Equity & Inclusion Specialist
Youth & Parent Engagement Coordinator
Extension – 15 (Hablo Español)
Dani leads YES Institute’s education, training, and consultation work, specializing in equity conversations and best practices on gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and accessibility inclusion initiatives. Dani is frequently invited to present to both corporate and non-profit equity and inclusion affinity groups, medical and mental health professionals, child welfare, law enforcement, university classes, and other organizational leaders. Dani incorporates the YES Institute model of communication and Restorative Justice practices in their approaches to community and leadership engagement.
Dani has eight years of experience in youth mental health, case management, and substance abuse recovery programs. They have served as a youth suicide Prevention Coordinator in California, a Guardian Ad Litem in Miami-Dade County, a Suspension Diversion Instructor with the City of Miami Beach, and a Peer Specialist Supervisor with Federation of Families in Miami before joining YES Institute’s education team in 2017.
They currently serve on the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) TA Network and are a member of a National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender & Questioning Workgroup, which provides cultural and linguistic consultation to Systems of Care throughout the US on best practices to support youth, young adults, and their families with reducing gender and orientation related stigma and disparities and increasing resiliency.
Dani created and developed YES Institute’s Youth Advisory Leadership Council in 2019. This program provides young people with leadership opportunities to use their voice, share their lived experiences, and develop their ability to make a difference with their peers, families, and communities.
Dani is committed to empowering leaders to drive positive individual and organizational change that fosters belonging and inclusion. As a non-binary person of color, Dani has experienced the pain and invisibility of hiding one’s authentic self and has also experienced the powerful healing and freedom that comes with being vulnerable and authentic with others.
Their commitment to equity and inclusion work is so no one ever has to question their self-worth or their sense of belonging, and all people are free to be authentically who they are.
Dani is pursuing a Master’s in Equity and Inclusion in Education, with an emphasis in Human Resource Development.