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Michelle strengthens the urban library role in local ecosystems and advances partnerships and programs resulting in systemic change. She is known and respected throughout public libraries for her leadership to diversify the profession, to serve marginalized communities and to increase racial and social equity. Prior to joining ULC, Michelle served as Prince George's County Memorial Library System's chief operating officer and led the mission, vision, innovation and operations of the library's 19 branches and the county detention center.
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Damera Blincoe is a Library Services Manager at the Louisville Free Public Library in Louisville, Kentucky. With nearly three decades of dedicated service in library systems and experience across various positions, she offers a unique perspective on organizational equity and systemic change. Currently, she leads initiatives aimed at creating inclusive library spaces and conducting comprehensive audits to identify and address organizational inequities. Damera holds a Master's degree in Library and Information Studies from Florida State University and a Bachelor's degree in Justice Administration from the University of Louisville. Her combined expertise in justice administration and library management provides a distinctive lens for approaching institutional transformation and community engagement. Damera will share insights from her system's equity audit, providing valuable perspectives on the process of identifying and addressing organizational inequities within library systems.
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Heath Gewecke has been an Office Specialist with Lincoln City Libraries since July 2016 and has been employed by the City of Lincoln in various roles since June 2008. One of the primary focuses of his position is coordinating the Talent Acquisition process for all departmental employment recruitment efforts, which includes working to identify barriers to employment or advancement, advocating for updates to hiring practices, and working collaboratively with supervisors throughout the department to better identify the skills and experience needed for various roles. Lincoln City Libraries has a regular staff of 135-140 employees across 5 service units totaling 5 primary branches, 3 neighborhood branches, and a bookmobile. They hire an additional 15 staff, including interns, for the summer months.