“Thank you so much for sharing your time with us this past week. Your workshop was simply brilliant; I enjoyed it so much! My notebook (and toolbox) is bursting with ideas and reflections. I learned so much and I’m deeply grateful.” (teacher in a K-12 school after the Inclusive Facilitation series)

“Hi Liza. So when is the next training? Kidding, of course. I came to really look forward to each training, and was always surprised how quickly time had passed. Thanks for being such a big part of our company’s momentum to our next place. I think we all—individually, and as an organization—have space to grow, but our start has been made 1000x better with your guidance. My most sincere thank you, for all of the very important work you do. Be well!”

 “Hi Liza, I really appreciate you taking the time to help us. I really found that being able to label racism when I see it using the concepts you taught us has really progressed my thinking quickly. Now for the hard part of affecting change! Thanks again!”

 “Liza, thank you so much for taking the time to share your anti-racism expertise with us in such a warm, welcoming way. I loved all of the opportunities to connect with colleagues and personally reflect on my own beliefs and upbringing. Thank you for helping to bring voice, clarity, and action to such an essential and challenging topic!”

 “Dear Liza, Thank you for helping us hold the space to begin doing our work as an organization.  Your energy, the tone that you set and the content you delivered were excellent and really reflective of what was needed for us to begin this conversation. The ripple effect of learning to have courageous conversations, articulate clear definitions and disrupt our own thinking will undoubtedly extend beyond our Zoom screens. We have so many new tools to draw on as we continue to do our work to become a more equitable and just organization, and also as we strive to become better people, sisters, mothers, daughters, friends and anti-racist advocates. Thank you for showing us a path.”

 “Thank you so much Liza! I really appreciate the education and tools you provided us in the trainings—I only wish we were able to have more extended time. I—and we—have a lot of work ahead of us…”

 “Hi Liza, I cannot thank you enough for the energy and effort you put in to your time with us. We have a lot of work to do and I have to remind myself that changes won’t happen overnight, but you gave us the foundation for necessary conversations. You helped us create a shared language and experience that I can point back to and hold myself and others accountable. Thank you again.”

 “Liza, Thank you for giving us the tools we needed to begin the conversations necessary to shift our thinking. You created a space for us that felt safe and open, and we learned things about ourselves and each other that we wouldn’t have without your guidance! I hope this is just the beginning of our journey to doing better; I know I feel more committed than ever before and I thank you for that!”

 “Liza – I really appreciated both your thoughtful content and warm style. I find myself referring to the DIEJ definitions daily (and have them posted on my wall). I am more prepared to help my clients and more comfortable in my personal interactions related to racism. Thank you!”

 “Liza, You have opened up a genuine space for powerful conversations, and we will forever be better for it. Thanks!”

 “Liza, thank you very much for facilitating our training. It was enjoyable and productive. I have used the mindfulness practice you began our trainings with to help enhance the intentionality of a few sessions. And your sessions helped me identify a few tangible next steps to help evolve my anti-racism awareness and practice, as well as opened our organization to begin to have the difficult conversations necessary to help move us forward. Thanks for your help.”

“We (Choate Rosemary Hall) engaged Liza as a Key Note speaker and workshop facilitator. Her Key Note focused on having courageous conversations and activism. She demonstrated a broad and deep knowledge base. Liza’s vibrant personality made her an engaging speaker to an audience of over 1000. As a facilitator, she engaged groups of students in a meaningful activity. I have appreciated Liza’s collaboration as a thought partner and have a great respect for her experience and professionalism.” - Keith Hinderlie, PhD, Choate Rosemary Hall (CT)

“Liza not only gave our faculty and staff tools to engage with each other about issues of race, class, gender, and identity though also provided us a way to learn from and about each other. I had conversations with my colleagues to hear their experiences that I hadn’t before.” - Michelle Cannon, Boston University Academy (MA)

"Liza is an incredible joy to work with. I've participated in her workshops over the course of my four years at Stonehill College, and was excited to introduce her to my work community for its first-ever diversity and inclusion workshop! Through her art of facilitating meaningful dialogue, Liza cultivates an environment where folks found the courage to be curious, and develop skills to start building a community of diversity and inclusion." -Lindsey Bouzan, Development Officer, Trinity Catholic Academy (MA)

"As a school administrator for over 25 years, I thought that Liza's diversity and inclusion workshop was an incredible opportunity.  Our faculty to examined how identity plays a key role in shaping an atmosphere where everyone feels known and loved. Through this workshop, our faculty developed skills that can empower a community of diversity and inclusion. As a school, it was important for us to think through how we can carry these conversations into the classrooms. Liza's role as a facilitator enabled this to come through in the discussion.  I feel there's a lot of work to be done, but I'm proud of our school for taking on this challenge. With Liza, we've taken a giant step forward! " - Susan Degnan, Principal, Trinity Catholic Academy (MA)

"I had the pleasure of welcoming Liza Talusan to Hopkins School to end a year long program, Conversations on Race. Liza delivered a keynote address on perspective and facilitated five grade level workshops on identity. She was prompt, thoughtful, flexible, and incredibly sensitive to the needs and pulse of our community. She approaches the very complex and challenging issues of race and identity with such care and patience. We all benefited from Liza's wealth of knowledge and experience, and the students cited her visit as one of the most meaningful aspects of our year program. From start to finish, Liza was a dream to work with and I am grateful to now call her my colleague and friend! " - Amanda Friedman, Director of Diversity, Hopkins School (CT)

"I had to find a keynote speaker for Cape Cod Community College's annual Student Diversity Recognition Day. Liza came highly recommended from a colleague from another educational institution. Liza ALWAYS got back to me promptly via emails and phone calls and she was a true pleasure to work with. When I broached the subject of her being the keynote speaker, she immediately said that she wanted to do it and provided me with information in a very timely manner. Her presentation was spot on. High School students, college students, faculty and staff all raved about her talk. I heard things from administration like, "That was the best keynote speaker that we've ever had." Students wrote things like, 'I am inspired to be the best that I can be.' I would highly recommend Liza as a keynote speaker." - Raquel Rodriguez, Multicultural Admissions Counselor, Cape Cod Community College

"The students REALLY got a lot out of your presentation. They were pumped for the second half of the day and have actually mobilized to start writing a petition for a diversity course as part of the core. They've been working on it all week! As far as feedback, I think your personal style of facilitation is really spot on. You were able to challenge them in ways that held them responsible without causing them to shut down. I learned a lot from just observing the morning." -Candice de los Reyes, Assistant Director, Roger Williams University Intercultural Center

"Liza A. Talusan is one of the few people I know who is genuinely in touch with how race and diversity are lived in America today. She's an excellent speaker and facilitator, and her columns for our blog Anti-Racist Parent always spark lively conversations among our readers." -Carmen Van Kerckhove, President of the diversity consulting firm New Demographic and founder of blogs such as Racialicious!, Addicted to Race, and Anti-Racist Parent

"After knowing Liza Talusan for over a decade, I can attest to her sincere and profound ability to tackle the most complex and sensitive issues of social diversity with compassion and competence. She truly has the heart of an educator, and the vision of an activist." - Marcella Runell Hall, New York University Center for Multicultural Education and Programs, Author of Hip Hop Education Guidebook and Conscious Women Rock the Page: Using Hip-Hop Fiction to Incite Social Change

“I’ve had the opportunity to work with many campus programmers across the world and Liza is by far one of the best.  The enthusiasm she displays is contagious and the warm compassion she exudes makes her an invaluable resource to all with whom she interacts. Liza is results driven, reliable and trustworthy, all while making it fun! She treated my client, Esera Tuaolo, so graciously while he was on site giving a speech and I am excited at what Liza and I can do together in the future!” – David Buchalter, Director of University Division, Senior Vice President, Greater Talent Network, Inc.

“I invited Liza to facilitate a workshop about how to be an inclusive leader for our newly hired Resident Assistants. She absolutely blew me away! Her approach to this topic was so refreshing as she sought to help these students own their own biases without making them feel guilty about them. She was extremely engaging and struck a good balance between facilitating a conversation and providing the RAs with an interactive experience. Liza’s passion is contagious and calls those she is speaking with to action. I plan on continuing to bring Liza in to educate our RAs as well as our professional staff on these important issues and highly recommend that you do the same!” –Kristen Pierce, Assistant Director of Residence Life, Stonehill College

“Liza is an integral part of our community who isn't afraid to speak up and is always looking for new ways to educate through workshops and presentations. She is exciting and engaging to listen to...I am a strong believer in Liza's work and am proud to call her a colleague and a friend.” -Eric Nichols, Assistant Dean (former) for Admissions and Multicultural Recruiting, Stonehill College

"I first met Liza when I started working for Stonehill College in August 2006. After the first time we met, Liza was both warm and welcoming to me as a new member of the Stonehill Community and a rookie professional in Higher Education. Her reflections mirrored both contemporary and noteworthy scholarship in the field of diversity, helping me explore diversity on a far deeper level.  Having participated in some of Liza’s diversity discussion groups, I noticed she facilitates discussions to move forward, instead of in circles. She carefully listens to her audience, informing her individualized methodology, making her an enjoyable and effective presenter. I cannot think of anyone better to facilitate conversations that educate participants on important and critical issues facing higher education and student culture." - Evan Read, Assistant Dean (former) of Admissions and Enrollment, Stonehill College

"Liza truly understand the way to communicate with a large group of people on sensitive topics. In our group of upper school faculty, she encouraged everyone to share their thoughts, and her manner allowed us to feel comfortable enough to do so. In the weeks since her workshop, I have had numerous conversations with colleagues about the way her visit has lingered in our minds. She prompted us to think carefully and sensitively about our students, without forcing us to feel guilty or self-conscious. Liza and her team respect their audience, work with individuals where they are, and cause lasting, thought-provoking effects." --Abby Hertzmark Phyfe, Teacher, Moses Brown, RI

"We have worked with Liza for two years now in training our Resident Assistant team and she is AMAZING. Liza's approach and ability to keep our 128 RAs, 11 RDs, and other professional staff members engaged in the learning process and having fun while doing so is no easy task.  I will continue to use her in our program as long as our budget can support outside presenters. Liza works with a great team of students and staff who also work to keep the students interacting and reflecting and its been a great success. Her style is open, she is not simply lecturing but continues to incorporate activity into the overall presentation. We find ourselves moving around, having discussions and getting to know each other more in a safe and non judgmental environment. This is an environment that can only be created by the presenter when discussing sensitive topics around inclusion. Her energy is infectious and I feel she would be a great asset to your team." - Dr. Angela Watson, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

"I've known Liza for several years now, since I previously worked at Wheaton College in Norton, MA. I've been at The University of Rhode Island now for over 4 years, and about a year and a half ago, invited Liza to speak as a keynote during one of the programs I organize. I teach a class, part of our academic minor in leadership studies, that examines issues of women of color and mentoring. The program during which she spoke was the final dinner, and I asked her to speak to issues of women of color, leadership, mentoring, etc. The audience was a mix of students, faculty and staff, though mostly students. Though I would say most identified as women of color, the audience also included men and white folks. The students in my class are required to go to the event and have to write a reflection, and I can share with you some of the words they students used to describe Liza's presentation:

Hope, Pride, Faith, Striving, Success, Inspiration, Something in common, Sense of personal voice, Strength, Finding your identity

On a personal note, I consider Liza to be a friend and mentor and I was thrilled she was able to speak with my students. She engaged them and inspired them." -- Melissa Camba, University of Rhode Island

"Liza Talusan came to my Business Ethics classes and introduced diversity issues to my students. Specifically, she led interesting in-class activities from which students had opportunities to reflect on a variety of diversity issues. Liza's presentation was both effective and intriguing." - Jegoo Lee, PhD, Stonehill College

"I had the pleasure of working with Liza Talusan and the intercultural affairs office when I was selected to execute a piece of public art to foreground diversity on campus.  It was a joy working with both the staff and the students. Everyone was enthusiastic, supportive, and welcoming.  Liza really cultivates an atmosphere of inclusion, energy and professionalism. -- Shane Savage-Rumbaugh, PhD, Stonehill College