Chiany Dri, Founder of The Inclusion School
Letter from our founder
Hi there! I'm Chiany Dri (she/her/hers). I'm a mixed-race Black Latina, born and raised in the city of Los Angeles, California. My personal and professional journey has led me to wear many hats—I'm a mother of three, a community organizer, a DEI practitioner, and a most proudly a worker for justice and peace.
For 11 years I called Ventura County, CA my home, where I passionately advocated for Black and brown communities in both Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. My deepest roots are found in community-centered equity work, trauma-informed practices, and championing the rights of mothers and caretakers. I've even supported reparations campaigns, driven by my deep commitment to justice. Over the last decade, I’ve found that all of my work has been driven by the desire to be the person that I needed when I was younger or struggling at different moments in my life.
Professionally, I've had the privilege of serving as the Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Planned Parenthood Los Angeles and as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion serving populations of unhoused families and individuals throughout Los Angeles County. In 2021, I was honored with recognition from the California State Senate for my efforts in reparations for Black communities in Los Angeles, helping to return a beachfront property to descendants of the Bruce family, who had their land taken from them in the 1920s due to anti-Black racism.
Being an educator has been a key part of my personal journey—I've been an anti-racism educator, consultant, curriculum developer, and trainer with various organizations over the years. Since 2015 I've trained and taught educators, youth, and communities on anti-racism concepts and advocacy.
Additionally, in 2018, I became a co-founder of Juneteenth Santa Barbara, which has been a source of immense pride for me. Our organization is dedicated to Black liberation and joy, both of which I believe all humans deserve and are worthy of having and experiencing.
In 2020, I took a leap of faith and self-published a book for teens, sponsored by The Empowerment Workshop, titled ‘The Little Guide to Anti-Racism,’ and on a cosmic note, in 2023, I was selected to be an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Practitioner for NASA’s Astrophysics Division.
As you can tell, my evolution in the field of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion has been unique and has supported many along the spectrum of human experiences. My work has been just as diverse as the communities I serve, and I'm excited to continue making a positive impact wherever life takes me. Thank you for being a part of my experience in this life, and for joining me in The Inclusion School.
With love y con cariño,
OUR VISION AND PURPOSE
With a background in Black Studies, Comparative Ethnic Studies, and community organizing, I’ve had the privilege of entering the depth of human experiences. I’ve sat with people and communities through fear, struggle, joy, and celebration. Over the years, I’ve used what I’ve learned to mobilize and advocate for policies and practices that help our communities thrive.
As I entered a more professional DEI space, I saw more and more that the professionalization of DEI made information and advocacy less accessible to communities and individuals experiencing life in the margins. I became curious about the shifting focus away from DEI’s roots in community care and how to reimagine DEI in a way that helps us return to its original human-centered mission.
With this, it became apparent that DEI practitioners and enthusiasts needed spaces of their own as reminders of our deep passion for making the world a better and safer place for all people. It also became important to use my skills in teaching and content development to create DEI education that is accessible in a variety of ways.
That's where The Inclusion School comes in. My vision is simple—I want to make DEI education accessible for those looking to upskill and support their own visions for workplace culture. But it's more than that. I want The Inclusion School to be a home for DEI practitioners and passionate people to come together, collaborate, and tackle shared values for liberatory outcomes. Together, we can build something beautiful.