October 7, 2021

Child Trends is pleased to announce that Dominique Parris will serve as the organization’s new director of diversity, equity, and inclusion and lead our ongoing equity work. Parris holds a MEd in social justice education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and has more than 10 years’ experience in embedding equity in workforce development practices. In that time, she has trained over a thousand professionals on anti-racism and anti-bias principles. Parris will work to ensure that Child Trends’ commitment to advancing equity permeates every facet of the organization and continues to be reflected in its research.

“Child Trends has taken an important step by normalizing workplace conversations about race and racism and bringing an equity perspective to all of its research. I’m eager to build on that work by taking a wholistic approach to advancing equity in the organization,” Parris said. “My goal is to create a true culture of equity by approaching who we are, what we do, and how we interact with our colleagues as a whole, not as separate pieces that can be addressed or enhanced independently of each other.”

In the past, Child Trends has conducted intensive conversations about racial equity across the organization, published guidance on conducting more equitable research, and increased the volume and visibility of its work related to equity. Parris intends to build on this foundation by taking a systems-level approach to embedding equitable processes into major internal decision making, and will oversee a learning agenda that promotes racial, gender, sexual orientation, and ability equity.

“Child Trends is thrilled to have Dominque in this new leadership role, and we are deeply committed to supporting her in her work,” said Child Trends President Carol Emig. “Dominique has contributed significantly to Child Trend’s equity strategy over the past five years, and I look forward to working with her as a member of our management team.”

“Our organization has a lot of hard and important work to do,” Parris adds. “I look forward to partnering with each of my colleagues as we continue to build an increasingly inclusive workplace, and a more equitable world for children and families.”