The Engaging Women of Color conference provides a space for women of color working in the public sector to learn valuable professional skills while also connecting with each other. This year’s theme is “Cultivating Community”. The conference sessions will provide attendees with practical tools to build supportive professional connections by expanding their network, developing mentoring relationships, effectively navigating workplace bias, and showcasing their strengths. Through inspiring speakers, personal reflection, and supportive small group discussions, we will explore the unique challenges faced by women of color navigating public sector workplaces and strategies to navigate them. 

Schedule: This conference will be held from 9:00am-6:30pm at the NC Botanical Gardens in Chapel Hill on June 14, 2024. The conference includes an evening networking reception. The full agenda is forthcoming. 

Attendees: Women of color in public service, including those in local, state, and federal government and nonprofit organizations

Meet the Presenters

Tracey Greene-Washington

Tracey Greene-Washington is the President of Indigo Innovation Group, a consulting firm that works with philanthropic, nonprofit, and private/public organizations committed to accelerating change through system-level approaches, equity, and strategic collaboration. In addition to this role, she is the Founder of CoThinkk, a social change philanthropy committed to shifting the economic mobility, health, education, and leadership narrative of communities of color in Western NC. Throughout her 20+ year career, she’s led high-level initiatives that address complex issues and gained a reputation as an innovative leader. Tracey is committed to partnering with organizations and communities so they can be more impactful by targeting systemic change, taking risks, and accelerating efforts at the intersection of community economic development, health, education, and leadership development. She has also worked in several organizations, such as the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, and the National Rural Funders Collaborative, and has served on various boards, including the NC Early Childhood Foundation, North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research, and Education NC. Tracey is a native of Asheville, North Carolina and Certified Coach through Coach Diversity Institute. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Master of Social Work degree from the University of South Carolina. Tracey is the author of the # 1 International Bestseller and Award-Winning book, titled Choosing Purposeful Alignment: The Messy Middle of Transformation. 

LaPronda Spann

LaPronda is an award-winning business consultant who serves as Owner and Chief Visionary Architect of Lain Consulting LLC, a certified Minority and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise specializing in diversity certification support services, supplier growth planning, program development, and government contracting. She has secured over $2.1M in grants and contracts from public and private foundations for local and regional clients.

Under her leadership, Lain Consulting earned the 2016 Rising Star Award from the Women’s Business Center of North Carolina. Additionally, in 2014, the company was selected as the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) of the Year by the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. LaPronda also serves as the Moderator of Commissioner Vilma D. Leake’s Small Business Consortium and works as a part-time instructor for the Central Piedmont Community College’s Small Business Center. She is regularly asked to speak and present on topics ranging from the basics of entrepreneurship to the fundamentals of government certifications and contracting.