Benny Vásquez

As the organization’s first Chief Equity Officer, Benny Vásquez is responsible for setting and implementing an overarching vision of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) that works to eliminate systemic organizational marginalization and promotes inclusion and anti-racist practices.

Benny’s journey includes working as the Co-Executive Director of Center for Racial Justice in Education where he trained educators in dismantling racism in their classrooms and communities. He was also the Director of Diversity at The Town School and the Director of Education at GLSEN – the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network.

In addition to being a published author, his work has included co-chairing the Diversity Committee for the New York Association of Independent Schools, training public school teachers on the Respect For All initiative, collaborating with the NEA in developing materials for No Name Calling Week, and developing social justice focused programming for mission based non-profits. He is also one of the co-founders of The CARLE Institute (Critical Analysis of Race and Learning in Education): An Institute for White Educators.

Benny Vásquez describes himself as a lifelong learner and a seeker of justice. A native of Brooklyn, he graduated from Wesleyan University with a B.A. in African American Studies and Sociology, He has masters in Curriculum and Teaching from Columbia University and an MPA from the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University.