Title: Proactive and Reactive Approaches for Educators: Being Intentional Before and After Incidents Occur
Description: Organizations of all kinds need to be ready to respond to incidents that challenge our commitment to equity and inclusion. This session will focus specifically on ways that educational environments can respond to such incidents but also how to proactively lessen the likelihood of incidents happe
Objectives:
Presenters:
Tabari Coleman, ADL Heartland
Dewitt Campbell III, NCCJ St. Louis
1B
Title: Atheists Aren’t So Scary: Including Non-Religious People
Description: Even organizations and groups which understand the importance of being welcoming to people of many different religions often fail to welcome one of the largest “religious” demographics in America: those without faith or belief in a god. Many harmful stereotypes exist about atheists and the nonreligious, and in this workshop you’ll learn to avoid those stereotypes and make your group more welcoming to people who live without faith.
Objectives:
Presenter:
James Croft, Ethical Society of St. Louis
1C
Title: Equitable Practices for Developing Employees with Disabilities (Panel Discussion)
Description: So much of any discussion on including employees with disabilities tends to focus on the hiring process alone. This panel of local experts and advocates will expand the discussion into the rest of an employee’s path through an organization, provide insight on how to retain and support employees with disabilities in a thriving environment.
Objectives:
Panelists:
David Newburger, Office on the Disabled and Starkloff Disability Institute
Jennifer Higginbotham, Independence Center
Aimee Wehmeier (Moderator), Paraquad
1D
Title: Why Didn’t I Say Something: Moving from Bystander to Upstander
Description: “That is so gay.” “Well, he doesn’t look Jewish to me.” “Did you hear that joke about the….” Have you experienced instances in your personal or professional environment where you have been a witness to bias, or to divisive or racist behaviors? Did you walk away and think to yourself, “I should have said something,” but you just didn’t know what to say? This interactive session will focus on ways to recognize and manage these situations in delicate environments and have brave, courageous conversations. Participants will walk away with confidence and tools to move from being a bystander to an upstander.
Objectives:
Presenter:
Angela Cody, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
Elizabeth Fuchs, Social Justice Activist, Consultant
2A
Title: How Can We Be Better Together? A Conversation About Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Consolidation
Description: Better Together’s research has shown that our fragmented, outdated, and inefficient government system contributes to segregation and inequity. We are working hard to listen and learn from all parts of the St. Louis community on these topics. In this breakout session, we’ll work together to understand how our municipal government could promote diversity, inclusion, and equity, and work together to understand ways future consolidation efforts could advance the community’s goals.
Objectives:
Presenters:
Molly Dwyer, Better Together
Larry Davis, Jr., Better Together
Marshida Harris, Better Together
Ashley Williams, Better Together
2B
Title: What It Really Means To Be Intersectional
Description: Recently, “intersectionality” has become a buzz word, often used inaccurately. In this session we will discuss the origins of Kimberlé Crenshaw’s coined term intersectionality, which focuses on institutional oppression and the implications of racism, sexism, and homophobia. Moving beyond individual identities, this session will focus on creating safer work environments and more equitable institutions through an intersectional approach. Participants will be provided with examples, applicable tools, and space to process and ask questions.
Objectives:
Presenters:
Alexis Templeton
2C
Title: Immigration and Innovation: How Foreign-Born Residents Can Strengthen Your Organization
Description: Questions to be addressed during this session are: Who are the skilled immigrants in the STL region? What assets do immigrants bring to an organization? What linguistic and cultural issues might be limiting an organization’s ability to capitalize on their immigrant employees’ talents?
Objectives:
Presenter:
Anita Barker, International Institute of St. Louis
2D
Title: Beyond Hiring: Business Considerations for Inclusion after the Interview
Description: Make inclusion and diversity part of your company culture. People will hire based on “fit” — and that often means “people like us.” If we find a way to appeal to everyone and become a magnet for openness, diversity and inclusion, we will have stronger companies and stronger futures.
Objectives:
Presenter:
Kwana Cannon, Cigna
3A
Title: LGBTQ+ Discrimination: The State of the Law
Description: This session will provide an overview of discrimination laws, with an emphasis on LGBTQ+ discrimination prohibitions/protections.
Objectives:
Presenter:
Mollie Mohan, Tueth Keeney Cooper Mohan & Jackstadt, PC
3B
Title: D&I Strategy vs. D&I Execution
Description: In this interactive workshop, Lathon Ferguson will share his experience in navigating organizations that are large and dedicated to diversity and inclusion, but are still in the initial phase of agreeing upon the best approach and direction to accomplish this goal. You will also have an opportunity to share your personal and organizational journey and exchange best practices.
Objectives:
Presenter:
Lathon Ferguson, Mercy
3C
Title: The Work Before the Work: Laying the Cultural Foundation for DEI
Description: If you’re at this Summit, chances are high that you understand the importance of inclusion, equity, and diversity. However, operationalizing the work associated with shifting your culture to reflect your value of every person within your company in everything you do is challenging work. What can existing organizations learn from early-stage startups that are trying to build solid cultures as foundations upon which their diversity work can stand? In this highly interactive session, we’ll work through a few case scenarios of startups that are trying to get it right early on rather than fixing it later and uncover takeaways for organizations at every stage and size together.
Objectives:
Presenter:
Bijal Desai-Ramirez
3D
Title: Lessons from the Academy: Surveying the DE&I Landscape
Description: College and university campuses across the country often face critical diversity, equity and inclusion issues before they fully manifest in other workplaces. This includes both the problems and solutions that affect staff, faculty, students, and other stakeholders. This session will survey the diversity and inclusion landscape in higher education and how its challenges and advances might affect your organization and stakeholders, regardless of sector.
Objectives:
Presenters:
Turan Mullins, Maryville University
Dr. Jonathan Smith, Saint Louis University