Exploring our Social Identities: Understanding the impact of our similarities and differences in the workplace. Social identity is based on the group in which a person belongs, which can be: age, ethnicity, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, education, physical ability, and socioeconomic status. These identities are determined by long established systems and structures, unconscious biases, and social norms and beliefs.
Presented by Dr Melita Walker and Adonica Coleman
Melita Walker has served the Columbia, Missouri community as an educator over the course of the past 20 years. She has worked as a teacher, reading specialist, reading coach and as a principal. Through her career she has found a passion for literacy, education, social justice and minority representation.
Melita is a highly motivated individual who believes in matching struggle and adversity with hard work and determination. She is goal oriented and believes in finding the positive in any struggle to equip yourself to move forward successfully. She credits her success to cultivating her own self confidence and committing herself to allowing obstacles to serve as learning experiences.
Melita finds inspiration from her two daughters who have inspired her to be the best version of herself and to fight for social justice in the field of education.
Adonica Coleman is the owner of A2D Events which was established in Columbia Missouri in 2011. The company specializes in corporate, fundraising, virtual, and community events. Her community work includes serving as a board member at Granny’s House, The BOLD Academy, The Chamber of Commerce and REDI. Adonica is one half of the professional emceeing duo AC|DC Emcee, the Director of Community Outreach at Broadway Christian Church, and a part time business coach with the Missouri Women’s Business Center. She is a wife of 19 years and the mother of 4 daughters. She is passionate about her family, her business, and the community and loves connecting people through networking.
