Vincent Perez

Vincent Perez is a dedicated educator and advocate for equity and justice in education. With a passion for empowering students and fostering their self-worth, Vincent has spent his career consulting with educational institutions, speaking at schools, and facilitating student programs. His experience and education have given him a deep understanding of the importance of meaningful learning experiences and the need for humanizing and historicizing practices in education. As a co-founder and leader of the Equity Institute, Vincent has developed practical tools, like the Equity Audit Window, to help organizations assess their equity journey and create systemic change. Vincent is also committed to promoting mental health resources and support for students and educators, as well as promoting inclusivity and diverse representation in decision-making processes. He believes in investing in local public education and fostering educational innovation that prepares students for the future, emphasizing critical thinking, problem-solving, and engaging curricula. Vincent's goal is to dismantle systemic inequalities and create a more just and equitable education system for all students.

Co-Founder & Executive Director of the Equity Institute

I am the son of Yolanda Ramirez and Rudy Perez. I am the husband of Kim Jansen and father to Tristan, Chase, and Devon. I am the brother of Marla Madrid, Rudy Perez, and Rebecca Perez. My experience is deeply American as a gen X Chicano born in California, raised in Washington State, educated in Idaho and Wyoming, and serving students and families in Louisiana, Texas, and Washington State. I am especially moved by opportunities to witness students discover their voices and affirm their self-worth. I consult with educational institutions, frequently speak at schools, facilitate student programs and train adult staff to better serve their students. I earned an AAS in photographic communications at Northwest College, an undergraduate degree from the University of Idaho, and a Master of Public Administration at Evergreen State College. As an educator, I aim to sustain the integrity, courage, and commitment of children, families, and service providers. My vocation is dedicated to the art and skill of learning and teaching. Meaningful learning experiences that honor the dignity and identities of participants are my first priority. As an educator, I value humanizing and historicizing practices in the pursuit of liberation and healing. This has led me to focus on cross-racial solidarity, intersectional social justice, Indigenous epistemology, carceral studies, healing-centered masculinity, and emancipatory education. My practice is rooted in experiential education, culturally responsive pedagogy, trauma-informed systems, juvenile justice reform, family engagement, near-peer mentorship, Latine/x bilingual leadership, and ethnic studies. I am blessed to serve as a lead visionary for the Equity Institute, Rethink Manhood, and La Cima y ¡La Chispa! Bilingual Leadership. As co-founder with Kim Jansen and a leader of the Equity Institute, I serve with a national collective of equity consultants supporting schools, governments, and nonprofit organizations to grow racial literacy, emotional intelligence, and humanizing practices. Over the past six years, I developed the Equity Audit Window (EAW) as a practical tool for organizations to map their equity journey. By assessing measurable indicators, the EAW illuminates an institution’s prevailing reality and supplies systemic direction for pathways forward. The EAW is designed as a team-based evaluation and planning tool. The EAW can be used for introduction dialogue on equity in our institutions or as a multi-year equity implementation process. The Equity Institute also sponsors the Tu Hogar WA program serving Spanish-speaking families focused on education, health, and housing. We support rental and utility assistance, provide education and outreach for the new Working Families Tax Credit in Washington State, and organize health fairs with vaccine clinics, blood drives, free books for children, and other health access opportunities. We’ve truly loved the journey since our founding in the summer of 2020.

Music fills Vincent’s soul, along with, laughing, sunlight, playing guitar, rivers and creeks, running, reading, basketball with his boys, and holding his wife. Vincent's familial bonds have been at the source every one of his life's passions. He first discovered he was a teacher while empowering his little sister, Rebecca, who was blind. His many useful lessons included learning to ride a bike, signing her name, labeling canned foods and dialing the phone. Rebecca's independence grew in her brother's care, as did the phone bill.