Maureen Benson, Educator, and Organizational Leader

With more than 20 years of experience opening, leading, and growing social impact organizations, I focus on Transmuting white supremacy and patriarchy in my own practice, in my day-to-day engagement with the community, and in my work as a consultant for organizational development and systemic transformation. I have been a high school teacher and principal in Oakland, CA., a Chief Operating Officer of a national racial equity organization, and a lead facilitator and coach for equity with executive teams, boards, and staff at a variety of social impact organizations. As a community member, I’ve been a Police Commissioner and organizer with local groups dedicated to ending police violence against marginalized communities, specifically Black people who are exponentially targeted by state terror. After more than 20 years of work in education and supporting social impact organizations focused on racial justice and intersectional leadership, I feel even more strongly that we must engage tirelessly in our governmental and educational systems with an emphasis on interrupting our personal and systemic perpetuation of historical disparities. Using the tools of Cultivating Intersectional Leadership is my commitment to a lifetime of brainwashing to undo.