate the complexities of living in an increasingly diverse society. She boldly tackles the nation’s unfinished business of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her approach to dismantling systemic and institutional oppression is charismatic, engaging and above all, thought-provoking.
Elizabeth is a graduate of the University of Central FL with a BA in Advertising and Public Relations. She is a native of Orlando, Florida, and now resides in Woodbridge, NJ. She is a member of the Capital Region Minority Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., National Association of Professional Women, and Former President of the NAACP Perth Amboy Area Branch. Elizabeth is a 2014 Edward J. Bloustein School of Public Policy Lead New Jersey Fellow, uniting professionals from across the state in using their best ideas to enhance the future for NJ in areas including economic development, health and human services, government and politics, social justice, the environment, and the arts.
www.Ewilliamsriley.com
AmericanConferenceOnDiversity.org
www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-williams-riley
