I SEE YOU
First Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Conference
Thursday July 27th, 2023 | Ball Event Center | All Day Event | Registration
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ABOUT
The First DEI Conference I See You serves to educate, advocate, engage,
and empower individuals to cultivate partnerships and conversations that
create and sustain an environment that is inclusive, equitable and diverse. This conference aims to connect professionals through engaging dialog on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with strategies that can be used in business, education, health, and beyond.
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SPONSORS
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CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
8:00
Doors Open
9:00
Welcome & Keynote
1:00
Panel Discussion, "Walk the Talk"
10:30
Breakout session 1
2:15
Panelist breakout session
11:15
Breakout session 2
3:00
Breakout session 4
12:10
Lunch (included with admission)
3:45
Networking (drinks included)
5:30
End
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KEYNOTE
Silas S. Dulan III, MSM
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Silas S. Dulan III is the Associate Vice President and Global Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for Black & Veatch. Mr. Dulan works with company leaders to advance commitments to creating and sustaining a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace.
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He previously served in various DEI-related leadership roles, most recently as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at electric utility company Evergy. Mr. Dulan’s experience includes facilitation of companywide training and education, extensive work with employee resource groups and boards of directors, and improvement of diversity in hiring. He holds two degrees from Baker University, and currently serves on the institution's Board of Trustees.
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Mr. Dulan will kick off the day by sharing the belief that DEI is based on ensuring “that everyone [unequivocally] feels they have the ability to thrive.” He will demonstrate that strengthening employee engagement, fostering trust, and building lasting relationships requires organizations and communities to respectfully communicate and develop a DEI action plan.
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PANEL DISCUSSION
WALK THE TALK
Walking the talk calls for our actions to be aligned with our intentions. This can prove particularly challenging amid worker expectations, fiscal implications, shifting political climates and social justice imperatives. Our Walk the Talk discussion will navigate some of the challenges and nuances of implementing effective DEI policies and practices in our organizations. Dr. Abyssinia Tabron will facilitate our group of expert panelists through a series of questions regarding DEI implementation strategies. Our panel includes leaders from a variety of industries and roles to provide numerous perspectives on these complex and evolving issues.
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BREAKOUT SESSIONS
10:30
Lona Davenport Covington
Diversity & Inclusion Specialist at Honeywell FM&T - Kansas City National Security Campus
Cultural Norms, Bias, and Belonging
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Who are we and how do our cultural group norms influence our vision and methods of navigating the world around us? In this presentation, we will participate in a cultural self-awareness activity, and reflect on our relationship with the world around us and how the biases we hold may be getting in the way of our efforts to create an inclusive climate at work or in our personal lives. We will discuss the impact, strategies to mitigate the impact of biases, and methods to improve our cultural competency towards a stronger sense of belonging.
11:15
Dr. Christopher Thomas
Program Manager of Education & Learning, Office of Equity and Diversity at Children's Mercy Hospital
Don't Just Play the Game, Change the Game
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Launched in January 2023, the Game Changers Network is a pilot, first of its kind, expansive system of DEI ambassadors disseminated throughout the Children’s Mercy hospital system meant to (1) accelerate departmental progress towards priorities outlined in the hospital’s DEI Strategic Plan, (2) provide leadership development across the organization, and (3) increase the capacity for DEI-related initiatives and innovation. Participants in the Game Changers Network are given tools to clearly communicate the role and importance of DEI and health equity to their departments, trained to identify DEI-related issues and engage in courageous conversations within their departments, as well as collaborate with the across departments to streamline departmental learning opportunities. The goal is to move DEI-related conversations beyond observation and into action, building capacity for all hospital staff—regardless of experience or position—to make concrete, actional decisions about building a more inclusive work environment for patients, families, and staff.
3:00
Sarah Apple
Science Teacher and Cultural Competency Coordinator at Raytown C2 Schools
Breaking the Binary
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In 2023, we saw Missouri lead the nation in a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills proposed across our country. These legislative bills are extremely harmful to individuals within the LGBTQ community and in direct conflict with current medical science. This workshop is designed to provide a foundational understanding of the science behind sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, and sexual orientation. This knowledge allows us to better understand the inequities facing those in the LGBTQ community so that we may better support their safety, positive development, and academic/life success. Exploring the fascinating and evolving science of sex, gender, and sexuality will provide participants with the terminology and awareness to creatively rethink our spaces and practices to make our communities more inclusive.
