The National Urban League has a mission of empowering African American and underserved communities to thrive by securing educational and economic opportunities. But they recognize, in order for those opportunities to happen, African Americans and the underserved must be included.
Sounds like the ultimate definition of diversity and inclusion, and promoted by the 108-year-old national Urban League long before the terms “diversity and inclusion” became a mainstream catch phrase.
Literally, “it’s our mission,” said Melody McCray Miller, interim CEO and President of the Urban League of Kansas, who pointed out the state Urban League’s newly adopted mission statement is “lifting and building an inclusive community.”
So, it’s only appropriate that the League would be the force behind the 2018 Diversity and Inclusion Summit to be held Fri., May 25, Wichita State University, Rhatigan Student Center, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
“What the Urban League is wanting to do is to bring multiple voices together to discuss fresh ideas around diversity and lifting and building our community,” McCray Miller said.
Discussion at the summit will revolve around three main tracts: education, community, and business. The morning includes an opening speaker and two breakout sessions with concurrent workshops designed around each of the three tracts.
If we look around us, our community has changed, become more diverse, over the past 10 to 20 years, said McCray Miller. Addressing those changes must happen in the community, in the educational system and ultimately in the workforce where these individuals are, and will become, the workers of the future.
The afternoon session is a panel discussion featuring corporate representatives, employment representatives and experts on diversity and inclusion. Lunch, will serve as the Urban League’s Annual Equal Opportunity Day Awards Program. This is a fresh approach to the League’s EOD Awards, which have typically been a dinner event.
This year’s awards will be presented to: Delta Colvin, Whitney M Young Leadership Award; Jackson Mortuary, Legacy Small Business Award, and Brian Sikes, President of Cargill Protein, the Corporate Diversity and Inclusion Leader Award.
Tickets to the summit are $75 for half day and $125 for a full-day registration. Both options include the awards luncheon. Tickets can be purchased through the Urban League, call 262-2463.