Shantae Holmes, Executive Director and Co-Founder (She/her)
Shantae co-founded Be Inclusive. Over the last few years, she changed her career path to focus solely on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion while teaching her community about cultural humility. Shantae earned her Bachelor's degree in Counseling from Lesley University and is certified in Non-Profit Management for Practitioners offered through MetroWest Nonprofit Network and Framingham State University. She believes strong and supportive leadership is one of the keys to a successful organization.
Kristen Kohlmeyer, LICSW, President and Co-Founder (She/her)
Kristen is a licensed social worker, therapist, and local community organizer. She moved to Massachusetts from Phoenix, Arizona, in 2003 to attend graduate school. She earned her Masters in Social Work from Boston University in 2005 and spent over 15 years working in community-based mental health settings. She spent much of her career supporting families, who had children with significant mental health needs, in navigating the complicated mental health system. She then worked as an Adjunct Faculty member at Simmons University teaching courses on trauma-informed care before opening her private practice in 2021.
Through her work she has seen how racism and bias impact family systems through intergenerational trauma, as well as individuals' mental health, wellbeing and sense of self. She believes that through Be Inclusive, Inc.'s programming, important conversations about race and culture can be had and a greater understanding of one another can be built. She recognizes that it is critically important for all kids and adults to have access to diverse stories, voices and community events in order to build healthy racial identity, cultural awareness, and belonging in the community.
Silpa Pande, Board Member (She/her)
Silpa brings over 12 years of experience in tech product management & product strategy, and consulting to her role on the board. Born in India, she moved to the U.S. to pursue a Master’s degree in Computer Science. After leaving her corporate career to spend more time with her young daughter, Silpa followed her passion for quality desserts and founded Melt in Your Mouth, a beloved bakery in Walpole.
A firm believer in giving back to the community, Silpa is actively involved with several local organizations, including Be Inclusive, Walpole Public Library, Walpole Scholarship Foundation, and the Walpole Public Schools, contributing in various impactful ways. Her journey with Be Inclusive began in 2021, when she joined the Multicultural Books Initiative (MBI).
Having seen firsthand the transformative power of education, Silpa is deeply passionate about education, especially when it includes diverse voices and perspectives. She believes that exposing children to diverse books challenges biases, fosters empathy as they read about characters different from themselves, and builds confidence when they see themselves represented in stories. As a mother, she hopes her work through programs like MBI will inspire the next generation to embrace the concept of "Unity in Diversity.”
When she’s not baking or volunteering, Silpa enjoys dancing, hiking, traveling, and spending time outdoors with her family.
Saranya Suresh, Treasurer (She/her)
Saranya is an attorney and has spent the last six years working in the child welfare space. As a new immigrant herself who struggled with imposter syndrome when she joined the Greater Boston legal community, she understands the need for individuals from marginalized communities to have a seat at the table. Saranya joined Be Inclusive as a volunteer at the Diwali event in 2023 and was truly inspired by the power of diverse community celebrations to build friendships.
As a parent of young children, Saranya believes that it is important for children of all races and backgrounds to have a sense of pride in their culture and heritage. She also believes that celebrations sparking joy in black and brown communities are often overlooked within the political landscape of America. Given this reality, the community events organized by Be Inclusive hold even greater meaning in reducing bias, building confidence in children of color, and creating awareness.
Outside of her job, Saranya is passionate about cooking, the outdoors and art. She loves to dabble in recipes old and new and loves to explore hiking trails.
Jenn Karnakis, Clerk (She/her)
Jenn Karnakis is the Executive Director of the Suffolk Law Intellectual Property Center at Suffolk University Law School. Prior to joining Suffolk, Jenn was a life sciences intellectual property attorney with more than 18 years of experience focusing on emerging life sciences and biotechnology companies, research institutes, and universities working in a wide variety of technologies.
Outside the office, Jenn is actively involved in local politics, serving as a Representative Town Meeting member since 2019. She also volunteers on various Walpole Boards and Committees, including serving as the Chair of the Historical Commission and as a member of the Master Plan Steering Committee. She is thrilled to help Be Inclusive in its mission to create inclusive communities in Walpole and beyond.
Kari Denitzio, Board Member (She/her)
Kari has over 12 years of experience as a public educator, working in K-8 and middle schools in both urban and suburban school districts. She first became involved with Be Inclusive, Inc. in 2020 as a volunteer supporting the Multicultural Books Initiative. Currently, Kari is Family Conversations program coordinator for Story Starters, another local nonprofit devoted to racial literacy learning. Kari's professional interests center on racial equity in education, eliminating opportunity gaps for students, restorative practices, and supporting and facilitating educator and parent training in these areas.
Shannon McCarthy, Board Member (She/her)
Shannon is a marketing and communications professional and local community activist. Born in Toronto, Canada, to Deaf parents, Shannon grew up in a bilingual (English/ASL) and bicultural (hearing/Deaf) household. Today, she is a communications specialist at a Boston-based asset management firm where she serves as a leader of the company’s multicultural employee resource group. Shannon is actively involved with local politics and has served as a representative at Walpole Town Meeting since 2018. She is passionate about using her talents to promote a more diverse, equitable and inclusive society, and jumped at the opportunity to work with Be Inclusive, Inc.
Lauren Sertich, Board Member (She/her)
After hearing about the Multicultural Books Initiative at an elementary school meeting, she decided that she should put her thoughts and feelings into action and join the dynamic parent community. By day, Lauren is a mom of two and an institutional investment consultant at Callan LLC. She has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College.
Sara Shehata, Board Member (She/her)
Sara is a Human Resources professional with a background in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Organization Development, Business Partnering and Training. People are Sara’s number one priority and she is passionate about helping others see their full potential and be their true, authentic selves. She is a certified facilitator of several programs, including Crucial Conversations, Situational Leadership, and DiSC, and is also a certified Leadership Coach.
Sara holds a BA in Spanish from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA, and an MS in Human Capital Development from La Salle University in Philadelphia, PA. Sara is currently the Global Director of Healthcare Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for EMD Serono, a business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and an active volunteer with the Girl Scouts of America, the Walpole Docent Program, and Walpole Youth Sports.