Black Power Players

Stephanie Costner serves as the vice president of curriculum design and instructional technology at New York Edge. She joined the organization in 2021 to provide strategic leadership in the areas of educational equity, curriculum design, learner outcomes, and social-emotional supports. A former professor, Costner has dedicated her entire career to ensuring that students receive the education they deserve. She believes that college degrees are essential and necessary for expanding careers and ending generational poverty.

Lurie Daniel Favors serves as executive director at the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College. She is an author, activist and attorney with a longstanding commitment to racial and social justice. Ms. Daniel Favors earned her J.D. from NYU, where she was a Root-Tilden-Kern public interest scholar. She hosts the Lurie Daniel Favors Show on SiriusXM’s UrbanView and penned “Afro State of Mind: Memories of a Nappy Headed Black Girl”.

If you could give your younger-self advice, what would it be?
“We who believe in freedom cannot rest” so keep walking in your purpose and stay rooted in integrity. This will take you further than you can imagine. Keep loving your community unapologetically with Harriet Tubman/Sankofa love; that love is a superpower. One last thing: your concerns about how Reconstruction ended are valid and yes, it will happen again. So keep Professor Derrick Bell’s Interest Convergence theory centered in your praxis and listen to the ancestors.

Do you have any movie/music/book recommendations for readers to check out in celebration of Black History Month?
In celebration of Black History Month, I would recommend the following three books, in no particular order: “The Mis-Education of the Negro”, by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, “Black AF History: The Un-Whitewashed Story of America”, by Michael Harriott and “The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story”, by Nikole Hannah-Jones. I would also recommend viewing the film “Sankofa”, directed by Haile Gerima.

As the NYU Silver School’s inaugural director of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), Dr. Richeleen Dashield is responsible for advancing the school’s DEI initiatives and working closely with partners to promote a more inclusive environment. Dr. Dashield has B.A. from Colgate University, an MBA from Rutgers, and Ed.D. from Rowan University. With over 34 years of experience in higher education institutions, Dr. Dashield has delivered numerous presentations locally and globally, and is a builder of transformative change.

If you could give your younger-self advice, what would it be?
Creating and embracing joy will fuel your passion, serving as a transformative element that helps you overcome adversity and grounds you in love for yourself and others. Ultimately, joy will serve as your light to strengthen relationships, guide your work to actualize your dreams, and provide a restorative connection with the humanity in all of us.

What are you most proud of accomplishing in 2023, and most looking forward to achieving in 2024?
I am most proud of my work to develop a system to support and empower individuals targeted by bias based on the Restorative Justice (RJ) community care model. RJ is a powerful approach grounded in Indigenous practices that focuses on rebuilding relationships, encouraging empathy, and preventing and resolving conflicts through inclusive and collaborative processes. I am excited to continue building new partnerships and collaborating on the reimagination of creating more inclusive communities and practices.

Do you have any movie/music/book recommendations for readers to check out in celebration of Black History Month?
“The Fire Next Time” by James Baldwin is a masterpiece that offers insight into the struggle for racial equality. One quote resonated and challenged me to examine and develop pathways to “remove this cloud that stood between them and the sun, between them and love and life and power, between them and whatever it was that they wanted.” You will gain a deeper understanding of how these dualities connect to a better future for all.

Is there a person or organization doing particularly inspiring work that you would like to spotlight?
My educational journey from the Head Start program has impacted my life and fueled my passion to serve others. I find it inspiring when individuals and organizations dedicate their work to the educational access of historically marginalized children, and I would like to spotlight the Montclair Child Development Center, Inc. The organization has worked tirelessly to embrace the child, empower the family, and strengthen the New Jersey community since 1968.

Susan DeCarava’s innovative and transformative leadership is guiding the NewsGuild of New York through challenges in the media industry, including COVID-19, pay inequity, and artificial intelligence. Now in her second term, DeCarava is the first Black woman to hold the office of local president. She has doubled the number of active members, setting new industry standards and bargaining progressive contracts. A fierce workers’ advocate, DeCarava also serves on the advisory board for CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies.

Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado is from Schenectady, New York and made history as the first person of color to represent upstate New York in Congress. Before serving as lieutenant governor, Delgado was a Rhodes scholar; worked in the music industry, empowering young people through hip hop; worked as an attorney focusing on complex commercial litigation, and doing pro bono work in connection with criminal justice reform; and served in the U.S. House of Representatives, representing New York’s 19th congressional district. It’s because of these diverse professional and personal experiences that Delgado finds common ground with people from all walks of life.

Mylan Denerstein is a litigation partner and co-chair of Gibson Dunn’s public policy practice group. She serves as global chair of the firm’s diversity committee and is co-partner in charge of the New York Office. Mylan leads complex criminal and civil litigation and internal investigations, and is known for her deep knowledge of New York State. In 2022, Mylan was appointed to serve as the independent New York Police Department monitor to oversee the court ordered reform process.

Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society (GLITS), began with Ceyenne Doroshow’s immediate, emphatic, and consistent response to the trauma and pain inflicted on the LGBTQIA+ community world-wide, particularly at the intersection of people of color, Black, trans, and queer identities, with care, healing, and direct emergency support. As a Black trans woman, Ms. Doroshow had experienced each of these crises herself, experiences from which she became motivated to become the community leader she is today

If you could give your younger-self advice, what would it be?
I will tell my younger self to do whatever necessary to survive. I will also tell myself that I am important, I am who I am to be, I am a part of society and no one can tell myself that I don’t belong.

What are you most proud of accomplishing in 2023, and most looking forward to achieving in 2024?
I am most proud of my clients thriving and succeeding, they have become lawyers, case managers, doctors as well as achieving their college degrees from associates-doctrine. I also had clients become models and artists in 2023 and extremely proud and hopeful for our Jacob Riss Beach Ambassador project that we hope to have completed by the end of this year.

Do you have any movie/music/book recommendations for readers to check out in celebration of Black History Month?
I would recommend people watch “The Stroll”, featured on HBO. I would also encourage readers to check out my book, “Cooking In Heels”. I would also recommend “Stairs and Whispers D/deaf and Disabled poets Write Back” edited by Sandra Alland, Khairani Barokka and Daniel Sluman, and “Miss Major Speaks: Conversations with a Black Trans Revolutionary” by Toshio Meronek and Miss Major.

Is there a person or organization doing particularly inspiring work that you would like to spotlight?
Black Trans Liberation Kitchen and Bridges 4 Life are both organizations doing inspiring work that needs more recognition. I have partnered with both organizations over the past couple of years and the amount of selfless acts both organizations have done, yields nothing but respect and a sense of community that we often lack.

Thasunda Brown Duckett is president and chief executive officer of TIAA, a leading provider of secure retirements and outcome-focused investment solutions for millions of people and thousands of institutions. She leads a company whose mission is defined by financial inclusion and opportunity–goals and values she has upheld throughout her career. Under her leadership, TIAA is expanding its mission beyond higher education to all Americans saving for retirement. Duckett grew up in Texas and lives in Connecticut with her family.

Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, a civil rights activist, has dedicated more than seven decades advocating to achieve racial diversity, equity and inclusion to bring long-lasting social change. Dr. Dukes is a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors and president of the NAACP NYS Conference. She is a woman of great strength and courage with an unwavering commitment to civil rights, dedicated to human rights and equality.

Prior to Gina Duncan’s Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) presidency she held leadership roles at the Sundance Institute, BAM Film (centering underrepresented voices in cinema), Jacob Burns Film Center, and had an Emmy-winning career at NFL Films. In 2023 Duncan was named a NY Woman of Impact by Variety. She was an arts leader selected for Harvard Business School’s 2022 Executive Program. Duncan serves on the board of NYC Tourism + Conventions and on the Gotham Awards Advisory Committee.

If you could give your younger-self advice, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self that things will happen in time and to avoid comparing myself to others, which creates a lot of unnecessary pressure.

What are you most proud of accomplishing in 2023, and most looking forward to achieving in 2024?
I am proud of all the incredible programs that the BAM staff pulled off this year, from the revival of an oft overlooked Lorraine Hansberry play, to the beautiful and eclectic Solange Knowles residency, and an unforgettable sold-out screening of “Stop Making Sense” with the Talking Heads reunited and singing along with the audience. It’s been a truly unforgettable year! I look forward to presenting more programming that’s as expansive as the community we serve.

Do you have any movie/music/book recommendations for readers to check out in celebration of Black History Month?
I highly recommend “American Fiction”, directed by Cord Jefferson and starring Jeffrey Wright. It is an adaptation of Percival Everett’s book “Erasure”, which I recommend reading as well.

Is there a person or organization doing particularly inspiring work that you would like to spotlight?
I am constantly inspired by Thelma Golden of the Studio Museum of Harlem. She is a true trailblazer. I feel so fortunate to be in her orbit. I have learned so much from the guidance she has shared and from simply watching her work.