Black and White
Who We Are
Neighbors in
Black and White
Neighbors in Black and White, Inc., was founded by Hollis Davis Robinson and Shannon Maroney-Garrett - Black and White change makers who have been friends for over 50 years. They are joined by a group of diverse friends from childhood and beyond who have a shared interest in racial justice and inclusion. Together they are finding ways for people of different backgrounds to make meaningful connections and build bridges rather than tearing each other down during this time of great divisiveness in our world.
Hollis
Davis Robinson
CEO
I am a child of the 60’s and the Civil Rights movement. I was born in Florida, however, my family moved to the “Chocolate City” (Washington DC) when I was about 5 years old. I have been socially conscious from a young age because my parents gave me a social view of inclusivity. I have been blessed to have friends of many races, starting with my best friend at two who was White. In my first years in DC, I lived in the predominantly Latino neighborhood of Adams - Morgan. During the 3rd grade, my family moved to Takoma DC where I continued to experience diverse cultures. Moving to this neighborhood, made it possible for my education to be enhanced by attending school with people of all races and cultures. My neighbors were the first bi-racial couple that I knew. And, of course, here is where I met my BFF- Shannon Maroney-Garrett!
Before Dr. King’s birthday became a Federal holiday, I used my voice to get my employer to recognize the contributions and the importance of this man. After the murder of so many people of color, the President of the United States issued an Executive Order to advance racial equity and support for the underserved communities through the Federal Government. Currently, I am employed at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Knowing my desire to right the wrongs of racial injustices, my Director nominated me to be a part of the USPTO‘s Equity Assessment Team. This team will be responsible for finalizing agency recommendations and reporting to the Secretary of the Department of Commerce. Working with Shannon, we started the non-profit, "Neighbors in Black and White, Inc.". In addition, I am the co-executive producer of “Neighbors in Black and White: Takoma DC – a Documentary”. I am very interested in sharing stories about growing up in a diverse community, and how these interactions formed the person I am, how I raised my daughter, and how I go about my life day-to-day. I am excited to be a part of this Passion Project!
Shannon
Maroney-Garrett
President
I have been an advocate for racial justice my whole life and have confronted racism head-on whenever I have encountered it. This has been especially true with the racism my own children have faced in our local school district because they are mixed race (Black and White). I was at my wits end with racism when George Floyd was murdered. At that point - I felt THERE MUST BE MORE I COULD DO to educate people about racism and how to fight it. That’s when I thought of the truly special place where I grew up – Takoma DC – where I learned to love rather than fear people that were different than me. So I invited my best friend of 50 years and a diverse group of other friends to join me in producing, “Neighbors in Black and White”, a documentary about the genuinely integrated community where we grew up. This project led to the formation of Neighbors in Black and White, Inc. (NiBW), the non-profit that Hollis Davis Robinson and I founded.
My passion for racial justice and inclusion began when I was a kid, and my parents moved our (White) family into a predominantly Black community during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. They did this intentionally because they believed in the principles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and they instilled those values in me. I have carried those values with me throughout life and incorporated them into both my personal and professional endeavors. On the personal front, I have worked tirelessly with the local school district to address racism since my children started experiencing it in the first grade. While progress is being made, we have a long way to go to create true equity for Black children and other marginalized groups within the district and beyond. On the professional front, I have incorporated diversity and inclusion into everything I do – recruiting, training, employee relations, vendor selection, and just plain everyday interactions with people. It takes courage and intention to do what we are doing. I find strength in those who have come before me – as one would say: “I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.” “Neighbors in Black and White” will help us get there!