Sessions
10:15-11:30 AM | Breakout Sessions: Track 1
Title: Unconscious Bias in the Workplace (REGISTRATION FOR THIS SESSION IS CLOSED)
Presenter: Catrina Salama, Diversity Awareness Partnership
Description: This session is a great opportunity for attendees to learn more about what unconscious bias is, the fact that we all have it no matter who we are, and most importantly what to do about it. The session will include facts about the connection between the brain and bias, as well as important tools to address our various biases that might be based in race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or any other identities.
Objectives:
- What is Unconscious Bias?
- How does it manifest in our behavior?
- What are some strategies to recognize my bias and to change negative biases?
*CLE Credits – 1.4
** Diversity Awareness Partnership is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM. This program is valid for 1.00 PDC for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit www.shrmcertification.org.
Title: Gender Identity and Expression: Language and Concepts
Presenter: Anna Warbelow, Washington University in St. Louis
Description: This interactive session will focus on gender identity and expression in the workplace. Participants will walk away with a better understanding of gender, definitions of terms, and practical tips for creating safer and more inclusive environments for trans employees. If you are not sure about what your preferred gender pronouns are, or how to ask someone what theirs are, this is an important session for you to attend.
Objectives:
- Gain a better understanding of gender and its application in organizational policies and practices
- Learn more about Preferred Gender Pronouns (PGP)
Title: Elevating Corporate D&I: Advancing Diversity Work Through a Millennial Social Justice Lens (REGISTRATION FOR THIS SESSION IS CLOSED)
Presenters: Noor Hasan, Allstate and Neha Surender, Allstate
Description: Organizations are consistently faced with how best to manage and respond to societal issues of race, gender, sexual orientation along with other dimensions of identity in the workplace. Many organizations struggle with how to handle these challenges and are often unaware of how they can leverage the social justice diversity tactics used by college campus activists. College activists are calling upon their companies and universities to create authentically diverse and inclusive climates for people who are marginalized and/or from underrepresented backgrounds.
As millennials increasingly enter the D&I field and the workforce, how will we best adapt and be inclusive of their innovative ideological applications to diversity management? This session is for attendees who would like to learn about the impact and ideologies of American campus activism on our workplaces. We will also provide an overview of millennial-driven diversity initiatives implemented by Allstate Insurance through a social justice framework.
Title: Candid Conversation with Muslims (REGISTRATION FOR THIS SESSION IS CLOSED)
Presenters:
Chris Caras, Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)
Alaa Kamel, Service Employees International Union, Local 1
Mohamed Alhalabi, Senior Mechanical Design Engineer, registered professional engineer
Description: Islam is a religion we hear more and more about in our daily lives and encounters, however the Muslim faith is often misunderstood. This session will be an informational session to help attendees gain a basic understanding of the Muslim faith while also talking about the common misconceptions. This will be an opportunity to hear about personal and lived experiences by Muslims in our community, while having the opportunity to ask questions.
Objectives:
- Introduction to Islam
- Review the misconceptions of Islam
- Hear personal stories and have conversations with practicing Muslims
Title: Inclusive Leadership: Dialogue and Tools for Understanding Privilege
Presenter: Kenneth Pruitt, Diversity Awareness Partnership
Description: This session will use Peggy McIntosh’s summit keynote address as a platform to process and discuss the complexities of privilege, specifically white privilege, and related issues like white fragility, guilt, and allyship.
Objectives:
- Increase understanding of earned and unearned advantages
- Discuss resources to understand application of white privilege
- Understand how privilege impacts behavior in leadership spaces
1:00-2:15 PM | Breakout Sessions: Track 2
Title: Creating Culturally Inclusive Schools (REGISTRATION FOR THIS SESSION IS CLOSED)
Presenter: Nikki McGruder, Diversity Awareness Partnership
Description: This session will explore ways a community can work together to explore and implement culturally responsive and appropriate content and activities in schools. Sometimes an external audit process can be helpful to ensure that our students are being taught in the most inclusive environments possible. We will look at ways that expand students, teachers, staff and administrators’ knowledge, appreciation, acceptance and respect for the diverse languages, cultures and life experiences represented within a school district.
Objectives:
- Gain an understanding of a community approach to cultural inclusivity in schools
- Discussion of community engagement processes and their effectiveness
- Strategies for implementing inclusive approaches to curriculum, faculty development, and family participation
Title: Sharing Best Practices in Corporate Employee Resource Groups (Panel Discussion) (REGISTRATION FOR THIS SESSION IS CLOSED)
Presenters:
Melanie Moore, Monsanto
Megan St. John, Edward Jones
Moderated by Mike Eggleston, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
Description: Employee Resource Groups (ERG), sometimes known as Business Resource Groups or Affinity Groups are a critical piece of a company’s diversity strategy. Are you thinking about starting one? Are you not sure what the objectives of your ERG would be? This session will help you learn more from leading corporate ERG presidents about how they use their ERG to influence engagement, product development, culture, business success and more.
Objectives:
- Gain an understanding of ERG’s and how they can benefit an organization
- Learn new ideas on how to maximize your ERG
- Network with other ERG leaders in the region
Title: Supplier Diversity: Trends and Resources (Panel Discussion)
Presenters:
- Lester Woods, Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDot)
- Stephanie Smith, Washington University in St. Louis
- Valerie Coyazo, Kansas City Power & Light
- Moderated by Taylor Mason, David Mason & Associates
Description: This session will be a great opportunity to expand your knowledge about best practices in creating effective supplier diversity programs. Leading supplier diversity professionals will reflect on current trends in the industry, discussion highlights and challenges, as well as connect the dots between supplier diversity and overall corporate diversity and inclusion strategy.
Objectives:
- Learn insights and perspectives on Supplier Development vs. New Supplier Engagement
- Increase your understanding of the best way to manage your Supplier Diversity Program
Title: Black Male Experiences: Telling a Different Story (Panel Discussion)
Presenters:
- Steve Hill, FastSigns Owner
- Turan Mullins, Maryville University
- Robert McNichols, Jr., Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
- Moderated by Steven Parks, Diversity Awareness Partnership
Description: Often the narrative around Black men in this country is negative and pejorative leaving many with socialized bias or unconscious bias toward them. This powerful panel of individuals will share their personal and professional stories giving perspective to a different narrative.
Objectives:
- Stereotypes of Black men that need to be challenged
- What the news doesn’t cover
- What can I do to change the conversation?
Title: Listen. Talk. Learn: Dialoguing Across Difference (REGISTRATION FOR THIS SESSION IS CLOSED)
Presenter: Catrina Salama, Diversity Awareness Partnership
Description: We know that having conversations about race can be difficult and are often avoided. This session will help you to push through that discomfort and gain the tools necessary for having difficult conversations about race in a debate versus dialogue framework. We will focus on understanding how dialogue around race has changed since the death of Michael Brown Jr., and helping participants understand lived experiences that may differ from their own.
Objectives:
- Model and evaluate the effectiveness of conversations about race.
- Articulate the experiences of those who do not share one’s racial identity.
2:30-3:45 PM | Breakout Sessions: Track 3
Title: Unconscious Bias in the Workplace (repeat session) (REGISTRATION FOR THIS SESSION IS CLOSED)
Presenter: Kenneth Pruitt, Diversity Awareness Partnership
Description: This session is a great opportunity for attendees to learn more about what unconscious bias is, the fact that we all have it no matter who we are, and most importantly what to do about it. The session will include facts about the connection between the brain and bias, as well as important tools to address our various biases that might be based in race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or any other identities.
Objectives:
- What is Unconscious Bias?
- How does it manifest in our behavior?
- What are some strategies to recognize my bias and to change negative biases?
*CLE Credits – 1.4
** Diversity Awareness Partnership is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM. This program is valid for 1.00 PDC for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit www.shrmcertification.org.
Title: Building a Multigenerational Workforce (REGISTRATION FOR THIS SESSION IS CLOSED)
Presenter: Catrina Salama, Diversity Awareness Partnership
Description: It is likely that in each workplace there are four different generations working together. While this unique combination of experience, skill, and perspective is becoming more and more common, the benefits often go unnoticed. In this session, we will focus on developing an understanding of what generational differences in the workplace might look like. This session will also provide opportunities to apply this information to developing strategies for improving and utilizing your own workplace diversity.
Objectives:
- Recognize potential generational differences in the workplace and how they apply to your workplace setting
- Articulate a basic understanding of generational trends in the workplace
- Identify and strategize ways to utilize the benefits of age diversity
** Diversity Awareness Partnership is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM. This program is valid for 1.00 PDC for the SHRM-CPSM or SHRM-SCPSM. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit www.shrmcertification.org.
Title: Beyond the Acronym: A Transgender Experience (REGISTRATION FOR THIS SESSION IS CLOSED)
Presenter: Sayer Johnson, Metro Trans Umbrella Group
Description: This session will assist in clarifying the evolving landscape of Transgender narrative and experience and is an appropriate session for all humans wanting to deepen their ability to connect with and empower transgender leadership and support.
Objectives:
- Understand best practices and cultural competencies in engaging transgender individuals
- Discuss practical applications of best practices in the workplace
Title: Being an Ally in Racial Equity Work
Presenter: Amy Hunter, St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Description: This session will focus on how it is possible to be an effective and accountable ally in the racial equity journey. After Michael Brown’s death, we have seen an encouraging increase in white people asking new questions about race and racism, participating in Witness Whiteness Groups, and yearning to learn more about how to be an ally. The workshop will share tools and allow participants to practice concrete ways to bring more white people into racial justice work.
Objectives:
- Discuss what it means to be a white racial justice ally
- Increase understanding of accountability and privilege