Leading Belonging Initiatives

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.

Mahasin Abuwi Aleem is a Library Services Manager for Contra Costa County Library, where she has oversight of eight libraries and co-leads the system’s Antiracism Committee, currently guiding the development of its first Racial Equity Action Plan. A former manager of both public libraries in Antioch, CA, Mahasin has held a range of roles in public librarianship—including library aide, assistant, children’s librarian, and Children’s Collection Management Librarian at Oakland Public Library (OPL). While at OPL, she created a STEAM program for families and founded the annual Black Culture Fest, a vibrant celebration of African diasporic culture featuring music, food, dance, storytelling, and community performances. She served as co-lead of OPL’s Race and Equity Team, where she led the creation of the library’s first Racial Equity Action Plan. Mahasin also served on the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Jury (2021–2023). A former classroom teacher and youth worker, she holds a B.A. from Brown University and an MLIS from San Jose State. She is the co-founder of hijabilibrarians.org and is a nationally recognized reviewer and sensitivity reader specializing in diverse youth literature.

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.