Webinar: White Allyship and Solidarity - How to Be Part of the Solution Against Anti-Black Racism

Presenters: Jessica Bondalapati ’11, Kevin Carey ’13,
Dr. Libby Haywood
Moderator: Nicole Chlebek ’16

Allyship begins with true recognition and understanding of privilege and systemic racism. Solidarity comes when allies are committed to action and to actively denouncing and dismantling racist policies. In this conversation, panelists will discuss what it means to “spend one’s privilege” to support those who are oppressed by current power structures and ideologies. Panelists will share their perspectives on how best to be an Ally to the Black community and support other allies through their own journey. The conversation will center on education and what white allies can do to make lasting change.

This special edition of Titan Talks: Webinar Series is presented by the Office of Alumni Engagement in collaboration with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Presenters will share their perspectives on ways to advocate for others and be an Ally.


Jessica (Meyer) Bondalapati '11 graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with a Bachelors in International Studies. Her senior year she lived in Johannesburg, South Africa while studying human rights at the University of Witwatersrand and interning at a conflict transformation NGO. After graduating, she was selected for an AmeriCorps program in Detroit where she tutored and mentored 9th graders. She decided to make Detroit her home and was hired by Detroit Public Schools to be a college adviser. Since then Jessica has worked in a wide range of fields with a similar question - how do we change the way we develop our world to be more inclusive and equitable? In 2014, she left Detroit Public Schools to pursue this question and took the role of director of programming for Build Institute, the first accessible community entrepreneurship program in Detroit. In 2015, she was named a Next City Network Urban Innovator and an American Express/Ashoka Changemakers Emerging Innovator for her work in community entrepreneurship. At the beginning of 2016, she joined Human Scale Studio, a strategic consultancy firm that helps business, philanthropy, and civic institutions shape the future of the urban world using human-centered design. As director of engagement, she developed the community engagement initiatives for the Corktown Development Corporation in Detroit's oldest neighborhood, managed the award process for an $184,000 tactical urbanism design grant, and led the volunteer program for Detroit's first Open Streets with +20,0000 attendees. In 2017, Jessica launched her own consultancy, Lady Bondo, to fill in the growth gaps needed to take Detroit businesses and nonprofits to the next level. Her services include consultation, coaching, and facilitation in her areas of expertise: administration and internal systems, team development, communications, and strategy development. She is currently working with a diversity and inclusion consultancy on a project to support corporations interested in cultivating anti-racism in corporate culture.

Kevin Carey '13 currently serves as the Director of Student Involvement at Illinois Wesleyan University, where he oversees the Hansen Student Center, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Campus Activities, Leadership Programs, and Organizational Involvement. Kevin has a M.A. in Student Affairs Administration in Higher Education from Ball State University and is pursuing his Doctorate of Education in Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership with a concentration in Diversity and Equity in Education from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He is an active volunteer for the Illinois 4-H Foundation, Sigma Pi Fraternity, NASPA, and the National Association of Campus Activities. 

Dr. Libby Haywood joined Illinois Wesleyan last year as an Instructional Professor of Biology and now teaches the laboratory component of General Biology. She earned her PhD in Microbiology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she was a fellow in the Chemical Biology Interface Training Program. During her final years at UIUC, Dr. Haywood served as a Graduate Affiliate of the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, where much of her work was to promote inclusive teaching practices- leading sessions on adapting course content to be more accessible for students with disabilities and on working with students from diverse backgrounds. A Bloomington-Normal native, Dr. Haywood received her B.A. in Molecular Biology/Biochemistry from Illinois State University and graduated from Normal West High School. “It’s good to be back in Blo/No!”