Caz leads RBIJ’s Inclusive Hiring team’s first and second chance projects.  Previously, Caz worked at various nonprofits, including program manager: Vera Institute of Justice’s Redefining Public Safety team, Director of Employment Services: Westhab’s NYC and Westchester County shelter employment programs, and Director of Fathers Count: Family Services of Westchester’s Fatherhood Program. There she received a Citation from Mayor Mike Spano for her contribution to Westchester County and the City of Yonkers and a Certificate of Recognition from the Senate of the State of New York for Exemplary Service to the community. In the UK, Caz worked as a probation officer and a youth social worker. 

Jude Higdon, Ed.D. (any pronouns) serves as the COO for the QSIDE Institute. In this role, Jude develops programs and partners with CBOs to use quantitative methods to eradicate oppression, marginalization, and injustice. Jude holds an Ed.D. in Educational Psychology from the University of Southern California, an Ed.M. in Technology in Education from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, and a B.S. in African Politics from Northwestern University. Jude is an avid yogi, horror movie enthusiast, and news junkie. S/he speaks passable Swahili, Spanish, and French, and slays at karaoke.

Christi Venable is an award-winning Business Owner, Organizational Leadership and Culture Change Expert and Speaker. She’s the founder of SMILE Therapy Services, a multi-million-dollar mental health agency that she managed to build from the ground up. 

Over the years SMILE Therapy has developed an arsenal of workshops that speak to the needs of a diverse market and an ever-changing social climate. Some of the most sought-after topics include Leading with Effective Communication, Leveraging your Leadership Style, Mental Health Spot-Checking, Sexual Harassment, Resiliency, Self-Care and Stress Management, The Power of Patience and many more. 

Christi received her undergraduate degree from Pennsylvania State University and her master’s degree from George Washington University. Christi Venable is a National Certified Counselor, A Licensed Professional Counselor, and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. 

Francis Joseph Tsai is a Deaf advocate who has been raised in the United States after immigrating from Hong Kong. Growing up in the U.S., Tsai learned about the importance of equity and accessibility for Deaf individuals—values he found lacking in his native Hong Kong.

Now working for Convo Communications, a company dedicated to providing communication services for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, Tsai is committed to promoting equal communication access. His advocacy focuses on ensuring that Deaf individuals have the tools, resources, and support needed to navigate a predominantly hearing world. Through his work, Tsai continues to raise awareness about the importance of equity and accessibility for all.

Heather Hansen, former trial attorney, and seasoned business advisor, merges two decades of courtroom experience with her expertise in psychology and dispute resolution to empower global audiences. As a best-selling author and keynote speaker, she helps leaders and teams believe in their potential and persuasiveness, enhanced by her skills as a hypnotist to influence the subconscious. Heather has shared her insights at prestigious venues like Harvard Business School, Google, and Stanford MedX, and has appeared on platforms such as The Today Show and Dr. Oz. Currently, she anchors at the Law and Crime Network.

Bo Cooper, Partner, Fragomen Bo Cooper is a Partner in Fragomen’s Washington, DC office, leading the Government Strategies and Compliance Group. He serves on the firm’s Executive Committee, where he works to set Fragomen’s strategic vision and philosophy, manage its worldwide operations, and ensure it remains progressive, agile, efficient, innovative, and consistent across all its jurisdictions. He provides strategic immigration advice to a diverse clientele, including corporations, nonprofits, hospitals, universities, and media outlets. Bo has extensive experience in navigating complex immigration challenges, interacting with Congress, executive agencies, and consulates, and representing clients in federal audits and investigations.  

 Previously, Bo was General Counsel of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) from 1999 to 2003, directing a legal program of 700 attorneys. He advised top U.S. officials on immigration law and has significant federal litigation experience as a former trial attorney in the Department of Justice. Bo has frequently testified before Congress and appeared in various media outlets such as PBS Newshour, Sixty Minutes, and CNN. He participated in negotiating international immigration agreements and served as a U.S. delegate to international organizations.  

Bo has taught immigration, national security and related courses at the University of Michigan, Georgetown and American University law schools, and he currently teaches asylum law as a member of the adjunct faculty at Tulane Law School. He has an extensive pro bono practice and has contributed as amicus in key Supreme Court cases, served as an expert witness in federal litigation, and advised the Department of Homeland Security. He is also on the Advisory Board of the Migration Policy Institute. Bo received his J.D. from Tulane Law School and his B.A. from Tulane University. 

Barbara Leen serves as a Senior Corporate Counsel with Microsoft’s U.S. Immigration group.  She provides legal advice to Microsoft’s employees and business teams and provides legal and policy advice on a range of immigration matters.  In addition to her direct legal work, she advocates for legislative and policy reforms to improve the immigration system. Prior to joining Microsoft, Barbara worked at the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Senate Judiciary committee where her work focused on immigration policy, legal operations, and litigation.  She attended the University of Connecticut School of Law and the George Washington University.

As Director of Government Affairs and Corporate Citizenship, Deriece K. Harrington represents PepsiCo before state and local governments in the Mid-Atlantic and key national organizations. In her role, she engages with community and government officials on key regulatory and legislative issues impacting the company. While developing and maintaining key relationships with stakeholders in her region and around the country. Prior to her role at PepsiCo, she served as the Deputy Executive Director of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, where she managed the day-to-day operations of the Caucus and critical relationships with corporate and nonprofit partners and legislative members from around the country. As a political science graduate of Morgan State University, she began her career as the Executive Director for the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland, Inc. (LBCM). She was instrumental in implementing the Caucus’ agenda while operating as an intermediary between its constituents and community partners. Her tenure at the LBCM led her to gain her Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Public Policy and Management and her work with the Maryland Chamber of Commerce. As the Chamber’s Vice President of Government Affairs, she advocated on behalf of their members in the areas of employment law, energy, environment, transportation, and tax. Over the years, Deriece has participated in several leadership fellowship programs, including the American Young Professional Leadership Exchange Program (2022 Canada Exchange), and the Council of State Governments Robert J. Thompson Eastern Leadership Academy to name a few. She has also won numerous awards like the Daily Record’s Leading Women in Maryland, Top 40 under 40 in Prince George’s County by the Prince George’s County Social Innovation Fund and a 2018 Rising Star by the Living Classrooms Foundation. In 2021, she was named one of the Top 40 under 40 Very Important Professionals by The Daily Record. Deriece currently serves on several community and national boards and committees, including A Wider Circle, the Women and Girls Foundation, the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies, and the Missing Pink Breast Cancer Alliance. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In her “free time,” Deriece enjoys listening to audiobooks, watching home improvement shows, and traveling with her family. Deriece is a native of Jamaica, New York, and currently resides in Southern Maryland with her husband and daughters.