Ethan Huckel (he, him, his)
Founder & Lead Consultant
M.A.,English for Teachers, Western New England University
B.A., English, UNIversity of Massachusetts, Amherst
FAcilitate Change Fellow, 2020
2019 Leadership in Diversity & Inclusion Award, Diversity & INclusion Professionals
2018 Frank Ferri Spirit Award, Project Fearless
Areas of Expertise
Inclusion & BElonging
Keynote Talks
LGBTQ+ INCLUSION
POLICY Review
Strategic Planning
Training & FAcilitation
Workplace Gender Transition Guidelines
Ethan Huckel (he, him, his) is a dynamic educator and public speaker with twenty years of experience in LGBTQ+ education and advocacy, and over ten years of experience in curriculum design, training, and facilitation. His thoughtful, compassionate approach is perfect for organizations at all phases in their journey towards equity and inclusion, and his expertise in curriculum design is ideal for organizations seeking to reimagine their approach to development and learning. Ethan leverages his experience as a transgender man, father, and community leader to foster inclusion of gender diversity from classrooms to boardrooms and beyond.
Ethan serves as board president at TGI Network of Rhode Island, a local non-profit organization that serves the transgender and gender diverse community with peer support services, educational and community-building events, and advocacy. In this role, Ethan has developed a broad understanding of the lived experience of Rhode Island’s gender diverse population. He has testified before the state legislature, spoken out in the fight for transgender justice and equity, and has been an instrumental part of extending Rhode Island’s network of knowledgeable healthcare providers through the collaborative development of the Rhode Island Trans Health Conference.
Ethan was the recipient of Diversity and Inclusion Professionals’ 2019 Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion Award and the 2018 Frank Ferri Spirit Award from Project Fearless. Recent partners include Brown University and Neighborhood Health Plan.
Ralph Tavares (he, him, his)
Lead Consultant
M.B.A., Salve regina University
B.A., English, concentration in Black studies, English, and Women’s Studies
Founder’s Award of New England Counselors of Color Bridging Access to College
2019 Torchbearer Award from Providence College
areas of expertise
Anti-racism
Inclusion & Belonging
Keynote talkS
Leadership Coaching
LGBTQ+ Inclusion
Mentoring Programs
POLICY REVIEW
TRaininG & Facilitation
Ralph Tavares (he, him, his) is a visionary problem solver who meets challenges with enthusiasm and an open heart. Spending nearly two decades creating equity in and access to higher education for students of color, Ralph has worked with Salve Regina University, Providence College, and Roger Williams University School of Law. Ralph has played critical roles developing multicultural recruitment, retention and mentoring plans and programs.
Ralph is co-president and a member of the board of trustees of Diversity and Inclusion Professionals of Rhode Island (DAIP), a member of the planning committee for the National Partnership for Educational Access, and the National Association for Law Student Affairs Professionals; additionally, he is the recipient of the Founder’s Award of New England Counselors of Color Bridging Access to College.
Ralph earned his B.A. in English at Providence College, with a triple concentration in black studies, business studies, and women’s studies. He earned his Master of Business Administration with a concentration in innovation and strategic management.
Kevin Matta (he, him, his)
Lead Consultant
Yo Hablo español.
B.A., Business Administration and MAnagement, University of Phoenix
Areas of Expertise:
Inclusion & Belonging
Leadership Coaching
LGBTQ+ Inclusion
Policy Review
Strategic Planning
Training & Facilitation
Kevin Matta (he, him, his) brings an extensive understanding and focused attention to the areas of diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging. Working closely with clients and the community, Kevin listens deeply, with empathy, to fully understand their challenges and needs. Applying his insights and experiences, Kevin works in partnership to help shape the journey to raise awareness, expand connectedness, and strengthen inclusive practices. He also brings a sharp focus on client success and human engagement with his brilliant ability to make connections.
A strategic differentiator, comfortable challenging the status quo, Kevin brings both passion and experience to his role. Bilingual in Spanish-English, he has worked in the non-profit, healthcare, financial services, small business, and within academia. He has a transformative effect on the numerous non-profit organizations he supports through his volunteer work including serving as Chair and Director of Diversity and Inclusion for Society for Humans Resources Management (SHRM) of Rhode Island, Vice President of the Board for DAIP (Diversity and Inclusion Professionals), and the Women’s Fund of Rhode Island.
Kevin is a native Rhode Islander and known for his kindness. You’ll find him happily walking his rescue dog, Chloe, in Providence.
Court King (she, they)
LEad Consultant
B.A., Political Science, University of Rhode Island
Areas of Expertise:
Inclusion & Belonging
LGBTQ+ INclusion
Training & FAcilitation
Youth Development
Court King (she, they) is a Providence native and URI alumni with a Bachelors in Political Science and almost fifteen years of youth development work. Well known for her youth development work and building community, Court's work is rooted in a deep love for progress. As a Black queer and non-binary person she pulls from her identities to help shape a new future. Court’s interest in formerly silenced voices, critical analysis and public engagement informs it all. Using themes of oppression, storytelling and pop culture, Court's work challenges participants to think deeply about themselves, the reality of the world around them and the intentional creation of a new one.
Dr. Anthony Rodriguez (he, him, his)
Lead Consultant
Ph.D., Intellectual Disabilities and Severe Disabilities: Studies in Educational Equity for Diverse and Exceptional Learners - Specialization in Math Education, University of New Mexico
M.A., Learning and Behavioral Exceptionalities: Studies in Instruction, Curriculum, Collaboration, and Transition of Diverse Learners,University of New Mexico
B.A., American Studies (English and History),Western Connecticut State University
Areas of Expertise
Anti-Racism
Systems of Support IDD
Coaching
Training and Facilitation
Inclusion and Belonging
Keynote Talks
Dr. Anthony Rodriguez (he, him, his) is a consummate creative who seeks truth and justice for those at-risk for harm, those marginalized in the community, and who need advocacy. He has a gift for seeing people as they are and finding ways to optimize their talents and realize their potential. He engages in deep analysis of systems and structures to find strength-based solutions to profound problems.
His work has centered primarily on creating diverse supports, policies, and practices to help people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and those of color live the lives they have imagined. When he worked on the Pueblo of Zia, he led structural change within the Bureau of Indian Affairs for funding to follow the child and increase inclusive practices at the schools. In the Albuquerque Public Schools, he created the first Pre-Calculus curriculum with dynamic access points for people with disabilities. A few years later, he did the same as a lead special education consultant for Illustrative Mathematics, now the #1 rated curriculum by EdReports. On the Providence Public School Design Team, he worked to increase inclusive practices, increase diversity in hiring, develop dynamic teacher development plans to increase access for those with IDD and English Language Learners (ELL). Drawing from these experiences, brings these issues to the forefront with compassion and respect for all involved.