Keynote Speaker

Dianne Langford James

Mrs. Langford James is an Entrepreneur and Women Transformational & Wellness Coach. She is the founder of Cycle Breakers, Inc., LLC., an organization that supports women and youth to break negative and destructive cycles and patterns, so they can live their best and blessed lives. She is President and CEO of “BravHERy”, a women’s global empowerment transformational training. Where women can enter into a safe place and release, reset, recharge and reignite. In addition to acquiring tools and techniques to live their best lives personally and professionally now, along with creating a sisterhood. Mrs. Langford James is the East Coast Executive Director at The Torch Foundation. Their mission supports teens with social-emotional intelligence and leadership tools that create self- awareness, resilience, coping and resolution skills to develop healthy relationships and success in life. Mrs. Langford James is also founder of the Yes We Care Teen Academy, an 8-week teen and young adult leadership cohort called Leaders in Committed Action (LICA). Mrs. Langford James is a role model who has overcome historical cycles typical to many families of all races. For instance, Mrs. Langford James overcame her family’s cycle of addiction, attained her bachelor’s degree, and discovered spiritual soundness and financial freedom. As a result, Mrs. Langford James has 32 years of sobriety, is a first-generation college graduate, and has personally raised three grandchildren for over twenty years who are all college graduates. Mrs. Langford James’ life mission is to encourage, empower and educate others through personal development. She is a mentor and encourager who says if she can do it, so can you! Mrs. Langford James is the author of the book “Breaking Cycles and Building Your Legacy” Finding redemption on the road to recovery. This book is an account through the lens of her life who was relentless in her pursuit to change her family legacy. Along with giving hope to others, a formula on how to break cycles that do not serve them and leave a legacy. Dianne lives with her husband and soulmate Elijah in Worcester, MA. She is blessed with a blended family, six children, twenty-one grandchildren, five great grands. She is devoted to her family, friends, communities and more importantly God.

Keynote Speaker

Judge Margaret Guzman

The Honorable Margaret R. Guzman was appointed by President Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as a Federal District Court Judge for the District of Massachusetts, sitting in the Worcester Federal Court in March 2023.  She previously served for 14 years in the Massachusetts State District Court, finishing her tenure as First Justice of the Ayer District Court.

Judge Guzman has served on numerous Trial Court Committees, including Judicial Education, Race and Ethnic Fairness, and Supreme Judicial Select Committee on Implicit Bias.  Additionally, Judge Guzman participated in numerous professional associations and is presently an active Faculty Member of the National Judicial College.

Judge Guzman’s legal career included both private practice and public service, including 17 years in the Public Defender Division for the Worcester office of CPCS, where she was a Senior Trial Attorney. Judge Guzman is a graduate of Boston University School of Law (Class of ’92), with Honors, and Clark University (Class of ’89), with High Honors, Magna Cum Laude, Member of Phi Beta Kappa.  She is a resident of Worcester and has a long history of service on numerous local boards, commissions, and other non-profits, including Dismas House of Central Mass., the Worcester Youth Center, the Worcester County Commission on the Status of Women, Creative Hub Worcester, and Worcester Business Development Corporation.

Emcee

Suzanne Graham Anderson

Suzanne Graham Anderson is the founder and CEO of Positively Suzanne LLC, which is a lifestyle brand whose tenets are to inspire, motivate and empower. Suzanne is enthusiastic about uplifting others especially women and helping them find and shine their light. Suzanne is an accomplished speaker, workshop facilitator and mistress of ceremony both on the national and local level.

Suzanne believes her purpose lies in empowering others and is a passionate advocate for the ‘You are enough’ movement, she spends a major part of her time attending, supporting, promoting, and facilitating programs and events that promote this movement. During her twenty plus leadership career, Suzanne spent countless hours mentoring young girls and women, and has continued to do so both in her community and through various organizations with which she is affiliated. Suzanne’s presence is felt in any room she enters, and she wants you to take away this message after meeting her, not only is your authentic self, enough, but you deserve to take up space. During her free time, she spends it with her family and loved ones and on self-care habits that help to fill her cup.

Comedian

Cindy Gray

Cindy is a 50-something-year-old mother of 3 kids. She was raised by Filipino immigrants in San Jose , CA.  She picked up comedy 6 years ago instead of investing in thousands of dollars a year in therapy.  She moved to Worcester 17 years-ago – was a major culture shock and is one of her driving forces behind her comedy. By day she runs her own consulting firm, Gray’s Analysis – serving Pharmaceutical, Biotech, and Medical Device industries as a Regulatory, IT/Management/Transformation consultant.

Goddess Award

Sarai Rivera

The Honorable Rev. Dr. Sarai Rivera is an Afro-Boriqua born in Bronx, New York. She came to Worcester, Massachusetts, at the age of four, where she was raised and educated through college. Rev. Dr. Rivera is an alumna of Worcester State College (Bachelors of Science- Psychology), the University of Connecticut School of Social Work (Masters in Social Work – concentration in Clinical and Group Work), and Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (Doctorate in Urban Ministries – publication Developing Agents of Shalom: Leadership Development for Community Transformation – specific focus on Latino Leadership)    She has worked professionally within the Worcester Community since 1988. She has extensive experience in the areas of community mental health and interventions for multicultural populations in urban settings, as well as community organizing. She has specialized in crisis interventions, trauma, group work, individual therapy, and pastoral counseling for adults, adolescents, and families. She has developed and implemented clinical and psycho-educational programs for adolescents and adults with a joint publication in 1997 in the American Psychiatric Association (Nuevos Horizontes a Latino Day Program).     Ordained in 2000, Rev. Dr. Rivera co-founded Christian Community Church with her husband, the Rev. Jose Encarnacion. They are co-pastors of the successful urban ministry that catalyzes change through faith in action and community organizing. She is the recipient of various awards and recognitions for her work and dedication both locally and abroad. She was instrumental in co-founding “Project Love,” an International Global Partnership Program in Haiti, Burundi, Kenya, and Uganda. Project Love Haiti encompasses initiatives for Racial & Economic Equity, Sustainability, Economic Development, Empowerment Organizing, Political Diplomacy, Education, and Healing Circles for Victims of Violence. Project Love Burundi, Kenya, and Uganda encompass initiatives for Political Diplomacy, Healing Circles for Women victims of violence and sexual exploitation, and psychosocial groups for refugees and internally displaced victims due to civil unrest, violence, and natural disasters. In addition to traveling to Project Love partner countries, Rev. Dr. Rivera has also traveled to many other countries, such as Rwanda, Cuba, Guatemala, and Nicaragua, to observe and learn from human services organizations.    Rev. Dr. Sarai Rivera has dedicated her life’s work to social justice issues. She began early in her career working with high-risk children, youth, and families that were often part of the state’s protective or juvenile system. Rev. Dr. Rivera also began working intensively in the field of major mental illness for youth and adults. This led to her work with youth, adults, and families from marginalized and stigmatized communities, where she helped advocate and participate in creating evidence-based intervention models. She now continues with the same passion, working on the implementation of social policy that helps bring forth equity in the following areas: Health Equity, Youth Violence Prevention, Unaccompanied Refugee Minors, Undocumented Minors, Asylum Seekers, Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation, Substance Abuse, Mental Health, Combating Racism, and Educational Equity.    In November of 2011, Rev. Dr. Rivera made history as she was elected as a Worcester City Councilor for District 4, making her the first Latina (Afro-Boricua) in the city of Worcester ever elected into municipal government. At the time she was elected she was the only serving BIPOC in the entire Worcester Delegation. In 2021, she made history again, making her the longest-serving District 4 councilor and longest serving Woman of Color in the Worcester governmental delegation. After 12 years of incredible service Rev. Dr. Rivera retired in December 31, 2023.   Rev. Dr. Rivera lives in Worcester, Massachusetts, with her husband of 30 years, Rev. Jose Encarnacion, where they raised their children together and now enjoy their grandchildren. She continues to serve as Co-Senior Pastor of Christian Community Church overseeing her Urban Ministry work at the the Shalom Neighborhood Center, which opened its doors in the fall of 2010, an organization she helped Co-found as well as Project Love Global Partnership (that works on international sustainable work and Christ Love shared) She’s also Clinical Therapist/Consultant, a Senior Administrator at a RMG Medical Group, a community, Governmental and Community Affairs Consultant, DEI Consultant,  Public Speaker, committed to equity and social justice as her life’s work, organizer, and an active member of various Boards, Initiatives, and Commissions throughout Worcester, engaging in community work and advocating for social justice.