Maisha Giles, PhD is a consultant for the BUILD Initiative. She works directly with state leaders to advance early childhood systems efforts in health, early learning, and family support through a racial equity lens. She is the former Vice President of Better Futures Minnesota, an organization that serves formerly incarcerated men and their children using whole family approaches. Maisha also served as the Behavioral Health Director at the Minnesota Department of Human Services. Maisha has spent 15 years building culturally responsive systems for children and families. Maisha earned her master's degree in Community Psychology from Metropolitan State and her doctoral degree in Management and Public service from Hamline University. Maisha is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and catching up on her favorite Netflix shows in her free time.

Steve Thomas is a social entrepreneur with years of success in designing, launching, and operating innovative public service ventures in communities across the country. In January 2022, he accepted a new role with the OIC of America, a national network of 25 affiliates in 16 states committed to training and placing people left behind or locked out of society into living wage jobs. Along with advising the CEO, Thomas directs the OICA’s government affairs activities and shepherds the OIC network’s strategies to train many more poor people in more places, nationwide.

Raj is a recovering criminologist, alcoholic, and survivor of sexual abuse, with over 20 years of community-based activism as a researcher and educator. Inspired by the resilience of our youth and the men in our prison systems, he trains school staff, probation agents, community members, and justice personnel on restorative practices, trauma and healing, value-centered leadership, community building, and unpacking implicit biases. He believes in raising consciousness utilizing the restorative circle process. In his latest work, raj explores the depths of our justice system and creates a framework in which knowledge and heart become the root of our practices.

Thoughtful leader in DEI, anti-racism, and access. Sharieka Young believes in the power of collective voices to advance change and correct narratives. She is pursuing her master's in advocacy and political leadership at Metropolitan State University. She is an avid leader in her community, championing changes for causes that benefit society. She brings her life experience, passion, and zeal to her work. She is currently working to leave the world better than when she entered into it. She is a vibrant mother, sister, daughter, IDI facilitator, and friend. She is family-oriented and enjoys reading when she's not learning. In her free time, she likes to travel and be in the community.

Work in Progress....