Jamele Adams
Medford
Summary
Equity leader, educator, strategist and community builder with over 20 years of experience advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across K-12 schools, higher education, corporations and community organizations. Founder of the Love, Inclusion & Trust (LIT) Model and Freedom Teams; recognized for creating sustainable frameworks that dismantle bias, build belonging, and foster systemic change. Experienced keynote speaker, consultant, and mentor dedicated to empowering individuals and communities.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Director
Love, Incision & Trust
Scituate
01.2021 - Current
- Responsible for ensuring an equitable educational experience for every student and staff member of Scituate Public Schools.
- Effective execution of the aforementioned included family, community, town and neighboring town engagement.
- Furthermore requiring successful collaboration with the Department of Education & Secondary Education (DESE) and colleagues.
- Developed a culture of love, inclusion and trust.
- Created a celebrated statement of commitment to equity appearing in every school, supported by staff, students and families.
- Introduced an annual signifying opening event engaging students and staff declaring, signaling and enhancing foundational connection and importance of equity, community, disrupting interpersonal harm, dismantling bullying and valuing community.
- Collaborations with local authorities to build rapport between police, students, staff and community.
- Effectuated a district level team to champion equity outcomes; by which an effective equity audit was executed, equity tools for curriculum, policy and general decision making were established along with positive impactful professional development training (routine, short & long term).
- Established a team of staff and students at every school in the district dedicated to love, inclusion & trust.
- Enhanced commencement ceremonies.
- Launched monthly programming and events to engage families with student and community centered learning opportunities (digitally & in-person).
- Enhancement of HR's equitable hiring process, demographic awareness and system approaches with inclusive search partners.
- Utilizing Art as a movement for love, inclusion & trust.
- Introduced effective & standing Professional Development strategy and techniques.
- Reinforced intentional equity balance for historically minoritized cohorts, inclusive of neurodivergent, racial, gender, sex, religious, economic and varying ability members.
- Collaborated on appreciated multi-year strategic plan which interwove equity throughout.
- Established a Scituate Freedom Team to address issues of bias or hate within the community.
- Created and managed student and community centered Podcast.
- Supervised METCO Staff Family.
- Developed equitable evaluation tool for staff.
- Raised level of awareness and ability to effectively address and follow-up on incidents of harm and crisis.
- Brought joy, excitement and community to equity work, initiatives and discussions.
Teaching & Curriculum Development
Newburyport High School
Newburyport
01.2020 - Current
- Collaboratively taught 'Writing Out Racism' course covering writing techniques, anti-racism, current events, poetry, and comprehensive social justice projects.
Instructor, Writing & Speaking
Lindsay Fellows
Boston
01.2015 - Current
- Teach writing, oration, and law/civil rights curriculum to underserved high school and college students.
- Incorporate social justice and community-building practices into experiential learning.
Dean of Students
Brandeis University
01.2005 - 01.2021
- Advanced from Assistant Dean for Diversity to Dean of Students.
- Created Community Prejudice Response Taskforce, Multicultural Council, and Gender & Sexuality Center.
- Directed DEI training for students, leaders, and staff.
- Established annual MLK Memorial and diversity-focused orientation program 'This Is Our House.'
- Managed campus-wide crises, racial incidents, and healing initiatives.
- Partnered with Accessibility Office to expand inclusion efforts.
- Attracted and supported marginalized student populations through innovative programming.
Consultancies & Equity Work
Natick High School
Natick
01.2017 - 01.2020
- Responsibilities included: Equity professional development for staff and leadership.
- Development of district equity mission statements.
- Policy reviews and recommendations.
- Facilitation of student, staff, and community workshops.
- Community engagement events and forums.
Director
Jeter's Leaders (Derek Jeter's Foundation)
New York
01.2001 - 01.2005
- Directed youth leadership program serving NYC high school students.
- Developed leadership curriculum on healthy relationships, academic achievement, and social justice.
- Facilitated training for youth on public speaking, advocacy, and civic engagement.
Education
M.A. - College Student Personnel (Multicultural Counseling concentration)
Bowling Green State University
B.A. - Psychology & Women's Studies
Pennsylvania State University
Skills
- Policy writing
- Equity auditing
- Curriculum development
- Community engagement
- Professional development
- Diversity training
- Conflict resolution
- Stakeholder collaboration
- Strategic planning
- Crisis management
- Effective communication
- Team building
- Inclusion initiatives
- Data analysis
- Active listening
- Intellectual property management
- People management
- Decision-making
- Financial management
- Visionary leadership
- Process improvement
- Contract and vendor management
- Negotiation
- Facilities management
- Fundraising events
- Business strategy
- Multitasking and organization
- Capital spending
- Company guidelines
- Program management
- Hiring and retention
- Scene staging
- Crew collaboration
- Logistics management
- Cast and crew supervision
- Script memorization
- Performance management
- Regulatory compliance
- Organizational development
- Corporate social responsibility
- Team collaboration
- Project management
- Partnerships and alliances
- Donor management
- Financial reporting
- Story pitching
- Goal setting
- Coaching and mentoring
- Leadership development
- Client relations
- Staff development
- Charismatic leader
- Business development
- Budget control
- Change management
- Content development
- Talent acquisition
- Rules and regulations
- Staff management
- Task delegation
- Human resources management
Instructor Experience
- Instructor, Writing & Speaking, Lindsay Fellows & Nelson Fellows, Moakley Courthouse, Boston, MA, 01/01/15, present, Teach writing, oration, and law/civil rights curriculum to underserved high school and college students., Incorporate social justice and community-building practices into experiential learning.
- Teaching & Curriculum Development, Newburyport High School, Newburyport, MA, 01/01/20, present, Collaboratively taught 'Writing Out Racism' course covering writing techniques, anti-racism, current events, poetry, and comprehensive social justice projects., Tenacity Challenge Mentor: Guided students in change-agent project development for annual leadership, community action & awareness competition., Produced model of equity-focused community engagement.
Consultancies And Equity Work
- Middleborough Public Schools, 01/01/20, present
- Carver Public Schools, 01/01/23, present
- Burlington Public Schools, 01/01/23, present
- Rutland Public Schools, 01/01/23, present
- South Lamoille Public Schools, 01/01/23, present
- Colchester High School, 01/01/24, present
- Bedford High School, 01/01/20, present
- Natick High School, 01/01/17, 01/01/20
Models And Strategies Developed
- LIT Model (Love, Inclusion & Trust): Framework for belonging and accountability in education.
- Freedom Teams (est. 2015): Community-based groups addressing bias/hate across 8+ Massachusetts towns.
- M.O.O. Technique: Conflict-resolution framework for engaging in complex conversations.
- 10 Principles of Diversity
- SE+SL=D Formula (Self-Expression + Self-Love = Dignity)
- 10-Point Communal Engagement Model
Keynotes Equity Pd And Workshops
- Pfizer
- METCO
- NEASS
- Girls Inc.
- The Future Favors the Bold (FFB)
- Waltham Mayoral Youth Summit
- Jewish Associates Waltham
- Home for Little Wanderers Young Men of Color Conference
- Ashland High School
- Natick High School
- Weymouth High School
- Bedford High School
- North River School
- Medford Public Schools
- Middleborough Public Schools
- Lincoln Sudbury
- Thayer Academy
- Belmont Hill School
- Norwell Leadership Academy
- The Learning Community
- Germantown Friends School
- Wilson Middle School
- And many others.
Collaborations With Authorities Police
- Freedom Teams
- Navigating negative rapport
- Unity Events win Police and Fire
- Guest panelist for MPTA
- Training
- Conversation with each other Officers & Civilians
Recognitions And Awards
- Boston Mayoral Recognition - Work in Diversity
- Waltham Mayoral Recognition - Youth Leadership in Diversity
- Recognition - Girls Inc. Inclusion Work
- Achievement Recognition - Nelson & Lindsay Fellows Programs
- Tree of Life Award
Affiliations And Initiatives
- Founding Member, Association of Massachusetts Schools Equity Leaders (AMSEL, est. 2024)
- Freedom Teams, Founder (Natick, Waltham, Hopkinton, Franklin, Walpole, Wellesley, Whitman, Scituate, Wayland, Freedom Team Network)
- Podcast Host & Public Speaker, Engaging topics of equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Highlights Of Equity Frameworks Created
- LIT MODEL, LIT Is an acronym standing for love, inclusion and trust. These are essential ingredients for the manifestation of spaces grounded in belonging. Love, Inclusion and Trust are timeless values and cornerstones of student development, collegiality, community building and communication.
- MOO technique for engaging in complex conversations, MOO is an acronym that describes a methodology for human connection, particularly during times of duress, struggle and conflict. This technique serves as an effective foundation for understanding, communication, atonement, healing and community building.
- Freedom Teams, 2015, Developed to positively impact the community; Freedom Teams are communal organizations based on the 10 point Communal Engagement Model. Teams are designed to be reactive, proactive and retroactive in assessing and addressing hate and bias. Teams also are committed to exploring ways of offering dialogue and support to individuals and the entire community with a goal of promoting love, inclusion and trust.
Professional Statement
Equity leader, educator, strategist and community builder with over 20 years of experience advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging across K-12 schools, higher education, corporations and community organizations. Founder of the Love, Inclusion & Trust (LIT) Model and Freedom Teams; recognized for creating sustainable frameworks that dismantle bias, build belonging, and foster systemic change. Experienced keynote speaker, consultant, and mentor dedicated to empowering individuals and communities.
Timeline
Director
Love, Incision & Trust
01.2021 - Current
Teaching & Curriculum Development
Newburyport High School
01.2020 - Current
Consultancies & Equity Work
Natick High School
01.2017 - 01.2020
Instructor, Writing & Speaking
Lindsay Fellows
01.2015 - Current
Dean of Students
Brandeis University
01.2005 - 01.2021
Director
Jeter's Leaders (Derek Jeter's Foundation)
01.2001 - 01.2005
M.A. - College Student Personnel (Multicultural Counseling concentration)
Bowling Green State University
B.A. - Psychology & Women's Studies
Pennsylvania State University