The Lakeshore Ethnic Diversity Alliance (LEDA) has announced its new executive director.
Latoya Booker has taken over for retiring LEDA director Gail Harrison. Booker is from the Grand Rapids Area and has a background in teaching and public administration. In the past, she has held the position of Director of the Center for Diversity & Inclusion at Aquinas College and Assistant Director of Hope College’s Multicultural Education Office.
Booker first got attracted to LEDA when Hope College partnered with LEDA during the Calling All Colors Conference, a bi-annual meeting of students to talk about race issues within their schools. Later, Booker was able to facilitate LEDA’s Annual Diversity Alliance Summit on Race & Inclusion through Hope College and found out how committed to racial equity LEDA really was.
“I just had a really great experience seeing a different capacity of the organization and being involved in a different way, as a participant. Even though as a professional I had spent years doing equity work, I found LEDA’s Summit to be challenging, meaningful and impactful for my personal and professional journey.
Booker also served on the Board of LEDA before accepting the position of Executive Director. She hopes to maintain the organization’s stellar reputation and work on connecting with Holland residents during her time with LEDA.
The next Calling All Colors Conference for Lakeshore area schools is scheduled for Oct. 9 and 10 at Hope College. LEDA’s 2018 Diversity Alliance Summit will take place on May 15, also at Hope College.
You can find out more about LEDA’s dedication to promoting racial equity at www.ethnicdiversity.org
