Arts Council of Anne Arundel County , AngelWing Project & Chesapeake Arts Center Presents…..

Let's Start Talking About DEIA in the Arts Series

Conversation IV – Exploring Microaggressions

Guest Speaker: Pete Hill (Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion ) &

Asha Smith (Equal Opportunity and Human Relations Officer )

from Office of the County Executive of Anne Arundel County

New Date : Thursday, June 14, 2022 at 11am ( Virtually )

Many of you told us you’re eager to continue these conversations. So, we’ve created a series of virtual one-hour programs to give you the tools you need strengthen your organization’s DEIA within your operations and outreach. We have a roster of great speakers who will share their expertise and answer your questions. Best of all, we’ll cap off the series with a full-day DEIA in the Arts in Anne Arundel County Conference in August!

Pete Hill (Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Bio:

Pete Hill, a Glen Burnie resident, serves as Anne Arundel County’s first Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). In this role, he is working on a county-wide EDI strategy that will be the roadmap for department and government-wide equity action plan implementation. 

Prior to joining the County Executive’s Office, Pete served as Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management Director for the National Weather Service, developing and deploying diversity and Equal Employment Opportunity training programs for more than 4,000 employees. He has also held diversity data and equal opportunity roles with the National Labor Relations Board and the Department of Homeland Security, and served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps for 21 years prior to his career in federal government.

Bio Asha Smith (Equal Opportunity and Human Relations Officer)

Asha Smith is an attorney and human resources professional, with a wealth of compliance experience in federal, state, and local equal employment opportunity and disability laws. Her experience includes developing and implementing policy, investigating and resolving internal complaints, facilitating staff training, and providing advice to senior personnel. Most recently, Ms. Smith was the Senior Manager of EEO and ADA Compliance at Anne Arundel County Public Schools, where she managed discrimination and harassment concerns, reasonable accommodations, and medical leaves such as FMLA, for more than 10,000 employees. She led the school system’s COVID-related leave and accommodation efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ms. Smith started her legal career as a Staff Attorney in the law enforcement bureau of the New York City Commission on Human Rights. She investigated and resolved alleged violations of the city’s anti-discrimination statute in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations. Ms. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Cornell University. She received her law degree from New York University School of Law. She is a proud native New Yorker, and resides in the Annapolis area.