ACT Webinar | ACT’s Equity Speakers Series

Date: Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025
Time: 12:00 p.m. ET

As part of ACT’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning invites leaders, researchers, and practitioners to share knowledge and insights regarding the intersection of education, workforce, and equity through the ACT’s Equity Speakers Series.

Join ACT’s Equity Speakers Series for Unlocking the Power and Potential of All Learners on Feb. 19 at noon E.T., as we welcome LaShana Lewis, technology leader, diversity advocate, and Chair of the STARs Advisory Council with Opportunity@Work. This inspiring webinar will explore how recognizing and promoting skills acquired through alternative routes—like on-the-job experience, military service, and workforce training—can transform workforce opportunities for all.

Why Attend?

Hear LaShana’s compelling story as a STAR and her journey to success in the tech industry.
Learn how Opportunity@Work and initiatives like ACT Work Ready Communities are advancing skills-first solutions for 70 million Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STARs) workers in the U.S.
Discover how to foster inclusive environments where every individual’s talents are celebrated.
Reflect on the connection between valuing diverse skills and the visionary goals of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Don’t miss this opportunity to redefine workforce equity and empowerment!

This virtual event is open to all ACT Team members, Encoura crew members, and all ACT and Encoura external community guests.

LaShana Lewis is the CEO of L. M. Lewis Consulting, specializing in diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), technology, and nonprofit management. With more than 25 years of experience, she is a recognized advocate for diversity in technology and a role model for underrepresented groups in STEM.

Lewis serves as Chair of the STARs Advisory Council at Opportunity@Work, helping rewire the U.S. labor market to recognize the potential of workers from non-traditional backgrounds. She also champions STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education for underserved youth through STEAM Superheroes. Lewis also served as a board member for the International Institute of St. Louis, which ensures immigrants and refugees have access to the resources needed for a smooth transition into American society, including workforce development, legal services, and cultural integration.

Through roles with organizations like Microsoft's TEALS Program and BioSTL, Lewis has driven sustainable tech education and equitable economic development. Her leadership extends to mentoring Black youth and entrepreneurs, creating pathways to success through programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri.

A thought leader in both tech and DEI, LaShana Lewis continues to lead the charge for a more inclusive future, championing initiatives that remove barriers and ensure opportunity is accessible to all.