Cara Valentino is an inspirational and transformational leader, changemaker, resistance whisperer, and recognized racial equity thought leader. As a certified diversity executive and interfaith minister with decades of experience, Cara is passionate about working with organizations, communities, and individuals to understand the history and impacts of racism and intersecting systems of oppression, and partnering with them to identify, develop, and implement policies, programs, and behaviors that foster racial equity and inclusion.
Cara pioneered many firsts at RTI including: the Open Forum on Race in the Workplace (for members of RTI's Black Employee Resource Group), the Senior Leaders Forum on Race (for RTI's Vice Presidents), the Forum on Racial Equity (for RTI's senior leadership team), and a 3+ year program on racial justice and equity for RTI's Executive Leadership team. She led RTI's first internal racial equity survey, including data analysis and interpretation, which informed her leadership of RTI's first internal equity assessment and action plan.
In her role as RTI’s Racial Justice and Equity Program Chair, Cara is responsible for evaluating internal policies for bias, recommending action planning and measuring. She also is a frequent speaker and panelist at regional and national conferences about racial justice and equity, and the 2021 DEI Winds of Change award winner.