Does racism still exist? Is systemic racism real? Do black lives matter? Blue lives? All lives? Listen to Belinda Manning as she recounts 70+ years of knowledge, history, and wisdom! How does what’s happening now impact and shape the future?

Belinda Manning is a retired Organizational Development professional and has been a lifelong community volunteer and activist. She spent seventeen years as an internal consultant at Atlantic City Electric (the local utility) and was responsible for the design and delivery of diversity initiatives, management training programs, and the development of processes to enhance strategic planning and goal setting. Belinda then spent another five years as a consultant in her own firm, Phoenix Rising, Inc., providing similar services in both the private and public sectors prior to her retirement. Her firm provided strategic planning assistance for school districts including Asbury Park, Maplewood/South Orange and Atlantic City. She has consulted for the FAATC in developing their management diversity initiative and the Whirlpool Inc.’s diversity initiative between the cities of Benton Harbor Michigan and St. Joesph. Belinda has also worked with the cities of Seattle and Chicago as they navigated issues with public housing. Her previous experience as a volunteer includes Chair of Child Placement Review Board, the Chair of the NJ Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission as well as other leadership positions on boards and commissions at both the state and local level. She has continued to remain active in the community teaching yoga, providing support for the arts and serving on the board of The Leadership Studio, a local non-profit.