Dr. Walter V. Collier

Dr. Collier has lived on the Vineyard for almost 40 years with his wife, Shirley.  He is currently retired from a long career in social research and strategic planning. In addition to a B.A. and M.A. in psychology, he holds a doctorate from New York University in public policy research.  Dr. Collier has conducted social science and public policy research for many organizations, including the U.S. National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the American Cancer Society as well as strategic planning workshops for Princeton University, University of New Mexico, and other organizations. Dr. Collier has published many research articles and two books—the most recent being “Why Racism Persists: An Uncomfortable Truth.” He has also spoken before several groups on the subject of racism, including the M.V. Hebrew Center congregation, Oak Bluffs Library, Chilmark Library, the Congregational Church, NAACP, and the Martha’s Vineyard Rotary Club. Also, he has spoken many times about the topic of racism on the WMVY Radio show, The Vineyard Current and Let’s Do Better. And he is a co-founder and Trustee Emeritus of the M.V. Diversity Coalition as well as a member of the Board of Trustees for MVY Radio. Web site: www.whyracismpersists.com

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Ruth DeWilde-Major

Ruth DeWilde-Major has a B.F.A. and an M.S. degree in Fine Art and Art Education. She is a well-known oil painter and former high school and preschool director and teacher. Ms. Major earned teaching certifications in Art and Child Development, Education and Guidance. She is a strong believer in compassion and respect for self and others. She and her family are long-time residents of Martha’s Vineyard, and Ms. Major has been a foster parent to several Massachusetts children from mixed-racial families. Ruth co-authored Connecticut River Shipbuilding, published by Arcadia/History Press. Several of her New England ancestors were merchant mariners.

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Rex Jarrell

Rex Jarrell was born to activist parents in Winston Salem, NC in 1967. His family moved to Martha’s Vineyard in 1971 and he has primarily lived here year-round ever since. He achieved a BS in Integrated Health at University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 2009. Rex is also certified by the California College of Ayurveda (2011) as an Ayurvedic Health Educator, he was certified in Kripalu Bodywork (2004), he completed Kripalu yoga teacher training in 2012, and in 2016, he became a certified Zero Balancer. He is the owner of Ancient Way Hands On Health in West Tisbury, a bodywork and yoga practice. Rex’s other activities include: Current board member at the Vineyard Health Care Access Program, Member of the Dukes County Health Council 2006-2012, co-founder at the Yoga Barn of Martha’s Vineyard, former Director of the Vineyard Power Cooperative, former Director of the MV Whole Health Alliance and founding director at the MV Diversity Coalition. His education and experience call Rex to collaborate with others interested in living their ideals for mental, physical, spiritual, and social wellness.

 

Cleonie Mainvielle

Cleonie Mainvielle is the Owner and Founder of Inspired Outcome, a productivity, and organizing business. Through Inspired Outcome, she works with female entrepreneurs and professionals seeking strategies to organize their time and ideas so that they can reclaim their freedom and have more time to pursue the most important, enjoyable, and inspiring goals.

   

As an immigrant from Jamaica, she migrated to New York and became the first in her family to earn a college degree.   After receiving her master's, she was nominated and selected as a Presidential Management Fellows with the Federal Government, where she worked with communities and local governments to end and prevent homelessness throughout New England for 17 years.  In November of 2018, she resigned to become a full-time entrepreneur.

   

In addition to running her business, she is the Founder and co-president of a grassroots organization called Diversity & Inclusion for Community Empowerment (DICE).  D.I.C.E is committed to assisting predominately White communities in demonstrating their respect, appreciation, and value for diversity and inclusion. She is also on the Board of Directors for Raising Multiracial Kids, Student Mentor for Binghamton University, and Intern Mentor for YearUp.

 

Cleonie earned her Bachelors’ in Psychology from Binghamton University and her Masters in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania.

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Sandra Pimentel

Sandra Pimentel graduated from UMASS Boston with a B.A. in Management of Human Services and from LYNN Hospital School of Nursing as a Registered Nurse (RN). She has long been an advocate for social change and her work on local and national levels has  helped improve the quality of life for children, teens and adults. Her career has been eclectic and includes: Project Manager of an outreach and research project for the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Boston City Hospital at the McCormack Middle School in Boston; and she was co-founder of the “Melting Pot,” an organization that contributed to the City of Albion, Michigan becoming the US “All America City.” In later years, she became the Director of Human Services for the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office, where she implemented the Alliance Against Racism and Violence, a program that ultimately brought her awards from the US Department of Interior for creative programming and also from the State of California for her work in diverse schools to empower young people in addressing racism.

 

Robert Tankard, Ed.D.

Dr. Robert Tankard has spent the past fifty plus years of his life as a strong advocate for people, attempting to improve the quality of life for the underprivileged and disadvantaged.  As an educator and administrator, he developed many programs that improved the quality of education for both students and educators during his leadership.  He has directed several television programs pertaining to community issues as well as programs designed to give high school and college students a voice or forum to discuss issues that affect them.  Currently he serves as the Martha’s Vineyard Veterans Outreach Advocate.

 

Dr. Tankard’s serves in a leadership role in several organizations.  He serves as a trustee on various committees within the Martha’s Vineyard Bank, Vice President of the Martha's Vineyard YMCA, member of the Board of Directors for the Martha’s Vineyard Community Television station and the host of his own television program “Tank Talk” and is a founder and trustee of the Martha’s Vineyard Diversity Coalition.