Our Facilitators

Ben Green

As one of only two openly transgender people in his hometown, Ben Greene has always been the “designated educator.” After giving a TEDx talk during his sophomore year of college at Brandeis University, he took his personal experience of transitioning and transforming and used it to inspire peers, professors, and the public at large. Since graduating from Brandeis University in the summer of 2020, he has spoken in many different domains with the purpose of educating others from a place of compassion no matter where they're starting from. In pursuit of his passion for a more inclusive community, Ben now works full-time in education and advocacy as a public speaker and LGBTQ+ inclusion consultant.

Janna Barkin

Janna Barkin is a published author of He’s Always Been My Son- A Mothers Story about Raising Her Transgender Son” a #1 bestseller on Amazon. Janna leads support groups for parents and caregivers of transgender and gender-expansive and questioning youth at the Spahr Center in Corte Madera, CA. Janna’s blog has been published in the Huffington Post as well as on her own website www.hesalwaysbeenmyson.com, and she has also written for Common Ground. Janna has been interviewed regarding my transgender advocacy on Bay Area radio stations KGO and KPFA. Janna shares her story about raising her transgender child to raise awareness and foster more compassion, understanding, and acceptance in our society. Janna has also delivered programs at companies like The Gap & Microsoft.

Stan C. Kimer

Stan C. Kimer is a nationally recognized consultant and speaker on all areas of workplace diversity with a deep expertise in LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) diversity. Stan served as IBM’s corporate global LGBT diversity manager, during which time he expanded IBM’s LGBT diversity initiatives globally and established IBM’s procedures for supporting transgender employees, including case management of employees undergoing gender transition while in the workplace. Since retiring from IBM, Stan has trained or spoken in over 125 venues reaching over 7,500 professionals. He is a certified Out and Equal Workplace Advocates Building Bridges Trainer and a certified Training Management Corp / Berlitz Cultural Competency Trainer / Practitioner.

Ian Unger

Ian Unger is an Equity Consultant, Youth Mentor, and Social Justice Advocate. Ian became passionate about advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community while at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, where he developed inclusion efforts for the College of Business Administration and provided safe zone trainings for students, staff, and faculty. This experience transitioned into a career, leading Ian to Michigan where he served as the Program Manager for one of the largest LGBTQ+ community centers in the state.

Dio Aldridge and Kristen Surla

Dio Aldridge and Kristen Surla met as Assistant Directors at Oberlin College's Multicultural Resource Center where they led intersectional focused programs and coalition building across LGBTQIA+, BIPOC, immigrant, and first-generation college student communities. Dio and Kris intentionally cultivate spaces for community building, storytelling, and advocacy for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ populations--oftentimes these spaces evolved from "chosen family" gatherings. What made these spaces unique was the pairing of DEIJ advocacy with wellness practices.

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