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Video: A chat with 2022 Rising Star Joshua Dantzler

9/29/2022

Rising Stars 2022 Awards winner Joshua Dantzler, 23, is senior specialist of diversity, inclusion and belonging at Amtrak. His work involves supporting employee research groups and enhancing the railroad’s diversity, inclusion and belonging training. Dantzler's mission at Amtrak is to help foster a culture where all employees feel they belong.

Dantzler started working for Amtrak as an intern while he was a student at American University in Washington, D.C., and then joined the railroad full time after graduation. Prior to Amtrak, he interned as a diversity and inclusion assistant with another organization and honed his communication skills as a congressional intern.

"The work that I do now addresses why community matters and how we can each be intentional 'inclusionists' — especially when there are moments where we all feel isolated and wonder if others feel the same," Dantzler says. "I want to spend my career working to always cultivate inclusive communities wherever I go. This is my heart’s work."

You can learn more about Dantzler by viewing this recorded Q&A with RailPrime Senior Associate Editor Julie Sneider. You can also read his bio and those of the 24 other Rising Stars Award winners at progressiverailroading.com/risingstars.