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Allison is the assistant press secretary for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). The HRC represents a force of more than 1.5 million members and supporters nationwide. As the largest national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer civil rights organization, HRC envisions a world in which LGBTQ people are ensured of their basic equal rights and can be open, honest and safe at home, at work and in the community.

Adrienne van der Valk began her career in social work, advocating for homeless and runaway youth and survivors of sexual violence. Her graduate studies led her to political science and journalism, and she has been using her editorial skills in a variety of social justice settings ever since. She served as deputy director for Teaching Tolerance for many years before moving on to become the communications director for the Center for Genetics and Society. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Grinnell College and master’s degrees in political science and magazine journalism from the

Emily Chiariello is an educational consultant who specializes in culturally responsive standards-based education. Chiariello has nearly two decades of experience as a classroom teacher, professional developer, curriculum designer and education writer. She has worked in public, charter and alternative school settings and in nonprofit organizations such as the Children’s Defense Fund and The Southern Poverty Law Center (namely as a teaching and learning specialist for Teaching Tolerance). Chiariello is the chief architect of Teaching Tolerance’s award-winning K-12 curriculum, Perspectives for a

Jarah Botello brings more than 14 years of education experience to her role as a teaching and learning specialist for Teaching Tolerance. After earning her B.A. in English and theater from Howard Payne University, Botello began her career as an actress and theater instructor in Denver. She moved to Selma, Alabama, in 2007, where she taught high school and college English and drama for eight years. In Selma, she also co-founded New Expressions, an art program for students of all ages that centers on community service, activism and self-expression. Botello loves all things creative and enjoys

Coloroso is an educator and the author of several books, including The Bully, the Bullied and the Bystander—From Preschool to High School, How Parents and Teachers Can Help Break the Cycle of Violence.

Timane is a counselor, minister, performer and public speaker specializing in the intersection of religion/spirituality and LGBT rights.

Cook has taught composition courses at Auburn University, where he also received his M.A. in English with a concentration in rhetoric and composition. He is passionate about intersectional activism and about having tough-but-necessary conversations to advance social justice. He considers love and compassion to be integral to his work and activism.

Elizabeth Varela taught ESL in elementary and secondary schools for nine years. She holds a Ph.D. in applied linguistics from Georgetown University and has been an adjunct professor at The George Washington University and an assistant professor and acting coordinator of the TESOL program in the College of Education at the University of Maryland. Varela is an elementary ESL specialist and principal investigator for a Title VII project for the Arlington Public Schools.

Welcoming Schools offers tools, lessons and resources to help educators embrace family diversity, avoid gender stereotypes, and end bullying and name-calling in elementary schools. The organization also offers resources for school administrators and educators to support students who don't conform to gender norms. It was initiated by a group of parents and educators to meet the needs of students whose family structures are not well represented or included in school environments.

Benjamin is the Religious Literacy Specialist with the Religious Freedom Center of the Newseum Institute. He has developed religious literacy programs for public schools, universities, U.S. government organizations, and private foundations and has delivered presentations on religion at universities and nonprofits in the U.S. and abroad. Marcus is a contributing author in the forthcoming Oxford Handbook on Religion and American Education, where he writes about the importance of religious literacy education.