Common Circles is my passion and I’m thrilled to be working with a talented team of individuals as well as national and local organizations that share my vision to create a groundbreaking experience that will change hearts and open minds. I invite everyone to join this cooperative venture to confront the rising tide of antagonism as we use proven techniques to forge a more inclusive and equitable 21st century.

Marla Felton, Founder and Executive Director of Common Circles, is responsible for the vision and strategy of the Common Circles organization. Concerned about a rising tide of intolerance and inspired by her uncle, Martin Greenfield, a Holocaust survivor, and others who have confronted prejudice and hatred, Marla dreamed up a new way to confront our biases. She has drawn from her experience in Holocaust education and her passion for the arts, to create a powerful new way to promote greater levels of understanding and respect.

Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Marla credits her parents with instilling a great appreciation for equity and inclusion. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Tufts University with a BA in International Relations and receiving her JD from George Mason University Law School where she was a member of the George Mason Law Review and Supreme Court Economics Review, Marla worked in the legal profession for several years.

Marla redirected her talents towards forming partnerships with various community and national organizations with missions to promoting equity, advancing human rights, and implementing anti-bias education programs. Through her engagement with these vital community partners, Marla recognized the serious need for the creation of a new type of museum. She designed an interactive experience that provokes substantive and exciting encounters capable of engendering authentic empathy and understanding. She believes that the experience of stepping into the shoes of individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds will lead to better understanding of implicit bias and will inspire individuals to work to reduce bias, prejudice, bigotry and hatred.

We cannot turn away from what is happening throughout the world and all around us, and expect that change will happen without guidance and support. Now, more than ever, I feel that is our duty and responsibility to promote equity, understanding and acceptance. The Common Circles mission is to open minds and to foster a visceral understanding of others, and has the potential of truly making a difference. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be a part of such an exciting project.

Sue Spiegel has been involved in television and film production for more than 25 years. Her production experience runs the gamut from sports to documentary programming, and promotional campaigns for most of the major networks. Sue has won several Emmy Awards and a Cable Ace Award for “Erase the Hate,” a documentary that she produced and directed, which launched USA Networks’ anti-hate campaign. At The New York Film and Video Festival, Sue won “Best Comedic Short” for “The Pack-T,” a short film that she wrote, produced and directed.

Her work covering entertainment and politics has taken her around the world. Sue’s interest in and involvement with supporting those in need includes videos produced for the Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, The Westchester Institute for Human Development, The CityKids Foundation, Equine Advocates, the SPCA of Westchester, to name a few.

Anti-bias education is a necessary component as we work to build respectful and accepting community. Using innovation, Common Circles is able to reach all people and tap into biases in unconventional ways.

Karen is the Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League in Missouri and Southern Illinois. Among her ADL activities, Karen is a member of the U.S. Attorney’s Hate Crimes Task Force, a bi-state collaboration of representatives of federal and state law enforcement, educators, and advocates for social justice. She also trains law enforcement at the St. Louis County and Municipal Police Academy on monitoring hate crimes and extremism.

Karen has served as a member of the Ferguson Commission Citizen-Law Enforcement Working Group, is recording secretary for the St. Louis County Human Relations Commission, sits on the Advisory Board of the NCCJ-STL, the Advisory Council of Cultural Leadership, the Multicultural Affairs Committee of the St. Louis FBI, and the Board of ARCHS.

Karen received her BA from Barnard College and her JD from the Washington University in St. Louis School of Law.

Common Circles is important, because we need to start with self before we can honestly examine how we perceive others. My research on discrimination suggests that having a sense of self can be protective in the face of discrimination. Spaces like Common Circles help to encourage reflection and foster empathy, which are necessary ingredients for building community.

Dr. Kira Hudson Banks is an Associate Professor in the department of psychology at Saint Louis University. Her research examines the experience of discrimination and its impact on mental health and intergroup relations. She has published in American Psychological Association journals such as American Psychologist, Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, and The Harvard Business Review as well as popular media outlets such as Huffington Post and The Atlantic.

As a consultant, she has worked with schools, communities, institutions of higher education, and corporations to improve diversity and inclusion efforts, and engage people in productive dialogue and action. She most recently served as a racial equity consultant for the Ferguson Commission and has continued as the Racial Equity Catalyst for Forward Through Ferguson.

She received her BA from Mount Holyoke College, where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, and her MA and PhD from the University of Michigan.

It is vital, now more than ever, that for the continued evolution of thought and the progress of society, we employ every single tool toward understanding cultural differences and acknowledging where bias can challenge our ability to learn from and embrace the unfamiliar. Common Circles addresses this need directly and provides an invaluable opportunity for learning. I am enthusiastic to participate.

Kwofe Coleman is the Director of Marketing and Communications for The Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis (The Muny), the oldest, largest and one of the most iconic musical theatres in the country. Kwofe has held a number of other positions at The Muny including staff accountant and digital communications manager. In his current position Kwofe is responsible for all external communications, marketing campaigns and the development of sales strategies to meet The Muny’s annual $14 million budget.

Kwofe is an active contributor to the St. Louis community, serving on the Mayor’s Vanguard Cabinet, Keystone of St. Louis, The Urban League’s Save our Sons program, and was the recipient of the St. Louis American’s Salute to Young Leaders award.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Promoting social justice has always been at the core of who I am. Common Circles seeks to engage young people in that discussion by providing space for dialogue and self-reflection. Now more than ever we need to equip the next generation with the tools and confidence to speak to the injustice in our communities.

Tabari A. Coleman, MPA. works as the Education Director for the Anti-Defamation League of Missouri/Southern Illinois, and oversees the development, facilitation and coordination of anti-bias training programs for the ADL’s A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Institute, a leading provider of anti-bias education and social justice training. He is a training consultant with more than 15 years of experience in diversity and inclusion training and social justice work. Tabari is also a trainer for the National Conference for Community and Justice St. Louis (NCCJSTL) where he has been facilitating programs, youth leadership development, and Building Inclusive Communities workshops since 2002. He delivers keynotes and presentations for schools, community organizations, and businesses on a variety of topics including addressing bias, microaggressions, creating inclusive spaces, and communication strategies. He has written training programs on addressing bias, exploring identities, ally-building, analyzing curriculum through a social justice lens, and facilitation skills. He sits on the Board of Directors for Hate Brakers and JPro St. Louis. Tabari received his B.S. in Speech Communications and a Masters of Public Administration and Policy Analysis from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

As the Associate Dean for Diversity, Inclusion & Equity at the George Warren Brown School of Social Work, I work with faculty, staff and students to implement systems level change to create an inclusive, dynamic academic community that promotes equity and social justice and stimulates research and educational excellence. Common Circles shares this commitment to creating an inclusive educational environment and in building a just society. They have developed an interactive high tech approach to reducing bias and increasing empathy that is incredibly innovative and engaging, and that has the potential to provide transformational experiences for both children and adults.

Dr. Tonya Edmond is Associate Dean for Diversity & Associate Professor at the Brown School of Social Work at Washington University in St. Louis. She is a Faculty Fellow in the Office of the Provost working on women faculty leadership development and other diversity and inclusion initiatives. Tonya practiced for 15 years in clinical and administrative roles in domestic violence and rape crisis centers. Her research focuses on testing the effectiveness of interventions for survivors of childhood sexual abuse, sexual assault, and domestic violence. She is committed to strengthening services for survivors through research and teaching.

Tonya completed her PhD at the University of Texas at Austin.

I am excited to be part of Common Circles, an innovative nonprofit organization, which is working to foster empathy, understanding and respect in our communities. This passionate and talented team is developing a unique approach that is grounded in research and propelled by cutting edge technology. I am looking forward to seeing the vision become a reality and am confident that the Common Circles Experience will have an immeasurable impact on participants and will bring together communities to promote positive change in our world.

Gregg is a Managing Partner of Altus Power America Management. Until 2013, Gregg was the head of the Liberty Harbor team and the chief investment officer of Liberty Harbor, the credit alternatives platform at Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM). He oversaw the flagship Liberty Harbor fund, a value focused, event driven credit hedge fund, as well as related funds and separate accounts. Gregg joined Goldman Sachs as a partner in 2006. Prior to joining the firm, Gregg was a senior portfolio manager at Amaranth Advisors, a multi-strategy hedge fund located in Greenwich, Connecticut. Gregg led Amaranth’s global corporate credit investment team from 2000 to 2006. Before joining Amaranth, he was a vice president at Chase Manhattan Bank. From 1997 to 1999, Gregg served as a portfolio manager and senior analyst for Chase’s Special Situations Fund. Prior to that, he worked in the High Yield Finance Department of Chase’s Global Investment Bank.

Gregg earned a BA in Economics from Tufts University and a JD and MBA from the Georgetown University Law Center and School of Business.

Bias and discrimination amputate a society. They curtail the hopes and aspirations of the oppressed, and forbid a community, and indeed the world, from realizing the full potential of the collective talents of its people. Why any person, group or nation would deny another from being his or her best because of fear and/or hatred is difficult to comprehend. We are better when we encourage and allow others to contribute their gifts and help share the load. Common Circles provides a safe platform for people to develop an appreciation for others through shared experiences and interests. It is a chance to move beyond tolerance, weaving cords of our similarities with strands of our differences to build a better world where all can flourish.

Dr. Flint W. Fowler has served as President of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis (formerly Herbert Hoover Boys & Girls Club) since 1996. Flint is active with the Society of African American Professionals (S.O.A.A.P.), the Major Metro Advisory Committee, and the Youth Development Advisory Committee. He has been recognized by the Midwest Region with the Horizon Award, the Herman Prescott Award, and the Heart & Soul Award. Last year he was his region’s recipient of the Blue Spirit Award.

A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Flint has received both Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Black Studies, and Master’s degree in Psychology from Washington University, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Education from Saint Louis University.

As an advisor involved in planning the new Common Circles Experience, my effort began with a deep dive into the research and techniques used to reduce implicit bias. This research has not only helped my work but has also helped me personally. The Common Circles experience is unique in that it uses these proven techniques in an immersive, engaging, and participatory way.

John is managing director of Leisure Business Advisors LLC, the consulting firm that prepared the original research and planning report for the upcoming Common Circles mobile experience. He continues to be an advisor on many aspects of development and operations.

As a leisure industry expert with more than 30 years of consulting experience, John has been involved with projects in North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. He has conducted planning studies where he has evaluated concepts, expansion possibilities, market potential and financial feasibility for many new and existing attractions and museums. Past projects and clients include the Walt Disney Company, the National Air and Space Museum, Marriott Corporation, Guam Museum, Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, Universal Studios “Back to the Future – The Ride”, Arkansas Arts Center, Andy Alligator’s Fun Park, Canadian Geographic, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Boston Museum of Science, Wildlife Conservation Society (Bronx Zoo), Wisconsin State Fair Park, Celebrating Patsy Cline, Inc., and many others.

John has been a speaker at many annual conventions for the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) and has been interviewed and quoted by the Wall Street Journal, CFO Europe, Canadian Business, USA Today, Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Film and Video, Tour and Travel News, among others. He has contributed articles to Amusement Business, Funworld, and World’s Fair.

John is a graduate of the College of William and Mary in Virginia.

As an African American woman who grew up in an all-white neighborhood and has worked in a white male dominated field, I have experienced firsthand prejudice, bias and unconscious bias. That’s why I welcome and support Common Circles. All of us need a place where we can learn from and about one another in a nonthreatening open atmosphere, especially our young people. The more we can do that, the better we will be as a society.

As co-founder of Vector Communications, Laurna Godwin is a three-time Emmy award winning broadcast journalist who spent more than twenty years in television as a news anchor, reporter, talk show host and producer.

In August 2003, the St. Louis Business Journal named Laurna as one of the 25 Most Influential Businesswomen in St. Louis. Her other civic honors include both the St. Louis, Missouri and the Alton, Illinois YWCA’s “Women in Leadership” award and the St. Louis Sentinel Newspaper’s “Yes I Can” award. Laurna is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois and serves on the boards of the Girl Scout Council of Greater St. Louis, the Regional Chamber and Growth Association, and the United Way of Greater St. Louis.

Laurna received her undergraduate degree in English Literature and American Studies from Princeton University and her masters in journalism from Columbia University in New York City.

Bias and intolerance are at the root of so many societal problems. Common Circles is dedicated to addressing them with ingenuity and energy and I’m very proud to support this wonderful organization.

Richard K. Kim is a partner at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, where he specializes in representing financial institutions in a broad range of regulatory matters, including in connection with mergers and acquisitions, enforcement actions, compliance and related matters. Previously, he was an attorney with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System where he worked on a wide range of bank supervisory matters. He was also Assistant General Counsel with NationsBank Corporation. Richard is currently on the board of directors of the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund.

He received his undergraduate degree at Stanford University and his law degree from Columbia University.

The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity is a university-wide, interdisciplinary research institute that works to deepen understanding of the causes of – and solutions to – racial and ethnic disparities, and to bring about a society that is fair and just for all people.  Through our partnerships with organizations like Common Circles, we engage audiences around our research.  Given that implicit bias is one of the Kirwan Institute’s focus areas, our hope is that educational activities such as the Common Circles Experience provide a meaningful opportunity for participants to grapple with the concept of bias and encourage them to commit to aligning their thoughts and behaviors in ways that yield equitable outcomes.    

The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race & Ethnicity is a national leader in research into how implicit biases can unconsciously shape individuals’ cognition, attitudes, and even behaviors. They work to create a just and inclusive society where all people and communities have opportunity to succeed.

As an engaged research institute at The Ohio State University the Kirwin Institute works to achieve their mission by educating the public, building the capacity of allied social justice organizations, and investing in efforts that support equity and inclusion. They employ interdisciplinary research methods in a quest to understand and mitigate barriers to opportunity. Research and staff expertise are shared through an extensive network of colleagues and partners — ranging from other researchers, grassroots social justice advocates, policymakers, and community leaders throughout the nation, who can quickly put ideas into action.

I was so excited when I learned about Common Circles. I am honored to support an organization whose mission is to create more compassionate communities by breaking down the barriers of implicit bias. Using technology for it’s highest and greatest use, Common Circles will allow us each of us to experience a world that is different from our own – and thus begin our journey of individual and community healing.

Mary has spent her career working in the philanthropic and nonprofit sector. Her undergraduate degrees were in English and Women’s Studies with an emphasis on African American women authors from Augsburg University in Minnesota. She went on to help grow and develop the Sue Shear Institute for Women in Public Life at the University of Missouri–St. Louis and then pursued her master’s degree in Public Policy Administration with an emphasis on Nonprofit Management and Leadership. While working on her degree, Mary did consulting for the Cooperating School District as well as help launch the Nonprofit Management Leadership Institute.

After graduating, Mary was recruited to work for the Public Policy Research Center at UM-St. Louis where she oversaw all the regional communications efforts to help promote PPRC as a policy leader. After her tenure helping to launch PPRC, Mary became the Executive Director of the Wildlife Rescue Center of Missouri where she worked tirelessly to invigorate a failing organization and tube feed baby opossums.

Next Mary went on to take the helm of a residential children’s facility, Boys Hope Girls Hope St. Louis. There Mary was able to refine her communication skills by being constantly and lovingly challenged by a group of very smart teenagers. From opossums to teenagers, Mary learned the ins and outs of the day to day reality of running nonprofit organizations that are essential to the community.

During that time, Mary volunteered for a number of regional initiatives where she had the opportunity to work alongside key leaders in the policy and nonprofit space. From there she was recruited to be the Vice President for the Gateway Center for Giving and then went on to become president. GCG is a regional organization whose members represent nearly 100 corporate, private and family foundations. After a number of years there, Mary was approached by the St. Louis Community Foundation to join them to help grow their community engagement work.

During her tenure at the St. Louis Community Foundation, Mary created and ran the regional Give STL Day which raised over 5 million dollars for area nonprofits as well as the community and economic development initiative Invest STL. After many long years and long hours, Mary decided to take a break to spend time with her family.

She currently lives in Ladue with her husband Michael and their two children, Sophia and Lyla. Mary enjoys gardening, reading and yoga.

The Common Circles mobile experience offers unique opportunities to engage audiences in a personal exploration of the world. MRA mobile experiential’s experience working with a diverse group of clients and partners makes it an ideal partner to craft experiences that will help take visitors on a personal journey of discovery. The company creates visitor experiences, driven by compelling storytelling, that encourage visitors to put their “personal stamp” on a wide variety of interactive experiences.

MRA mobile experiential specializes in custom design, fabrication, tour equipment and logistics management services for educational outreach initiatives for leading cultural institutions and Fortune 1000 companies across North America.

They deliver turn-key services for museums, foundations and corporations directly and in collaboration with leading creative companies and exhibit producers through offices in Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan. Past clients include the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress, the Aga Khan Foundation Canada, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Mayo Clinic and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Museum.

The company has an established, successful track record of creating compelling, authentic experiences that engage audiences, stimulating the human senses in controlled, immersive environments. They work with their clients to “inspire audiences anywhere” by creating immersive mobile tours that integrate graphic imagery, architecture, sound, and technology and turn them into meaningful personal experiences that can inspire people and move them to action.

I am thrilled to support the mission of Common Circles as there has not been a more critical time in our recent history to embrace the fundamentals of empathy and understanding. Our differences have taken center stage and created a sense of divisiveness and more emboldened attitudes that support intolerance. The digital age adds more complexity to this, but if we can get back to the basics and seek opportunities to dialogue with those different than ourselves, seek to understand (vs. being understood), listen with our hearts to the stories and experience of others, and be vulnerable and open about our fears, then we can find a way to operate from a place of our greatest strength, which are our differences.

Katrina Peoples, MA, LPC is the Chief Program Officer for Epworth Children and Family Services.

Prior to working at Epworth, she oversaw programs for teens and young adults in the areas of educational equity, college access and persistence, and the development of social emotional learning and leadership skills at the Wyman Center and was Senior Director of the runaway and homeless youth programs at Youth in Need, a non-profit child and family service agency in St. Louis.

Katrina is a graduate of University of Missouri — Columbia where she received a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies. She received her Masters in Professional Counseling from Lindenwood University in St. Louis.

As a concerned citizen, I am committed and eager to learn how we can create more accepting and nurturing communities that are confronting bias and discrimination, and Common Circles is doing just that.

Born and raised in St. Louis, Steve attended University City High School, where he excelled in academics as well as in sports, playing competitive baseball, basketball, football, and track. He attended the University of Missouri on a track scholarship. Steve went on to receive his medical degree and specialized in diagnostic radiology. He practiced radiology in a private group, worked as an associate professor of radiology and published scientific articles for 30 years.

In 1996, Steve and his wife had a near death experience, which had a profound effect on him. Now retired, that experience continues to influence how he spends his retirement years.

Steve has served on a variety of philanthropic boards such as the American Cancer Society and Missouri Healthcare For All and was the recipient of the 2000 Wendell Scott Award. He is a weekly volunteer at Fox 2 News Call for Action, and enjoys studying at the Lifelong Learning Institute, University College of Washington University.

Examining how identity is both a performance as well as a set of characteristics has always been central to my work. I am curious about how identity forms the basis of human interactions and social systems. This analysis extends to examining who controls the images and media that define people and cultures globally, in a time that is defined by ease of access to information and user generated and disseminated media. Social and community engagement is therein a crucial element of my work.

Collaborating with Common Circles provides an ideal scenario where these ideas can be explored in a way that engages multiple communities across the country in a practical and relatable way, that hopefully will inspire deeper self reflection. It also provides an additional opportunity to research diverse perspectives on identity, from the minds of young people from a variety of economic backgrounds.

Bayeté Ross Smith is a photographer, multimedia artist and filmmaker from Harlem, NY. He began his career as a photojournalist with the Knight Ridder newspaper corporation, and has gone on to work as a multimedia artist and producer for The New York Times and POV.

As an artist, Ross Smith has exhibited his work internationally with the Smithsonian Institution, the San Francisco Arts Commission, the Brooklyn Museum, the Oakland Museum of California, the Schomburg Center, the Unseen Photo Festival (Amsterdam), Goethe-Institute (Ghana), and Zacheta National Gallery of Art (Poland), to name a few. His collaborative projects “Along The Way” and “Question Bridge: Black Males” were showcased at the Sundance Film Festival among other festivals. His accolades include a TED Residency, an International Center of Photography Infinity Award for New Media, and a Jerome Foundation fellowship.

Ross Smith is a faculty member at the International Center of Photography and New York University, and the associate program director of the nonprofit Kings Against Violence Initiative, a hospital- and school-based non-profit violence prevention organization based in Brooklyn, NY.

Addressing issues of bias and discrimination with teenagers is crucial for building a healthy and inclusive democratic society. Bravo to Common Circles for creating such an innovative process for engaging students in dialogue and reflection!

As Vice President and Chief Program Officer at Facing History and Ourselves, Marc oversees all aspects of organizational management, growth, and strategy. He joined the organization more than 30 years ago, helping to develop it from a small educational nonprofit to an international organization with 10 offices and partnerships around the globe. Marc directs program implementation in schools, districts, and educational networks, both in the US and internationally. He develops content and outreach partnerships with filmmakers, authors, educational leaders, and scholars. He speaks at conferences and think tanks on topics ranging from school reform and civic education, to Holocaust and genocide studies, and social-emotional learning.

Marc received a BA in education and MEd from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

I appreciate the vision and work of Common Circles to bring the right kinds of people, thinking and action together to help confront the growing issues of bias and intolerance. Working to take a hands-on, and experiential approach with our youth today is a promising step in the right direction. And these programs will help our young people grow into more conscientious, respectful and inclusive leaders.

Michael Staenberg is a leader, visionary and philanthropist. He has achieved unprecedented success in the commercial real estate sector and has helped to create quality communities nationwide. As a philanthropist, Michael has contributed to more than 500 hundred nonprofit organizations in the United States and Israel for more than a decade.

Over the past 40+ years, Michael has developed 200 shopping centers comprising more than 35 million square feet of premier retail space. In 2012, he founded The Staenberg Group, a privately held company headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, which is dedicated to building first-class properties to best serve the community. Previously, Michael co-founded THF Realty which grew to become the 3rd largest commercial real estate firm in the U.S.

In 2005, Michael and his wife Carol established the Staenberg Family Foundation, a supporting foundation of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis. While their primary focus is to support Jewish causes, their philanthropy also funds community programs relating to arts and culture, children, education, medical research and social services. In addition to financial support, Michael takes a hands-on approach to improving the overall effectiveness of nonprofits by leveraging pro bono services, industry expertise, cost-saving measures, and in-kind resources.

Michael is widely recognized for his civic and business leadership. He is a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers and the Metropolitan St. Louis Board of Realtors. He serves on the board of directors, or has served in leadership roles, for the Regional Business Council, US Bank, Wiesenthal Museum of Tolerance, Jewish Community Center (St. Louis and Denver), Jewish Federation St. Louis, Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, Barnes Jewish Hospital, Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis, The Sheldon Arts Foundation, Granite City Food & Brewery, and Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh restaurant, among others.

Michael received a BA in Economics and Finance from Arizona State University in 1976. He and Carol reside in St. Louis. They have three daughters living in St. Louis, New York, and Chicago.

I’m proud to be able to play a role in helping Common Circles fulfill their mission. Common Circles is at the forefront of using the arts and technology in creative, engaging ways to help young people better understand themselves and others, ultimately to foster a greater sense of empathy and reduce the negative impacts of bias and intolerance. Empathy is a key ingredient in the pursuit of motivating people to embrace, rather than fear, diversity and to connect with others in a meaningful ways. Common Circles has embarked on exciting and important work to promote a more equitable, inclusive and peaceful society.

Nicki Thomson is a Research Analyst in the Research & Learning Department at Wyman Center, a nonprofit organization located in St. Louis Missouri that is dedicated to serving youth from disadvantaged circumstances. She joined Wyman in 2015.

Since receiving her PhD in Developmental Psychology from Saint Louis University in 2004, Nicki has worked in the field of applied research and program evaluation, including in the Research and Quality Improvement Department at Parents as Teachers National Center in St. Louis and as a Research Associate Professor at the University of Missouri’s, Missouri Institute of Mental Health. Across her work experiences, Nicki has helped secure federal, state, and local funding to implement programs that focus on improving the lives of youth and their families; designed and supervised quantitative and qualitative evaluations of these programs; and, analyzed, presented and published data from this work.

My freshman year of college in St. Louis started approximately two weeks after Michael Brown was shot in Ferguson. I was constantly reminded of the bias that existed in St. Louis and the turmoil that was occurring in Ferguson, just miles from Wash U’s campus. I did not know the best way to advocate for change in my new community, but I knew that these issues had to be addressed. Common Circles’ mission of combating discrimination through education was something that I felt could make a lasting impact on St. Louis, as well as other communities across America.

I am passionate about facilitating conversations about social justice and equity in privileged communities. I believe that in order to both unite and level the social capita of diverse groups of people , there has to be a mutual commitment to discussion.

Although I am not the strongest practicing Muslim, I proudly state my Islamic roots when sharing my bio to others. At a time when there is a worldwide fear of Islamic terrorism, many people unconciously make assumptions about Muslims. While I am fortunately in an environment where people respect me, that is not the case for others around America. I am curious to learn the stories of those who are victimized by the biases of others.

My interest in bias lies in the acknowledgement and acceptance that we encounter this challenge every day, and we must learn to identify and work around it. I think that Common Circles is contributing to this effort.

I have a passion for issues relating to bias and discrimination due to my shared experience as a person of color and, simultaneously, a person of Caucasian ethnicity. Common Circles exposes the shriveled roots of divide within our world, whether it is because of sexuality, race, gender, or wealth, and through its hyper-awareness of the human tendency, aids us in noticing and stopping our own prejudices against others. We all encounter bias every day, and we must learn to identify and work around it. I think that Common Circles is contributing to this effort.