About Us
Single Story, Inc.’s mission is twofold:
Helping organizations create interculturally empowering and engaging communities through customized programming and strategic planning for building and retaining culturally diverse constituencies; and
Equipping individuals and organizations to achieve their authentic identities through diversity integration across the institution.
Our purpose is simple:
to help organizations create windows and mirrors reflective of all constituents, allowing them to feel supported, secure, validated, and valued.
What We Do
At Single Story, Inc. we believe that the mark of a great organization can be found in the diversity of its employees – diversity of identity, thought, and experiences.
Diversity not only involves how people perceive themselves but also how they perceive others. These perceptions affect their interactions. For organizations with a wide range of employees to function at high levels of efficacy, leadership must effectively address issues of communication, adaptability, and change.
Education and workforces will experience a significant increase in diversity in the coming years.
Successful organizations recognize the need for immediate action to sustain positive productivity and high functioning teams.
They are ready and willing to spend resources on managing diversity in the workplace now. Although the diversity of an organization is a great indicator of its success and impact in a community, the inclusion of those diverse members within the organization may prove to be even more paramount.
Helping organizations become more inclusive is our passion.
And it is this unique skill-set that separates us from others in this work. It is not enough to simply increase an organization’s diversity numbers – we have to meet the challenge of helping all to feel welcome, important, safe, secure and included. It is with this challenge in mind that Single Story, Inc. designs its programming to assist organizations in fostering an inclusive work environment using five stages of diversity development.
Our team.
Brian Corley
Brian is the founder and co-owner of SSI along with his wife Kellie. Brian has over 10 years of experience as a Diversity Practitioner and has trained hundreds of others in self-directed diversity seminars. Brian believes that increased awareness and cultural competency can influence positive change. He advises boards and organizational leaders in diversity strategic planning, while also participating in the writing and execution of diversity policies that guide organizations toward more inclusive practices.
Western Culture Credentials:
- Masters of Administration, Northwestern University
- Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology, and Education, Michigan State University
- Cranbrook Kingswood Schools, Alum
- Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS), Board of Trustees; Equity and Justice Committee; Administrative Services Committee
- National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), Aspiring Heads Fellow
- Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED), National Staff Facilitator & Trainer
Fun Times: World traveler, Cyclist, Golf, Family time
Current Book(s)/Podcast: Slavery by Another Name by Douglas A. Blackmon, Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi and We Were Her Property by Stephanie Jones-Rogers
What ticks you off: Liberal White people that retreat to safety and comfort when racial injustices are omnipresent and folks of color are being harmed
Hopeful about: That the next generation of young people will be more race-conscious and therefore cause less racial harm.
Dr. Kellie Corley
Kellie has dedicated 10 years to serving communities throughout the city of Chicago as a grade school teacher and principal. She is a skilled SEED facilitator and diversity curriculum specialist. After completing her doctoral capstone of an analytical study of demoralized and underachieving schools and how to rebuild the instructional capacity of those communities through strengthened pedagogy and social/emotional achievement, Kellie’s passion for evoking true systemic change grew. As co-owner of SSI, Kellie uses her passion and belief in lifelong learning to fuel her commitment to educating the whole child by empowering the educators that serve them. She embeds her academic research and training with the work of organization leadership to help develop high functioning teams and systems that strengthen professional learning communities and inter-cultural pedagogical instruction.
Western Culture Educational Credentials:
- Doctorate of Education in Urban Leadership, University of Illinois at Chicago
- Masters of Arts in Teaching, Dominican University
- Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism and Economics, University of Miami, Florida
- Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED), Facilitator
Fun Times: World traveling, making DIY beauty products, music, working out, cooking, & family time
Current Book(s)/Podcast:
- The Man Who Lived Underground by James Baldwin
- Culturally Responsive Teaching & The Brain by Zaretta Hammond
- The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee
- Bamboozled by Jesus by Yvonne Orji
What ticks you off: The micro-abuse and macro-abuse that BIPOCs are constantly exposed to from daily interactions to systemic policies. . . coupled with people’s unwillingness to understand how deeply rooted racism is in our country that it consciously and subconsciously impacts our ability to see BIPOC’s full humanity.
Hopeful about: Developing an educational model where the empowerment of black youth and academic excellence co-exist.
John Paul “JP” Arellano
JohnPaul’s career in education began in a dual language setting in San Diego, California where he practiced a humanistic approach to instruction. Inspired primarily by the teachings of Paulo Freire and bell hooks, he believes in creating systems and experiences for learners that are based on pedagogy and one’s own story. John Paul has coached Kindergarten through Fourth-grade teachers in social-emotional and instructional practices and worked on school-wide systems within these areas as a school leader of instruction, community, and culture. His passions include creating systems of dialogue and reflection that support critical pedagogy and equity. John Paul believes that when given the space to engage in rigorous and intentional self-work, all learners strengthen their clarity of self and the world around them.
Western Culture Credentials:
- Bachelor of Art in Ethnic Studies, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
- Masters in Instructional Leadership, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC)
- Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED), Facilitator
Fun Times: Outdoor activities with the family & music.
Current Book(s): Words Can Change your Brain by Newberg & Waldman, Braiding Sweetgrass by Kimmerer
What ticks you off: I am frustrated and inspired by the challenge it is for human beings to reach a place of honesty.
Hopeful about: That the conversations we have lead to transformative social change.
Lauren Collins
Lauren is the Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement at North Shore Country Day. For 14 years, Lauren has supported students and families in the private and public sectors, including non-profit organizations, public and independent schools. Lauren is a trained SEED facilitator and skilled presenter. After receiving her Masters in Education, she provided training and capacity building for center directors as an Early Childhood Mental Health Consultant in preschools serving low-income families. She went on to serve as the METCO Director in Weston, Massachusetts where she was responsible for the longstanding district-wide program supporting over 180 Boston students. She continues to partner closely with teachers and administrative teams to center equity and inclusion via professional development and curriculum support.
Western Culture Credentials:
- Bachelor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Studies, Miami University (OH)
- Masters of Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education
- Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED), Facilitator
Fun Times: Cycling, Rooftops, getting creative with family time!
Current Book(s): Ghosts in the Schoolyard by Eve Ewing, Cultivating Genius by Gholdy Muhammad
What ticks you off: Willful ignorance
Hopeful about: Equity conversations moving into the public square
Christine Saxman
Christine Saxman is a racial and social justice facilitator, most recently for Courageous Conversations About Race. She also works for the National SEED Project (Seeking Education Equity and Diversity) as part of the National Staff. Prior to full-time facilitation, Christine was an educator in Township District 113 in Illinois for fifteen years where she was also a racial equity leader. In 2016, she received recognition as an Illinois Golden Apple Finalist and Teacher of Distinction.
Western Culture Credentials:
- Masters of Science in Education, Northwestern University
- Masters of Arts in English, Northwestern University
- Bachelor of Arts in English, University of Pittsburgh
- Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED), National Staff Facilitator
Fun Times: Reading, watching movies, and time with my family, including my dog, Flannery.
Current Book(s)/Podcast: Code Switch, race and identity remixed.
What ticks you off: White people tearing other white people down in antiracism work. I’m committed to loving accountability and building up more white people to join ur collective.
Hopeful for: More mutual empathy and attention nationally for one another’s physical, psychological, intellectual, and emotional health.
Kimberly Phillips
Kimberly Phillips has been an educator for over twenty years. Kimberly has taught in private, public, parochial and private schools settings in Michigan, Georgia, and Texas. In her long career as an educator, she created safe classrooms focused on equity, diversity, raising student achievement, STEAM and gifted education. Kimberly advises school districts on how to create an equitable gifted student identification process and supports administrators, counselors, teachers and parents in understanding the unique needs of gifted children. Kimberly is an Executive Board Member of MAGC and currently serves as the President. Kimberly believes wholeheartedly in the importance of inclusion and diversity in the educational process. In her role as a SEED facilitator, she has trained hundreds of teachers, parents, board members and clergy staff in diversity seminars.
Western Culture Credentials:
- National Principals Academic Fellowship, Relay Graduate School of Education
- Educational Leadership Certificate, Eastern Michigan University
- Master’s of Education Elementary and Early Childhood Education, University of St. Thomas
- Bachelors of Arts Child Development, Spelman College
- Teaching Certificate in Michigan
- Lifelong Teaching Certificate in Texas
- Administrator Endorsement
- Early Childhood Endorsement
- Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED) National Staff Facilitator & Trainer
Fun Times: Reading, Researching, Traveling, Blogging, Investing
Current Book(s)/Podcast: Critical Pedagogy, Bright, Talented & Black by J. Lawson Davis
What ticks you off: When our allies are silent in the face of injustice.
Hopeful about: Our children will benefit from the work that we are doing now, and they can be “unapologetically” themselves.
Sarah Miller
Sarah Miller is a Social Justice Educator and Facilitator. Sarah is committed to increasing knowledge and dialogue about oppression in all of its forms, as well as systemic and historic injustice. Sarah firmly believes that providing relevant education to community members leads to increased empathy and resiliency. Therefore, she is committed to social justice education with the intent of moving towards individual and systemic change to create a more equitable world. Sarah does curriculum development and presents on a range of topics with particular interest in service learning, white anti-racism ally work and connecting historic injustice to current oppression.
Western Culture Credentials:
- Masters of Arts in Social Justice, Marygrove College
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Michigan
Fun Times: Reading, crafting, Tigers baseball, Michigan football and basketball, and family time.
Current Book(s)/Podcast: Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Hamel, and The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow.
What ticks you off: The moral high ground that has been co-opted by the Pro-Life movement while the morality of caging refugees, denying healthcare coverage to people, turning a blind eye to housing and food insecurity and the reinforcement of systemic racism that kills Black and Brown people is ignored and even derided.
Hopeful for: The increase in awareness of systemic racism leading to more white people doing the hard but necessary work of dismantling the white supremacy culture we have too long participated in and upheld.
Aaron Robinson
Aaron has been an educator for ten years in a diverse array of settings from urban to rural, and primary to adult. Aaron believes in developing internationally aware individuals with a strong foundation rooted in their own identity. He has been working to empower kids and adults with knowledge of self within historical contexts. He believes this is the way towards meeting humanity’s greatest potential. Aaron has a wide array of professional experience leading diversity initiatives, developing curriculum, leading grade level teams, and in public speaking appearances.
Western Culture Credentials:
- Bachelors of Arts, History and English, Wayne State University
- In-Progress Masters of Education, P-12 Administration, Michigan State University
- Klingenstein Center Teachers College Columbia University, Institute Fellow
- Matter of Equity, Inaugural Fellow
Fun Times: Nerd Stuff, Martial Arts, Cooking
Current Book(s)/Podcast: Philosophize This by Stephen West, Startalk by Neil deGrasse Tyson, Common Sense by Patrick Harris, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms by John Zhu
What ticks you off: Systems of oppression that are ingrained in everyday interactions and decisions. Self-hate in all forms.
Hopeful about: That humanity has shown the potential to rise above dire circumstances and make radical change.
Aaron has been an educator for ten years in a diverse array of settings from urban to rural, and primary to adult. Aaron believes in developing internationally aware individuals with a strong foundation rooted in their own identity. He has been working to empower kids and adults with knowledge of self within historical contexts. He believes this is the way towards meeting humanity’s greatest potential. Aaron has a wide array of professional experience leading diversity initiatives, developing curriculum, leading grade-level teams, and in public speaking appearances.
Elaina Holsey
Elaina Holsey has spent her career working in independent, charter, and public school education. With over 20 years of experience in operations and academics, Elaina is defined by her leadership capability, focus on effectiveness, and passion for ensuring that all students have personal and academic success. In addition, Elaina’s love for working with marginalized and disenfranchised students provides a rewarding career in Alternative Education. Currently, Elaina is an Assistant Principal for a high school that embraces 21st Century skills, including projects about real-life challenges and leveraging social media to make change while working with others who think differently. Elaina is a Board Member of a non-profit educational management organization and serves as the Vice-President. Elaina is committed to educating her students and colleagues while modeling the importance of diversity and inclusion and therefore became a SEED Facilitator with the National SEED Project. That training allowed Elaina the opportunity to conduct personal and professional development for students, parents, educators, and pastoral leaders so that they can guide their peers in conversational communities to drive personal, organizational, and societal change toward social justice.
Western Culture Credentials:
- Bachelors of Science in Human Resource Development, Oakland University
- Master’s of Education, Grand Valley State University
- K-12 Administration Certification
- Restorative Justice Certificate
- Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED) National Staff Facilitator
Fun Times: Spending time with family, Traveling, Reading
Current Book (s): White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People To Talk About Racism by Robin Diangelo and The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
What ticks you off: Close-mindedness
Hopeful about: The determination and resilience of Generation Z as they lead and shape our future with their Social Justice engagement.
Brandi Reed
Brandi is a business innovator and organizational leader. She has worked in a variety of settings corporate and entrepreneurial and specializes in creating highly efficient processes. Brandi believes in an equitable and culturally competent workplace that elevates its members beyond the limitations of a job description. She is committed to social justice and bringing about a world that sees everyone equipped with what they need to succeed no matter their life circumstances.
Western Culture Credentials:
- In-Progress Bachelors of Science, Integrated Business Leadership, Central Michigan University
Fun Times: Exercising, Swimming, Traveling
Current Book(s)/Podcast: Reinventing the Organization by Arthur Yeung and Dave Ulrich,
Sensuous Knowledge: A Black Feminist Approach for Everyone by Minna Salami
What ticks you off: Passive aggressive work culture and abuse of power in professional/corporate hierarchies.
Hopeful about: How much better we can be for each other when we take care of ourselves.
Caitlyn Solomon
Caitlyn Solomon (she/her/hers) has spent the last nine years working in Montessori schools in the Chicago area as a 3-6 trained teacher and administrator. While working in the schools she began to observe ways in which white supremacy culture was being perpetuated and has made it her passion to dismantle that. She believes that to achieve an equitable and diverse community adults and children must be included. Be having open, honest, and age-appropriate conversations with one another we are able to learn from past mistakes and do better for the future. Therefore, Caitlyn has worked to create and implement anti-racist and anti-biased curriculums for children as young as 15 months of age as well as serving as a SEED facilitator with staff members.
Western Culture Credentials:
- Master’s in educational policy, Organization, and Leadership with a focus on DEI in Education – University of Illinois
- Bachelors of Science, Montessori Education – Xavier University
- Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED) National Staff Facilitator & Trainer
Fun Times: Swimming, Cycling, Embroidery, and Spending times with my family and friends
Current Books/Podcast: Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Mahzarin Banaji and Anthony Greenwald
Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum
The Broken Earth Series – NK Jemisin
What ticks you off: When allies pick and choose where and what they support to meet their needs
Hopeful about: A time where children can talk, learn, and question about diversity and equity in a respectful and knowledgeable way.
Stacy Holloman
Stacy Holloman was an educator for over 20 years. After spending time in the automotive and legal fields, she began teaching at a private school in Michigan. In her long career as an educator, she created safe classrooms focused on equity, diversity, inclusion and critical thinking. By focusing on these elements, Stacy created a learning environment that allowed students to add their personal stories to the curriculum, to ask meaningful questions, and to discuss hard topics often avoided in the classroom. She is also a trained SEED facilitator who has trained hundreds of teachers, parents, high school students, board members and private industry employees in diversity seminars.
Western Culture Credentials:
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering – Lawrence Technological University
- Juris Doctorate – Detroit College of Law (now Michigan State University School of Law)
- Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity (SEED) National Staff Facilitator & Trainer
Fun Times: Playing tennis, Reading, Knitting, Traveling
Current Book(s)/Podcast: The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson; I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown
What ticks you off: The continuing fight to center whiteness in all aspects of life.
Hopeful about: Our children will reject the status quo and work toward creating a truly just society.
Miniya Williams
Miniya Williams (she/her) is a recent graduate of Spelman College, where she majored in Psychology (B.A), with a concentration in Mental health. Miniya’s mission is to engage in questions of social and institutional transformation as it pertains to mental health and racial healing. Miniya’s experience with health interventions began when she started a non-profit wellness program designed to teach BIPOC children mindfulness practices, and the importance of taking care of their mental health. As the founder and facilitator, she gained the essential skills necessary to support the social-emotional needs of students and parents. Miniya’s combined experience as a Social Justice Fellow, Quarterman-Keller Scholar, and Women of Color Fellow have provided her with the discourse and training necessary to engage in social advocacy. Both experiences cultivated strong emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and teamwork skills.
Western Culture Credentials
- Bachelor of Arts in Psychology-Spelman College (Summa Cum Laude)
- Michigan Leadership Student of the Year finalist
- Drs. Beverly and Travis Tatum Endowed Scholar
- The Reparations Project: Quarterman-Keller Scholar
- Bluford Leadership Institute Scholar
- Spelman College Social Justice Project Fellow
- ProGeorgia Women of Color Fellow
Fun Times: Reading, Health-related research, Traveling, Hiking, and Spending quality time with friends and loved ones
Current Book(s)/Podcast: All about love By: bell hooks; Brown Girl Self-care Podcast
What ticks you off: When mental health is not addressed as a public health issue, nor treated equitably.
Hopeful about: The future of DEI work as it pertains to the mental health awareness movement and our cultural shift towards more discussions around both.
Christopher Robinson, LMSW
Chris is the President and CEO of Therapy by Rob, which provides individual therapy, program consultation, and professional training within the Mental Health feild. He recently worked as Residential Director for Highfields Inc.’s residential treatment facility that provides behavioral services to adolescent males throughout Michigan. Chris currently works as a School Mental Health Coordinator with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Chris is a seasoned Motivational Interviewing trainer and assists human service professionals in working with resistant clients to change maladaptive behaviors across the United States.
Western Culture Credentials:
- Master of Social Work, Michigan State University
- Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice, Michigan State University
- Possibilities for Change Motivational Interviewing and Teen Speak training facilitator
- Therapy by Rob LLC, President and CEO
Fun Times: Quality family time, basketball, exercise, mindfulness
Current Book(s)/Podcast: “What They Never Told Us” By Russell and Brandi Davis.
What ticks you off: Closed minded individuals that rush to judgement without considering the dangerous implications of their actions.
Hopeful about: My children becoming adults in a world where racism as it sits is a distant memory and inclusion is no longer a trend, but the norm.
Marcus Galloway, LMSW
Marcus received his Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work from Silberman School of Social work at Hunter College. In his practice, he uses a biopsychosocial approach in collaboration with clients to better understand biological, psychological and environmental factors that may create barriers to success, happiness and quality of life. Throughout his career he has practiced Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Positive Psychology, Trauma Informed care and Mindfulness to support clients. While understanding that each client is different he has used the above modalities as well as other interventions to assist clients in the process of self actualization. He has experience working with incarcerated youth, adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, adults experiencing homelessness and domestic violence survivors.
Western Culture Credentials:
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Bachelor of Art in Telecommunications, Michigan State University
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Masters Of Social Work, Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter
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New York State License Number 113332
Fun Times: Family Time, Video Games, Watching Basketball
Current Book(s): How to be Anti Racist by Ibram X. Kendi, Invisible Man by Ralph Elison
What ticks you off: Injustice of any kind,
Hopeful about: Young people breaking generational curses.
Mario Wilcox, LMSW
Mario is the founder and owner of Wilcox Wellness. Mario grew up in the foster care system from the age of 6 years old until, aging out at 21. Mario then purposefully went in the field of social work and has specifically served in the child welfare system for over the last 15 years. Mario is driven by serving and providing opportunity to vulnerable populations, advocating and raising awareness for equity and social justice, and working to create systematic change that benefits future generations.
Western Culture Credentials:
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State of Michigan Board of Social Work Licensed Master’s Social Worker (LMSW)
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Master in Social Work, Michigan State University
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Bachelors in Sociology, Wagner College
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Bloomfield High School (CT), Alum
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Certificate in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) from Western Michigan University
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Child Welfare Training Institute Certification (CWTI)
Fun Times: Basketball, Reading, Jogging, Travel, Home improvement
Current Book(s): Emotional Intelligence 2.0
What ticks you off: Cultural and systematic oppression
Hopeful about: Creating systematic change in the child welfare system and improving social determinants for health
Dr. LaTonya Davis, PhD, LCPC
Dr. Davis is an author, licensed clinical professional counselor in the state of Illinois, visiting faculty member at a private university, and owner and CEO of Davis and Associates, LLC.
Research and scholarship interests include Unconscious/Implicit, and Racial Bias, Appearance Bias, The Clinical Supervisory Relationship, Familial Resilience, Crisis and Trauma, Familial Systems, Couples, Family Therapy, and Social Justice.
Davis has over fifteen years of university teaching experience. She has taught at the undergrad, graduate, and post-graduate level offering courses including Counseling Skills and Strategies (team approach), Counseling Practicum, Counseling Internship, Ethics and Legal Issues in Counseling, Multicultural Diversity, and other courses via face-to-face, hybrid, and online formats.
Western Culture Credentials:
- Doctor of Philosophy in Counselor Education and Supervision (CACREP), Northern Illinois University
- Master’s in Clinical Mental Health (CACREP), Northern Illinois University
- Bachelor’s in Organizational and Corporate Communication, Northern Illinois University
- State of Illinois Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)
Recent publications:
- Davis, T. (2022). Seeking and receiving culturally responsive supervision. In Summers and Nelson (Eds.), Multicultural Counseling: Responding with cultural humility, empathy, advocacy (pp. 494-506). Springer Publishing.
- Summers, L., Davis, T., & Kosovac, B. (2022). Hair We Grow Again: Upward Mobility, Career Compromise, and Natural Hair Bias in the Workplace. The Career Development Quarterly.
- Fulmer, R., Davis, T., Costello, C., & Joerin, A. (2021). The Ethics of Psychological Artificial Intelligence: Clinical Considerations. Counseling and Values, 66, 131-144.
Fun Times: Family Time, Canning, Gardening, Crocheting, Quilting, Reading, Global Travel
Current Book(s): White Fear (Roland Martin & Leah Lakins), I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness (Austin Channing Brown), and River Sing Me Home (Eleanor Shearer)
What ticks you off: Injustice, inequitable access to health and mental health services, colonization, colonialism, and white tears.