Introducing the RISE Speaker Series
Resilience, Inclusivity, Support, & Empowerment Series
We are actively engaged in our RISE series, an initiative focused on hosting events featuring guest speakers from diverse backgrounds. These events cover a range of topics related to DEI, fostering meaningful discussions among participants and facilitating the exchange of a wide array of perspectives.
PAST EVENTS
RISE Event #3
March 29, 2024
Belmont Library
Guest Speaker:
Angela Piazza
Angela Piazza is the current President of the Commission on Disabilities, and she will share a plethora of information, from what it's like to have a disability to the history of disability rights.
Topic: Disability Awareness
![SMC-AngelaPiazza2.webp](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ad1740_151a58cf79f14588a929098df41cf399~mv2.webp/v1/fill/w_202,h_272,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/SMC-AngelaPiazza2.webp)
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Slideshow Presentation
RISE Event #2
November 30, 2023
Belmont Library
Guest Speaker:
Tanya Beat
Tanya Beat is the director of the San Mateo County Commission on the Status of Women, the LGBTQIA+ Commission, and Domestic Violence Council, as well as works with various county equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Beat is passionate about the community, coaching, leadership development, equity, books and libraries! Besides herding cats and relaxing with a book or podcast, Beat contributes time outside work as a Board member for the Peninsula Book Collaborative.
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Topic: DEI in Real Life
![Tanya Beat portrait.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ad1740_4812f4ad88b94255a69144ceb92ba294~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_182,h_227,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/Tanya%20Beat%20portrait.jpg)
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Slideshow Presentation
RISE Event #1
May 24, 2023
Belmont Library
Guest Speakers:
Brigitte Shearer
Brigette Shearer is the Belmont Officer of DEI and Director of Parks & Recreation. Shearer has lived in CA since 1989, and settled in San Mateo in 1992. She has been in the Parks & Recreation profession since 2012. Shearer joined City of Belmont in 2018 and was appointed DEI officer in 2021. She has a Chemical Engineering degree and an MBA. Her husband and her have 3 adult daughters and 2 grandpuppies.
Julia Mates
Julia Mates is the Belmont mayor. Elected in 2022 and Belmont’s first directly elected Mayor, she has served our community on the City Council since 2018 and is the first Chinese American Jewish Mayor in the U.S. A native of San Francisco. Mates has lived on the Peninsula for over 25 years and moved to Belmont in 2006 to raise her family. As a civic leader, Mates brings her perspective as a biracial person, in tune with both her Chinese and Jewish heritages. She recognizes that diversity and inclusion are important and that balance and harmony are integral to progress and creating meaningful impact.
Robin Pang-Maganaris
Robin Pang-Maganaris is a Belmont Council Member.
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Topic: An Introduction to DEI
![BSS pic.PNG](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ad1740_4fdf2d0809f4419c8c544e4055dec6d3~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_197,h_262,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/BSS%20pic_PNG.png)
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Slideshow Presentation