In 2019, Milwaukee County took the unprecedented step of declaring racism a public health crisis, signaling a commitment to confront inequity at its roots. Today, it remains a leading county in Wisconsin still intentionally advancing equity initiatives, proving that sustained change requires more than statements; it demands coordinated action. This session explores how strategy becomes impact when government, nonprofit, and private sectors align and, critically, when people from all intersections of identity are brought to the table. Attendees will engage with a practical DEI model that moves beyond siloed initiatives, showing how diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences can shape policies, funding, and programs for real-world outcomes. Participants will discover how to break down institutional barriers, foster inclusive collaboration, and embed equity as a shared framework for decision-making. This is more than a conversation about DEI, it’s a roadmap for translating bold commitments into measurable, lasting change across communities and sectors.
For over 25 years, Dan Terrio has inspired countless youth and adults from all walks of life with his story of perseverance, strength, and determination. At the age of 13, he began his motivational speaking and diversity, equity and inclusion career while recovering from injuries sustained in an automobile accident that left him temporarily confined to a wheelchair. Terrio later went on to serve two terms as the National Co-President of United National Indian Tribal Youth Inc. (UNITY), the largest American Indian Youth organization in the United States, while traveling to all 50 states, presenting his inspiring story from growing up on an Indian Reservation to working in Washington D.C., along with the things that happened in the middle.
Today, Terrio is an accomplished and award-winning National and TED Certified motivational speaker and trainer, and currently works as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Milwaukee County. Considered as one of Wisconsin’s top minds on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Terrio leads the diversity, equity and inclusion efforts for 4,000 employees within Wisconsin’s most populous county. With his appointment, Dan is the first Native American director in Milwaukee County history, and the highest ranking Two-Spirit government administration official in the State of Wisconsin. Dan is a member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians in Northern Wisconsin. Dan holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and an executive certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University. A native of Bowler, WI, Dan makes his home in Milwaukee, WI.