About the Conference

The Othering & Belonging conferences are organized by the Othering & Belonging Institute (OBI), a research and action center housed at the University of California, Berkeley.

Illustrating OBI’s commitment to public engagement and the power of gathering, the O&B Conferences are dynamic, immersive, and highly interactive gatherings that prioritize  relationship-building, meaning-making, and building collective strategies that allow us to strengthen movements and build a truly more inclusive "we." Conference programming is designed to help us collectively grapple with some of the following questions:

• How can we create systems and policies that work for all of us?
• What new or re-calibrated institutions are needed to realize a diverse and inclusive society?
• How do we co-create and and amplify narratives that underscore that belonging is unconditional and an inherent, self-evident right for all people? 
• How does understanding and practicing bridging help inform our work?
• How can we illuminate ways to work across shared values, including moral, constitutional, and ecological? 
• How do we make clear connections between global and regional dynamics and strategies for confronting authoritarian capture, bolstering democratic values, and expanding belonging?

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Meet the people and partners helping shape our 2026 Othering & Belonging Conference! 

O&B 2026 Agenda Team

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O&B 2026 Local Host Committee

Cynthia Knapek
CEO of LeadingBetter, President of the Leadership Louisville Center

Cynthia Knapek has served as the President of the Leadership Louisville Center since 2012, where she has led the organization to become the largest community-based leadership program in the country, graduating 500 new leaders annually. Under her leadership, the Center has expanded its impact, fostering the growth of diverse, high-impact leaders across sectors. In addition to her role at the Center, Cynthia is the CEO of LeadingBetter, the professional development partner brand affiliated with Leadership Louisville.

As the current Executive Chair of the National Community Leadership Collaborative, Cynthia helps build networks among community leadership programs nationwide. In this capacity, she serves as the chief storyteller, sharing the critical work of community leaders in building trust, solving local challenges, and strengthening social capital. Cynthia is also a partner with the Builder’s Movement, working to bridge divides and foster collaboration across the nation.

Locally, Cynthia is deeply involved in civic leadership, serving on numerous boards such as the Downtown Development Corporation and Greater Louisville Inc. (Chamber of Commerce).  She is particularly proud of the Leadership Louisville Center’s recognition with the 2016 Champion of Diversity Award from the Urban League.

Cynthia’s leadership and contributions have earned her recognition as one of Business First’s Most Admired CEOs in 2020. Prior to her work at Leadership Louisville, she gained extensive experience working with government, Fortune 500 companies, and nonprofit organizations. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Louisville and several certifications in leadership training and organizational development.

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Mahogany Mayfield
Creative Professional, Community Connector, and Founder of The Sis That Journals 

Mahogany Mayfield (She/her) is a creative, community connector, and honorary sister friend in Louisville, Kentucky. Mahogany has created a career rooted in the celebration of community, sisterhood, and racial justice. From youth development, to healing justice, to event planning, and facilitation, Mahogany has been intentional about centering joy and collective care. In 2022, she founded The Sis That Journals on the values of Sisterhood, Joy, and Care. Through The Sis That Journals, Mahogany offers journals, retreats, and workshops. Each journal design and event is intended to be a safe space for folks to feel and heal. Learn more about Mahogany and The Sis That Journals on thesisthatjournals.com. 

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Rashaad Abdur-Rahman
Founder of the Racial Healing Project; Board member,  Seven Counties Services and the Black Leadership Action Coalition of Kentucky 

Dr. Rashaad Abdur-Rahman is a dedicated advocate for racial and social justice, with a proven track record of leading transformative change in organizations nationwide. As the Founder of the Racial Healing Project, he consults with groups and institutions to embrace anti-racist, anti-white supremacist principles through comprehensive organizational strategies, training, and action planning.

Dr. Abdur-Rahman's expertise is deeply rooted in his academic background and extensive professional experience. With degrees in psychology, social work, and doctoral studies specializing in organizational change, he brings a unique blend of
theoretical knowledge and practical application to his work. His career journey include roles in child and family behavioral health services, violence prevention initiatives, executive leadership positions within government agencies, and work promoting a just multi-racial democracy.

Throughout his career, Dr. Abdur-Rahman remains committed to equity and justice. He has led initiatives to address systemic racism and promote belonging within organizations of all sizes, from local nonprofits to state-level agencies. His work has had
a significant impact on communities across the country, fostering a more just and equitable society.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Dr. Abdur-Rahman is actively involved in his community. He serves on the boards of Seven Counties Services and the Black Leadership Action Coalition of Kentucky, contributing his expertise and passion to these important organizations.

Dr. Abdur-Rahman's personal mission statement – to work boldly and courageously to achieve racial and social justice – is grounded in the practice of liberation and resistance deeply resonant in the legacy of his Caribbean family and heritage.

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Sadiqa Reynolds, Esq.
Founder and President, Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center; formerly CEO of Perception Institute, Chief Law Clerk for the Kentucky Supreme Court, and President, Louisville Urban League 

Sadiqa Reynolds, Founder and President of the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center, began her career as a public defender and has never stopped defending the underserved. Throughout her trailblazing career, she has consistently broken barriers: she was the first Black woman to serve as Chief Law Clerk for the Kentucky Supreme Court, the first Black person to serve as Inspector General in Kentucky, and the first woman to lead the Louisville Urban League after 92 years of male leadership. During her tenure at the League, she grew the budget from $2.6 million to $17 million.

A visionary in community development, Sadiqa founded the $60 million Norton Healthcare Sports and Learning Center. Her track record of strategic investment includes establishing the Centerwell senior clinic, negotiating one of the world’s few Black-owned Kumon Learning Centers, and leading the acquisition of the Market Street property that now houses the REBOUND, Inc. headquarters and The Richmond affordable housing development. After a three year tenure as CEO of Perception Institute, a think tank, she has returned to the Sports & Learning Center to lead its next ambitious phases.
Sadiqa’s commitment to advocacy began early as one of Kentucky’s first Guardians ad Litem for abused and neglected children. A certified Harvard mediator, she has been recognized as a USA Today Woman of the Year, Louisville Magazine’s Person of the Year, and a National Urban League Woman of Power.

A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the International Women’s Forum, Sadiqa serves on the University of Louisville Board of Trustees. She earned her law degree from the University of Kentucky and holds two honorary doctorates one from Simmons College and another from Spalding University. She is the proud mother of two daughters educated in public schools and currently attending Spelman College and Hampton University. As a founder, executive coach, and keynote speaker, Sadiqa uses her vast experience to tell the real stories of transformation.

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Savannah Barrett
Exchange Director for Art of the Rural and co-founder of the Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange

Savannah Barrett is the Exchange Director for Art of the Rural and co-founder of the Kentucky Rural-Urban Exchange, a relational leadership program that brings Kentuckians together across lines of racial, economic, and geographic difference to build relationships, trust, and a shared vision for our Commonwealth. 

She was raised in Grayson County, Kentucky where her family has lived for twelve generations, and now lives in South Louisville, in one of Kentucky’s most diverse neighborhoods. She says that living between these worlds has shown her that "when we look for common ground, we find it. But bridging requires trust, and trust is achieved through relationships." 

For more than 20 years, she has led cultural and community development programs that highlight the power of place and people. Her leadership has spanned organizations across the country—including the Rural Policy Research Institute, the Bush Foundation, PA Humanities, and the Center for Performance and Civic Practice—always with a focus on celebrating local culture, building capacity, and deepening connection.

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O&B 2026 Logistics