Inclusive Leadership: Farzana Nayani presenting Raising Multiracial Children in conversation with Elizabeth Yang

About this Event

NAAAP's Inclusive Leadership series welcomes Farzana Nayani—Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Specialist—for a discussion of her latest book, Raising Multiracial Children: Tools for Nurturing Identity in a Racialized World. She will be joined in conversation by Elizabeth Yang, Board Member and Immediate Past President of NAAAP National.

About Raising Multiracial Children

The essential guide to parenting multiracial and multiethnic children of all ages and learning to support and celebrate their multiracial identities.

In a world where people are more likely to proclaim color-blindness than talk openly about race, how can we truly value, support, and celebrate our kids’ identities? How can we assess our own sense of Racial Dialogue Readiness and develop a deeper understanding of the issues facing multiracial children today?

Raising Multiracial Children gives caregivers the tools for exploring race with their children, offering practical guidance on how to initiate conversations; consciously foster racial identity development; discuss issues like microaggressions, intersectionality, and privilege; and intentionally cultivate a sense of belonging. It provides an overview of key issues and current topics relevant to raising multiracial children and offers strategies and developmentally appropriate milestones from infancy through adulthood. The book ends with resources and references for further learning and exploration.

Author - Farzana Nayani

Farzana Nayani is a recognized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion specialist, business and strategy coach, and international keynote speaker. She has worked with Fortune 500 corporations, public agencies, higher education institutions, school districts, and non-profit organizations as a consultant and trainer on diversity and inclusion, intercultural communication, supplier diversity, and employee engagement.

Farzana’s advisory work with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), small business advocacy, and entrepreneurship, and racial equity & inclusion has taken her to engagements across North America, from the White House to Silicon Valley. Farzana’s expertise has been featured in media outlets such as Forbes, DiversityInc, Parents magazine, NPR, the Washington Post, the LA Times, and the award-nominated podcast Earn Your Leisure. Her new book Raising Multiracial Children: Tools for Nurturing Identity in a Racialized World with North Atlantic Books was released in 2020, distributed by Penguin Random House. Connect with Farzana through news and updates by visiting: www.farzananayani.com or via social media channels @farzananayani.

Elizabeth Yang, Immediate Past National President (2017-2019), joined the Natioanal Board in February 2020. Elizabeth began her volunteer work with NAAAP at the 2008 National Convention in Los Angeles. She helped co-found NAAAP SoCal (Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego chapters) and helped rally the SoCal NAAAP members to put on the National Convention in Anaheim in 2014. She served as NAAAP LA’s President from 2014-2016, while filling the role of NAAAP National Director of Volunteer Management, onboarding new team members to the national team. In 2016, Elizabeth was named the NAAAP National Leader of the Year.

Elizabeth is an entrepreneur, founded her Law and Mediation Practice in Los Angeles in 2011, and opened three stores of Magical Playground. Elizabeth has been practicing law since 2007 and specializes in Intellectual Property Law, including Patent, Copyright and Trademark Prosecution and Litigation; Business Law, and also Family Law. Prior to her law practice, Elizabeth worked at both Raytheon and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab designing electronic circuits. She also serves as a Commissioner for the City of Monterey Park Design Review Board, a member of the Executive Board of Governors of the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association, and also a Member of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses. Her awards include Super Lawyers Rising Star (2017) and Top 100 Lawyers (2016-2017) by National Trial Lawyers. Recently, she co-authored a book, “The Big Secret” with Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul).

Elizabeth has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science from UC Berkeley, a JD cum laude from the University of La Verne College of Law, and recently a MBA from the University of La Verne. Elizabeth is married to Phil Cheng and has a daughter Liliana and son Alexander. She is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.