Vivian Jenkins Nelsen is the owner of the Hypatia Group, Inc. where she is nationally recognized as a diversity practitioner, trainer, planner and researcher. Vivian also serves as faculty for the Center for Purposeful Leadership's Whole Person Leadership for Women program and speaks to thousands of people each year on leadership, change, and diversity. Whether consulting with CEO’s of Fortune 500 companies or serving organizations as a planner, facilitator, trainer or board member, she leverages a rich lifetime of experience. Vivian was co-founder of INTER-RACE, a diversity think tank located at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, has been a Bush Leadership Fellow, is the former Director of Administration at the Hubert Humphrey School of Public Affairs, and the author of eleven books. She regularly teaches and publishes on group facilitation, diversity, conflict, grief and has a strong interest in the aging sector.

She received her education from Dana College, the University of Minnesota, and Harvard’s Kennedy School and School of Education. 

Foua-Choua Khang means "the weather" in Hmong. Her family has 30 plus years of residency in St. Paul’s Eastside. Foua is a proud wife and a mom to four boys. She has worked in and on behalf of the community for over 15 years. Foua is a strong believer in co-creating opportunities with the community to identify and find solutions to health disparities plaguing our wellness. She currently serves as the chair of the Cultural, Ethnic, Communities, and Leadership Council (CECLC) for DHS.

Khang received her MBA from the University of St. Thomas and her Bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan State University in community health and evaluation.

Adam Suomala

Executive Director

MN Leadership Council on Aging

Bao Thao brings over 25 years of expertise in project management and diversity initiatives across corporate, non-profit, and healthcare sectors. Successfully building and sustaining partnerships to drive institutional diversity and inclusion strategies, she aligns business goals while reducing disparities, expands access, and supports people's professional growth. Thao's experience spans corporate branding, market research, operations, and organizational navigation, enabling her to influence and implement large-scale training, programs, and research projects. A skilled consultant and coach, she supports individuals and organizations in setting goals, developing strategies, and fostering inter-group dialogue.



Bao holds an MA in Educational Leadership from the University of St. Thomas, and a BA in Sociology/Anthropology and Asian Studies from Colgate University. 

Zachary Hylton is a practitioner and scholar in anti-oppressive organizational and institutional change. His work focuses on driving local ecosystems to realign and realize improvements in outcomes for their most marginalized communities. After nearly a decade of work across local government agencies and serving on numerous boards and committees advancing critical system change initiatives, Zachary started consulting with organizations around the world on large scale strategic change efforts.

Zachary is pursuing a PhD in Social Policy at Brandeis University and has Master’s degrees in policy and international development from Brandeis and The University of Minnesota's  Humphrey School of Public Affairs.

A first-generation Hmong American Woman, Yang has a proven commitment to the aging sector and a passion for the engagement of cultural communities to this statewide leadership role. She has a proven track record of empowering people through collective efforts and leading change through research, policy and programming. In her role, Chao leads the overall development and implementation of strategic projects for both the Leadership Council to champion diverse, equitable, and inclusive communities in which to age.

Yang holds a BS in Human Resource Development/Business Marketing Education from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities as well as a Master's in Public Health (MPH) from their Executive Public Health Administration and Policy program.

Deqa Sayid is an equity practitioner with over 15 years of experience serving diverse communities in various fields such as education, non-profit, health, and government.

Deqa’s expertise include strategic visioning, program assessment, creative solutions, and forming courageous learning spaces with a focus on reducing disparities and promoting a culture of inclusion.

Deqa holds a master’s degree in Education with a concentration in Multicultural Counseling and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminology, as well as a Mastery Certificate in Global Mental Health and Refugee Trauma from Harvard Medical School.

Andrew Savitz is a healthcare entrepreneur, nonprofit board member, and serves as the CEO of SpirituWell, a telehealth chaplain service providing spiritual care across the care continuum. He serves on the Board of Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis, the Community Health Committee of Neighborhood HealthSource, and the Diversity Advisory Council of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization.

Andrew began his career at the Minnesota Hospital Association and most recently served as a strategy and technology consultant to healthcare providers and insurance companies ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small community-based organizations. He holds a BS in Nutrition from the University of Minnesota.

Ling Becker leads a department of 80 staff in delivering $20 million annually in workforce services and programs in partnership with dozens of community-based organizations. Since the pandemic, she has also overseen millions in federal funding to help build a more equitable recovery.

Prior to this, Becker was the Executive Director of an economic development corporation serving the NE metro connecting businesses and local governments with school districts, community colleges, and employer partners in award-winning workforce partnerships

Becker holds a MA in Public Administration from Syracuse University where she was a Woodrow Wilson Fellow.

Anne M. Barry is widely respected for her work teaching, researching, and learning with the community at the intersections of racial justice, policy and practice. She is a passionate Minnesotan who builds partnerships across governmental systems to create change grounded in community leadership.

With more than three decades in cabinet level positions across state health, human services, and finance agencies, Barry's leadership also spans local government and higher education. She continuously seeks a government that is responsive and connected to a diversity of communities and tribal governments.

Barry has a JD from Mitchell Hamline School of Law, an MPH from the University of Minnesota and a BA in OT from St. Catherine University.

Sonya Lewis is a Minneapolis native with over 15 years of experience spanning government and nonprofit settings. She specializes in workforce development, federal grants management, and project management.

Lewis is an experienced community facilitator, and a training and development consultant. 

Her professional passions are integrating human-centered design of programs and services, and leveraging government resources to achieve equity and reduce disparities in historically marginalized communities.

Lewis is an M.Ed candidate in Human Resource Development at the University of Minnesota, where she has a BS in Business and Marketing Education and Human Resource Development.