Book: Dying of Whiteness

Edgar's LinkedIn profile

Edgar J. Palacios is the President & CEO of the Latinx Education Collaborative (LEC), an organization that dutifully works to increase and retain the number of quality Latinx education professionals in K-12. Edgar previously owned a nonprofit consultancy (EJPKC, LLC) and has had the privilege of working with organizations such as Community Builders of Kansas City; Junior Achievement of Greater Kansas City; El Centro, Inc.; Show Me KC Schools; and the Kauffman Foundation.

Barry's LinkedIn Profile

Barry Johnson-Smith is the founder of BJS Consulting, a DEI-focused consultancy dedicated to helping businesses and organizations achieve their diversity, equity, and inclusion goals. He launched BJS Consulting after recognizing that many organizations genuinely want to cultivate diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments, but often struggle with effective implementation. Additionally, organizations are sometimes hesitant to fully invest in DEI efforts due to fear of making mistakes.

Barry’s mission is to guide organizations in identifying and overcoming the obstacles that hinder their DEI progress, helping them gain confidence in knowing how to address these challenges. By the end of his engagements, Barry aims to shift organizations' approach to DEI work from one rooted in fear and guilt to one driven by joy and hope. BJS Consulting offers a variety of services, including DEI trainings, strategy assessments, and content creation, such as blogs and articles.

A native of Lawrenceville, Georgia, Barry holds a B.S. in Computer Engineering with a minor in Computer Science from Georgia Tech. Since 2019, he has made Oregon his home, and when he’s not working, Barry enjoys practicing martial arts, playing trading card games, and spending time with friends.

Shawna on LinkedIn