"I Know Where I Stand": Taonga Leslie on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Age of Trump

Welcome to The Free Ranger, a podcast about telling the stories that matter. On this podcast, we’ll be learning about storytelling from the people who turn important issues into stories: the writers, filmmakers, marketers, academics, and other professionals who weave together the facts to create compelling narratives that make a difference.

On this episode, we’re diverting from our usual format a bit to talk about an important issue: DEI. We’re happy to welcome Taonga Leslie, Director of Policy and Program for Racial Justice at the American Constitution Society. A graduate of Yale Law School and Harvard University, Taonga was previously a senior consultant with Public Equity Group, a boutique consulting firm that helps nonprofits, foundations and other social impact groups develop strategic plans to advance racial and economic justice. He has also served as an associate with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, where he represented asylum seekers, survivors of domestic violence, nonprofit arts organizations, and police accountability groups.

Together, we talked about the long history of debates around equity in the US; where DEI stands today; and how institutions can stand by their DEI commitments in the coming years.

Articles Referenced

"The Promise of Lived Experience: Assessing Race and Merit After SFFA"

"What History Teaches Us About 'Critical Race Theory' Bans"

Immigration Resources/Know Your Rights

Resource database: https://www.childrensinstitute.org/we-are-one/

Know Your Rights: https://www.childrensinstitute.org/know-your-rights/

Overview: https://www.lausd.org/weareone