A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith

Rodrigua Ross is VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas. She has been with the YMCA for over 22 years both in Dallas and in Framingham, Mass.  

A driven advocate for children and families in under resourced, marginalized, and access deficient communities; she is a strategist that helps organizations embed equity strategies into their operations. 

She's collaborated with government entities, public and private nonprofit agencies, and corporate partners nationwide to address issues such as youth development program deficiencies, improving family stability, increasing access in low-income communities, poverty, reducing social stigmas associated with “at- risk” populations, and dismantling of inequitable systems. 

She has a B.A. in Political Science and M.B.A with a focus on Strategic Leadership. She's a national trainer and public speaker on topics ranging from mitigating bias, finance and budgeting, diversity and inclusion, understanding cultural competency, program development, executive presence, business culture, leading and coaching, and more. She's the current National Chair of the African American Resource Network, an Employee Resource Group for YMCA USA. Her nonprofit, based out of her hometown of Brooklyn, NY, supports academic achievement among student-athletes of color. She's the wife of Dr. Iman Ross, and mother of Asha, Azeem and Ameer.  

Join us on A Chat in the Garden with Monique A. J. Smith at 10:00 am EST. Come listen to our guest’s career path, her advice for others & current initiatives...A Chat in the Garden with Monique A.J. Smith, where Significance Blooms. Listen via 563-999-3513 or www.chatinthegarden.com. This is Season 8. Seasons 1-7 can be found on 200plus.expert, previously broadcasted on Survival Broadcast Network.